BlackRapid Blackline I Right and Left review

Camera straps come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns, so they can be a good way to inject some personality into your photography gear. But, that’s not the case here. The Blackline I from BlackRapid has intentionally been designed to have a cool blacked-out aesthetic to help you blend in and keep a low profile, whether you are shooting candids on the street or at a wedding, the Blackline I has been designed to help you stay incognito.

It comes in Right or Left iterations so users can choose the one that suits their dominant hand best as it will determine which side of your hip the camera sits by. Though nearly all modern cameras feature a right-handed grip, most people will probably opt for that version.

It’s also worth noting that the Blackline series can also be purchased as a double camera harness for $200, while each left and right strap individually costs $130, so you could save yourself a considerable amount of cash if you get the twin harness now rather than upgrade from your single Blackline I at a later date.

I recently took both of BlackRapid’s Blackline I and Sport Breathe on a day trip to Cambridge, UK, for a spot of street photography, and I swapped them over halfway through the day. Here’s how I got on with them and why I think the Blackline I is the better option, providing you have the deeper pockets to afford it…

Specifications

Lauch price: $129.95 / £129.95
Size: One-size fits all
Colours: Black
Includes: Nylon-Coated FastenR FR-5 (1⁄4-20”); Lockstar II; Camera Safety Tether II
Shoulder Pad consists of highly breathable Polyester Mesh, TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) Foam, and Polyester Air Mesh
Shoulder Pad: Length: 16ʺ (40.5 cm); Width: 2.2ʺ – 3.7ʺ (5.5 cm – 9.5 cm); Thickness: 5mm
Webbing: 100% Nylon; Webbing Width: 1ʺ (2.5 cm)
Adjustable Strap, Maximum Length: 66ʺ (167 cm)
Strap Weight: 6.1 oz / 173g

Features

Like many of BlackRapid’s latest modern straps, the Blackline I comes with the company’s patented technology to secure your camera. This includes a CR-3 ConnectR, FR-5 FastenR, and LockStar II gate. In other words, you have a solid metal attachment point that screws into your camera’s tripod mount and has a small rubber disc to cushion it and is then attached to the metal carabiner on your strap to keep it secure. The LockStar II gate only shuts once the carabiner is screwed down into the locked position which is a nice touch and added peace of mind.

Talking of peace of mind, in the provided accessory mesh bag you’ll also find the Camera Safety Tether which provides another point of contact between the carabiner and your camera’s strap lug and gives you another failsafe should your camera take a tumble. Though during our day testing, we never felt like that was going to be the case - once set up it all felt really solid. It also comes with a triangular split ring if needed (below).

Speaking of setup, all of BlackRapid’s straps have an in-depth demonstration video online and this can be quickly accessed by scanning the QR code that comes in your provided mesh storage bag. This is perfect for showing you how to set up the strap to make sure it sits across your body correctly, your camera is attached securely and is hanging at the correct height so you can grab it easily and get shooting fast.

It also shows you how to use the Underarm Stabilizer which can be tightened under your arm to add another point of security and to make the strap feel a little more secure. It’s removable so you don’t have to use it, though it adds some decent security. This section of the strap also has a piece of elastic material which has a bit of give to it and makes it a little more comfortable. There’s also a clasp to tuck away any extra material.

The carabiner sits on the strap between a front and rear ‘bumper’. These are spring-loaded and can be easily moved along the strap with just one hand essentially limiting the amount of travel your camera has on the strap. This is great for setting a hard stop to prevent your camera from sliding back too far, but also for times when you may need to lean forward to adjust lights or pick something up, you can slide the front bumper down quickly to stop your camera from coming hurtling forward. It's a great feature to have and your lens will certainly thank you for using it!

One design difference between the Blackline I (right) and its more affordable Sport Breathe sibling (left) is that it has a blacked-out design, with a black logo and buckles too. I’m hesitant to call this a ‘feature’ as it’s a simple design change, but it makes a difference for street or news photographers wanting to keep a low profile as the Sport Breathe can be a bit ‘blingy’ with its bright white logo on the front and reflective metal buckle on the back. The padding on the Blackline I also feels a little softer and more comfortable, squeezing both side-by-side the Sport Breathe felt a bit more stiff and rigid, though there’s not a huge difference between them.

Performance

I recently spent the day in Cambridge, UK, shooting street photography and ventured out with just a single camera on a strap so that I could travel light. I took out both the BlackRapid Blackline I and also the BlackRapid Sport, switching over between the two at midday to see how they compared while noting their differences.

Both straps share a lot in common, though have unique features. One thing I loved about shooting with both though, was that it meant I could travel light. They also both offer extra security from any opportunists looking to snatch expensive camera gear, so this was greatly reassuring in busy city centers. 

It's worth noting that the BlackRapid strap doesn't feature a metal core which would make it slash-resistant. BlackRapid's CEO says this is an intentional design choice as a metal core could cause a knife to slip and cause harm, adding "Unfortunately, in today's environment, individuals may take what they want regardless of the precautions in place".

I felt that the strap acted as a good deterrent against anyone looking to snatch a camera in a bust city center, though if you know you're visiting a sketchy area the strap is low profile and can easily be worn underneath a jacket to hide it a little better, the front and back bumpers can also be locked down to make it a little more secure. It also goes without saying that it's always worth being aware of your surroundings when being out with your camera and having insurance on your kit too.

When I’m shooting street photography I usually ditch the neck strap and handhold my camera by my waist. Both shoulder straps were an improvement on this as they helped put the weight on my shoulder and also freed up my hands when I needed them. 

Both the Blackline I and Sport Breathe look more professional than touristy, which you get with a standard neck strap, they did attract more attention than I’m used to shooting with no strap at all. That said, I was wearing a bright white t-shirt making the straps more prominent, so darker clothing or a jacket over the top would be a good way to keep a lower profile.

As the name suggests the Blackline I is totally blacked out, unlike the more affordable Sport Breathe. The Blackline I is much more discreet and I felt fewer eyes on me walking down the street wearing it than I did wearing the Sport Breathe with its bright white logo on the front and flashy metal buckle on the back.

The padding is slightly different between the Blackline I and Sport Breathe too. The Sport Breathe is a little wider giving more contact area with your shoulder to distribute the weight. That said, I actually found the Blackline I to be a little more comfortable, this could be because its vent holes are larger slits rather than the perforated circles punched out of the Sport’s padding. The padding also feels slightly more supple on the Blackline I, though I suspect that after repeated use the Sport will wear better in the long run as it has a little more material around the edges of its smaller ventilation holes and stiffer padding.

Even when loaded up with 1.5 kg of equipment I hardly even realized the strap was there, the Blackline I is extremely comfortable to use over long periods and I’d happily wear it all day. I can see comfort being more of an issue with a heavier setup, such as a DSLR and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens so your mileage may vary, you may even be better off with BlackRapid's beefier Sport-Multi Terrain if this is a concern, we're also told this model is soon to be available in black too.

I did find BlackRapid’s naming conventions to be a little confusing at times, as the Blackline I has better padding and breathability than the Sport ‘Breathe’, but going purely off the names you’d think it would be the other way around.

Another issue I took umbrage with is that there is seemingly no difference between the Blackline I which is available as a single left or right sling, and the Blackline II Double Camera Harness, though the naming convention suggests they’re actually Mark I and Mark II models, with the latter being a better version when in reality they are 99% the same product, with the exception being the Blackline II comes bundled with both left and right straps as well as shorter straps to connect them together and a connector for the rear straps to cinch them together.

Verdict

I recently went out to shoot street photography and pitted BlackRapid’s Sport Breathe against its Blackline I to find out which was best. While both are very similar, with identical top-quality mechanisms to secure your camera to the strap and bumpers to keep your kit swinging about, the Blackline I was the more comfortable of the two, with larger ventilation holes and softer padding, it also has a much more discreet blacked-out design which is better for staying incognito. The Sport Breathe is clearly BlackRapid’s best-selling strap for good reason, it strikes a good balance of price and performance. But for our money, we think it’s worth spending the extra $30 on the Blackline I which is more comfortable and discreet.