We spend so much time sorting through and choosing the big ticket accessories for our cameras we can forget how important smaller ones can be. If you think about it, the wrist strap is one of the most important accessories in your whole kit! If you buy a poor one, you risk it snapping and having thousands of dollars of equipment shatter on the ground. That’s why we made this guide to help you find the best DSLR wrist strap.
We’re going to walk you through the 5 best camera wrist straps on the market for different price points and preferences, as well as what features you need to look out for before you buy!
Contents
- 1 Why Should I Buy A DSLR Wrist Strap?
- 2 Top 5 Best DSLR Wrist Straps – Our Picks
- 2.1 1. Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap (Our Pick For Best Camera Wrist Strap)
- 2.2 2. Joby DSLR Wrist Strap (A Great Runner Up At Half The Price)
- 2.3 3. IMZ Leather Hand Grip (Best Leather Wrist Strap)
- 2.4 4. Altura Photo Camera Hand Strap (Best Cheap DSLR Wrist Strap)
- 2.5 5. Techion Braided 550 Paracord Adjustable Camera Wrist Strap (Best Paracord DSLR Wrist Strap)
- 2.6 Honorable Mention: Olympus Adjustable Wrist Strap (Best Wrist Strap For Compact Cameras)
- 3 How To Make Your Own DIY DSLR Wrist Strap
Why Should I Buy A DSLR Wrist Strap?
I know, at this point you’re probably thinking “Hey, my DSLR already came bundled with a wrist strap! I don’t need to waste money on another one!”
That’s a totally fair assessment, but there’s still plenty of reasons to buy a new one!
- Your strap broke! This is the most likely reason you found your way here. We’ll make sure your next one is more sturdy.
- Included straps can be of lesser quality. Included straps can have lower manufacturing costs and overall lower quality. I know I’m not the only one who has felt disappointed in the quality of an included strap.
- It’s great to have backups. If your wrist strap somehow snaps or breaks, you’ll be glad you had an extra one.
- Different styles. When buying a new strap, you can end up with some really cool and fashionable options. The wrist strap that came with your camera defnitely won’t be leather or paracord!
Top 5 Best DSLR Wrist Straps – Our Picks
1. Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap (Our Pick For Best Camera Wrist Strap)
With its simple, ultra-light, elegant design and lifetime manufacturer’s warranty, the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist strap was an easy choice for our favorite wrist strap. The quality to price ratio is unmatched, the design is very smart, and in our opinion, it has the best aesthetic of all the straps we reviewed.
The anchor cords are designed to hold over 200 lbs of resistance, meaning you can probably swing your camera around by this wrist strap without it breaking. Maybe don’t try that.
The anchors are the size of a penny and won’t scratch your camera. They’re designed in a way where it is very easy to tell if damage has been sustained, so you can swiftly replace them and make sure your camera is never in a compromised position.
Another unique feature is that the cuff is able to be worn as a very fashionable bracelet while you are not using it. Disconnect it from your camera so it won’t be flapping around while it’s on your tripod, and connect it quickly with only one hand using the smartly designed anchor system.
2. Joby DSLR Wrist Strap (A Great Runner Up At Half The Price)
With a much more traditional, simple design, the Jobdy Wrist Strap for DSLRs is the most high quality wrist strap of it’s kind. There aren’t any fancy anchors or leather furnishings, but it’s half the price and is very strong, durable, and comfortable.
The last time we featured Joby on our site they were making an awesome impression with their high quality gorillapods, and this wriststrap upholds that standard. The braided nylon is very comfortable and easy to fit.
At less than an ounce, it doesn’t even remotely effect the weight of your camera, yet the strength is capable of supporting even the heaviest DSLR. The design makes the camera strap automatically tighten if you happen to drop your camera, allowing you to wear it loosely while keeping your gear safe.
At the end of the day, it’s just a wrist strap, but this one is on our list because of how consistent the positive reviews are. Even a few years after purchase, it still holds up with little signs of wear and tear. For such a cheap product, this strap does not feel cheap at all.
3. IMZ Leather Hand Grip (Best Leather Wrist Strap)
Some prefer a bit of class with their setups, and if you’re one of those people, this is definitely the strap for you. It wraps around your hand rather than your wrist like the others, but is still sure to keep your camera safe.
What made this option really stand out to us was the inclusion of a quick release metal plate connected to the strap. Not all tripods include these, and having one will allow you to quickly transition between handheld and stable shots on the fly.
Best of all, a small metal piece is included that allows you to use a shoulder strap at the same time as the hand strap, something you can’t do with most other wrist straps. This is important because it gives you the ability to shoot
4. Altura Photo Camera Hand Strap (Best Cheap DSLR Wrist Strap)
If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, or perhaps like the quick connection/disconnection features of the Peak Design model, this wrist strap is your best bet. It’s only around 10 dollars, and while it may not look as sleek as our previous offerings, it performs very well.
It comes with two connectors, one for smaller cameras like GoPros and Point-And-Shoots, and a thicker heavy duty one intended for medium-to-heavy DSLRs. Rated to hold 3-10 pounds of weight, you can feel safe to let your camera hang.
The Neoprene material is very comfortable and strong. Like the straps we have recommended before, the general consensus is that it is able to last several years without signs of wear and tear.
This product also comes with a 90 day 100% satisfaction guarantee, so you’ve really got nothing to lose.
5. Techion Braided 550 Paracord Adjustable Camera Wrist Strap (Best Paracord DSLR Wrist Strap)
If you’re a fan of the Paracord aesthetic, this wrist strap from Techion is the best you’re going to find.
The material is a very durable 550 Type III Paracord that is easily adjustable to fit all wrist sizes. It is very durable, and many reviewers have reported using it for years without it wearing out too significantly.
What makes this product the best in it’s class are the quality and the price. At only $6-9, this is one of the cheapest straps on the market. It even includes a nice little cleaning cloth for your camera!
It’s around 16 inches long, and is also very useful for outdoor gear like binoculars and water bottles if you’re the adventurous type. Our only word of advice is to stay away from this one if you have a smaller camera, as you may have difficulty attaching the larger cord to it.
Honorable Mention: Olympus Adjustable Wrist Strap (Best Wrist Strap For Compact Cameras)
This is technically not a DSLR wrist strap, but if you’ve stumbled upon this page and have a camera other than a hefty DSLR, this is a great option.
This adjustable wrist strap from Olympus fits just about any camera, and it’s only four dollars. The reviews indicate that it holds up pretty well, and you should be able to entrust the life of your compact camera in its hands.
How To Make Your Own DIY DSLR Wrist Strap
Of course, if you’ve got some materials laying around and you’re trying to save a few bucks, you can always consider making your own wrist strap!
This awesome tutorial from Joe Scotto shows you how you can go about making your own DIY Paracord camera wrist strap.
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