Trying a SpiderPro Holster

Well, I decided to give the SpiderPro system a try. I thought that, maybe, it was just another camera carry gimmick and I would , most likely, return it. After a couple of days with it, I can't believe I didn't try it sooner. The system is incredible. I was standing at the kitchen table looking at a newspaper, and forgot I was wearing a 1DIV with a 70-200 f4L IS attached to it. It was so comfortable. I have chronic back problems, and have always had issues carrying heavy equipment for any length of time. This may be the answer to my issues. I wore it, almost continually, for two days, and can honestly say that this is the best carry system I have ever tried. I didn't buy their belt, but picked up a work belt at Lowes for $5. If you want to try a great alternative to a neck or shoulder strap, give the Spider System a go, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. And no, I am in no way connected to the company.

Eddie, I've just had the same kind of experience. The SpiderPro arrived yesterday (with their belt and additional holster) and I've just been out for a short hike and I quite forgot I was carrying a 5D3 with 135mm lens. It's one of the few things that I've purchased in this business (Profoto B1 also comes to mind) that will change my life for the better. I'm just going to check out the video for attaching the second holster so I can try the double. I'll report back when I've tried both!

I decided to try carrying a 1D3 with 100mm 2.8 macro IS, and in a lens bag a sigma 150-600C. Not bad at all. Sooooo much better than carrying the same setup with a camera bag. I am really happy with the holster. I'll try loading more stuff on the belt and see what happens.

I've been using my new belt all weekend and have a few things to report. Firstly, it'd absolutely great for one's back - absolutely not issues there and the ease of carrying the camera gear is amazing to me after years of struggling. The camera is always at hand and it literally just takes seconds to unclip it and have it ready to go.

However, I have had some issues. I went hill-walking yesterday and decided to take my Canon 6D with 70-200 f/2.8 II on the camera with 24-70 in the medium pouch on the belt. I had purchased an extra pin (someone on another thread suggested this) and screwed it tightly in to the tripod mount on the collar. It's so great to be able to walk hands free but have the camera so accessible. My first problem came when I wanted to change lenses. I hadn't thought ahead so a) I had no spare rear cap (one is tethered in the pouch) and the lanyard holding it was not long enough for the 70-200 lens nor was the pouch big enough. It was more of a faff than usual changing the lenses! If I had had the large pouch (empty) additionally, then things would have been much easier but there isn't enough room on my belt for two pouches as I have the double holster.

It didn't rain but this could be a problem as there is no protection at all for your gear. The lens pouch does have a rain cover. I can see this is really going to limit my use of it on hiking trips.

Later, yesterday evening I took the camera with 70-200L out again. As I was moving over rough ground the whole camera/lens combo dropped to the ground. Yikes! Fortunately it fell on mossy ground but just seconds before I was on rocks. Boy, was that a wake-up call. The pin had worked itself loose from the lens collar and the whole lot disconnected. I'm wondering if a separate plate to secure the lens would have been better (ie a plate on the camera and on the lens collar).

So, in conclusion, for me I would do well to have two belts. The double one for events only when I will have an assistant to carry spare lenses etc, and a single one with two lens pouches for general outdoor use in good weather. I will be VERY wary of attaching heavy gear using the pin only. I wonder if there is a way of tightening the pin to make it more secure.

To end on a positive note, though, my back is thanking me today for the SpiderPro!

Is there room for a lock washer?
Or, if you don't need to remove it a lot, try Loctite.

Wow Annie, could have been costly. I'm glad it all worked out. You might want to buy another quick release on ebay, red Loctite the pin into it. that should take care of the unscrewing issue. I haven't gone hiking with my setup yet, but plan to soon.

I use a Spider Pro Dual and Love it! No problems with it. I always check and tighten threads on everything i own regularly tho.

havent tried the spider holster, but a big fan of belt systems. I have the lowepro s&f utility belt, ultimate comfort, but too big. Also have the think tank pro belt, think this will be the ticket for what I shoot. Think tank has a MUCH better belt buckle, however using a flybuckle (airplane belt buckle), the lowepro can turn into a more stable platform.

Charlie wrote in post #17984578
havent tried the spider holster, but a big fan of belt systems. I have the lowepro s&f utility belt, ultimate comfort, but too big. Also have the think tank pro belt, think this will be the ticket for what I shoot. Think tank has a MUCH better belt buckle, however using a flybuckle (airplane belt buckle), the lowepro can turn into a more stable platform.

Which lowepro belt are you speaking of? And the buckle sounds interesting.

eddieb1 wrote in post #17984636
Which lowepro belt are you speaking of? And the buckle sounds interesting.

s&f belt. It's hugely flawed design as is because since the belt is so wide, it cant take the pressure when you crouch and the buckle will just pop off. Under certain weight load, it will just pop off and your gear falls to the ground. Problem solved with the airplane belt. Same concept can happen to the think tank belt, but the think tank buckle is much stronger (but still plastic). From my testing, the think tank buckle is the strongest, followed by husky 2inch work belt for $7 at home depot, followed by lowepro belt buckle.

eddieb1 wrote in post #17984321
Wow Annie, could have been costly. I'm glad it all worked out. You might want to buy another quick release on ebay, red Loctite the pin into it. that should take care of the unscrewing issue. I haven't gone hiking with my setup yet, but plan to soon.

Yes, I'm definitely going to get another plate. I want to put another pin in the plate, though, so I can use it on either side. Has anyone done this?

BlakeC wrote in post #17984325
I use a Spider Pro Dual and Love it! No problems with it. I always check and tighten threads on everything i own regularly tho.

It was you, Blake, I believe who posted about putting the pin directly on the 70-200 tripod mount. I guess I didn't realise how much effect the movement of removing and replacing would have. I did tighten it using the hex key through the hole on the pin and never thought of checking it while I was out. Lesson learned.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17984226
Is there room for a lock washer?
Or, if you don't need to remove it a lot, try Loctite.

How does Loctite work? Will I be able to remove the pin again?

AnnieMacD wrote in post #17985637
How does Loctite work?

[Simple version]

It's liquid when you screw things together and fills up spaces between the threads of the nuts and bolts. Between the threads of the screw and bolt there is no air. When there is no air, the Loctite turns into plastic. [anaerobic curing] After 24 hours, it's fully set.

Loctite comes in colors.

Red is high strength, probably more than you want -- it can take heat (propane torch) to loosen it for removal.
Blue is Medium. With small fasteners, you can usually get things apart again with elbow grease. You may be able to use it in photography, it depends in your application.

Red and Blue are generally available at hardware stores.

Purple is less strong than Blue. If you can't find it at your local hardware store, try an Auto Parts store. It may be the best place to start. With Purple, things are supposed to come apart with the same tools used to put it together, no extra elbow grease. If Purple doesn't meet your needs, then clean things up and try Blue.

There is also a Green, for use after you have screwed two things together, Blue, Red and Purple you put a drop on before you screw things together. It's a little less than Red and more than Blue.

The Loctites have numbers, Purple is 222, Red is usually 272, Blue is 24-something, I think 243.

If you haven't worked with it before, get a few nut and bolts same hardware store and play before you do something for real. The items should be clean for best results. Loctite sells a cleaner, but be careful with it when other materials are present.


(We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread)

I would use vibratite instead of loctite. It's reusable, and generally a better compound. Unlike loctite, vibratite never really solidifies, awesome product.... that said, relying on these products may not be the ticket for a poor design. Annie, you may be better off with a think tank digital holster 50. Drop your whole camera setup in the belt bag, safe from the elements. For event stuff, spider will be better since no bulging bags. for hiking, hands down holster ftw.

AnnieMacD wrote in post #17985637
Yes, I'm definitely going to get another plate. I want to put another pin in the plate, though, so I can use it on either side. Has anyone done this?

I saw a few people saying they had done this, and also bought 2 extra pins to be able to hang either camera on either side. Wish they came with extra pins, but I guess they'd rather sell them when everybody realizes they want them.