So you finally decided to bite the bullet and buy yourself a camera. A real camera. One that isn’t your phone. Congratulations! Your friends may scoff and rag on you for spending $600+ on a DSLR, evangelizing the quality photos you can get on an iPhone nowadays, but you made the right decision.
Sure, you can get a good photo of a sunset from your office window or a braggy shot of your happy hour beer with your iPhone, but when you’re on vacation in Iceland or the Grand Tetons, you’re going to want a high-quality camera. And once you start delving into all you can do with your camera, the doors to the camera geek’s world swing open, and you start to see how many photography accessories you can buy. Lenses, tripods, those bad-ass-looking holsters—the world is your oyster. But hold it, Ansel Adams—before you drop $2,000 on a fancy lens, start customizing your camera with something small, like a nice strap. It’ll add more personality to your shoots, and make you look like you know what you’re doing. Check out 20 of our favorites.
Topo Designs Camera Strap
If you want to look like a rugged nature photographer, snatch up this camera strap —woven from colorful climbing rope—from Colorado-based Topo Designs.
iMo Green Rainy Drops Camera Strap
Hong Kong-based iMo knows how to make quality camera straps, and their offerings are diverse. This dotted green padded neoprene strap features brown leather at the ends, and quick-release buckles for easy maneuvering while shooting.
iMo Indian Blanket Camera Strap
If you want to look a bit more outdoorsy, check out iMo’s Indian Blanket strap. It has the same signature quick-release buckles as the strap mentioned above, but it’s a bit more eye-catching.
Dsptch Camera Strap
You’ll stand out in a pack of tourists when wearing San Francisco-based Dsptch’s bright-red camera strap, which is made out of sturdy nylon webbing and is adjustable up to 48” long.
Lone Wolf Goods Slim Camera Strap
Combining padded black canvas with neutral leather, Lone Wolf Goods’ Slim Camera Strap comes with metallic rings that will allow you to attach additional cameras to the strap (if you’re the kind of guy that carries multiple cameras around).
Tanner Goods Long Tether Camera Strap
Oregon-based Tanner Goods is known for making high-quality leather products (like wallets and belts and the like), so it’s no wonder they have a variety of awesome leather camera straps on offer. Made with Horween leather and studded with solid brass rivets, the Long Tether Camera Strap looks way more expensive than it actually is, and that’s a good thing.
Slide Summit Edition Camera Strap
Started in 2010 by a guy who was frustrated with the existing camera accessories on the market, Peak Design specializes in creating quality camera equipment for photographer’s photographers. The Slide Summit Edition strap is ultra-versatile—it’s a sling, shoulder, and neck strap all in one. The strap also comes with four quick-adjust anchor pieces that allow you to switch out cameras in an instant.
United by Blue Canvas Camera Strap
Philadelphia-based United By Blue was started with the intention of making eco-friendly clothes and accessories that still look stylish, and this camera strap does exactly that. Made out of a combination of waxed canvas, genuine leather, and brass hardware, it’ll look great whether you’re shooting vacation photos or taking photos of your friend’s new baby. Bonus: United By Blue donates a portion of every sale to ocean conservation efforts.
Convoy Kevlar Camera Strap
If you’re looking for a durable camera strap, look no further than one that’s made out of honest-to-goodness Kevlar (and badass black leather), like this one from Convoy.
Fotostrap Navy Camera Strap
Fotostrap’s gorgeous straps (available in a variety of colors and patterns—including camouflage) are made of durable canvas with brown leather accents and connectors. The strap is monogrammable for a mere additional $8, and with every purchase, Fotostrap donates 10% of proceeds to Fotolanthropy, a non-profit that gives portrait sessions and short films to inspiring people who are overcoming adversity.
A7 Lincoln Camera Strap
Brooklyn-based A7 has a variety of good-looking, well-made straps to choose from, but the Lincoln is our favorite. Made entirely from rich leather and available in three colors (tan, chocolate, and black), it’ll quickly become your favorite camera strap.
Tap & Dye Legacy Leather Camera Strap
Long Island City-based Tap & Dye’s Legacy strap is made from full-grain leather that’s treated with natural oils to condition and protect it, and has antique nickel played brass rivets. The strap is ultra-thin, which will make it stand out from the bulkier camera straps you’ll see most people sporting.
Killspencer Camera Strap
If you’re looking for something different than a regular camera strap, look no further than this strap from Los Angeles-based Killspencer. Made from a combination of bridle leather and paracord, its virtually tangle-free and unbreakable.
Apolis Transit Issue Camera Strap
Founded 10 years ago by two brothers, Apolis means “global citizen,” which is reflected in every product they sell. This simple, sturdy black camera strap will be the only camera strap you’ll ever have to buy.
Anchor Bridge x Roberu Camera Strap
Japanese designers Anchor Bridge and Roberu have paired up to create a quality leather camera strap that manages to be rugged and elegant simultaneously.
ONA Presidio
New York City-based ONA takes its name from Swahili, where “ona” means “to feel and experience with the eyes,” which is pretty appropriate for a brand rooted in photography. With ONA’s padded leather Presidio strap (available in various shades) you’ll look cool and stay comfortable throughout an entire day of sightseeing.
Tanner Goods SLR Camera Strap
Another offering from Tanner Goods, its SLR Camera Strap is crafted from Horween leather and attaches to your camera with two sturdy nylon cords, taking the place of metal hardware that could potentially damage the body of your camera.
Hard Graft Hang Camera Strap
London-based Hard Graft uses the very best materials to craft gorgeous goods, and its Hand Camera Strap is no exception. Crafted with a combination of Tuscan vegetable-tanned leather and Italian wool felt, you’ll have photo geeks flocking to you to ask you where you got your strap.
Hold Fast Leather Goods Money Maker Multi-Camera Strap
Crafted in the heart of Oklahoma, this Money Maker Multi-Camera Strap is for serious photographers only. Made with quality leather, this holster-style strap can hold up to three cameras (or two cameras and a small camera bag), with anchored metal rings and a slider system that allows easy-access to all cameras you’ve got attached to the holster.
Ghurka Khaki Twill Camera Strap
Named for the Ghurka soldiers found in the Himalayas, the leather goods company was born in the 1970s and has been crafting quality bags and accessories ever since. And while shelling out $200 for something that already came with your camera might seem crazy, this Khaki Twill Camera Strap is worth it. Made with Ghurka’s buttery chesnut leather and rugged twill canvas, you’ll wonder how you ever used the strap that came in the box.
