Last week, on a safari in ’s, I picked up my SLR with the long lens to photograph a lioness and her kill at a watering hole, and the strap simply fell off the camera. I got lucky—my $2,000-worth of electronics didn’t clatter to the floor of the Jeep or fall in the sand. I caught the camera. But luck isn’t what you want to rely on with a camera strap. It’s an accessory that should be functional, comfortable, and, most important, dependable.
Traditional camera straps are often difficult to attach and detach, they're bulky and expensive. That’s why Peak Design is making . Re-defining the classic camera strap, Leash has an elegant quick-connect system, it's made from high-quality and secure materials, and it's rugged and minimalist. Use it as a neck strap, sling strap, safety tether, or video stabilizer, and when you don’t want it, it quickly disconnects from your camera and rolls up small enough to stuff in your back pocket.
Leash’s quick-connection system uses tiny anchors made of braided Kevlar and glass-filled resin that attach to any loop on your camera gear. When connected to Leash, these anchors can take up to 200 pounds of force—more than enough to keep any size SLR camera body and lens connected to you. Leash will also be available in a short version, called Cuff. It uses the same quick-connection system, but is cut short to wrap around your wrist. Supporters seem to think it's as good or better than Peak Design's first camera clip project, . Available January 2013, $40 Leash, $20 Cuff—discounted for pre-order; .