(This review of my favourite hand-made leather camera straps was last updated February 2021)
Congratulations for making the move towards getting yourself a better quality camera strap!
After reviewing many camera straps over the past decade and publishing a few reviews, I thought I'd add some stunning hand-made leather camera straps from Italy (for the sake of travel) by Angelo Pelle which Angelo kindly gifted me for this review.
Angelo Pelle is already included in my review of the best leather camera wrist straps so if you have not yet read it, I recommend you do as well, link’s at the end.
First let me say that I support small businesses as much as I can.
I run a small business and am not keen on giving my money to the bigger guys who can only drop prices by outsourcing manufacturing in China, choosing lesser quality and overall cutting corners.
That's already a major reason which makes the appeal of manufacturers such as Angelo Pelle so huge in my eyes.
Angelo is so passionate about these that if I make a mistake in my description I fear he'll travel all the way from Italy to have a word! But what I know is that his brand is synonymous with quality and I know how it should feel around my neck!
We’ve used Angelo Pelle straps intensively for over five years now, not a single one has let us down, that should say a lot.
When you handle an Angelo Pelle strap, it screams. What does it scream you ask?
Something along the lines of "I am hand made from the best leather and will last for an eternity so please attach me to a good looking camera!"... something like that anyway.
Talking of good looking cameras, I'd say these straps are really suitable across the board from compact to mirrorless and DSLR. I rarely say this as most straps are either too thin for a DSLR or to thick for a smaller mirrorless.
These are just a right fit for all.
Angelo Pelle straps are designed with one idea in mind (I just made that one up but it rings pretty true):
To use the best materials and apply the best craftsmanship in order to deliver a top product that will last long, age beautifully and look after your camera as much as a strap can.
That's what it does.
I tested altogether two camera straps and a wrist strap.
I'm already familiar with the wrist strap which I used extensively and reviewed.
Now onto the two leather shoulder straps.
One is a fixed length strap. I prefer fixed length as it removes one point of potential issues. You just need to figure out what is indeed the right length for you (do you let the camera hang, do you wear it cross body, etc..)
Indeed I think the adjustment loop/buckle is a potential weakness in any strap, a point of possible fault.
It also adds one more potential risk of scratching the camera body.
But not in Angelo Pelle's world because he thinks of solutions to problems! If you want the option to adjust, an ingenious leather cap/cover hides that metal fitting away, protecting your camera.
Put it this way. With Angelo's straps there is 0% risk of damaging your camera body. You'd imagine that's kind of standard but I can tell you that a majority of straps have potential design faults in the form of metal fittings which risk in the long terms to scratch your camera body. Others are not comfortable at all, whereas Angelo's are like a morning breeze on the skin of your neck (how poetic!).
Researching and investing in the right strap is more important than most people think. It is the easiest and most cost effective way to protect your camera and look good doing it.
Check-out Angelo Pelle's website for all your leather goods needs!
Until next time