Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap Review
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been using a heavy duty neck camera strap to hold my mirrorless camera and lenses while traveling / working. They’ve always made the most sense to me - especially when lugging around a camera all day. When I started to minimize my camera setup, however, I started to think a little differently. Maybe there was a more compact, better way to carry my camera around. Sure, I could just go without a strap at all, but I’d probably drop my camera. I knew I needed at least something to secure my camera to my body. That’s when I discovered wrist straps, and, more specifically, the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap.
When I first started researching camera wrist straps, I liked the minimalist concept, but not the look of most of the product offerings. A lot of them looked fairly clunky to be honest. When I stumbled on the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap though, I immediately liked the simple clean look and seemingly high quality build. The Cuff seemed minimal enough for easy packing, and also slim enough to not make my wrist look bulky when wearing it. So, after being sold on the concept of a camera wrist strap, I picked one up. After a little bit of use, here is my review of the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap.
Features
Since this is a camera wrist strap, the features list isn’t super extensive. There are, however, a few key features to note. The camera utilizes Peak Design’s anchor system, which is extremely strong and helps ensure that the strap won’t break away from your camera. The strap also unclips from the anchor very easily and quickly, allowing you to use the Cuff on your other cameras that have Peak Design anchors. Oh and did I mention the Cuff comes with two anchors? That means, if you have two cameras, you can put an anchor on both and switch the Cuff between them in a matter of seconds.
The Peak Design Cuff Camera Strap also has a metal band on it that not only feels durable, but also slides up and down the Cuff, allowing you to easily tighten and loosen it around your wrist. The main benefit of this band, however, is that it automatically tightens the Cuff around your wrist if you drop the camera. That means it is almost impossible to actually drop the camera, as the Cuff will synch around your wrist before it even has a chance to hit the ground.
In addition, the Peak Design Cuff Camera Strap also has a leather band sewn into a part of the Cuff. There may be some sort of function to this that I am not aware of, but, to me, it looks nice and definitely give the strap a more upscale vibe.
The last thing to mention is the Cuff’s built in magnet. Peak Design says, when you’re not using the Cuff as a camera wrist strap, you can unhook it from the anchor, wrap the entire strap around your wrist and the magnet will hold the strap in place, creating a bracelet. I’m not sure who wants to wear a camera wrist strap as a bracelet, but the option’s there!
All in all, the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap can hold up to 200 lbs. That’s quite the heavy camera set up!
Build Quality
Like most things Peak Design makes, the build quality of this item is extremely high. One of the issues with camera wrist straps is that they’re not built strong enough to hold large mirrorless cameras and lenses. As soon as you pull the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap from the box, you know it’s built for even the heaviest cameras.
As mentioned above, the metal band and leather patch all provide the Cuff with a high quality feel, and the Cuff feels as though it’s built to last for the long haul. I may have said above that I wasn’t sure what the leather band was for, but I actually think it helps provide extra stability and strength in the cuff - especially when a camera is dangling from your wrist.
Peak Design also defines the nylon portion of the band as being “Seatbelt Style.” The nylon does certainly feel strong, and provides a good level of confidence when you’re out and about with your camera.
The Peak Design anchors also feel exceptionally well built. Though I do trust the anchors, I thought it was neat that Peak Design provides you with some insight as to when your anchors are starting to fail. Apparently, if you start to see yellow threads on the anchor, it’s time to replace them. Pretty neat, huh? The good thing is that you can buy replacement anchors from Peak Design, and they only cost $14.95 CAD (as of the time of writing) for a set of 4. So, even if your original anchors fail over time, you can keep on using your Cuff!
Travel Practicality
Now this is subjective and totally dependant on how you like to travel / what your typical photography day looks like. For short jaunts around town or out in the jungle, I found my camera (Sony a7iii with a Sony 24-105mm lens) quite easy to carry. And it was nice knowing that the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap was there to catch my camera if I dropped it.
I can see how holding a camera in your hand would become a pain if you were out trekking for an entire day, though. My main reason I bought the Peak Design Cuff, however, was because I also purchased the Wandrd Rogue 9L Sling, which I now carry with me on most photography adventures. This means that I can put my camera quickly into my sling after taking a shot, eliminating the need to hold my camera all day. If you have a similar setup, I’d say go for it. It’s awkward wearing a sling and a camera neck strap at the same time, so, if you have a sling, opt for the wrist strap.
Lastly, my favourite part of the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap is how small it is and easy to pack. My old camera neck strap was massive and took up so much space in my bag. The Cuff literally takes up no room. That, when traveling, is a major plus.
Potential Cons
As mentioned above, the only real con is having to hold your camera in your hands for a long time period if you’re out on a trek or photographing an event. On days like this, it may be better to opt for a traditional camera neck strap. Or, get yourself a high quality camera sling to house your camera on those days when you’re not using it. For $49.99 CAD, though, you can be rest assured that you’re getting a high quality and durable camera wrist strap that will keep your camera safe for short adventures.
Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap - Verdict
The Peak Design Cuff is a well-built, compact wrist strap that will serve you and your camera a long time. Peak Design’s anchor system makes it easy to use the Cuff on multiple cameras, and the clever metal band / auto tightening system provides peace of mind when you drop your camera. Yes, a camera wrist strap may be more tiring to use than a traditional neck strap, but that’s not the point here. The Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap is for those who want a minimalistic camera setup, and aren’t going to be holding their cameras for a significant amount of time.
Grab your Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap here! Please note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.