Coiro Dual Camera Harness review: double trouble

A dual camera harness is ideal for photographing events such as weddings or news reporting and as the name might suggest, Coiro's Leather Dual Harness is exactly that, allowing photographers to hang two camera bodies off their shoulders to switch between them quickly.

The Dual Harness from Coiro is available in multiple different colors including Black, Brown, Tan, Beige, Grey but also some limited editions appear from time to time including blue (now sold out). It’s also available in a ‘skinny’ iteration which has leather straps measuring 1” wide compared to the 1.4” width of the regular one, so might make it a little more pliable and fit to your shape a little better. Finally, the Dual Harness can be bought with padded shoulders for extra comfort, though this costs a little extra.

The base Dual Harness costs $105 though at the time of writing was on sale for $80, the skinny version was $105 (marked down to $95), and the dual harness with extra shoulder padding costs $110 (on sale for $84). I got hold of the standard Tan Dual Harness with the thicker 1.4” straps but without the extra padding. I've taken it on a handful of my most recent photoshoots including family portrait sessions and a food photography course where I was wearing the harness all day. Here's how I got on with it...

Coiro Dual Camera Harness: Specifications

Price: From $80
Size: Normal, Padded and Skinny
Colors: Black, Brown, Tan, Beige, Grey
Includes: Dual Camera Harness and two D-rings
Shoulder Pad: At extra cost
Leather width: 1.4in (1” on skinny version)
Strap weight: 625g

Coiro Dual Camera Harness: Features

The Coiro harness is made from high quality, durable and comfortable leather, though if you’re opposed to the idea of leather then I would recommend the Black Rapid Blackline II Double Camera harness which uses synthetic and plastic components.

However, if you prefer the look and style of the Coiro Dual Harness it has a lot to offer, it’s considerably more affordable than the $200 aforementioned BlackRapid harness too, costing about $80 bucks for the base model on test here.

The version with extra shoulder padding isn’t that much more expensive than the base model and has extra wide shoulder padding to spread the load and make it more comfortable. I only got a chance to use the base model so I can’t vouch for the extra padding, though I imagine if you have a larger frame, or you’re using very heavy equipment this wouldn’t be a bad idea.

If you do opt for the version with the shoulder pads they can move freely along the belts but they can't be removed as the belts are riveted closed, so you need to make your mind up at the time of purchase as to whether you need the extra cushioning or not. Personally, I had the more basic (less padded) version and it was surprisingly comfortable to wear for long periods, though I wasn't using lenses that were all that heavy.

The long leather straps on each side are joined together by a backplate which is connected by metal hardware. When connected via the D-rings your cameras can freely run up and down the leather straps with the rectangular metal loops smoothly running along it.

There’s a wide range of fitting options with nine holes spaced out in 1” intervals along the two straps on each side so you can adjust them until your camera is hanging naturally by your waist. For people with smaller frames, it might be worth considering the Skinny version which has leather straps measuring 1” across, rather than 1.4”, so they’re less likely to get in your way or rub against you.

There’s also two large D-rings riveted on to the front of the straps near to your shoulders which add extra attachment points and even make it possible to attach a third camera to the harness.

One omission is any kind of sternum strap which would join the left and right straps together around the front at the chest. This was a feature I enjoyed on the BlackRapid Double Breathe which made the harness a bit more stable and secure and added peace of mind that the harness wouldn’t accidentally slip off. That said, the underside of the leather is inherently quite rough and grippy so it didn’t feel like it was going to slip off anytime soon. The BlackRapid also has 'bumpers' on each side which can be slid down to stop the cameras come bolting forwards when you lean forwards or bend down, so it has the advantage over the Coiro here, though you are paying $120 more for these features.

Coiro Dual Camera Harness: Performance

One thing that’s really clear from the get-go is the high-quality materials but also the expert craftsmanship that has gone into creating each and every harness. Each strap gets at least two beefy rivets at any attachment point and is secured by serious chunky metal hardware that gives the harness a robust and high-quality finish.

Your cameras are attached to the harness by two D-rings which screw directly into the 1/4” female tripod mounting connection and the D-ring provides good leverage to make it finger-tight. There’s also a rubber washer which is glued to the metal D-ring so it can’t come off and get lost, this isn’t the case with the BlackRapid hardware. Its D-rings are however a bit smaller than the BlackRapid ones, with a diameter of just 16mm compared to 21mm.

The D-rings then attach to a large hook on either side of the harness for your left and right camera bodies. The large hooks can be easily opened with just a thumb press and snap back into the locked position when released. While this does make it really quick and easy to remove or attach your camera to the harness, it’s not as secure a system as the Black Rapid which has a locking carabiner and extra safety clip to prevent the carabiner from being accidentally opened.

The Coiro has an extra 1cm wide strip of leather which can be attached to your camera’s strap lug for another point of security should your camera accidentally take a tumble. Though this setup does feel a little clunky and can get in the way, because it's quite big and stiff it just gets in the way a bit more than a thinner piece of nylon for example. This means I did find the security strap frustrating as it would often hinder my ability to use the touch screen, or I would inadvertently activate my camera's EVF, or get caught up in the vari-angle screen. It also jingles and rattles a fair bit, as does the other metal hardware, so it doesn't feel as elegant as some of the other harnesses I've tried recently. But I have to keep reminding myself this is a budget-friendly option, and for its price, it still offers a lot of bang for your buck.

I thought the lack of padding and the heavy weight of the Coiro Dual Harness would hinder its comfortability, but I was pleasantly surprised. Even after some very long shoots hanging two cameras from it all day long was very comfortable, though I wasn't using super heavy lenses admittedly – just a 35mm f/1.8 prime and 24-105mm f/4 zoom.

It certainly looks the part and it's very affordable too. Whilst the leather Coiro Dual is stylish, it has substance – the harness itself works remarkably well as a dual camera setup. Everything locks into place securely, there’s heaps of adjustability and the camera hardware can glide up and down the leather belts with ease.

One feature from the BlackRapid Blackline II dual camera harness which I did miss however was its front and rear bumpers which could be slid along its nylon strap to limit the amount of travel for the camera, however, that’s not possible on the leather Coiro here, so when you lean forward you have to be mindful that your camera could come hurtling forwards.

While leather may look more stylish (depending on your tastes anyway) it's also a more affordable option compared to the Black Rapid which costs over twice as much. but it's worth noting that leather also requires more care – it's not a bad idea to clean and condition leather every six months to prevent drying out and cracking.

It’s also recommended to keep leather out of direct sunlight to avoid fading – not something that’s going to be practical if you plan to shoot weddings over long summer days. Others say you need to store leather properly in a cool, dry place, so it’s a more temperamental material to work with than the synthetic materials found in the BlackRapid, for example.

Coiro Dual Camera Harness: Verdict

On the handful of shoots where I wore the Coiro Dual Harness for long periods, I have to say I was very impressed. The ultimate strap in my opinion remains the BlackRapid Blackline II which is lighter, better padded, and has bumper guards on each left and right strap to stop the cameras moving when you lean forward. But it's very pricy, and if your budget doesn't stretch, the Coiro Dual Harness is much more affordable at about half the price, plus, if you like the leather look and all of the various color options available with the Coiro you might find it a better choice. It's not just style though, it also has the substance to back it up too, and is a very comfortable, well-crafted and feature-rich harness if you need to switch between two cameras quickly.

Alternatives

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.

This Blackrapid Double Breath camera harness is well-constructed and designed with careful consideration, offering a great balance of comfort, speed, reliability, and security. If you're a wedding or events photographer in need of a double-camera harness, this product should be at the top of your list.