Have you ever had a camera strap break? It may be a bit paranoid on my part, but when I have a few thousand dollars of camera and lens hanging around my neck, I sometimes think -- what...

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

It may be a bit paranoid on my part, but when I have a few thousand dollars of camera and lens hanging around my neck, I sometimes think -- what if this strap breaks! The new straps made mostly of military grade nylon type products seem very safe but still it makes me question just how safe they really are. The only straps I've had break were long ago when they were made of leather. I never had one break and cause an accident, just come apart in the camera bag as I was moving stuff around. The old straps would get dried out and crack.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Not yet. Thanks for the warning.
I'm still using a 2" wide denim clip-on strap from the early 70s.
The leather triangles at the ends where the clips are located seem okay, for now.
Maybe I should put some leather conditioner on them.

therwol Loc: USA

Bridges wrote:

The only straps I've had break were long ago when they were made of leather. I never had one break and cause an accident, just come apart in the camera bag as I was moving stuff around. The old straps would get dried out and crack.

Same here. I had one that came with a 1969 Nikon leather case just stretch and stretch over time, and it eventually broke. The case itself it still in pretty good shape, but by the 80s, Nikon leather cases and straps just disintegrated over time. I have no worries about newer straps.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I use nothing but Optech wrist and sling straps and have had no “incidents.” I’m even foolish enough to let bodies and lens dangle free from those straps causing occasional gasps from friends with me.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Longshadow wrote:

Not yet. Thanks for the warning.
I'm still using a 2" wide denim clip-on strap from the early 70s.
The leather triangles at the ends where the clips are located seem okay, for now.
Maybe I should put some leather conditioner on them.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Bridges wrote:

It may be a bit paranoid on my part, but when I ha... (show quote)

I have never had a strap break while using it but yes, the leather ones do rot or get brittle. And thus fall apart in storage. I essentially use fabric straps that probably can not break. I think the lugs on the cameras might go first.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

Go with Peak Design and your worries are over. IMHO. And I have never had one break.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

If it is a concern get one with a steel cable in it. B&H $25.00

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Picture Taker wrote:

If it is a concern get one with a steel cable in it. B&H $25.00

I really doubt the newer straps break but the ones with the steel cables are recommended for travel in some countries. It has been the practice of some thieves to slice through a camera strap and steal the camera. I think that is why the ones with steel cables were developed.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Bridges wrote:

I really doubt the newer straps break but the ones with the steel cables are recommended for travel in some countries. It has been the practice of some thieves to slice through a camera strap and steal the camera. I think that is why the ones with steel cables were developed.

They were.

therwol Loc: USA

Bridges wrote:

I really doubt the newer straps break but the ones with the steel cables are recommended for travel in some countries. It has been the practice of some thieves to slice through a camera strap and steal the camera. I think that is why the ones with steel cables were developed.

Another issue that applies to straps sold with cameras is that they can be a walking advertisement for the kind of camera they're attached to, like NIKON D850 screaming out in yellow. Thief bait.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

therwol wrote:

Another issue that applies to straps sold with cameras is that they can be a walking advertisement for the kind of camera they're attached to, like NIKON D850 screaming out in yellow. Thief bait.

Yup.
My old denim strap is nondescript.

therwol Loc: USA

wapiti wrote:

Go with Peak Design and your worries are over. IMHO. And I have never had one break.

That's exactly what I put on my Nikon D850 after I removed the "advertisement" strap from it. Excellent strap.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Bridges wrote:

It may be a bit paranoid on my part, but when I ha... (show quote)

I've never had one break BUT I have had one wiggle free from its 'buckle'. I now but a drop of Gorilla glue on the strap at the buckle.

bwa

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Bridges wrote:

It may be a bit paranoid on my part, but when I ha... (show quote)

I have used Optitech for years and have never had a Strap come lose to breaking, But I have had a "plastic" quick release connector fail for reasons unknown, but luckily never dropping the camera. I no longer use the quick release connectors.