I've got way to many cameras, and sometimes buying new straps gets expensive. Here is a way to make high quality straps quickly and inexpensively. One, four foot long strap with rings and locks will cost you $1.88+ tax shipped to your door (lower US) and about 10 minutes of your time.
Here are the materials you will need:
4 feet of BlueWater 9/16" Climb-Spec Tubular Webbing, $0.28/ft, 9 kilonewtons strength capacity. (measure your strap you use most often, could be longer or shorter for you and add extra foot)
http://www.rei.com/product/610111/bluewater-916-climb-spec-tubular-webbing
Hi Tex Corp Trovato Ladderlock - 3/4 Inch, pack of 2, $0.33
http://www.rei.com/product/612234/hi-tex-corp-trovato-ladderlock-34-inch
Hi Tex Corp Split Ring .75" - 4 Pack, $0.43
http://www.rei.com/product/626517/hi-tex-corp-split-ring-75-4-pack
Razor blade
Pliers
Safety Goggles
Marker (black or silver)
Optional:
Hi Tex Corp Triglide Buckles - 3/4 Inch - Package of 4, $3.00
http://www.rei.com/product/612229/hi-tex-corp-triglide-buckles-34-inch-package-of-4
Shipping is FREE with no minimum purchase from REI for now.
Strap sizes left to right: Nikon, Olympus, REI black webbing, REI blue webbing, Lowepro. The 9/16 inch size works very well for me, its a good width for my neck, and the material is very smooth on the skin. Webbing can be flipped if you do not want the contrast stitching. It is solid color on other side.
Components left to right: Triglide, Ladder lock, OEM Olympus split rings, 3/4' Split rings.
Mark and set webbing on a durable flame/heat resistant surface. I held the webbing taught with two soup cans. (This step can be omitted if you are ordering only one length of webbing for one strap, I bought multiple lengths)
Heat razor blade under medium-low flame for 45 seconds to 1 minute. (be sure to wear your goggles) and cut through webbing with firm downward pressure.
You can either leave it as is, or you can smush the edge of the webbing flat with still hot razor. Diagonal cuts maybe easier to insert in next step as well.
Insert webbing into triglide or ladder lock with split ring. Adjust length on camera.
End result. I also tapped the ends with gaffer tape to make them extra secure. They work very well, the rings don't grind on the side of the camera as the webbing is wide enough to protect it. Ladder locks work well to secure the load, and are a bit easier to insert and configure. Triglides are more traditional and slightly smaller. Instead of using an open burner, you can also use a lighter or matches, but there will be some fumes, or you can opt to just cut and super glue the ends to keep from unraveling.
If you have slightly smaller sized split rings, they will work fine as well, I had an extra pair from my lowepro speeder straps that were just smaller than the REI ones and they work a little better. Triangle split rings would be ideal. You can also add on dual side release buckles and sew material together, or use additional triglides to give you a quick disconnect strap. Would require 4 lengths of webbing.
Note: though the webbing is rated at 9kilonewtons, the triglides, ladder locks, and split rings are not.
Here are the materials you will need:
4 feet of BlueWater 9/16" Climb-Spec Tubular Webbing, $0.28/ft, 9 kilonewtons strength capacity. (measure your strap you use most often, could be longer or shorter for you and add extra foot)
http://www.rei.com/product/610111/bluewater-916-climb-spec-tubular-webbing
Hi Tex Corp Trovato Ladderlock - 3/4 Inch, pack of 2, $0.33
http://www.rei.com/product/612234/hi-tex-corp-trovato-ladderlock-34-inch
Hi Tex Corp Split Ring .75" - 4 Pack, $0.43
http://www.rei.com/product/626517/hi-tex-corp-split-ring-75-4-pack
Razor blade
Pliers
Safety Goggles
Marker (black or silver)
Optional:
Hi Tex Corp Triglide Buckles - 3/4 Inch - Package of 4, $3.00
http://www.rei.com/product/612229/hi-tex-corp-triglide-buckles-34-inch-package-of-4
Shipping is FREE with no minimum purchase from REI for now.
Strap sizes left to right: Nikon, Olympus, REI black webbing, REI blue webbing, Lowepro. The 9/16 inch size works very well for me, its a good width for my neck, and the material is very smooth on the skin. Webbing can be flipped if you do not want the contrast stitching. It is solid color on other side.
Components left to right: Triglide, Ladder lock, OEM Olympus split rings, 3/4' Split rings.
Mark and set webbing on a durable flame/heat resistant surface. I held the webbing taught with two soup cans. (This step can be omitted if you are ordering only one length of webbing for one strap, I bought multiple lengths)
Heat razor blade under medium-low flame for 45 seconds to 1 minute. (be sure to wear your goggles) and cut through webbing with firm downward pressure.
You can either leave it as is, or you can smush the edge of the webbing flat with still hot razor. Diagonal cuts maybe easier to insert in next step as well.
Insert webbing into triglide or ladder lock with split ring. Adjust length on camera.
End result. I also tapped the ends with gaffer tape to make them extra secure. They work very well, the rings don't grind on the side of the camera as the webbing is wide enough to protect it. Ladder locks work well to secure the load, and are a bit easier to insert and configure. Triglides are more traditional and slightly smaller. Instead of using an open burner, you can also use a lighter or matches, but there will be some fumes, or you can opt to just cut and super glue the ends to keep from unraveling.
If you have slightly smaller sized split rings, they will work fine as well, I had an extra pair from my lowepro speeder straps that were just smaller than the REI ones and they work a little better. Triangle split rings would be ideal. You can also add on dual side release buckles and sew material together, or use additional triglides to give you a quick disconnect strap. Would require 4 lengths of webbing.
Note: though the webbing is rated at 9kilonewtons, the triglides, ladder locks, and split rings are not.
