Antigravity A1 Drone Review: The Best Sub-250g Drone for Motorcycle Touring?
The Antigravity A1 has been part of the touring kit through Atlantic Canada, including a 4,000 km (2,485 mile) ECIC Muskoka trip — the first real-world touring test for this drone. It replaced the DJI Mini 3 — and after putting it through Canadian highways, national park airspace considerations, and packed saddlebag constraints, here's the full honest breakdown.
Why Sub-250g Matters for Touring Riders
In Canada, drones under 250g are exempt from Transport Canada's basic or advanced RPAS certification requirements for recreational use. You still need to follow airspace rules and stay away from aerodromes and restricted zones — but you're not carrying a registered aircraft. For motorcycle touring where you're crossing provinces and potentially dipping into the US, that legal simplicity is worth a lot.
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The Antigravity A1 weighs 249g. That's not a coincidence — it's engineered to stay under that threshold while delivering genuinely impressive specs: 8K 360-degree video, approximately 20 minutes of flight time, and a form factor that fits in a jacket pocket.
Build and Portability
The A1 is compact enough to carry in a top case without a dedicated drone bag. I kept it in a small padded pouch tucked inside the Pursuit's left saddlebag alongside a spare battery and the controller. The folding arms lock in solidly and I never had a vibration-loose issue on the road.
Build quality is good but not bombproof. The plastic feels premium enough for the price, but I wouldn't drop it on asphalt and expect it to survive. Treat it with care and it'll last. That's true of most drones in this class.
8K 360 Footage — Is It Actually Usable?
Yes, with caveats. The 8K 360 mode produces impressive spherical footage that you can reframe in post — great for YouTube and social clips. The stabilization is solid in calm conditions. In moderate wind (20–30 km/h / 12–19 mph), you'll see some jello effect in the footage that needs correction in editing.
For standard forward-facing video, the output is sharp and the colours are natural without heavy processing. It's not Mavic 3 quality, but for a 249g drone, the A1 punches well above its weight class.
Flight Time and Battery Life
Advertised at 22 minutes, I averaged around 18–19 minutes in real conditions with moderate wind. That's honest for this class. I carried two batteries on the trip which gave me roughly 36–38 minutes of usable flight time per stop — enough for a proper scenic shot or two before packing up and riding on.
Charging via USB-C is convenient. A full charge takes about 75 minutes. I'd charge overnight at the motel and always left with two full batteries.
Airspace and Parks Canada
Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario) prohibits drone use within the park — including sub-250g drones — so the A1 stayed grounded during that stretch of Highway 28. I launched from just outside the park boundaries for the scenic shots. Always check the NAV CANADA drone app and local park regulations before flying anywhere that looks like protected land.
This isn't a knock on the A1 specifically — it's just the reality of touring through Canada. The drone's small size means you can always find a legal launch spot nearby.
How It Compares to the DJI Mini 3
I ran the Mini 3 for two seasons before switching. The A1 wins on size and the 360 capability — the Mini 3 shoots standard forward-facing only. The Mini 3 has better wind resistance and more polished obstacle avoidance. For pure touring portability and versatility of footage, the A1 is the better fit for my kit. If you want maximum image quality and wind performance, the Mini 3 is still the safer bet.
Also in my touring camera kit: Insta360 X5 vs Ace Pro 2 comparison and the best 360 action cameras for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Antigravity A1 drone worth buying?
The Antigravity A1 is worth buying if you want an easy-to-fly FPV drone with 360-degree camera capabilities. At 249 grams it does not require registration in most jurisdictions. The intuitive point-and-fly control makes it the most beginner-friendly FPV drone I have tested.
Does the Antigravity A1 need to be registered in Canada?
The Antigravity A1 weighs 249 grams, which is under the 250g threshold requiring registration in Canada and the US. However, you still need to follow basic drone safety rules including flying below 122m (400ft), staying away from airports, and maintaining visual line of sight.
Is the Antigravity A1 good for beginners?
Yes. The Antigravity A1 is the most beginner-friendly FPV drone I have flown. The point-and-fly control system and AR flight data in the goggles make it easy to learn. The learning curve is real but much shorter than traditional FPV drones.
Antigravity A1 vs DJI Mini — which is better?
They serve different purposes. The DJI Mini is a traditional camera drone with a gimbal-stabilized camera for smooth aerial photography. The Antigravity A1 is an immersive FPV experience with 360-degree cameras and goggles. For cinematic footage, the DJI wins. For immersive flying experience, the Antigravity A1 wins.
