Peak Design Slide review: A perfect camera strap
A camera strap is essential for comfort and usability so throw out the garbage that came with your camera and get a Peak Design strap.
Hyperdrive Hits
5/5 Medals of Yavin: Highly recommended for anyone shoots still or video content with a dedicated camera
Extremely comfortable on the neck
Secure attachment points with quick-release capability
Easily adjustable with simple slide movement
Affordable
Attractive color options
Intro
I was blessed with the opportunity to attend the Sony Kando Trip event in Sun Valley, Idaho, in 2022 with the primary purpose to check out the latest Sony Xperia smartphone. Sony provided loaner cameras and lenses during the trip and I fell in love with the performance of its dedicated cameras. I purchased a Sony Alpha 7 IV on the way home from the event and have been shooting still and video content for the last couple of years with that fantastic camera.
Check out my quick YouTube Shorts video of the strap.
The camera package came with a strap and I used it for a few weeks before looking for options. That strap was rather thin, terrible for making any adjustments, and took away from the camera experience. I purchased a Peak Design Slide Lite strap in Sage color and I have been quite happy with it for the last two years.
Peak Design sent along its new Camel color Slide strap and I honestly cannot believe what I have been missing for just $10 more than the Slide Lite. I thought at the time that the narrower Slide Lite would be perfect for my use, but the Slide turned out to be the better option for me.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Peak Design Slide strap five (5) Medals of Yavin. The strap is comfortable, easily removable, provides a secure connection, looks great, and is versatile. The price is right and I have yet to find anything I do not like about the strap.
The Good and the Bad
Despite all of the internal testing and trials, it’s rare to find a perfect product. Reviewers tend to push things to the limits and find unique situations where things may not perform perfectly.
Pros
Extreme comfort
Five attractive color options
Easily removable
Secure connection system
Good price
Versatile anchors
Cons
None that I have found yet
Experiences
Most of the time when I shoot still images for ZDNET or my YouTube channel, I use the standard anchor connectors with the Slide strap. If I take my camera out to shoot while on vacation, at the zoo, at weddings or special occasions, then I use the anchor mount on the bottom of my Sony camera in order to carry the camera on the side of my body.
Grab a hold of the dual quick adjusters and easily slide them up or down for quick and easy strap length adjustment. It is a joy to slide these and find the perfect fit for the situation you are shooting within seconds.
In addition to easy adjustment, the middle of the strap has silicone ridges to help keep the camera in place. Simply flip over the strap for the silicone hold or flip it back for the comfort of the internal pad.
The anchor attachments are brilliantly designed with the anchor cord composed of three layers. The three layers are red, yellow, and black. If you see wear on the anchor cords that show the yellow inner core, then replace that anchor. Given that cameras cost thousands of dollars, this design element could save your camera and is evidence that Peak Design spent time researching and developing a product that is important to photographers and videographers.
90% of the time I use the Peak Design Slide in the neck carry configuration, but the sling style is also comfortable and well designed. The product even comes with a lifetime warranty.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Box contents: Slide camera strap, 4mm hex wrench, 4 anchor connectors, 1 anchor mount, and a microfiber pouch
Weight: 148 grams
Maximum strap length: 145 cm (57 inches)
Minimum strap length: 99 cm (39 inches)
Strap width: 45 mm (1.8 inches)
Strength rating: 200 pounds
Bottom Line
You may not think much about the strap that works with your camera, but after using the Peak Design Slide Lite and Slide for the past couple of years it is clear that the strap is important to optimal camera use. I bought my daughter a Slide Lite for Christmas a couple of years ago and she loves it as well.
It’s pretty rare to find a perfect product, but I can’t think of anything I would change on the Peak Design Slide and if you shoot with a standard camera then get one of these Slide straps.