On this page
A camera strap only helps when it is on the camera before the camera leaves your hands, and how to put on camera strap comes down to a short routine: thread each end through the lugs on the camera body, lock the strap at the adjuster, leave a tail, tug to check the hold, then set the length for the way you carry it. The steps below walk through each part of that routine, with the checks that keep the strap from slipping off the lug.
SolarKitHQ earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
The quick answer
Thread the strap end through the lug from the outside, pass it through the adjuster, feed it back through the keeper, pull the tail through, then tug hard to check the hold before you trust it with the camera. Set the length so the camera hangs where your hand falls naturally, with the lens facing your body and the strap flat across your shoulder or chest. If the strap has a quick-release buckle, clip it in last and tug it too, since a buckle left open will part under the camera’s weight.
Step 1: Find the lugs and the strap ends
Look at the top corners of the camera body for the strap lugs, small metal loops or rings set into the body on each side. Most cameras carry a lug on each side, and most straps ship with a thin end, an adjuster buckle and a keeper loop on each end. Lay the strap out flat and untwisted, with the padded side facing up if the strap has padding, and hold the camera with the lens facing away from you so the lugs sit where you can see them. If the camera came with triangular split rings, fit the ring through the lug and thread the strap through the ring instead; the ring takes the wear so the strap end does not rub on the lug.
Step 2: Thread the strap through the lug
Take the thin end of the strap and feed it through the lug from the outside, pulling enough through to work with on the inside. Keep the strap flat as it passes through, since a twist at the lug turns into a twist across your shoulder later. If the lug is a closed loop, feed the end straight through and pull it clear; if the lug holds a split ring, feed the end through the ring and let the ring sit flat against the body. Pull the strap until the padded middle sits across the top of the camera, then hold the free end so it cannot slip back while you lock it.
Step 3: Lock the adjuster and leave a tail
Feed the free end through the adjuster buckle, then back through the keeper loop, and pull it snug so the strap cannot slide. The adjuster works by pinching the strap between its bars, so press it flat and check that the strap lies straight through it, with no fold caught inside. Leave a tail past the buckle long enough to grip with your fingers, then tuck the tail through the keeper so it lies flat against the strap. Tug the strap hard on each side of the buckle: the tail should stay put and the adjuster should not creep along the strap.
Step 4: Set the length and check the hold
Slip the strap over your head and let the camera hang, then slide the adjusters until the camera sits where your hand falls naturally, high enough that it does not swing against your hip as you walk. For neck wear, keep the strap short enough that the camera rides on your chest; for cross-body wear, lengthen it so the camera rests at your hip with the lens facing your body. Walk around the room and lift the camera to your eye and lower it again, then tug each end of the strap again and look at the tails: a tail that has moved means the adjuster needs another pass through the keeper. When the length feels right and the hold checks out, the strap is ready.
How to put on camera strap so it stays put
- Check the tails after a walk: a tail that has crept means the adjuster needs another pass through the keeper.
- Keep the strap flat: a twist at the lug works its way along the strap and loosens the adjuster.
- Look at the lugs and stitching: worn stitching or a bent lug is the sign to retire the strap before it gives way.
- Store the camera with the strap on: taking the strap off and on again wears the ends and invites a missed lock.
FAQ: power away from the grid
Does a camera strap fit a solar security camera?
A strap fits a handheld camera with lugs. A solar security camera mounts on a bracket or a wall mount instead, so it has no lugs for a strap; see how to mount security cameras for the mounting routine. A strap still helps when you carry the camera to the mount and set the angle.
Which way should the camera hang on the strap?
Lens facing your body, with the grip where your hand falls naturally. That way the lens stays clear of door frames and rails as you walk, and the camera comes to your eye without a twist of the wrist.
How can you tell the strap is locked?
Tug each end hard and watch the tail: a locked adjuster holds the tail in place and does not creep along the strap. If the tail moves or the adjuster slides, feed the end through the keeper again and pull it snug.
Can the strap stay on the camera all the time?
Yes. Leaving the strap on means the camera is ready to carry whenever you pick it up, and it spares the strap ends the wear of repeated threading. Keep the strap flat in the bag and check the tails after a long carry.
Related solar guides
See every Solar Lights, Cameras and Fans guide, plus the different security camera types guide and the dome vs bullet solar security camera guide.
More picks: what is a good security camera, how long do security cameras store footage and security camera cable types.
