OpTech Pro Loop Strap review

Camera straps are the unsung heroes of photographic accessories, but pick the right one and they can make all the difference in comfort when wearing your camera on long shoots, especially if using heavy set ups with bulkier DSLR bodies and big telephoto lenses.

The OpTech Pro Loop is a budget-friendly model costing roughly between $15 and $30, and aims to give photographers a much more comfortable shooting experience as by all means it’s a generic camera strap but with one big difference – a large foam pad to spread out and distribute heavy loads much more evenly to prevent neck and shoulder pain. OpTech has a longstanding history of making camera accessories dating back to 1982 and claims its Pro Loop strap is designed to make heavy loads feel 50% lighter and 100% more comfortable – big claims that I put to the test in this review. So read on and find out if the OpTech Pro Loop Strap is worth your money.

OpTech Pro Loop Strap: Specifications

OpTech Pro Loop Strap: Price

There are eight different color varieties of the OpTech Pro Loop strap and pricing seems to change a little depending on which color you go for, this was certainly the case when looking on Amazon. With prices for the Forest, Nature and Navy models all around $15-20, but the black costs closer to $20, and the Red and Royal versions are close to $30 so there’s potentially less stock of these. Proudly Made in the USA it’s fairly easy to get hold of the full spectrum of colors, though here in the UK where I’m writing from I could only find the standard black and royal blue models on Amazon which both retail for around £20. So there are some decent savings to be had if you’re not too fussed on the color.

Regardless, $15-30 for a camera strap is on the more affordable side and makes it very budget-friendly. I’ve also recently reviewed the Peak Design Slide Lite and Urth Core Camera Strap which both retail for around $70. And whilst both of these straps could very well be worth the extra spend, it’s definitely good to have a product like the OpTech to cater for photographers with smaller budgets.

OpTech Pro Loop Strap: Design & Handling

The OpTech Pro Loop Strap is proudly Made in the USA so it’s impressive the company has managed to keep the price very attractive at around the $20-30 mark.

It’s similar to the camera straps which come stock with your camera in that that it’s a large piece of fabric with adjustments for length, however where it differs and is an improvement is that theres a large padded piece of foam around the neck area to cushion this part of your body and provide additional comfort. The foam padding measures 34cm across and at its widest it’s 6cm and also 6mm deep so there’s so decent thick padding and is particularly useful for heavier setups and DSLRs which could cause the weight hanging to really dig the strap into your neck. It can also be worn over the shoulder instead of a neck strap.

The two fabric straps coming off each side of the foam pad are made of nylon, though the there’s some stretchy elastic material running along the back of the foam to add rigidity and support and to stop the foam from tearing under heavy loads.

Both straps have a quick release plastic buckle to remove them fast and is also used to thread them through the eyelets of your camera. Whilst this was fine on the chunky eyelets of my Canon EOS R6 Mark II, some cameras may have smaller eyelets and require a split ring to be used to attach them – unfortunately none come included with the strap.

Whilst I got hold of the OpTech Pro Loop for this review which has larger 2cm width, there is also the slightly more affordable Pro Strap which has thinner left and right quick release straps and is just 6mm wide. This means the straps will undoubtedly get in the way a little less but be better suited to lighter setups.

In terms of hardware the strap uses two leather tabs and also plastic buckles and adjustment rings. Given the price point I can see why there’s no metal hardware found here, and whilst this does mean it might not last as long after heavy use, it does help to keep the weight down.

OpTech Pro Loop Strap: Performance

The OpTech Pro Loop is available to fit a wide range of builds and is fully adjustable from 61cm to 129.5cm. I got hold of the Pro Loop version with its wider 3/8” straps which can take heavier setups compared to the thinner 1/4” version.

OpTech claims the Pro Loop can take up to 66Kg, though suggests loading up no more than 7Kg for a comfortable experience. OpTech proudly says its large neoprene pad should make it feel like you’re carrying half that weight of what you’re carrying, compared to a conventional neck strap. In my experience the curved neoprene pad evenly distributed the weight and did add comfort when shooting.

I loaded the strap up with my old DSLR and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens which tipped the scales at 2.4Kg – one third of the recommended maximum weight. With this in mind the strap would be suitable for heavier optics such as a 400mm f/2.8 or f/4. The key question I asked myself was could I rely on a $15 strap to keep my expensive telephoto lenses safe and secure. The short answer is yes, though if you want extra security you might be better off with a product such as the Black Rapid Sport Breathe which is a cross-body design with an addition safety tether and more substantial metal hardware compared to the plastic buckles found on the OpTech – though it is much more expensive at $100.

On the inside of the neoprene pad you’ll find strips of grippy material, possibly rubber or silicone, and these add a little more grip compared to the soft and smooth feel of the neoprene. I thought this would be uncomfortable on my neck but it actually wasn’t and it did help keep the strap in place and stop the camera swinging around too much. It also works well over a coat, or shoulder, and again here it keeps the strap in place nicely.

A small issue I had with the OpTech Pro Loop, although it’s also a point I’ve raised when reviewing other camera straps is that the left strap lug is female, while the right side is male, and if you’re not paying attention it’s quite easy to accidentally mix these up. Considering they’re not the fastest attachments to put on your camera or binoculars it can be a little annoying when this happenes.

One thing worth noting is the nylon straps absorb water so you have to be a little careful when shooting out in a downpour and you’ll need to wring your strap out and hang it up to dry thoroughly afterwards. The neoprene pad was a little more water resistant with water drops beading off it, but would absorb moisture when pushing the water drops into it, so it will likely absorb sweat over time and need cleaning.

OpTech Pro Loop Strap: Verdict

The OpTech Pro Loop is a strap that doesn’t break the bank and is a clear upgrade from the stock strap usually included in the box with a new camera. The substantial neoprene padding helps with comfort no end and the fact that it’s available in not one, but eight different colors helps add some unique character to your camera setup and makes it handy to identify which camera is yours when put down on amongst a group of photographers – such as at a sporting event.

The OpTech Pro Loop is a strap is 100% an improvement on the stock strap and it aides comfort so it’s a definite win if you’re on a strict budget. Though for sports photographers looking for a more comfortable way to lug their heavy and expensive telephoto lenses, I think I’d be more inclined to go with a strap such as the Black Rapid Sport Breathe which uses more reliable metal hardware and has a security tether should the main one come unstuck – but at $99 it’s considerably more money.

Black Rapid Sport Breathe
BlackRapid’s Sport Breathe offers top build quality, comfort, features, and security. It’s clearly BlackRapid’s most popular strap for good reason – the Sport Breathe strikes the perfect balance between price and performance and its price point of under $100 will be the sweet spot for many photographers looking to buy a quality strap.

Black Rapid Blackline II Double Camera Harness
The Blackline II Double Dual Camera Harness does everything its more affordable Double Breathe sibling can but builds upon it with softer and more breathable shoulder padding, it’s kitted out with an all-black design that will be a hit with photographers looking to keep a low profile and not attract attention.