Wrist Assured – The 21 Best Wrist Straps for 2021 

The humble camera wrist strap has to be one of the most underrated items that a photographer can have in their kit. If you’re searching for a new camera strap you’ll find hundreds of blogs and websites reviewing regular camera neck straps, but the wrist strap always seems to be added as an afterthought. I believe that it deserved more credit so I chose to track down some of the best quality wrist straps available from around the world and show how useful owning one is. 

Prior to the invention of 35mm cameras such as the Leica, cameras were too heavy to use a wrist strap. But as 35mm cameras and smaller medium format cameras appeared, smaller wrist straps became a viable method of preventing drops and damage.

The earliest wrist straps appeared in the 1930s, and probably the most beautiful was released with the Voigtländer Virtus and Prominent, 6×9 folding cameras produced between 1933 and 1935, and seen just below this paragraph. These cameras came with a heavy-duty plaited leather strap which connected to the lug mount.

Early Leicas had no strap lugs. Lugs were only introduced on a Leica in 1933. One of the most famous Leica shooters of all time, Henri-Cartier Bresson, used a wrist strap most of his life and is shown in photos taken as early as 1935 using one (although he appears to be wrapping a neck strap around his wrist). In the 1930s, Voigtländer and Leica cameras were very expensive, and the manufacturers wisely sold them with wrist straps to protect them from being dropped. Nearly a hundred years later wrist straps are still a valuable accessory for the same reason. 

I doubt there’s ever been an article as exhaustively obsessed with talking about wrist straps as this one. Here we go.

[Featured image courtesy of Stroppa Straps]

The Top 21 Wrist Straps for 2021 

There is a dizzying array of choices when it comes to wrist straps. Personally, I abhor the fact that we have become a throwaway society and the whole concept of designed obsolescence makes my blood boil. Far too often our purchasing decisions are based purely upon what product is the cheapest, rather than its quality, craftsmanship, history and provenance. The beautiful video above by Trillo & Sons in Fort Worth, Texas in the United States of America shows the craftmanship which goes into the products I’ve selected.

I’ve selected the wrist straps in this article based not only their quality and design, but also because they are by smaller companies that handcraft their straps with the highest quality materials. Yes, there are cheaper versions available on global eCommerce sites, but ask yourself; isn’t it better to buy something from an artisan who puts their heart and soul into their work than from a company that may not pay their workers fairly, or in some cases may even use forced labor?  I think this is summed up well by Mateusz, the owner of Stroppa Straps in Poland … 

“In modern times people forget about traditions. Everything is being mass-produced for the sake of profit. At Stroppa we do not want to follow this trend. We do not treat Stroppa as something subject to globalization and mass production. Our philosophy is different. Stroppa straps are handmade, following centuries-old traditions of artisans. Each piece of leather and rope is carefully transformed from raw material into a precious object that is meant to withstand the test of time.”

As creatives, we need to support other creatives and buy from small businesses, not giant multinationals. As this New York Times article details, doing so can have profound effects. The whole world is struggling against the negative economic impact of Covid-19, and if you are fortunate enough to have spare money to spend, I suggest that you spend your disposable income where it can do the most good. 

I have sorted the wrist straps on the list from least expensive to most expensive, and tried to include different options for most tastes, styles and budgets. Many of the straps I have selected are handmade, but don’t assume that craftmanship and handmade equals expensive; I have managed to find many that cost less than $50. The more expensive ones are generally made from expensive materials and beautifully hand-crafted using tradition methods, so as far as I am concerned, they are great value for money. 

Disclaimer: Of course, I didn’t buy 21 wrist straps to compile this review, and I have gone off each manufacturer’s descriptions and pricing to compile this list. As I said, a big part of including a strap in this list was if they were handmade or produced by small companies. All prices are in United States Dollars, and do not include the postage prices. 

Cordweaver “CORDY”; Radstock, United Kingdom; PRICE – $8

Brian, the owner of Cordweaver, handmakes his classic “Cordy” camera wrist straps from genuine US manufactured Type III 550lb Paracord with seven internal strands rated to 249.4kg (550lb). Using a single length of Paracord, he creates a small eyelet at the beginning of the strap and then uses a cobra weave pattern to make each (approximately) 20 cm (8 inch) wristband. The remaining cord threads through the eyelet to form the wrist loop. Because of its high strength Paracord construction, the Cordy is extremely strong and safe to use for even the heaviest cameras. SHOP

Vintage Wrist Straps; PRICE – $15 (and up)

If you go on eBay you will find a variety of vintage wrist straps. My two favourites are the plaited leather wrist straps which came with Bolex movie cameras, and the metal snake chains. Bolex Paillard is a Swiss company and you can get legendary Swiss quality for a fraction of the price of new straps, but make sure to condition the leather before wearing them. Also beware that old leather can perish and break, so beware of using them on very expensive or heavy cameras. The metal snake chain wrist straps with a tripod mount were made in Germany in the 1950s. There are a variety of them, mine is 3.2mm around, fully nickel-plated brass. It is superbly made and really goes well with my vintage film cameras, but these are a lot harder to find than the Bolex straps. Vintage wrist straps are also available from F Stop Cameras. SHOP

Gordy’s Straps; Washington State, USA; PRICE – $25

Gordon Coale aka Gordy started as a one-man business back in 2005, handmaking camera straps from his home on Whidbey Island, north of Seattle in the United States. The business now includes his wife Zoe, his son Robby, and his helpers Kim, Tassa and Casey, but Gordy’s straps is still a small business. Over the years his wrist straps have become quite famous, featured in blogs, and reviewed by photographers all over the World, so he must be doing something right. Gordy’s wrist straps are very Zen in their simplicity and utility, made from a single strip of California Latigo belt leather with a polished outer and a rawhide inner surface and wrapped with Gordy’s signature waxed heavy-duty cord in a range of colours. They are available in three lengths and with three type of attachments; string, lug mount or Tripod Mount. They cost $25, and you can make them a bit more comfortable by adding a wrist pad for $15 more. – SHOP

Alstad Goods A015; New York, USA; PRICE – $29

Mika Becktor, a second-generation leather craftsman, and Tom Hayes produce beautiful traditionally crafted leathergoods in New York. Their combination of British Heritage design and a Swedish minimal utilitarian design aesthetic have resulted in a high-end looking wrist strap, yet for a fraction of the price of better-known brands. Their standard wrist strap fits any wrist size with its unique snare design and is made of Horween vegetable tanned horse leather, also known as “North of Cordovan” used for its particularly tight grain, unique pattern and unmatched durability. They offer a variety of leathers, even a handstitched Shell Cordovan version for $199. The very different leash style snare design and superb workmanship makes this strap an absolute bargain. – SHOP

Peak Design Cuff; USA; PRICE – $29.95  

Peak Design straps feature in nearly every camera strap review for a reason. I chose to try and feature smaller businesses, but Peak’s quick release system is a game changer, which is why they are included here. The company started in 2010 when Peter Dering took a four-month trip around the world, and like many of us who travel with a camera he learned that a good strap is a necessity. He returned to his San Francisco apartment and did what any responsible person would: quit his job and spent ten months meticulously designing a little device that would make carrying and using a camera an absolute joy. He first listed the Cuff design strap on Kickstarter in 2013 and it was quickly over-subscribed with 8,090 backers who funded it  to the tune of $819,108. Their Cuff wrist strap features a great design, adjustable length, lightweight, compact, tough materials, is rated for up to 90kg (200lbs), and comes with a lifetime warranty. – SHOP

Lance Camera Straps – Braided Leather; USA; $35

As I mentioned in the introduction, the first modern camera wrist strap was made for the Voigtländer Prominent in 1932. Lance Camera Straps make a modern version which is unusual because making four plait braided leather straps is a complex technique that is quite uncommon amongst modern strap manufacturers.  The advantage of a braided strap is that despite being exceptionally light and supple they can carry a great deal of weight. Braided leather straps are soft, supple and smooth, and ideal for shooters that want that one-handed setup. Lance has been in business since 2012 and his straps offer the look and craftsmanship of straps that sell for three times the price. I purchased a custom-made strap fitted with a tripod mount, as this is the ideal strap for those who shoot vintage film cameras like myself. – SHOP

Stroppa; Poland; PRICE – $38

Rope wrist straps became popular a few years ago, and now you can buy cheap knock offs, but most of these are mass produced in factories where workers are paid very little and no effort is put into producing a quality product. A while back I was looking to get a custom wrist strap made and discovered Stroppa Straps, a one-man-company owned and run Mateusz Grybczyński, a young Polish craftsman with a strong passion for photography.

Stroppa produce rope and leather camera straps which may superficially resemble the cheap copies you see online, but in fact each one is hand produced by Mateusz with pride, from only the very best materials. The polypropylene silk cord is sourced from top quality producers in Poland and the United States. The ends are hand stitched using traditional Italian veg-tanned leather and Italian waxed thread. Even the stainless-steel split rings are handmade by a machinist friend of Mateusz.

Stroppa’s wrist straps are available in three versions Active, Duo, or Flex, and they come in twelve different rope colors, and twenty-five different stitching colors. Similar straps which are mass produced are much more expensive. In the next few months they will also be producing a solid Shell Cordovan leather strap as well. – SHOP

ONA – The Kyoto; New York City, USA; PRICE – $49

Founded by Tracy Foster in 2010, ONA is a highly renowned company known to many for their classy, high end camera bags. All their products are manufactured by a family-owned factory in the Dominican Republic. The Kyoto camera wrist strap is handcrafted from full-grain premium leather left over from the material used to make ONA’s premium camera bags. Designed for the photographer who needs their camera at-hand without wanting a traditional strap, the Kyoto wrist strap is reinforced for strength and padded for comfort. Capable of supporting cameras up to six pounds and stress-tested to ten pounds. – SHOP

Trillo & Sons Brehme Strap; Fort Worth, Texas USA; PRICE – $55

Hiram Trillo is an award-winning international wedding photographer based in Fort Worth, Texas. He wanted a lightweight, durable, and comfortable camera strap which eventually led to him designing his own line of camera straps.  His wrist strap is dubbed the “Brehme” as an homage to Hugo Brehme, the German-Mexican photographer. The Brehme wrist strap is made using leather from sustainable local U.S. tanneries and hand stitched using their trademark weather-treated red nylon thread for strength and durability. Every strap is hand made from start to finish to the highest quality personally by Hiram, as illustrated in this video. Because they are bespoke, please allow 14-20 days for delivery. – SHOP

NRCO Leatherworks; Geneva, Switzerland; PRICE – $62

Enrico makes absolutely superb quality wrist straps from the highest quality English bridle leathers. The strap end is fully hand stitched and the edges are hand burnished for increased comfort and durability. These straps are made to order and therefore individually crafted according to your specifications. Personalize your leather goods purchased from NRCO Leatherworks with a custom embossing of your choice in two typefaces, Gill Sans Bold or Garamond. Add initials, names or a short message if the space allows for it. – SHOP

Barton 1972 Braidy; Hong Kong; PRICE – $70  

The Barton 1972 Braidy is produced by Carmen and Victor; two photo enthusiasts who started designing and selling camera straps to sell on Ebay in 2009 under the name Barton1972. I like the fact their straps have no annoying logos, just a beautifully crafted strap with a more stylish and modern look than the traditional four plait leather used on vintage straps. All their straps which come in a variety of styles and colors are handmade at their private studio in Hong Kong. if you Google the company you will see numerous reviews all attesting to the quality of their straps. – SHOP

595Strapco Quick Release Anchor; Redditch, United Kingdom; PRICE – $76   

The Anchor Quick Release wrist strap is available in black or brown 19mm (¾”) wide Horween Chromexcel leather. Each strap features 1mm Ritza Tiger waxed polyester thread in a choice of black or red, allowing you to customize your strap as you wish. This is a versatile wrist strap if you have several cameras, as it uses Peak Design AL-4 Anchor Links which allow you to swap the strap from one camera to another in a matter of seconds. I like the combination of the traditional look of the leather strap combined with the utility of a quick release system. It also features a matching stitched keeper allowing you to tighten the strap around your wrist, keeping your camera close and safe to you. – SHOP

Hawkesmill Oxford; United Kingdom; PRICE – $75

Hawkesmill was started in 2012 with the goal of creating world-class camera straps, and I think they have definitely attained that goal. Handmade in England in a factory which has a combined experience of more than 200 years of traditional English leatherwork techniques and using Horween Chromexcel leather from the United States, Hawsmill’s wrist straps have traditional style and craftsmanship that I really admire. You can see from the attention that they put into even the smallest details of the straps that they are designed to last a lifetime and will make the perfect addition to a beloved camera. The Oxford comes in black and brown leather, brown is accented with orange stitching, and black is accented with red stitching. If James Bond sported a wrist strap I think he would have one of these (and our own James – not Bond – uses the larger version on his Leica). – SHOP

Black Wine by Lucky Straps; Bendigo, Australia; PRICE – $76

Lucky Straps is the brainchild of Justin Castle, who like many photographers couldn’t find straps he liked, so he ended up making his own. If you shoot a heavier DSLR or medium format camera then this is the wrist strap for you; a very wide, strong and comfortable looking strap, strength tested to over 16kg (35lb).

Like the Peak Design wrist strap, Lucky Straps also devised their own quick release system which they tout as “game-changing” because it “finally allows photographers to attach, detach and swap camera straps on the fly without the need for any dongles, strap or buckles to remain on the camera.” You can watch the Youtube video about the system here. Lucky Straps are handmade of genuine leather in Australia, and they can even personalize your strap by having it embossed with your name, business name or company Logo. – SHOP

“Henri” Wrist Strap Pro by Eric Kim; Saigon, Vietnam; PRICE – $79

Many readers of this blog would be familiar with Eric Kim as a blogger and street photographer, but he also produces some accessories including his “Henri” leather wrist strap named after his hero Henri Cartier-Bresson. The “Henri” is handmade, hand cut, and hand stitched from start to finish by a leather-maker in Saigon, then polished and packaged in Berkeley California, USA. I like the fact that Eric’s goal is to support honest and beautiful work with respectful wages to our artists, artisans, and collaborators. To read about the history of the strap and sourcing click here. – SHOP

Tap & Dye Legacy; Bushwick, New York, USA; PRICE – $85

Tap & Dye was founded by Justin Waldinger, who began making his strap out of his apartment in Queens, NY over eight years ago. For the last almost-five years he has been making his products out of an Bushwick artist loft space. His premium Legacy wrist strap is hand-stitched using weather-treated bonded nylon tiger thread for durability and strength. Made from Horween Chromexcel leather each strap is 7 oz thick and features minimal metal components to ensure protection from scratches and dings. Each strap is custom made with either black, natural, brown, crimson (red) and white stitching, so they can be as unique as the photographer carrying it. I love Justin’s emphasis on quality American-made products. “All hardware components are sourced from vendors and manufacturers within the U.S which means that when you support this brand, you are in turn supporting an ecosystem of American manufacturers and vendors as well. And that’s a good thing.” As these are bespoke, expect to wait a few weeks for your very own strap. – SHOP

Rock n’ Roll Napa; Nicosia, Cyprus; PRICE – $85

Starting in 2015 with his famed – and much copied – Komboloi wrist strap Evris Papanikolas is now the owner of one of the best-regarded camera strap manufacturers in the world, lauded by bloggers like Thorsten von Overgaard and Steve Huff. His straps are entirely handmade using top quality Italian and Greek leather, hand stitched and assembled by two leather-working professionals, being experienced belt and bag makers. Their Napa Wrist strap is a really striking design which comes in red, black and roulette and is made from triple braided Napa calfskin renowned for its softness, fine grain, and durability. – SHOP

Oberwerth ISAR; Coblenz, Germany; PRICE – $99 

Oberwerth is German bag and strap manufacturer whose ISAR wrist strap is handmade from velvety and especially soft Rhubarb Leather®. Rhubarb Leather® is environmentally friendly and sustainably-produced in Germany with tannins from rhubarb root and is particularly friendly to the skin by avoiding chemical tanning agents. The soft interior padding incorporated into the wrist strap ensures a balanced distribution of the weight of the camera, and outstanding comfort. The ISAR wrist strap is designed to carry a load of up to 25 kg (55 lbs), and thus is particularly suitable for heavy DSLR and medium format film cameras. – SHOP

Artisan & Artist Hirakaragumi; Tokyo, Japan; PRICE – $100

Artisan & Artist have been around since 1991 and are renowned for their high quality camera gear. While there are innumerable round nylon wrist straps made from nylon cord, A&A’s Hirakaragumi has a flatter profile which I think is more comfortable than a round cord. Hirakaragumi is a square plaited form of traditional Japanese silk cord “Kumihimo” which is produced in a traditional artisan’s workshop in Kyoto. Kumihimo is a Japanese word for a braided cord: the verb kumu means to braid or to plait, and the noun himo is a cord. The art of Kumihimo (Japanese braiding) dates back 1,400 years. In Japan, silk was originally reserved for aristocrats and praised for its elasticity, strength and flawless beauty. Traditionally it was used for decorative belts for ancient court dresses and braids to hold together pieces of Samurai armor. In modern times, kumihimo appears mostly in the form of the obijime, a traditional accessory worn with a Japanese kimono. – SHOP

Arte di Mano Waxed Cotton Strap by JnK-handworks Co.; Seoul, South Korea; PRICE – $104

‘Arte di mano’ means ‘Art of Hand’ in Italian, but these beautiful straps are handmade by Sejun Kim in Seoul, South Korea. Sejun makes a very unusual, waxed cotton wrist strap using the very best material such as Italian leather, Spanish waxed cotton and waxed linen thread made in Germany. The company also makes custom made wrist straps in a dizzying variety of rare leathers. This is a premium product with absolutely top-quality workmanship, which is evidenced by the fact that Arte di Mano has collaborated with Leica, BMW, Samsung and a host of other high-end companies. – SHOP

Vi Vante Bengal Unleashed Strap; South Florida, USA; PRICE – $112 

I hadn’t seen this strap prior to my research but included it here because the design is very classy, and it is made of ultra-soft lambskin leather, which is one of the most beautiful leathers to wear against your skin. Lambskin is a very fine-grained leather with a smooth buttery texture, and has been used in high-end leather goods such as handbags made by French fashion houses like Hermes, Dior and Chanel. Viv Vante is the brainchild of Scott Morvay, a Leicaphile and photographer who saw a segment in the market for the very finest quality camera bags and straps. About the Bengal Unleashed strap he writes… “A lot of research and development went into the design. The Strap not only looks unique but can safely support the weight of the camera entirely. Our braid is also the most stylish on the market and it looks like a bracelet when wearing.” – SHOP

Harry Benz – La Cravate Pinstripe; Toronto, Canada; PRICE – $140 

I included this strap here because it has some unique features not seen on any other strap. Firstly, it’s made from the finest black water buffalo leather which is far superior to other leathers in terms of its strength. Buffalo leather’s epidermal layer is three times thicker than cowhide, and because it’s not stretched during the tanning process is far more resistant to tearing. Full grain buffalo leather is the strongest leather that you can buy, bar none. Unlike most other leathers it does not have a fleshy underside, which means it never becomes slippery. The second unique feature is that the loop closure is friction-based and can be moved easily back and forth. Yet, no matter where you set it, the loop will stay fixed exactly where you put it. It fits any person and wont bunch up in your hand when holding your camera. The La Cravate wrist strap is available in small, medium and large sizes. – SHOP

Cartier-Bresson takes pictures in his Paris apartment, by John Loengard, 1987

Helpful Tips for choosing and using a Wrist Strap 

As I quickly discovered in researching this article, there are a multitude of options to consider when buying a wrist strap, and while many factors may be practically motivated, your individual aesthetic taste will be a big factor too. The majority of camera gear is made from man-made materials, but I prefer natural materials like leather, silk, and linen; so many of these straps may not appeal to those who like the ultra-modern look. 

Anyway – here are some things to consider when choosing which strap to buy.

Attachment Method: This is a crucial factor because the main reason for using a wrist strap is to prevent dropping and breaking your camera. The two main attachment methods are connecting to the strap lugs on the camera body or the tripod socket. In addition to that, manufacturers now make quick-release systems allowing you to use straps on multiple cameras. Also take into account that the size and strength of lug mounts differs between camera manufacturers, for instance I have a Brooks-Plaubel Verwide 100 camera and the lugs really are not sufficient to carry the camera using a neck strap.

Split rings are the critical attachment point between the camera and the strap. Cheaper straps often use nickel-plated alloy split rings, but you should use stainless steel. If you are unsure, buy good quality split rings that best fit your camera and ensure they are stainless steel.  Beware that some compact cameras have very small lug holes, the best straps for these are ones that use a string to attach to the strap. Beware that many entry-level DSLRs only have a slot to attach flat nylon straps and these cannot be used with straps that use split ring for attachment. 

The biggest problem with mounting a strap on the lug mounts is that the split rings are difficult to take off and aren’t easy to switch between cameras. That is why I prefer a tripod mounted strap, I can just take one strap in my bag and swap between cameras that I may be carrying in my bag as I use them, it takes literally three seconds to unscrew.

Another method used by some strap manufacturers is to use the Peak Design AL-4 Anchor Links as connectors on their straps. This is an ingenious system that comes in two parts, one is the links that attach to your camera with cord, and then these slot into a holder on the strap. This system is used by some of the strap makers here. 

Strength: The second most important choice needs to be the strength or weight capacity of your wrist strap. If you use a full-frame DSLR, medium format film camera or use a heavy lens, then a wrist strap is probably not the best option. But if you shoot an older film SLR or rangefinder, vintage folding camera, or a point and shoot, then a wrist strap is ideal. As a rule of thumb, the heavier your camera is the stronger your strap should be, thus with a point and shoot you could get away with a thinner strap connected to a lug mount. If you are shooting a heavier camera, then naturally a thicker strap with a tripod mount will provided the best safety for your camera. 

Materials: As I stated above, I am not a fan of manmade materials, but that is my own aesthetic taste. Nylon is probably the most common material used in modern camera straps – it’s very strong, durable and light weight. In terms of wrist straps, plaited paracord and nylon rope wrist straps have become very popular, and I have included some in the list. 

Paracord was made possible by the invention of nylon by Wallace Hume Carothers for DuPont in 1935. During WWII it was used to create chute lines for US Paratroops, thus Para-Cord. Even after it fell out of use for parachute suspension lines it became a standard military supply item for troops due to its strength and versatility, and I remember using it in the Australian Army for just about everything. You can read more about the history and uses of Paracord here.

A superb material is silk cord, which has many of the features of Nylon, but is instead a natural material. Some the very best wrist straps using silk are made in Japan. The craftsmanship which goes into producing Japanese silk straps dates back centuries to when it was used by Samurai warriors to strap on their armor, and as wrapping for swords. 

But the best and most ubiquitous material for camera straps is leather (unless you’re ethically opposed – which is a fair position). It’s natural, durable, stylish, and develops a beautiful patina with age; however, it is generally heavier and more expensive. Leather comes in a variety of types, the most commonly used being cowhide, pigskin, suede, calfskin and lambskin. Buffalo, horsehide, cowhide and pigskin are the toughest and most hard wearing but take some time to break in and soften. Suede, Calfskin, Goatskin and lambskin are beautifully soft and comfortable (these were the traditional material for the best gloves), but they are more expensive than ordinary leathers. Colour-transference can be a problem with the leather used on cheaper wrist straps, this is where the color used to dye the leather can stain clothes.

The very best leathers are English Bridle Leather, Horween Chromexcel, and Shell Cordovan, which are only used in very high-end leatherware. You will often see Horween used, which refers to the Horween Tannery in Chicago, Illinois, USA which has been producing leather since 1905. Horween Chromexcel is favoured by quality strap producers for its combination of strength, suppleness and lack of Colour-transference. Horween has a great post on their blog describing the Chromexcel process.

The oldest and most environmentally-safe leather production method is vegetable tanning. I love how raw vegetable tanned leather darkens with age and develops a beautiful patina, but beware that colored vegetable tanned leather is prone to color-transference. I know that some people have ethical objections to leather, so I even found one strap made from rhubarb leather; who knew there was such a thing?

Construction: Nothing beats a handmade and hand-stitched leather strap, but even other types of straps like paracord or rope straps have stitching, and if they are hand-stitched that is a sign they will be better constructed. A good manufacturer will have pride in their materials. Read their website and find out what they use, and if they don’t state it, ask them. Even small thing like split rings are important as they are the vital connection between your strap and the camera, poor quality ones aren’t capable of carrying much weight.  

Strap Maintenance: Regardless of material (leather, nylon, silk) you should clean your strap occasionally with a damp cloth and natural soap to remove body oils which can damage straps. Leather is a natural product and does require nourishment. I would recommend a natural product to condition your strap, Neatsfoot or Mink oil are the best, and I use Saphir Renovateur from France. For a more detailed guide see Hawksmille’s strap cleaning guide. 

Length and Width: Again, the best length is determined partially by the weight of your camera, and how you like to wear a strap. In general, a heavier camera will require a thicker, longer strap and a smaller camera a shorter thinner strap. As with length, the width of a strap is determined by the weight and size of your camera; a heavier camera will require a wider strap but that doesn’t mean you cannot use a wide strap with a smaller camera. I would avoid thin straps except for very light weight cameras, using them with a heavier camera will cause it to cut into your skin. A wrist strap should be as comfortable as possible because you will be using it for extended periods of time, and the length, width and type of material are imperative to get right so that you can potentially wear it all day. 

Wrist Pads: Wrist pads are a wider piece of leather that can be added to thinner leather straps for more support and increased comfort. These are useful if you carry a heavier camera or carry a camera for long periods of time. Several of the makers here offer them, and they can be purchased separately. 

Leather Bumpers: You should always use a leather bumper as they help protect the strap from wearing on your camera. Most of the straps I have selected here come with them, but genuine leather bumpers are readily available online.   

And that’s that. I admit, writing 5,000 words on camera wrist straps may be overkill, but if you’re in the market for a quality strap, I hope this article has helped.

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