Review: Domke Backpack Strap (FA-100 review)

This is a review of an item I don’t see mentioned much – it’s a strap/harness which allows you to strap your Domke shoulder bag over both shoulders much like a backpack. Putting it all together is all a bit esoteric but here’s how it works for me…

Straps go over your shoulder – I’m not even going to try to describe how it works so here’s some photos:

Clipping it on and off is the work of moments and it rolls up into a pretty compact package:

A strap like this could easily be improvised for pretty much any bag system – the Domke one isn’t too expensive – US$27 at B&H and the bags it’s designed to be fitted to already have appropriately located rings.

B&H states that it is designed to fit the F1X, F2, F3X, F4AF, F7, F804, F805, J1, J2 or J3.

It is also quite easy to sling the harness off from one shoulder and swing the bag around so that you can access it normally – the mounting points for the harness are all clear of the bag’s opening so it makes the bag into a somewhat-Slingshot-esque quick access backpack.

All in all it’s a feature of the Domke system which I greatly appreciated with the F-3x. I didn’t end up using it all that frequently as I have camera backpacks for when I know I’m going to be walking very long distances but they’re quite slow to access; using the harness you get a mix of both worlds in a similar way to what Lowepro’s Slingshot line gives you. Not quite as elegant and a little bit more strange looking but quite functional.


Comments, suggestions and criticism welcome!

Yup. Very handy, and works well. I've got one for the big Domke (F-7? I forget the model designation), but it fits on all the Domke shoulder bags that I have, and I usually carry it in one of the pockets, just in case.

It looks like that would pull on the shoulders a little more that a regular backpack. Does it?

Good review.

I use an F4AF for my "outdoors" kit and it works great when I'm shooting but when I'm hiking to or from the location it gets uncomfortable. All the weight on one shoulder means that after a mile or two the hip that is supporting the weight starts to get a little sore and I feel like I'm walking sideways. I bought a set of these backpack straps and the 4th of July weekend was my first time using them. I went hiking on each of the 3 days, not long hikes but 5-6 miles each day, and these straps made it very comfortable. Like you said, not a replacement for a "real" backpack but I have one of those if I needed it.

My only compaint is that they are only available in black, I'd rather have them in OD green to match my bag.

rklepper wrote in post #8299794
It looks like that would pull on the shoulders a little more that a regular backpack. Does it?

There's no sternum strap and no waist belt so it's certainly not as good as a regular backpack, but they are more comfortable than I had expected when I first saw them. If you need a regular backpack then that's what you should get. If you need a shoulder bag, and just need to occasionally set it up to distribute the load over both shoulders then these can be a good option.

Agreed to everything here.. I bought mine because it was pretty cheap (actually got mine second-hand from POTN) and I liked the idea of having it if it I need it.

It works well... for it's purpose.

Anyways, nice review.

Sorry I had to register just to reply to this post. I just got this strap had trouble finding a comfortable position. I installed the clips in the layout according to the images in this thread (thanks Google!) however the bag kept digging in to my back and tilted backwards.

Turns out that the thin straps actually attach to the plastic D-ring of top, and the thick shoulder straps attach to the smaller metal D-rings on the back of the bag. Opposite of the photos above! Much more comfortable and the bag sits upright. Hope this helps, recommend this strap for Domke users who cycle/hike!