K&F CONCEPT 45mm Camera Strap Review

By Roberto

When you’re travelling and carrying your camera, there are two main ways to carry it: in a proper camera backpack with easy access / carrying system, or a neck strap. I personally go for the backpacks, since I usually carry more travel gear or items, but for many travel scenarios, a camera strap is necessary. I’ve tried a few camera straps since I started photography and I can tell a bad strap can dig into your neck, slide around uncomfortably, or even risk your gear falling.

In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at one option from a budget brand with interesting items: The K&F CONCEPT 45mm Camera Strap. By the end, you’ll know whether it’s worth your money or not, and if it’s a good option for you.

What Is the K&F CONCEPT 45mm Camera Strap?

The K&F CONCEPT 45mm Camera Strap is an adjustable camera carrying strap that brings comfort and flexibility without the premium price tag of brands like Peak Design or BlackRapid. It’s a neck/shoulder strap that also works crossbody thanks to its length adjustment and ergonomic width (45 mm). 

Look and Feel

It comes in a premium packaging under the name Alpha Strap, and honestlyit looks great for its price: $38. Right out of the box, the strap has a serious premium feel for its price range. The design looks clean and well put together. It does look good, very similar to the Peak Design straps style.

The strap uses a 45 mm width webbing (like a seatbelt) which feels stronger and more supportive than thinner alternatives you may get bundled with cameras. When I first tried the straps of my first camera: the Sony 5100 it was thin, very thin, I even though the camera was very light, I could feel its weight. Since then, I’ve always preferred wider straps that distribute the weight better. Simple physics.

In the K&F CONCEPT neck strap there are also some details in leather-type material and other orange fabric, that looks really good when carrying Sony cameras, since they have some orange tones too in details.

Materials & Construction

• Nylon webbing strap: The main body of the strap is made from a dense nylon material similar to automotive seatbelts. It looks and feels great. We talk later about the comfort.
• Duraflex UTX safety buckles: These seem strong, easy to operate, and have a safety lock that prevents accidental release. This is something I love. This adds an extra of protection and still is easy to manage with one hand to release. Bonus point here since its a pro feature.
• Quick-release mechanism: The strap includes quick-release connectors so you can switch to a tripod or stabilizer without hassle. 
• Plastic buckle: It looks good in silver colour and it perfectly matches the design. But it doesn’t come in metal and could be a risk for very heavy set ups.

Comfort

The central padding at the 45 mm strap, makes it noticeably more comfortable than thinner straps and the majority of straps I’ve tried. That extra width helps distribute weight evenly across your neck or shoulder, which becomes especially noticeable if you’re carrying a heavier setup. However I miss some extra padding. One I had super basic USA Gear strap, that was really well padded and I’ve missed that comfort feeling. Anyways, it’s comfortable enough and better than other alternatives.

Adjustability & Fit

You can vary the length roughly between 100 and 145 cm, letting you wear the strap as neck, shoulder, or crossbody. The length can only be adjusted for the wide neck strap, and not for the other thiner and long straps. In my opinion, these ones are way too long, and leave the camera lower than I usually carry mine.

I didn’t like this feature and I wish the K&F CONCEPT 45mm Camera Strap had an extra adjustable option for these straps. I’m 175 cm and I feel that even at the shortest length, the strap can feel long. This won’t be a problem for taller people, but for shorter photographers can not like this.

Summary

✅ Pros

• Great value for money, with quality materials and features you can expect at higher prices. 
• Durable seatbelt nylon webbing, strong and resistant to wear. 
• Comfortable wide design, better than the majority of alternatives in the market.  
• Quick-release system with safety lock, convenient and secure. 
• Universal compatibility. It works with nearly any camera that has strap lugs.

❌ Cons

• Some components are plastic. Metal buckles could inspire more confidence for heavier loads. 
• Length is too long for the majority, especially when worn around the neck. 
• Padding could be even better. I miss “that” extra point of comfort.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

The K&F CONCEPT 45mm Camera Strap going to stay in my travel photography gear for now. I want to try it long-term in more travels in cities to give a proper feedback about the comfort. It looks really good to me, and despite being a bit long I can use it cross-body, because that’s how I usually carry the cameras.

In my opinion, it’s not an entry level camera strap because it falls in the upper-medium range of quality. For it’s price, around 40 € I think there aren’t better alternatives, and if you can get a discount or promo, is a very solid option in case you are a tall person.