A safe and comfortable dual strap system - using combinations?

Hi

Sorry for opening yet another camera strap topic. I've looked at a few topics about camera straps here, but I'm still looking for some very specific advise/experiences regarding dual camera systems.

Ok, let me list some of the essentials (apologies for divulging certain facts about me which might ruin your breakfast, but they make a difference):

1. I'm male. It may seem strange that I mention this, but I believe it makes a difference when wearing straps which go across the chest area.

2. I tend to sweat easily (there goes that breakfast), so I'll prefer straps which cover my body as little as possible. I've seen pics of full S.W.A.T.-type vests. While they look nice and able, they also look like a wet T-shirt contest waiting to happen.

3. I'm quite paranoid when it comes to damaging my equipment. I don't like things sticking out too much, and I would prefer a secondary mechanism to catch the camera in case the primary system fails. A good example can be seen here (the short straps looping through the shoulder strap): http://vimeo.com/52800​47

4. Obviously, comfort is key. I may need to carry this stuff all day, and I prefer to still have functioning back and shoulders when I'm old and tired and sit in a room somewhere complaining all the time how "in my day we still had to focus on our subject" and "we didn't have 7408047848748787 megapixel camera's young lad". I will need it for weddings, parties, hiking, ...

The system shown in the video I mentioned above seems like a nice one. But it still uses the shoulders/neck to support everything. I also quite like the SpiderPro holsters. However:

1. Do the holsters support some kind of backup system? I know, the system is probably so good it doesn't need one. But like I said, I'm paranoid. Besides, I would very much like something to prevent the camera from being dropped when it is out of the holster (i.e. when I'm using it). Hand straps and wrist straps and such could help there, but I wonder if they would slow me down when I need to quickly grab a camera (obviously, I could grab it, make the necessary pics, and then slip on the strap when I have some time).

So I'm thinking that the holsters combined with a shoulder strap thingy might be interesting. The holster carries all of the weight, and the shoulder strap acts as extra safety. Would the shoulder strap start slipping because there is essentially no camera weight pulling it down?

2. When the camera's are hanging from the holsters, do any mounted flash guns stick out? I've seen pics where the shoe points to the left/right, and pics where it points downwards when the camera is seated in the holster.

3. Any good alternatives, or is this the top notch, don't-want-anything-else system?

I do not own the SpiderPro holsters. While at a graduation this year, the pro tog shooting the event was using them. He had nothing but great stuff to say about them. His fear was dropping a camera while getting used to them. He said this fear quickly went away and he never had an issue.

Cool, thanks. I think the Spiders are the way to go, probably in combination with a PeakDesign safety tether.

Don't know about holsters but I comfortably carry my 1Dx with 500mm f4 II and 5D mk3 with 300 f2.8 II on a Black Rapid dual strap. I use arcs-swiss type quick releases as well as safety straps so everything has two points of attachment...cameras and lenses. I can quickly remove the camera from the strap which is handy but while attached, it's not coming loose. It's extremely comfortable and have done 8 hour shoots hiking around with no issues. The camera hangs upside down so if I have a flash attached it's not going to bump my leg and get ripped off.

The dual strap is also on my list as an alternative. It looks like a quality product, but somehow having my upper body completely free (with the Spider) is rather appealing.

yipDog Studios wrote in post #16130323
Don't know about holsters but I comfortably carry my 1Dx with 500mm f4 II and 5D mk3 with 300 f2.8 II on a Black Rapid dual strap. I use arcs-swiss type quick releases as well as safety straps so everything has two points of attachment...cameras and lenses. I can quickly remove the camera from the strap which is handy but while attached, it's not coming loose. It's extremely comfortable and have done 8 hour shoots hiking around with no issues. The camera hangs upside down so if I have a flash attached it's not going to bump my leg and get ripped off.

any chance of photos of this? I enjoy being depressed seeing this level of awesome

I'll see if I can dig up the pics...if not I'll put the rig together and get a shot of it.

Hope this makes sense! Here's the redundant system I use for carrying both big lenses.

I run the Spiderholsters on my work cameras (a pair of 1dmk4, with 16-35 and 70-200)
I just have the holsters on my pants belt (actually a "wilderness" gun belt, which has a lot of support for heavy loads)

These cameras get used 5 days a week, and once you are used to it, it's simple to clip the camera back into the channel, pretty quick too, and can be done with your eyes shut.

It really helps to make sure the holsters are in the same spot each time, as your muscles will remember where to put the camera.

If I am working out of a helicopter, on a moving boat, at height, or where I need to quickly switch between cameras, I will use my Blackrapid double strap.
The blackrapid sits nicely on my shoulders, with no weight on it, the spiderholsters support the weight of the camera, but the blackrapid allows me to just drop the camera, and grab the other one, instead of having to holster one first.

The best thing about the spiderholster, is the camera doesn't swing around much, it sits nicely on your hip (great when working around expensive race cars, I almost dinged one when using just my blackrapid)
it also gets the weight off your shoulders, and onto your hips (where the weight should be carried)

The worst thing about the spiderholster - it can take a while to get used to, and it can cause your flash to pop off the body (not a real issue, other than dropping the flash)

Best things about the BR - very very quick to change cameras on a double strap
Very secure when everything is used properly, (lugs are tight, and locking sleeves screwed down)
Much more comfortable than a stock strap, and it doesn't slide off your shoulders

Worst things about BR
Can drop cameras if not used properly
Cameras can swing around a bit (easier and further than a stock strap, as the camera glides on the strap)

I use a black rapid DR1, 5d mark 3 with a 24-70 and a flash on one side with a 40d 70-200 2.8 is ii on the other both with hoods. Never any problems they have adjustable stops where you can make both cameras stay behind you or prevent them from sliding forward if you bend forward. Very comfortable I used it all day at weddings, it can seperate in half if you only want to use a single camera, when using long lenses you use the tripod mount on the lens as the attatch point so the camera hangs upside down and the lens faces behind you, so if I am using the 24-70 I can get on my knees and not have to worry if the lens is going into the dirt.

I have never used the spider holster but I would think it would be awkard to walk in a crowded room if you had 1 strapped to each side, with the BR I can use the slidestop and put the cameras behind me.

I wouldnt buy either without actually trying them on and useing it though.

I have used both the Spider Pro Holster (Single) and the BlackRapid DR-1 and in the end I went with BlackRapid. My top two priorities were accessibility and comfort. I ended up going with the BlackRapid and here is why:

Spider Pro
+ No stress on the back and shoulders
+ Versatile- you can add plates, straps, etc to the mount easily so there is little downtime to switch tools
+Ease of use with grip
+Easy to unload. Anytime you don't want to carry an extra body, you can just unhook and store. Even if you wanted to put a camera down while shooting, you could unhook and place on the grass quickly
+ Little amounts of swinging
+Two hands available
- Heavy loads w/ grip, triggers, flash makes it difficult to walk without being afraid of bumping into chairs and such at events with tight spaces.
- Slower to swap cameras if you keep the locks activated
- Sags and pulls on the hips if both cameras are not on
-/+ Walking like a cowboy

BlackRapid
+ Fast- don't have to wait for a lock to quickly take a shot
+ 2 in 1- you can use the double or use as a single. Great for outings!
+ Feels like a backpack, but lighter. No tugs on belts.
- A lot more swing
- Not as easy to add plates and accessories

I found that I was always too worried about my gear when walking with the Spider Pro as the flash jutted out quite a bit. It also took me a while to ensure my camera was locked every time I replaced it in the holster. I ultimately decided I preferred the quicker access to both cameras. Both options are secure and don't need extra security. However, you can easily add them if needed.