Fancy Lanyard Is a Better Description for This Strap: Wandrd Neck Strap Review
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Mirrorless cameras and DSLRs have seemingly endless neck strap options. But, cameras with only a single attachment point have few choices. Digital and film point-and-shoots often have slim pickings when it comes to strap choices and there are even fewer choices for photographers who don’t want a wrist strap. The Wandrd Neck Strap is a new option for those cameras. Using Wandrd’s custom attachment hardware, the Neck Strap attaches in seconds.
But, while the strap uses the same excellent attachment system as the Wandrd Sling and Wrist straps, the remainder of the strap feels more like a lanyard than a neck strap suitable for a camera. For the photographer with a very specific wish list, the Wandrd Neck may be one of few options. But, read the full Wandrd Neck Strap review to see why it’s not one of my favorites.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works with cameras with only a single strap slot
- Affordable
- Easy to attach
Cons
- Narrow
- Uncomfortable for heavier cameras
- Very plain
- No length adjustments
Wandrd Neck Strap Tech Specs
Adapted from Wandrd:
- Recycled soft-touch nylon & Hypalon
- Custom metal “quick-connect” hardware
- Length: 15″ (38.1 CM)
- Width: .4″ (1. CM)
- Maximum weight: 75 lbs.
Gear Used
I tested the Wandrd Neck Strap with the Canon M200 (10.55 ounces), the Polaroid OneStep 2 (13.7 ounces), and the Pentax K1000 35mm film camera (21.9 ounces). To be fair, the strap is advertised for point-and-shoots and, besides the OneStep 2, I didn’t have one handy. The weight of the M200, however, is similar to that of a compact camera.
Ergonomics
The Wandrd Neck Strap more closely resembles a lanyard than a camera strap. The width of the strap is only 0.4 inches. So, instead of distributing the weight, that puts the camera’s weight on a much smaller section of your neck than the typical camera strap.
The heaviest camera I tried with this strap, the Pentax K1000, left a red mark on the back of my neck the size of the strap. Wandrd advertises this as a point-and-shoot strap however, and it wasn’t terribly uncomfortable with the lighter cameras. Still, making this strap as wide as the Wandrd Wrist strap would have made a world of difference. The strap is tested to handle up to 75 pounds, and while the strap won’t break with that much weight, you might. Don’t use this strap with cameras that weigh more than a pound.
While it’s not very comfortable, few neck straps utilize only a single attachment point. The lanyard-like nylon makes a complete loop to Wandrd’s new hardware clip. Some point and shoots only offer a single attachment point. Few straps on the market will work with these types of cameras. The Wandrd Neck offers an option to photographers working with these smaller cameras.
The hardware clip uses a triangular plastic piece with an aluminum door. A loop of Hypalon threads through the camera’s attachment and into the hook. The Hypalon is small — about the width of a toothpick but flat — and should fit many different types of camera attachments.
A similar Hypalon material backs the clip, and another small piece connects with the nylon lanyard. This piece has a subtle Wandrd logo and adds the tiniest bit of style. Overall, the strap is very minimalistic. It’s not going to earn major style points, but it will also go with anything as a basic black strap.
The strap lacks any sort of length adjustment. It measures 15 inches long. This put the camera mid-torso on me, which is a few inches higher than where I would typically carry my camera. There is sufficient length to pull the camera up to my face, but it did bounce around a bit, sitting up so high.
Build Quality
The neck strap portion is constructed from what Wandrd calls Soft Touch nylon. True to its name, it is pretty soft to the touch. Materials like neoprene are softer, but if you stick with a camera that’s less than a pound, the strap isn’t going to chafe your skin.
Hypalon, which is what the loop is constructed out of, is a rubber-like elastomer. Wandrd says that this same material is used for products like whitewater rafts and backpacks. This is what gives the strap its 75 pound strength rating (though, again, I wouldn’t recommend it for cameras more than a pound for comfort reasons). This was a good choice of materials, because, despite the strength, it’s pretty small and will work with a lot of different types of attachment points.
Wandrd also gets bonus points for using recycled materials in the design. The company says the soft touch nylon is made in part from recyclables.
Ease of Use
Like with the Wandrd Sling and Wrist straps, attaching the camera is quite easy with the custom hardware. The Hypalon loop slips through the camera’s anchor and back onto the clip. Installing takes seconds with most anchors. With smaller attachment points, you may need to use a toothpick to help thread it through, but I could get it through three different types of anchors easily.
Conclusion
Likes
- Neck straps like this that only need a single attachment point aren’t very easy to find.
- For $25, it’s very affordable.
- The Wandrd hardware only takes seconds to be put on and taken off.
Dislikes
- The strap is too narrow; a wider strap would have been much more comfortable.
- The strap length cannot be adjusted.
- Uncomfortable for cameras that weigh more than a pound.
The Wandrd Neck Strap is one of few options made for cameras that only have a single attachment point. Retailing for $24, it’s a very affordable option. Made in part from recycled materials, it’s also earth-friendly. Attaching the camera also takes seconds with the custom hardware.
But, the strap would be more accurately described as a lanyard than a neck strap. I’d readily use it for my car keys or an ID badge. For cameras, there’s a lot left to be desired. Wider straps are much more comfortable. When I carried a camera that was more than a pound, the strap left red marks on my neck. I much preferred the Wandrd Wrist strap, which also works with only a single attachment point. I would be willing to pay more if the strap were wider and its length could be adjusted.
If you must have a neck strap, your camera only has a single attachment point, your camera weighs less than a pound, and your budget is small, the Wandrd Neck fits the bill. But, for cameras with two attachment points, I wouldn’t buy it. There are much more comfortable and flexible options, though you’ll have to spend a little more. I found the Wandrd wrist to be much more comfortable, even with heavier cameras, and it still works with a single attachment point.
If I reviewed lanyards, I’d give this strap five stars for the easy attachment and the choice of materials — but as a camera strap, there’s much to be desired. I’m giving the Wandrd Neck two out of five stars. Still want one? You can pick it up for $24.