Something that I’ve been wanting more and more of as I end my late 30s are products that last the rest of my life. The more I think about it, if I had kids, there are very few things that I could potentially pass onto them. That’s because the world has been made more about disposable, cheaper, products that somehow or another end up in a landfill. But a while back, a friend in her late 50s gifted me her father’s Nikon F2 camera. And for that, I paired it with the Bowman Leather Vantage strap. It’s crazy to think that even if I had kids today, that F2 would be able to be passed down to my kids. After two years of using the Vantage strap, I’m still really shocked at how well it’s held up.
There was a time where the Phoblographer was the absolute best place to come for strap reviews and bag reviews. But as the industry became more and more of the same, we pulled away because it felt like we were writing the same reviews over and over again.
Nothing, however, has remained as in tact as the Bowman Vantage. When I say that, I mean that I’ve taken this thing into snow, rain, across my chest, around my neck, tucked around a jacket, etc. And in two years, it barely looks like it’s been broken in at all. In fact, it’s nearly as solid as the day it was when they sent it to me for review.
Absolutely no other camera strap that I’ve used has kept its shape as well as this. I’ve used some good stuff from Hawkesmille, Tap and Dye, and Vi Vante amongst others. But this is something really, truly special.
However, the Bowman Vantage is a big limiting. I often like to wrap a strap around my wrist and go making photos. But it doesn’t bend and flex all that well or that softly even after two years. So I usually just need to have it strapped around my neck or crossbody around my chest. Then when I want to make a photo, I put it up to my eyes and snap the image. And for most photographers, that’s more than good enough. They figure that if they want a wrist strap, they’d just use one instead.
Most importantly, I feel that straps like these are so much better because they’re using natural materials. There are no plastics involved and I truly like supporting smaller businesses rather than looking like every Sony bro wearing a Peak Design strap.
No, straps like what I’m talking about are designed for photographers who go out to make images rather than content creators who shoot for views on Instagram. Plus they give into the idea that all your gear should be replaced every few years or even every year.
And I don’t think that that makes any sense.
At the moment, there is no evidence that the stuff that Peak makes can last a lifetime and even be passed down to your kids. But leather straps have been passed down for generations.