The best camera wrist strap in 2024

man's hand with best camera wrist strap round wrist holding a camera
(Image credit: Peak Design)

The best camera strap is an essential accessory for keeping your camera safe and to hand. That said, it might not be the first purchase you think of as you lift your shiny new camera from its glossy box; especially as there’s usually a basic neck strap included.

Even the best camera bags and backpacks are bulky and awkward compared to carrying a camera on a strap, and while a camera holster or pouch might offer protection for a simple camera+lens setup, it's still not as convenient as a camera strap.

But, depending on what you want to shoot, the strap provided with the camera may not be the most suitable. For example, action photography/videography requires a sturdy camera strap so it won’t slip from your grasp when you’re surfboarding, kayaking, or skiing. 

And what about travel photography? The last thing you want is an uncomfortable, thin camera strap while you're out all day sightseeing. Thicker camera wrist straps, ones that allow your wrist to breathe can be the best option if you’re going to be wearing it for any length of time.

You’ll want to avoid an expensive leather strap however if you might be getting the strap and camera wet. If you’re going swimming or snorkeling with the likes of a GoPro, then take a look at our recommendation for a strap that will float (no 10 on the list below) if you inadvertently let go of your precious device, or it slips from your wrist while doing breast stroke. 

The best camera wrist straps feature some clever innovations to help keep your hardware safe  – here's our pick of the best available right now. 

The best camera wrist straps in 2024

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Peak Design)

1. Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap

Choose from a range of colors for this stylist, comfortable wrist strap

Specifications

Item dimensions: 16.5x6.1x2.8cm
Material: Nylon with aluminum hardware
Color: Beige & grey, sage green, midnight blue, or black
Weight: 36g

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable
+
Bersatile
+
Secure

Reasons to avoid

-
Tricky to use
-
Pricey

This cleverly versatile, length-adjustable camera strap is thicker than the string-like variety typically bundled with any camera. For a start, its thickness ensures it not only provides comfort in use, but that it can be used with larger cameras, including mirrorless, DSLR and medium format, as well as, of course, GoPro’s and any pocket sized point-and-shoot. 

An ‘anchor link’ system provides speed, ease of use and security of operation, while slim, newly upgraded cords slip through camera strap loops or eyelets. What’s more it’s able to hold more than a whopping 90kg in weight, while it’s claimed that it won’t cause abrasion to your device. What’s even cleverer is that when not in use, this cuff type strap can remain worn on the wrist in bracelet fashion thanks to an embedded magnet that allows it to be wrapped around itself. Alternatively, it folds down into a sufficiently small and lightweight package to be stashed in a pocket. What more could you possibly want?

(Image credit: MegaGear)

2. MegaGear Cotton Wrist Strap

Traditionally fashioned option, claiming to be more than a mere camera strap

Specifications

Item dimensions: 21.2x5.6x2.8cm
Material: Cotton
Color: Cinnamon, green, mink, camel or black
Weight: 60g

Reasons to buy

+
Variety of sizes
+
Affordable, 
+
Practical

Reasons to avoid

-
Non adjustable length

Knotted like a giant hair ‘scrunchie’, this cotton weaved wrist strap in black or cream and offers equal parts comfort and convenience, whilst boasting sufficient strength to support a DSLR or mirrorless camera. It connects key ring-style to the eyelets or lugs of a camera via a small metal ring. 

Its coiled length is fixed, though there is a toggle near the ring end that allows its tightness to be adjusted dependent on the size of your wrist, enabling the camera to be kept tight against your palm. Depending on territories, there is a choice of color as well as size and length, this being either small at 23cm, medium at 75cm or large at 100cm. Simply put, when it comes to securing your camera, this one’s your flexible friend.

(Image credit: OpTech)

3. OP/TECH USA SLR Wrist Strap

Unassuming looking strap is plenty mighty enough to hold a DSLR with lens

Specifications

Item dimensions: 27.9x3.49cm
Material: Neoprene pad, nylon webbing & leather tab
Color: Black
Weight: 43g

Reasons to buy

+
Very affordable, 
+
Simple and practical
+
Comfortable padding

Reasons to avoid

-
Basic

Reasonably priced and utilitarian in looks, this practical solution constructed from a 1.4-inch wide neoprene pad with nylon webbing and leather tab construction, can hold a DSLR with lens attached to the ‘tune’ of 4.5kg, so is literally no slouch. Its ‘uni-loop’ solution is claimed to make the attachment of strap to camera quick and easy, with a security slide feature tightening the strap around the user’s wrist. 

Some 11-inches long, this strap is designed to keep your camera never far from your palm, so any user can be up and shooting at a moment’s notice, complete with piece of mind that their photographic investment won’t slip from grasp. An easy to attach and detach solution that’s fuss free.

(Image credit: BlackRapid)

4. BlackRapid Wrist Breathe Camera Strap

Practicality and comfort in equal amounts from the ever-reliable photo accessory brand

Specifications

Item dimensions: 22.6x2.5cm
Material: Nylon
Color: Black, blue, green or gray
Weight: 62.4g

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable 
+
Rugged construction

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive outside the US

There’s nothing worse than a sweaty wrist – fortunately the aptly named Wrist Breathe Camera Strap from US strap specialists BlackRapid allows photographers to maintain comfort whilst keeping their camera close to hand. A strong yet flexibly lightweight nylon webbing construction with buckle allows the tautness of the strap to be adjusted to suit the user, with the camera itself attached via a robust brass and zinc alloy locking carabiner. 

A plastic protector is also included here to prevent the metal surface of this part of the strap from potentially scratching a connected camera. It really does seem like these folks have thought of everything.

(Image credit: Artisan & Artist)

5. Artisan & Artist ACAM 296 Acrylic Camera Wrist Strap

Acrylic strap with capability to hold a mirrorless camera with lens

Specifications

Item dimensions: 26x2cm
Material: Acrylic
Color: Red, beige or black
Weight: 10g

Reasons to buy

+
Simple yet effective option at a reasonable price

Reasons to avoid

-
Not adjustable in terms of size or tightness

Mid-priced acrylic camera strap option with leather ‘details’ in un-missable bright red or serious black to tempt the photo enthusiasts. At just under an inch in width this option attaches to the loop of our camera via a simple leather loop rather than a metal ring, potentially avoiding unwanted scratches or wear to our device. Handmade in Japan, which adds a certain cachet, what you see with Artist & Artisan’s well-made products is pretty much what you get here. Simply attach the strap to your camera, slip the other end around your wrist and away you go; a fairly priced, straightforward camera strap that does the job it’s intended for.

(Image credit: Maveek)

6. Maveek Camera Wrist Strap Braided 550 Paracord

Not ‘just’ a camera strap, this is a one-accessory-fits-all solution

Specifications

Dimensions: 1.7x0.7x23cm
Material: Paracord
Color: Camouflage or red/black
Weight: 16g

Reasons to buy

+
Very affordable
+
Strong & versatile

Reasons to avoid

-
Not specifically a camera strap as such

While it’s not specifically marketed as a camera strap – it’s suitable for tethering to a whole range of devices, including binoculars – this one comes in several colors, including our favorite in camouflage for photographers seeking to blend in with the great outdoors. Offering universal product compatibility, the strap is manufactured from durable paracord and comes with both a quick release clip and strong lanyard for both easy and secure attachment.  

Claimed to be capable of withstanding around 200Kg of tension, sufficient that it could bear the weight of a body, this one is plenty tough enough to prevent an attached camera from falling to the ground. A microfiber cleaning cloth also comes as part of the valued added package.

(Image credit: Nordic)

7. Nordic Flash Waterproof Camera Float

Affordable and flexible camera strap option for securing your device in both the wet and the dry

Specifications

Dimensions: 16.76x9.91x5.33cm
Material: Foam and synthetic rubber
Color: Red, orange, yellow or pink
Weight: 9g

Reasons to buy

+
Camera strap and float in one
+
Prevents camera being lost if you let go of strap in water, an inexpensive form of insurance against doing so

Reasons to avoid

-
May not last much longer than the beach holiday it was purchased for

Here’s something a bit different. Available in a range of primarily colors – including a surely impossible to mislay bright yellow – this strap and float combination is aimed at those who are taking a GoPro camera or phone swimming or snorkeling, and don’t want it disappearing into the beautiful brine-y. Alternatively, it could be attached to a compact pair of binoculars, or just about anything one would attach a strap to. 

The comfortable foam filled accessory has been designed to float waterproof cameras up to 200g in weight, so we’re talking compact point and shoot cameras rather than DSLRs. Acting as inexpensive insurance, perhaps, rather than something you’ll necessarily covet in and of itself, this soft foam strap will float so your precious devices don’t sink. Saving an expensive device from watery doom may mean that this cheap and cheerful strap ends up being worth its weight in gold.

Read more:
Best camera straps
Best binocular harnesses
Best camera pouches & holsters
Best rain covers for cameras

Gavin Stoker

Gavin has over 30 years’ experience of writing about photography and television. He is currently the editor of British Photographic Industry News, and previously served as editor of Which Digital Camera and deputy editor of Total Digital Photography


He has also written for a wide range of publications including T3, BBC Focus, Empire, NME, Radio Times, MacWorld, Computer Active, What Digital Camera and the Rough Guide books.


With his wealth of knowledge, Gavin is well placed to recognize great camera deals and recommend the best products in Digital Camera World’s buying guides. He also writes on a number of specialist subjects including binoculars and monoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, trail cameras, action cameras, body cameras, filters and cameras straps. 

With contributions from