Why you can trust Digital Camera World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
As a photographer who shoots with multiple camera bodies depending on the scenario, I’m forever moving a camera strap from one body to the other – and that’s not always the easiest task. But the new Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap uses a clever anchor design to attach and detach from the camera in seconds.
The most unusual feature of the new strap series is right in the name: The anchors are magnetic. While that may be the most unusual part of the design, that’s not the feature that won me over. The real magic is in the number of different ways this strap can be worn.
As someone who uses the Wandrd PRVKE as my go-to camera bag, I was pretty excited about the launch of the Wandrd Magnetic camera strap – and I wasn’t disappointed.
Latest Videos FromDigital Camera World
Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap: Price
The Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap retails for about $69 / £59 / AU$95.64 / CA$95.36 for the standard 30mm size.
The narrower 15mm strap retails for a little less – about $49 / £42 / AU$67.92 / CA$67.72.
The wrist strap comes in at $39 / £34 / AU$54.06 / CA$53.90.
Each strap has enough links to attach to two cameras, but if you need more or the original ones wear out, replacement links are $13 / £11.17 / AU$18.02 / CA$17.97 for a four-pack.
Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap: Specs
30mm camera strap
- Weight: 3.5oz
- Length: Min 31″ (79cm) – Max 52″ (133cm)
- Strap Width: 30mm (3cm)
- Weight Capacity: 200lbs (90kg)
15mm camera strap
- Weight: 2.2oz
- Length: Min 29″ (74cm) – Max 51.125″ (130cm)
- Strap Width: 15mm (1.5cm)
- Weight Capacity: 200lbs (90kg)
Wrist strap
- Weight: 0.8oz
- Length: Min 9″ (23cm) – Max 13.78″ (35cm)
- Strap Width: 15mm (1.5cm)
- Weight Capacity: 200lbs (90kg)
Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap: Design
There are hundreds of different strap options for photographers, but Wandrd is joining the ranks of straps built for easy attachment. The Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap is designed for photographers who regularly swap cameras, swap straps, or often want to remove the strap for tripod shooting.
At the heart of the new strap system is a magnetic Torus Anchor. The magnets don’t hold the weight of the camera, but rather guide the circular anchor point into position so that there’s no fiddling to get them in the right spot before the strap clamps down. The clamp uses two interlocking pieces that go through the open center of the magnet, and the design feels very secure.
That system means that, once you get the anchors installed on your camera, it’s easy to change strap styles from neck to wrist, swap which camera is attached to the strap, or remove the strap in order to shoot on a tripod. The neck straps each come with four anchors and the wrist strap with two, so out of the box, it comes with enough to use two cameras on the same strap system without buying additional anchors.
Wandrd includes split rings to help connect the loops to cameras that have strap lugs that are too small.
In addition to attaching to the camera’s lugs, the anchors can also attach to the camera’s tripod mount using a screw-in mount. The lug itself is attached to a metallic piece that’s separate from the screw-in mount. This is important because twisting the camera around on the strap won’t accidentally unscrew the tripod plate and cause a disastrous strap failure.
That baseplate should be tightened with a screwdriver or a coin and checked periodically, but even with rigorous tugging, I couldn’t get the baseplate to loosen once I had tightened it with a coin. Unfortunately, it’s not Arca-Swiss compatible, so it will need to be removed to use the camera on a tripod.
(Image credit: Hillary K Grigonis / Future)
In addition to supporting both lug-mounted straps and tripod plate-mounted anchors, the strap can also connect to itself. That means the strap will also work with compact cameras that only have one strap lug. And, if I remove the strap to shoot from a tripod, I can wear the strap on my body for storage by looping it to itself.
The clamps at the end of the strap, the strap lugs, and the length adjustment are all made from plastic. This is by design to prevent metal from scratching the camera. The plastic feels less luxurious than metal, but I like the softer edges on the plastic to help avoid scratches.
The strap itself is made from comfortable nylon webbing. The standard neck strap is 30mm wide, while the smaller neck strap has half that width and is made for compact camera systems.
(Image credit: Hillary K Grigonis / Future)
The length of the standard neck strap can be adjusted from both sides of the strap with a simple tug on the adjustment. The dual-sided length adjustment is nice because you can still adjust the length when wearing the strap cross-body. The narrower 15mm neck strap only has one length adjustment rather than two.
In addition to the two different sizes of neck straps, Wandrd also offers a wrist strap version. This uses the same anchor system in a single-anchor wrist strap.
Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap: Performance
I tested all three Wandrd Magnetic Strap designs with both neck straps and the wrist strap. I used the strap system with a variety of cameras – a mirrorless with a compact lens, a portrait prime, and a heavy telephoto lens, as well as an old film camera.
Wearing the strap is comfortable. The nylon material is soft, flexible, and doesn’t chafe my skin. I prefer the standard, wider strap for its better weight distribution for most cameras, while the narrower strap works fine for compact cameras and a lightweight mirrorless with a pancake lens. I do wish the standard strap was a little bit wider for even more weight distribution.
(Image credit: Hillary K Grigonis / Future)
I love being able to switch from a neck strap to a cross-body sling – this is really a must-have feature for me, as it allows me to adjust the weight of the gear from pulling on my neck to my shoulders.
But as someone who regularly switches between different cameras depending on what type of shoot I’m doing, I loved the ability to swap straps in seconds using the magnetic link system. There’s no tedious lineup needed. It’s fast enough to separate the strap from the camera before packing it into a bag.
(Image credit: Hillary K Grigonis / Future)
I’ve now spent around two weeks with the straps – that’s not enough for long-term durability tests, but so far I haven’t spotted anything that suggests premature wear. Wandrd’s warranty against manufacturer defects doesn’t have a time limit – normal wear-and-tear isn’t covered, but manufacturing defects are covered under a lifetime warranty.
The anchor system does use color-coded threads inside, so when the black loop starts to show yellow, it’s nearing time to replace the links.
Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap Vs. Peak Design Slide
As I attached, unattached, and reattached the Wandrd Magnetic system to my cameras, I couldn’t help but be reminded of another popular strap system that also uses anchors to easily take the strap on and off: The Peak Design Slide.
The Peak Design Slide and Slide Lite is about 15mm wider than the Wandrd strap. It also uses a few metal pieces, and that choice, plus the wider, thicker material, gives the Peak Design Slide a slightly higher-end feel. But, one of our complaints with the Slide Lite is that the metal can scratch, so Wandrd’s use of plastic may be a smarter choice.
On the other hand, Wandrd’s magnetic strap anchors feel a bit faster to swap – not dramatically so, but a bit faster. Wandrd also gives the strap a place to anchor to itself so it can support cameras with a single mounting point – and this is also another option to make the strap a more cross-body style. Peak Design’s Form straps do this, but the Slide doesn’t.
The Wandrd Magnetic strap also comes in a little cheaper – in the US, the full-size strap is about $10 less.
Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap: Verdict
The Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap system makes strap swaps – or camera swaps – quick and easy, all while keeping a comfortable, versatile design. I love the ability to wear the strap as a neck strap or cross-body, and the soft nylon material is comfortable.
I only had a few small complaints about Wandrd’s magnetic strap system. The tripod mounting plate doesn’t double as an Arca-Swiss quick release and has to be removed for tripod use. I do wish the standard strap was a little wider.
But overall, I love the magnetic camera strap system. It’s a good buy if you regularly want to remove the strap or use a single strap for multiple cameras. But it’s also a comfortable nylon option with multiple ways to wear, even for single-camera users.
Wandrd Magnetic Camera Strap: Alternatives
You may also like
For more camera-carry solutions, take a look at the best camera straps or the best camera backpacks.
