When slinging a camera over your shoulder, there are two ways it can go. You can look like a tourist, or you can look like you know what you’re doing.
With the Topo Designs Camera Strap you can be one of those people that looks like they know what they’re doing, even if your photos turn out to be shit.
Cleverly simple, the Topo Camera Strap uses a climbing rope as the main ingredient. This Colorado staple that is found in the trunk of every Subaru in the state can now be used to hold your camera securely around your neck. DSLR, mirrorless, 35mm, Polaroid – it doesn’t matter. The Camera Strap supports them all.
It’s a great alternative to those floppy cloth straps that come with your camera when you buy it and doesn’t look as pretentious as the thick leather straps that, from behind, look like they should be holding up a guitar.
When the strap is new it can be fairly stiff, but over time breaks in and becomes ever more comfortable without losing its overall structure. Even on longer hikes it doesn’t really become a burden, nor does it snag on hair or clothing.
What the Camera Strap is Made Of
The Topo Designs Camera Strap is made from a 10.5mm climbing rope and is hand stitched right here in Colorado.
Why did they choose to go with 10.5mm and not another size, like 9.6mm or 8.4mm, or even 11mm? I have no idea, nor does it matter. 10.5mm, as it turns out, is a comfortable size and my assumption is that any smaller and you would have felt it cutting into your neck when wearing it for long periods of time.
Camera Strap Colors
The Topo Strap is available in four colors: Green, Blue, Maroon, and Multi-color. All of them have a vibrant pattern that mixes in multiple colors with the primary. For example, the maroon has splashes of blue and red.
I have three of these straps and sometimes it’s hard to pick which one is my favorite color. Sometimes it depends on my mood and sometimes it depends on what camera I’m taking out that day. There is a benefit to having a few of these, so stock up.
Camera Strap Length
The Camera Strap is 26.5” long and features adjustable sliplocks at each end. The actual rope portion is what is 26.5″, so that gives you plenty of room to make adjustments as needed.
Other Topo Designs Camera Accessories
If you’re wanting to go full Topo with your camera accessories, here are some other pieces of camera kit that Topo makes.
Camera Cube
[Discontinued] This nifty little accessory turned any bag into a camera bag. The Camera Cube has padded side walls and customizable dividers so you can sort and organize to your heart’s content. Up top it has a cinch closure and two grab handles. Once it’s all loaded up, it easily slips into your backpack. While it’s no longer available, keep an eye out on resell sites and maybe pick one up used.
Accessory Bags
These technically aren’t camera specific, but if you’re like me you have lots of random pieces of gear lying around that would be much easier to find if they were in one place. Use the Topo Accessory Bags to store your cables, card readers, lens wipe clothes, and all the other little stuff you need with you when out snapping pics.
Spruce Up Your Camera Strap
These aren’t made by a Colorado brand, but I am a huge fan of Peak Designs Anchor Links. These handy little connectors act as a quick release for your strap so if you have multiple cameras and only one strap, you can pop it on and off quickly. This means you can use your Topo Designs Camera Strap on everything you own. Multiple cameras? Check. Binoculars? Check. Strap it to your National Park stickered up Nalgene? Why the hell not.
Where to Buy Yours
Price: $29.00
Get it directly from Topo: https://topodesigns.com/products/camera-strap
