Camera straps don’t excite most people, even photogs, and I know that for many years they didn’t excite me.  But during one of my recent spells of having Paypal funds burning a hole in my pocket, I pretty much went looking for some cheap accessories to buy and, fueled by a forum post somewhere, checked out camera straps.

The selection is overwhelming and I almost gave up right there on the B&H page, with hundreds of options listed before me.  Instead I surfed over to the Tamrac site to see what they had.  I use Tamrac bags exclusively and had noticed they carried straps before, but had never really looked at them.

Tamrac N-25 Neoprene Shock Absorber Camera Strap with Quick Release @ B&H.com

After several years of using the included Canon straps, I’m wondering how I did it.  I’m certainly not wondering why my neck used to hurt at the end of the day.  I ordered one of Tamrac’s N-25 Neoprene Shock Absorber Camera Straps for my 7D and haven’t looked back.  In fact, I just ordered a second one for my 400D.

The Tamracs are stretchy, thickly padded, and very comfortable.  The camera does tend to bob about a bit, but you get used to it – kind of like you get used to the Neoprene smell after a few days.  But gods are they comfortable!

If you’re anything of a serious, time-intensive photographer, do yourself a favor and ditch the strap that came with your camera.  Compared to the Tamrac, my old Canon straps are like the Geo Metros of the strap world.  And aside from being uncomfortable, it’s probably not best to advertise to the world that you’re carrying a 5DMkII; cool for bragging rights, and it’ll get you mugged in some towns.

It’s these little things that ease the load during a busy day of shooting.  And frankly the new straps were cheaper than the boxes of Icy Hot I was buying after each gig.  Sort of preventative maintenance, I guess.