Backpack Camera Straps

[SA Bill]

I was looking for a different way to carry my camera while hiking. Since stepping up to a DSLR and adding a vertical grip, with two batteries, and a medium range zoom lens, I'm up to nearly 3 pounds of camera equipment. Carrying that much weight on a strap  around my neck while hiking leads to neck pain (what a surprise!  ) after just a few miles. Not to mention the issue of the camera bouncing around and swinging back and forth as I step over and around rocks or other obstacles.

Soooo....I bought a pair of Tamrac N-11 Backpack Camera Straps. They attach to your pack straps and put the load of the camera on your shoulders instead of your neck. I tried them out today on a 4 mile hike out at Government Canyon SNA. THe straps worked very well! The weight of the camera was transfered to the pack straps and helped (to some degree) balance the weight of the day pack load on my back. No sore neck. Just a little extra weight bearing down on the shoulders. No camera flopping around or swinging at all. I tried having the sternum strap on and off and both ways worked well. On a serious bounce around hike, I will definitely confine the camera using the sternum strap. For on-trail use, it's not absolutely necessary, IMO.

The quick release connectors on the N-11 straps are the same as the connectors on my Tamrac camera strap so it's easy to interchange systems. I'll use the N-11 straps while hiking and carry the regular neck strap to use when I get where I'm going.

For less than $20.00, these Tamrac pack straps are worth a try. I'm sold on them...so far.
  Bill
  

[cjacob]

Bill,

I ordered them last week from the last thread you posted them on.  I am excited because they will click in and out of my neck strap so its very interchangeable.  I hope to have them here next week.  There where under $18 with tax here in Austin at my local shop. 

[SA Bill]

Bill,

I ordered them last week from the last thread you posted them on.  I am excited because they will click in and out of my neck strap so its very interchangeable.  I hope to have them here next week.  There where under $18 with tax here in Austin at my local shop. 

Cool!
I hope you like them.  I think they are going to be a good thing for me. I'll be giving them a good workout next month when I'm in BB.

Let us know what you think once you've tried them.
   Bill

[cjacob]

Bill,

I got them today.  They are going to rock.  in the 5 min I had them on in the house, I wish I had them in San Deigo for the zoo.  This is so nice.  I am excited. 

[SA Bill]

That's great!
  Bill