Strap for Hiking

[jaapv]

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In my experience, standard straps are not suitable when hiking. The camera has to be fixed to the body to avoid the camera swinging/banging into the body (and the hands should be free). At the same time access to the camera has to be easy and quick. And, in bad weather, the camera should be somewhat protected. For me, this means putting the camera with the lens heading down, in a small pouch. The pouch has a strap diagonally over one shoulder, and it is fixed to the body via the hip strap of the backpack (or similar). It only takes a few seconds to pick up the camera to be ready to shoot. I use a waist strap on the body, but this is my preference for the Ms, the SL and CL I have/have had. During a (say) 5-10 hr hike, the camera is (typically) most of the time in the pouch, ready to be used, without affecting the walking. This holds for alpine hiking/climbing as well.

 

Let me add that I almost always use hiking poles. But I would keep the camera in a pouch as described above, irrespective of the use of poles.

Novoflex makes a hiking pole that doubles as monopod.

[jaapv]

Let me add that I almost always use hiking poles. But I would keep the camera in a pouch as described above, irrespective of the use of poles.

Novoflex makes a hiking pole that doubles as monopod.

[helged]

Novoflex makes a hiking pole that doubles as monopod.

 

Yes, but the Novoflex hiking pole doesn't hold the standard of an alpine hiking pole. No comparison, actually. I have therefore modified one of the hiking poles I use.

 

From another post some years back:

 

"For steep or long or strenuous hiking, high-quality hiking poles are a must. And hiking poles can be used as a monopod, and sometimes also as a tripod. The stability will, generally, not be at the level of a real monopod/tripod, but it's generally superior to free-hand photography.

Unfortunately – to my knowledge and experience at least – specially made hiking poles with monopod options fail for extended, alpine walks. I have therefore made a slight remaking of my favourite hiking poles that works to my satisfaction.

 

So if you are searching for a high-quality hiking pole with a quick release plate option (screwing your camera body onto the pole in cold weather or in exposed terrain or when hiking with your partner/as part of a group is a no-go), you may consider the following:

 

Shave off the upper few mm of one of your favourite hiking poles to get a flat surface. Onto this flat surface you will fasten, by two-sided tape and two long screws, a holder for a suitable quick-release plate. I ended up with Velbon QRA-3. Together with a corresponding head, I use Velbon QHD-41Q, you get a relatively small, sufficiently stable and light-weight system.

 

Drill two holes in the quick-release holder so that the holder can be screwed onto the shaved pole. I used 60 mm long screws. These, together with two-sided tape under the holder, keep the holder absolutely in place. Be careful with the long screws so they don't eat their way out of the grip... Otherwise no problems at all. And that's it. 

 

Add one quick release plate onto the M/CL/SL/... body, and the body can be directly fixed to the pole. This is done in almost no time. If more flexibility is wanted, add the Velbon head to the pole, and a fully operational monopod is obtained. This latter is also quickly done; I typically carry the head in a small pouch attached to the outer side of my backpack."

 

I have used this set-up for 8, possibly 10, years, without problems. Other quick-release systems can of course be used, including small Arca-Swiss compatible systems.

 

Yes, the Novoflex pole can be an alternative for many. But not for long, alpine hiking I will say.

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[jaapv]

Sure? It is by Leki. It appears to me that your system is quite uncomfortable pushing down on the pole. YMMV.

 

 

https://www.astroshop.eu/made-of-aluminium/novoflex-aluminium-monopod-qleg-walk-ii-trekking-pole/p,48561

 

BTW B&H asks ten times RSP for the thing ! 

[Joeri]

Sure? It is by Leki. It appears to me that your system is quite uncomfortable pushing down on the pole. YMMV.

 

Exactly. Leki still produces monopod hiking poles as far as I know. If you're 'scrambling' in boulder fields I often use the top of the grip to get off very big boulders.

[jaapv]

Correct. The Leki poles are part of the Novoflex Fotosystem modular tripod system. Use one as monpod/hiking pole, or connect three into a tripod. Quite clever.

[Joeri]

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https://www.leki.co.uk/trekking-poles-c192/leki-photosystem-camera-trekking-pole-p1142

 

I shot this picture many many years ago on a hiking pole/monopod @ 1 second. Not completely sharp of course, but for me it's an important picture: http://joerivanderkloet.com/box-old-pictures/

Edited August 3, 2018 by Joeri

[helged]

Sure? It is by Leki. It appears to me that your system is quite uncomfortable pushing down on the pole. YMMV.

 

 

https://www.astroshop.eu/made-of-aluminium/novoflex-aluminium-monopod-qleg-walk-ii-trekking-pole/p,48561

 

BTW B&H asks ten times RSP for the thing ! 

 

 

Yes, I know the Leki poles. They are fine but comes in short compared to the best poles around. I addition, screwing/unscrewing the camera body onto the pole simply doesn't work for me: Either I bring with me a tripod and I use the time it takes to do it properly or, without a tripod, I typically want quick support for the camera. For the latter, a quick-release system is the way to go.

 

The permanently fasten quick-release plate shown in post #23 may look uncomfortable when you put your hand on top of the pole, but I cannot think of any problems/uncomfortable situations during 10 years of (extensive) use, sometimes extending to 12-15 hours in a day in rough terrain.

 

But certainly, what works for me may not work for others...

Edited August 3, 2018 by helged

[jaapv]

The difference may be that I mainly use the monopod for video and very long lenses. Extremely fast mounting is not of very high priority, nor do I need a ballhead. As you say, different strokes for different folks.