I’ve used many digicam setups via my years as an expert photographer. Nonetheless, one factor that has remained the identical for a very long time throughout a number of digicam setups is the digicam strap system I’ve been utilizing.
Since I first purchased my Peak Design Slide and Clutch digicam straps in 2015, I’ve been just about solely utilizing the Peak Design strap system throughout all my DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
I’ve basically been field-testing my Peak Design digicam straps for round a decade. I’ve taken all of them world wide, from far under zero temperatures photographing the northern lights to the recent and humid jungles of Uganda on gorilla trekking and birdwatching journeys.
My Peak Design Slide digicam straps have been rained on, snowed on, coated in mud, stuffed in a digicam bag, and usually been via the wringer.
One has even been chewed on by a fox (extra on that later!).
In spite of everything that, I believed it was about time I put collectively a evaluate of the Peak Design digicam straps, primarily based on my expertise truly utilizing it.
I’ll cowl the great, the dangerous, my expertise with Peak Design’s customer support, who the straps are for, the choices accessible, and plenty extra.
Peak Design make quite a lot of straps for a spread of makes use of and digicam sizes. By the top of this evaluate, you must have a good suggestion of whether or not or not this strap system is an efficient possibility in your digicam setup, in addition to which particular mannequin may be best for you. Let’s begin with a fast introduction to Peak Design.
Who’s Peak Design?
Peak Design is a U.S. primarily based firm, based in 2010 by Peter Dering. The corporate launched its first product in 2011, a digicam clip system referred to as Seize, which remains to be accessible right now.
Peak Design primarily creates merchandise that are designed to assist folks set up, shield, pack, and use their pictures gear. These embrace digicam straps and clips, digicam luggage, tripods, and so on.
Given their recognition, they’ve additionally launched some extra common merchandise designs for vacationers and commuters, together with packing cubes, wash luggage, commuter backpacks, and cell phone instances.
They intention to create merchandise which look good and final a very long time. They arrive with a lifetime guarantee as customary.
Peak Design is understood for his or her progressive and trendy designs. Lots of their merchandise are additionally designed to work effectively collectively, so for instance you should utilize the strap to hold the tripod bag in addition to a digicam.
In addition they have stable environmental credentials, being totally carbon impartial, a registered B Corp, they usually additionally donate 1% of all their income to environmental nonprofits.
What’s so particular about Peak Design digicam straps?
Peak Design began when its founder, Peter Dering, was searching for a extra snug digicam strap system after a protracted journey again in 2010. The corporate’s first merchandise had been their progressive digicam clips and straps, and it was these merchandise that originally made them well-liked amongst photographers.
The standout options of their straps, which I’ll cowl in additional depth, are their consolation, sturdiness, attachment system, supplies and guarantee.
Peak Design now make plenty of totally different merchandise and I believe get plenty of buzz for his or her luggage. I do personal a number of different Peak Design merchandise. For instance, I at present have a Peak Design digicam backpack, some digicam packing cubes, and a Peak Design journey tripod.
Whereas I’ve favored a lot of their different merchandise I’ve tried, I believe that their digicam strap system stays their hero merchandise for a lot of photographers akin to myself.
I first purchased a Peak Design Slide strap again in 2015 and have by no means used one other digicam strap system since. I now personal three of their Slide straps in addition to a Clutch strap, and proceed to suggest them to others primarily based on my expertise.
So, on this evaluate I’m going to give attention to the Peak Design digicam straps and go over the assorted straps accessible and share my private evaluate and experiences with them.
Peak Design Digital camera Strap Selections
Peak Design make a number of straps, with the principle variations being the dimensions of the strap (width, weight and size), in addition to how the strap is designed to be worn.
These variations make the assorted strap fashions appropriate for various functions, with some straps being extra suited to bigger digicam fashions and others suiting extra compact digicam fashions for instance.
Some straps are additionally effectively suited to different functions past being as digicam strap, akin to for binoculars or as a strap in your tripod or digicam bag.
Some Peak Design digicam straps are designed as a full physique strap to be worn over a shoulder, across the neck, or as a sling, while different straps are designed as wrist or hand straps.
The primary digicam straps that Peak Design provide are as follows.
Peak Design Slide Strap
That is the principle strap that I exploit for my cameras, I at present personal three of those straps. They’ve had slight tweaks over time however the principle design is similar.
The strap is designed so you possibly can put on it in 3 ways, as a neck strap, a shoulder strap and a sling strap. My private favourite is carrying it as a sling strap.
The strap is made out of a powerful nylon webbing materials, which is actually fairly like a seatbelt strap in texture and really feel. The vast majority of the strap is easy and slides simply.
The realm which sits round your neck or shoulder (relying on the way you put on it) is padded internally for consolation. It additionally has a gripped floor on one facet to stop the strap from sliding round.
The strap is adjustable, with a fast launch deal with that allows you to rapidly and simply modify how lengthy the strap is. The utmost size is 57″ (145cm) and the minimal size is 39″ (99cm).
The strap comes with an anchor mount, 4 anchor connectors, a hex wrench and a microfiber pouch. It could deal with gear as much as 200lbs.
That is the strap I might typically suggest for carrying a bigger setup akin to a much bigger mirrorless or DSLR digicam in addition to bigger telephoto lenses. It’s additionally a good selection when you simply desire a wider strap as the load is distributed extra evenly.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Slide strap right here.
Peak Design Slide Lite Strap
The Slide Lite is actually similar to the Slide, it’s only a bit thinner. Nonetheless, it may deal with the identical weight load and has the identical options.
So you continue to get the anchor level system, snug easy nylon webbing with padding and a grippy facet, and adjustability. You additionally get all the identical merchandise within the field.
Nonetheless, the strap is 1.3″ large (32mm) in comparison with the 1.8″ (45mm) of the unique Slide. So when you really feel the Slide is a bit chunky in your tastes, then the Slide Lite may be for you. It nonetheless has the identical most size of 57″ (145cm) and minimal size of 39″ (99cm).
It could additionally assist the identical weight, however I’d suggest it for barely smaller mirrorless cameras, bridge cameras, and binoculars fairly than the most important of gadgets.
This isn’t as a result of it may’t take the load, however fairly is extra to do with consolation over lengthy durations of carrying the strap.
A barely thinner strap means the load isn’t distributed over as a lot space, so over time the Slide is more likely to be extra snug with significantly heavy setups.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Slide Lite strap right here.
Peak Design Leash
If you happen to’re a minimalist however you continue to desire a excessive performing digicam strap, then the Peak Design Leash is probably going the strap for you.
That is the thinnest common strap that Peak Design provides. As with the Slide and Slide Gentle, it may be configured as a sling, neck or shoulder strap. You additionally get the padded webbing part with a grippy facet in addition to the anchor hyperlink system.
The primary distinction is that the strap is just 0.75″(19mm) large. The max size of 57″ is similar, however you possibly can truly make Leash shorter, all the way down to 32.6″ (83cm).
Leash is an efficient possibility if you’d like a very minimalist digicam strap. As with Slide Lite, I’d suggest it for smaller digicam setups, particularly when you plan to hold them round for a chronic time period.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Leash strap right here.
Peak Design Cuff Wrist Strap
Not everybody desires a protracted digicam strap that goes round their entire physique, and if you’re a kind of folks, Peak Design has you coated with various choices. The primary of those is Cuff.
Cuff is a wrist strap which, because the title suggests, allows you to put your digicam on a strap which you safe round your wrist. And I do imply safe, as there’s an adjustable locking slider which helps you to cinch Cuff round your wrist so it may’t slip off over your hand.
In fact, you don’t have to try this, however it’s most likely a good suggestion when you do.
When it comes to the strap itself, it’s manufactured from the identical nylon webbing as Peak Design’s different straps. There’s no grip however there’s a spotlight space which works round your wrist, which is obtainable in both leather-based or a cloth referred to as Hypalon which is vegan. Width sensible it’s the identical as Leash, at 0.75″ (19mm).
The strap additionally has a magnetic clasp, which cleverly allows you to put on it as a bracelet when not in use as a digicam wrist strap, which is fairly neat.
When it comes to what it may carry, as a result of it makes use of the identical materials and anchor hyperlink system as the opposite straps, it may deal with as much as 200lbs (90kg) of substances as effectively.
So, when you don’t prefer to put on a giant strap however nonetheless need to hold your gear protected when it’s in your fingers, Cuff is a superb possibility.
I’d say it’s higher for folk who are inclined to put a digicam away in a bag and take it out once more usually fairly than carrying a digicam over their physique on a regular basis.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Cuff strap right here.
Peak Design Clutch Strap
Clutch is Peak Design’s hand strap. It’s principally designed to take a seat on the facet of your digicam and goes round your hand when you find yourself gripping your digicam.
This provides you extra peace of thoughts when holding your digicam, particularly if you’re utilizing a heavier digicam with out a strap round you.
Clutch makes use of the identical anchor hyperlink design at one finish as their different straps, which attaches to the digicam’s base utilizing the included tripod appropriate base plate.
I’ve had my Clutch for a similar period of time as I’ve had my Slide straps. I’ll admit that it took a little bit of time to regulate to utilizing it on my digicam as initially my hand wasn’t used to having a strap across the exterior of it when holding my digicam. Nonetheless, I rapidly obtained used to it, after which I discovered utilizing a digicam physique with out it felt odd!
I’ve truly had two variations of Clutch. The primary model I had for a very long time, however the strap the place it hooked up to the digicam wore via from friction over time.
I contacted Peak Design they usually despatched me the newer model which changed the model I purchased. This includes a totally different sort of fabric on the level mine failed which I’m happy to report has not suffered from this subject.
Total, I might say if you’re searching for a hand strap for a bigger digicam, positively take into account Clutch. It’s a little bit massive for smaller cameras, however clearly Peak Design has an answer for that subject within the type of the following product on this record!
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Clutch strap right here.
Peak Design Micro Clutch
Micro Clutch is principally a smaller model of the Clutch strap. It’s designed particularly for smaller mirrorless digicam methods, with the concept being that as a substitute of placing your entire hand in it, you solely use it with between two and 4 fingers.
This ends in a small and unobtrusive strap that also offers you the safety of a hand strap.
This one doesn’t truly include the anchor hyperlink system, nevertheless the bottom plate does have loop attachment factors so you should utilize the provided base plate with different Peak Design straps if you wish to combine and match.
Total, Micro Clutch is a good suggestion if you’d like a very small strap for a smaller mirrorless digicam. It’s not appropriate for bigger cameras, however helpfully Peak Design has a digicam compatibility information for micro clutch which you’ll be able to see right here.
You’ll be able to see extra in regards to the Peak Design Micro Clutch strap right here.
Peak Design Strap Options
As you possibly can see, there are a variety of Peak Design straps to select from. Now I’m going to undergo the important thing options of the straps.
Anchor Hyperlink System
The anchor hyperlink system is, for my part, what makes the Peak Design straps so distinctive and versatile.
The anchor hyperlink is the way in which that almost all of Peak Designs straps connect to your digicam, binoculars, bag, or no matter else you need to carry. Upon getting used it together with your gear it’s actually exhausting to think about utilizing every other system.
The anchor hyperlink is a fast launch strap system which is made up of two elements.
The primary half is the short connector which is hooked up to the strap. Peak Designs straps all include the short connector already hooked up, however it’s also possible to purchase them to connect to any present digicam strap you personal.
The second a part of the system is the anchor connector. It is a small spherical tab with a nylon loop. These are designed to simply connect to a spread of merchandise, together with cameras, luggage, and the Peak Design fast launch tripod plate, which is how I connect them to my cameras.
Regardless of their diminutive measurement, the anchor system is rated to assist 200lbs (90kg) of weight, which must be greater than sufficient for even the heaviest digicam setup. I’ve used mine for years and by no means had a failure.
Clean Nylon Webbing
Most of Peak Design’s straps are produced from a powerful nylon webbing, which has similarities in texture and really feel to a seatbelt strap. Seatbelt straps are clearly extremely robust, given their supposed function, and Peak Design straps are additionally extremely robust.
What I actually like about them is that they don’t appear to lose structural integrity when you occur to wreck them barely.
For instance, I used to be capturing at sundown in cemetery in Glasgow, Scotland one night, and a curious fox came to visit to see what I used to be as much as.
I put certainly one of my cameras down on the bottom and began taking footage of the fox, at which level he determined he needed to steal my digicam in case it was edible. He did this by grabbing the Peak Design strap in his enamel and dragging my digicam away.
Clearly, I ended him, however not earlier than he’d put some good sharp enamel holes in my strap!
I’ve continued to personal and use that strap for years because the fox incident, and the outlet hasn’t impacted efficiency or gotten any larger. It’s only a neat reminder of a cool encounter I had as soon as!
Now, clearly I wouldn’t encourage anybody to wreck their strap to see the way it performs. However my expertise has proven that the straps proceed to carry out effectively even after prolonged use, and a few fairly uncommon harm!
The webbing on many of the straps even have a really grippy part which stops the straps from sliding round in your physique as you progress round.
Lifetime Guarantee
Peak Design provides a lifetime guarantee for his or her merchandise towards manufacturing defects, and failures or breakages that render half or your whole product to turn out to be non-functional.
This doesn’t cowl beauty blemishes, scratches, stains, or put on & tear. Nor does it cowl failures or breakages as a consequence of misuse, neglect, or intentional harm.
In my case, I’m unsure the fox encounter can be coated, though on condition that the strap works nice, that’s not been a difficulty.
I’ve had two events to make use of the lifetime guarantee, and in each instances Peak Design honored it. The primary was to exchange my Clutch which wore via, and as I stated, that they had already recognized and addressed this downside with the newer model. You’ll be able to see the wear and tear within the picture under.
The opposite subject I had was with a restricted version purple coloured model of the Peak Design Slide.
This one had a distinct sort of grip materials to different variations I’ve owned, which was a kind of rubber compound.
This labored nice till I took it trekking within the Ugandan jungle searching for gorillas. Sadly, a mix of warmth and humidity, coupled with plenty of motion, precipitated the rubber to basically soften throughout my shirt.
The strap turned a sticky mess (though it clearly nonetheless labored wonderful as a strap). You’ll be able to see how this ended up within the picture under.
I contacted Peak Design about this, they usually dispatched a substitute strap to me freed from cost. In addition they let me know that that they had since modified the fabric used for the grip space, so this downside wouldn’t occur once more.
I’ve been utilizing the substitute strap for a few years now and I can verify it has held up effectively with no meltdowns but, and the grip materials is certainly completely totally different.
Adjustability
Clearly, everyone seems to be constructed otherwise, so having a one measurement matches all strap isn’t going to work for everybody.
Peak Design’s straps will be adjusted. The precise mechanism and vary of adjustment varies barely relying on the strap mannequin, however the principle factor is that they are often adjusted to go well with the necessities of the person consumer.
Strap Colours
Peak Design provide their straps in quite a lot of colours. Colours range relying on the product.
Within the case of Slide for instance, you at present have a selection of traditional black, sage inexperienced, midnight blue, ash gray, and coyote brown. In addition they sometimes do particular version straps of various colours.
Relying on the kind of pictures you do, you would possibly desire a distinct strap colour.
For instance, wildlife photographers will most likely just like the coyote brown colour because it blends in properly with camo type and pure colours. Black is a superb colour that work nice for those who simply need one thing that may go along with every part and matches most digicam our bodies.
Peak Design Digital camera Strap Evaluation
I’ll now go into some extra element relating to my private expertise utilizing the Peak Design digicam straps, together with what I like, and areas I really feel might be improved.
What I Like About Peak Design Straps
The factor I like most about my Peak Design straps is the anchor hyperlink system. I believe it’s actually intelligent, and it makes attaching and eradicating straps tremendous simple.
Let me clarify why I prefer it a lot for my private setup.
The way in which Jess and I sometimes put on our Peak Design straps is crossbody, like a sling. The strap attaches to the underside of the digicam, the place the tripod thread gap is.
It is a pretty frequent design function for sling straps, the place the digicam is inverted round your midsection space.
I discover this to be a cushty method to put on a digicam for a chronic time period, actually far more snug and sensible than having it bouncing round on a neck strap.
The issue with many sling type digicam straps that use the digicam’s tripod mount level is that they require you to place an attachment into the digicam’s tripod mount gap to connect the strap to.
This implies you possibly can’t connect it to a tripod with out totally eradicating the strap system.
The factor is, I at all times have a fast launch tripod plate hooked up to my digicam our bodies and telephoto lens collars. I exploit a tripod so much (see my the reason why you want a tripod right here for why), and for ease of use I solely use tripods which have a fast launch plate system.
Which means that I connect a particular tripod plate to the bottom of the digicam, which suggests I can connect my digicam to a tripod very simply with out having to screw or unscrew issues.
So you possibly can see the conundrum. I desire a strap system I can go away on on a regular basis, that makes use of the tripod mount level on my digicam, but additionally lets me use a fast launch tripod plate system.
Fortunately, the Peak Design system does simply that. Through the use of the tripod appropriate Peak Design mounting plate on my digicam, I can connect my digicam to any Arca appropriate tripod head (Manfrotto appropriate plates are additionally accessible) with out having to take away the strap system. It’s seamless and straightforward to make use of.
The flexibleness and ease of use of the short launch system can be nice. For instance, I even have a pair of huge telephoto lenses, the place I desire to connect the strap to the tripod collar fairly than the physique of the digicam, as it’s extra balanced that approach after I carry the digicam.
With the short launch anchor system, I simply have to have anchor connectors on the lenses tripod collar.
After I swap lenses from a large angle to a telephoto, I can rapidly transfer my Peak Design strap from the digicam physique anchor connectors to the telephoto anchor connectors. I may even use a seperate strap, and simply carry the telephoto lens over my different shoulder if I need.
In fact, the flexibleness continues. You’ll be able to have anchor factors on the digicam’s high strap connector hooks if you’d like. Just about each digicam on the market has customary strap connecting factors on the higher physique of the digicam the place the usual strap that comes with the digicam attaches.
So when you put anchor connections right here, you possibly can go from carrying your digicam sling type, to carrying it the extra conventional approach round your neck, or over your shoulder.
Okay, that was so much in regards to the Peak Design anchor system. What else do I like in regards to the Peak Design straps?
Effectively, clearly they’re actually snug. The padded part of the strap is snug, and I’ve actually worn mine for a lot of hours on lengthy hikes with out feeling uncomfortable or prefer it’s rubbing in any approach.
If I’m capturing occasions, or every other state of affairs the place I need easy accessibility to a few lenses on the identical time, I normally put on two straps, crossbody. This provides me easy accessibility to a digicam on every hip, reducing out the time wanted to vary lenses, which might be time the place I’m lacking a shot. That’s additionally extremely snug.
I additionally like that the straps are simple to regulate, and that they simply work. My expertise with customer support has additionally been nice after I wanted it.
Clearly, no-one desires a product to have points, however for a corporation to rise to the event and resolve the issue as they’ve performed each time, speaks volumes in my e book.
How Might Peak Design Enhance their Straps?
What I like about Peak Design is that they’re at all times bettering on their merchandise primarily based on buyer suggestions. For essentially the most half, the brand new model of the product replaces the outdated model of the product.
Most upgrades are iterative, so that you don’t essentially have to improve when you already personal the product.
Nonetheless, if you’re a brand new consumer, you will be assured figuring out that you’re getting the perfect model of the product thus far. With my instance of the strap that melted into my shirt, that downside was addressed with a brand new materials.
Nonetheless, not all of the modifications are essentially upgrades.
For instance, after I first purchased my Peak Design Slide straps, they got here with a tripod appropriate plate. This meant that I might connect them to my digicam and use them with a tripod right away.
Sadly, nearly all of their straps now solely include an anchor mount which isn’t appropriate with tripod fast launch plates. So, it’s a must to purchase that half individually, with each an Arca appropriate plate and a Manfrotto RC2 appropriate plate accessible.
Now, when you occur to purchase a Peak Design journey tripod, this does include the mandatory plate. So perhaps now that Peak Design additionally make tripods, they really feel it makes extra sense to bundle the tripod plate with the tripod. Moreover, as they will’t inform what sort of tripod plate the end-user requires, sending them an incompatible plate isn’t an awesome buyer expertise.
Nonetheless, I favored it after I obtained my Arca appropriate plate after I first purchased my Peak Design Slide strap because it let me use the strap straight with the tripod I had on the time without having to fork out for extra equipment. So I wish to see it as an possibility maybe at checkout for a small improve price even when it’s not included once more.
One other space that has involved some customers of Peak Design straps is that the adjustment mechanism is a metallic loop, and I’ve seen studies that these can scratch a digicam physique when packed in a bag. Personally, I’ve not had this downside, however my digicam our bodies get fairly banged up anyway!
Nonetheless, if this can be a concern, you would possibly need to pack the strap individually.
Lastly, when it comes to enhancements, it may be good to see a system for carrying two cameras that doesn’t contain simply having a “X” form of straps throughout my physique. Some digicam strap methods provide a twin carry system which is extra like a physique harness, and I’d have an interest to see if that’s one thing Peak Design might provide.
That’s simply an thought fairly than a criticism although as I’ve actually been snug carrying the 2 straps crossbody.
Aside from the above, I’ve not obtained a lot else to say in regards to the Peak Design strap system that wants enchancment! Clearly, they’re comparatively costly as straps go, however I do really feel you might be getting a well-made and high quality product that may final a very long time.
Peak Design Digital camera Strap Evaluation Abstract
As I stated firstly of this evaluate, I’ve been utilizing the Peak Design straps for a few years, throughout a number of digicam our bodies and lenses. In all that point they’ve saved my gear protected, which is the principle function of the strap. I additionally discover them extremely snug to put on even for lengthy durations of time.
I believe they provide top-of-the-line strap methods available on the market, with straps which might be snug and safe. Their lifetime guarantee can be one thing they stand by.
Total, I believe the principle resolution most individuals must make can be which strap to purchase. I’d say you probably have a heavier digicam setup, particularly if going to make use of telephoto lenses, to go for the Peak Design Slide. For smaller cameras and lighter set ups, for my part it’s a call between Slide Lite and Leash.
Then, when you desire a much less obtrusive setup, take into account Cuff. And at last, if you’d like extra safety when gripping your digicam, have a look at Clutch and Micro Clutch.
Actually, I believe whichever product you select you can be proud of its efficiency, construct high quality, and longevity.
Additional Studying
That’s it for my evaluate of the Peak Design strap system – I hope you discovered it useful. Earlier than you go, I needed to share a few of our different content material which we expect you’ll find helpful.
- I’ve an in depth evaluate of the Peak Design journey tripod
- Our evaluate of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod after three years of standard use.
- A evaluate of the Vanguard VEO 2Go 265HCBM, the VEO 3+ 263AB and the VEO 3T+ 264CB.
- We now have a information to why you want a tripod, a information to selecting a journey tripod, and a round-up of our favourite journey tripods
- We now have a information to tips on how to use a compact digicam, tips on how to use a DSLR digicam, and tips on how to use a mirrorless digicam. We even have a information to how a DSLR works
- Understanding tips on how to compose an awesome photograph is a key pictures ability. See our information to composition in pictures for many tips about this topic
- We now have a information to what depth of area is and whenever you would need to use it.
- We’re large followers of getting essentially the most out of your digital photograph recordsdata, and do to that you’ll want to shoot in RAW. See our information to RAW in pictures to know what RAW is, and why you must swap to RAW as quickly as you possibly can in case your digicam helps it.
- You’re going to wish one thing to run your photograph modifying software program on. See our information to the perfect laptops for photograph modifying for some tips about what to search for.
- If you happen to’re searching for extra recommendation on particular ideas for various situations, we additionally have you ever coated. See our information to Northern Lights pictures, lengthy publicity pictures, fireworks pictures, ideas for taking photographs of stars, and chilly climate pictures.
- If you happen to’re searching for an awesome present for a pictures loving pal or member of the family (or your self!), check out our pictures present information,
- If you happen to’re out there for a brand new digicam, we have now an in depth information to the finest journey cameras, in addition to particular guides for the finest cameras for climbing and backpacking, the finest compact digicam, finest mirrorless digicam and finest DSLR digicam. We even have a information to the finest digicam lenses.
- In order for you a digicam or lens, however the costs are a bit excessive, see our information to the place to purchase used cameras and digicam gear for some finances financial savings choices.
And that’s it! As at all times, you probably have any feedback or questions on this submit, simply pop them within the feedback part under and we’ll reply as quickly as we will!
