How do you manage your camera when hiking? (Page 2): I wonder if someone who uses the Cotton Carrier system has found a solution...like perhaps add-on strap pads from a sporting goods...

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

PixelStan77 wrote:

The Cotton Carrier straps are not very comfortable. They are padded. If you buy it from B&H and don't like it, you can return it without a penalty.

I wonder if someone who uses the Cotton Carrier system has found a solution...like perhaps add-on strap pads from a sporting goods store. I am not a "great outdoorsman," so my knowledge of equipment available in that area is limited.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

PixelStan77 wrote:

The Cotton Carrier straps are not very comfortable. They are padded. If you buy it from B&H and don't like it, you can return it without a penalty.

I use my Cotton Carrier all day long, but my one major criticism is that they should make a model that has a backpack type suspension where the weight is transferred to your hips rather than half way between your waist and neck. Also, if you are using it for serious backpacking, you should consider modifying a Cotton Carrier so that it would attach directly to your backpack harness system so that the camera's weight would transfer to your hips like the rest of your backpacks load.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Don't mind the weight of binoculars centered in front, but a camera with a longer lens in front is not for me. I use a simple shoulder strap with the camera at waist level at my right hip. Very easy to pick the camera up to eye level with my right hand. I like the Peak Design Slide strap.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I have my tripod set up as a monopod with my camera attached, I find the balance point (somewhere on the vertical column) and hold it there to either carry it or to use it as a staff/walking stick for support and balance. I know not to put too much weight on it because of the possibility that the extended leg might collapse, but it's fine for helping me to keep my balance when I'm traversing a slippery slope or crossing an obstacle like a fence. And of course it's always there to use as a tripod when needed.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Your camera comes with a very handy accessory - called a strap.
hook it over one arm and your head and the camera will sit in front - not always a great idea, or behind you near your kidneys.
Most hiking jackets come with pockets too.
have fun

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I use a USA GEAR DSLR Camera Strap Chest Harness. It was fabulous as I scrambled over the rocks and boulders at Dolly Sods Wilderness.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

G Brown wrote:

Your camera comes with a very handy accessory - called a strap.
hook it over one arm and your head and the camera will sit in front - not always a great idea, or behind you near your kidneys.
Most hiking jackets come with pockets too.
have fun

The "over the head and shoulder" method worked well for me when I was younger and slimmer. At that time, I could even bring my camera up to my eye and shoot without having to untangle everything. It is also a very secure way to carry a camera in an unknown situation...it mirrors the way women are taught to carry their bags in security classes. But now that I am older and more "substantial," this method is less useful if I'm expecting to take photographs without unwinding and unhanging everything.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

bastro wrote:

My wife and I really enjoy hiking in North and Sou... (show quote)

Bastro, here’s what I do. No fancy carriers, blah blah blah, just the stock strap.
Since I never go anywhere far without some kind of backpack, I just shorten the strap on the camera so it’s pretty high on my chest.
All my backpacks have a chest strap.
I simply put the chest strap over the camera strap and buckle it. The camera is VERY stable. Unbuckle, shoot, and re-buckle. Or leave unbuckled if you’re just walking on even terrain. It works great when your using your hands to scramble over rocks or fallen logs etc.
I rarely hike(it’s too slow), mostly I do this when I’m mountain biking with my camera. Holds well, up and down hills!!!
SS

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

SharpShooter wrote:

Bastro, here’s what I do. No fancy carriers, blah ... (show quote)

This is an ingenious option. Have you noticed any wear points where the straps cross?

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

larryepage wrote:

This is an ingenious option. Have you noticed any wear points where the straps cross?

Larry, never noticed any wear. I’m sure I’ll wear out before the strap!!!
Todays webbing material is sooo strong it would take decades to wear it.
I also do this using pretty big and heavy lenses!
It’s pretty low tech though, some don’t like low tech!!! LoL
SS

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

SharpShooter wrote:

Larry, never noticed any wear. I’m sure I’ll wear out before the strap!!!
Todays webbing material is sooo strong it would take decades to wear it.
I also do this using pretty big and heavy lenses!
It’s pretty low tech though, some don’t like low tech!!! LoL
SS

Thanks. I'm going to try your solution. My equipment pack is pretty big and it's easy to overpack it if I'm not careful, but with discipline, this should work great.

I love solutions that don't require buying anything or increasing the count of what needs to be carried.

Thanks for bringing yours forward.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Cotton carrier lens or camera plates are also Arca-Swiss compatible, so no need to remove a piece of attachment hardware to mount it on a tripod with an Arca-Swiss clamp. It's the most comfortable system I have used, with full-frame cameras and lenses from 14-24 all the way up to a 100-300.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Since you use Canon you might consider an M50 with one general "walk around" lens, it is light and tiny enough to fit in a large pocket or a belt pouch. Add an adapter and your other Canon lenses will work on it when circumstances allow.

PS: Tell your wife it isn't a cross country race, slow down and smell the wild flowers or talk to the cut birds and animals - while you take pictures - maybe even some of her that aren't from behind while running to keep up.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

bastro wrote:

My wife and I really enjoy hiking in North and Sou... (show quote)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1345355-REG/cotton_carrier_147grey_ccs_g3_camera_harness.html

Your welcome.

OviedoPhotos

Olympus TG5