Amateur Photographer verdict
The Peak Design Slide Lite can undeniably look very expensive for a camera strap. But its quality and versatility make it well worth the money.
- Easily adjustable length for different carrying styles
- Comfortable for carrying relatively heavy kit
- Easy to fit and remove
- Wide choice of attractive colours
- Some may find it too bulky for smaller cameras
Peak Design originally made its name making camera straps, with the Peak Design Slide Lite being one of its longest-running products. But I make no excuse for reviewing it now, because I think it’s still one of the best camera straps around, and certainly one of my favourites for everyday use. It’s also now available in a wider range of colours than before.
Peak Design Slide Lite at a glance:
- $70 / £59.99 ($80 / £69.99 for Carrylogy Essentials Edition)
- 99-145cm length
- 3.2cm width
- Employs PD Anchor connectors
- Available in 8 colours
- peakdesign.com
So what makes the Slide Lite special? To me, it offers a real Goldilocks combination of features for anyone shooting with a full-frame camera setup. Its 3.2cm width makes it comfortable even when you’re using a fairly heavy lens, while its readily adjustable length allows you to set it as you need for any given situation.
The flat, seatbelt-like fabric and lack of any bulky padding makes it relatively easy to stow into a camera bag, and the use of Anchor connectors means it’s easy to remove from your camera when needed.
Peak Design Slide Lite key features:
- Wide colour choice: Eight colours are available: Black, Coyote, Sage, Ash, Eclipse, Kelp, and Ocean, plus black with orange clips for the Carryology edition.
- Anchor Link Connectors: The strap fits onto your camera via Peak Design’s familiar Anchor Link connectors, which make it easy to remove and reattach.
- Widely adjustable: Two large clips allow the length to be adjusted for different carrying styles, including neck, shoulder and cross-body.
- Kit contents: You get four Anchors; a set of split rings with an attachment tool; an Anchor Mount that attaches to your camera’s tripod socket; a hex key to screw this in; and a pouch to hold it all.
In use
I generally use the Slide Lite cross-body style, but it’s equally at home when used as a shoulder or neck strap. I tend to set it relatively long for ease of use when I’m shooting, but pull it much shorter when I’m walking, to stop my camera from bouncing around. Adjustment is via two large clips which are easy to open and then lock down again when you’re set.
One neat feature is the way the strap includes a grip on one face. This can be really useful for keeping it in place when you’re using it as a shoulder strap, and it might be prone to sliding off. Flip the strap over onto its smooth side, and it’ll glide easily across a coat or shirt when you’re bringing the camera up to your eye for shooting.
I’ve become a big fan of the Slide Lite Carryology Essentials Edition shown in this review, which comes in black with distinctive orange metalwork. Indeed whenever I review a new full-frame camera, pretty much the first thing I do after charging the battery is fit this strap.
The main practical difference compared to the standard version is that its edges are reinforced with slash-resistant ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. This brings extra peace of mind when carrying expensive kit, while also making it less prone to fraying. It’s available from Peak Design’s online store and costs $10 / £10 more than the standard version.
If you like the idea of the Slide Lite but aren’t sure it’s the best fit for your your camera, it’s worth knowing that it sits in the middle of Peak Design’s range of flat fabric straps, between the 19mm-wide Leash, and the 45mm-wide Slide. I really like the Leash for smaller and lighter mirrorless models such as the Fujifilm X-T5 or OM System OM-3. But I’m not a fan of the Slide – I find it unnecessarily large and bulky. Meanwhile for compact and small mirrorless cameras, the Peak Design Form Rope is a great choice.
Peak Design Slide Lite: Our Verdict
It’s fair to say that $70 / £60 can look like a lot to pay for a strap. But honestly, the Peak Design Slide Lite is so good that I think it’s well worth the money. It’s an excellent camera strap that works brilliantly.
Peak Design Slide Lite in Sage:
Peak Design Slide Lite in Midnight:
Peak Design Slide Lite in Ash:
