Bowman Leather Camera Straps Review – Affordable Quality from the Edge of the Lake District

I had the pleasure of testing out a couple of camera straps from Bowman Leather recently and I couldn’t be more excited to publish this review of them. Bowman Leather is a UK-based business creating custom vegetable-tanned leather camera straps and accessories. The company is run by Charles Bowman, who got into leather goods after realizing desk work wasn’t for him. Along with my experience and thoughts on the straps I tried out in this review, I also have a mini-interview with Charles himself to share with you!

The straps Charles sent my way included a 100cm Ridge strap in Dark Tan and a 115cm Peak strap in Black, both in Comfort Plus. In my words, one shorter thick tan one and one longer thinner black one, both super soft and comfortable.

The Peak strap is both a neck and wrist strap. If you are someone like me who changes how they wear camera straps all the time, having something that can be used in various ways is handy. The Ridge is a thicker neck-only strap and works well with cameras where I wouldn’t be using a wrist strap, like my Rolleiflex MX.

About Bowman Leather

Bowman makes straps custom for photographers under a few designs. In addition to Peak and Ridge which I mentioned, there is Stride, Vantage, and Flint. Stride is a neck-only strap with a slimmer profile, Vantage is a neck and wrist strap (in one) with a thicker strap, and Flint is a smaller wrist-only strap. The small UK business also makes lug protectors, which I am going to be sharing my thoughts on later as well!

For all of the designs, the straps can be made in three comfort levels (Classic, Comfort, and Comfort Plus) in lengths from 70cm to 120cm. Each strap is double riveted as well.

Now, there’s something I have to admit. In the past, I haven’t been a fan of leather camera straps. They were either too expensive or not comfortable or both. After taking a look at Bowman Leather’s website however and testing these out, I’ve changed my mind. Not only are the Bowman straps on a more affordable level but they are handmade in the UK with vegetable-tanned British leather and come with a 10-year warranty. Living in a world of things that are not made to last, this was a nourishing concept.

If you have never heard of vegetable-tanned leather versus chrome-tanned leather, check out Bowman’s web page that explains the difference.

Bowman’s sustainability practices are something I appreciate as well. Vegetable-tanned leather, non-toxic dyes, linen thread, recyclable fixtures, traceability statements, and plastic-free packaging. The straps arrived in a cardboard box individually contained in cotton drawstring bags. The business has also implemented a tree-planting program for orders over £10. In terms of operations, the Bowman Leather workshop heat and hot water sources are 100% powered by wood chips harvested from the family farm with most of the electricity coming from solar panels.

Interview with Charles Bowman

As part of my review, I was curious to learn more about the story behind Bowman so I asked Charles (CB) if he would be willing to answer a few questions! It sounds like quite the adventure that started from a small Etsy shop in 2020.

“2021 was the year that I quit my job and moved back to the farm where I grew up in Cumbria, England. The next couple of years were a whirlwind as my partner and I renovated an old stone barn into a house, got married, converted a campervan and even had a baby. However, I still managed to squeeze in my leather work in between plumbing, plastering and poopy nappies!” – Charles Bowman

35mmc: You mention on your website that you worked an academic desk job before getting into leather goods! How did you get into leather handcrafting and what about it drew you to the craft?

CB: I have a degree in Physics which allowed me to work in engineering and then software during my 20’s. While I was grateful for the opportunities to work in these industries, I never felt satisfied working in them as I’m quite a practical person and I knew that I ideally wanted a job where I could be creative and work with my hands. It was during a trip to South Africa where I first saw a leather craftsman making a belt and I fell in love with the material and the passion that goes into making an item. I knew I had to give it a go at that point! I bought a few beginner tools and some vegetable-tanned leather offcuts and started making a few items on my kitchen table. Pretty quickly I discovered the amazing characteristics of veg tan leather. It has a very satisfying texture and smell that is different from the mass-produced chrome tan leather that makes up the vast majority of the market. To put it simply, I was hooked!

35mmc: How do you like to enjoy photography? (What do you like to photograph/what cameras do you like to use?)

CB: I started out with a compact Canon camera when I was a teenager and it really grew from there. A few years later I got a couple of better entry-level cameras (Canon 600D and Fuji X10) which allowed me to get a good taste of the photography world. However, a few years ago I received a Lomography Konstruktor camera which is a 35mm camera that you build yourself and this got me hooked on using film as a medium. I really enjoy the imperfect results of shooting with film and the way that it forces me to slow down and think more about the shot. I recently bought a vintage Canonet QL25 and an Olympus 35 EC. They don’t work but I plan on taking them apart and having a go at fixing them! I live near the Lake District National Park in the UK so I have naturally developed a liking for landscape photography!

35mmc: It was really interesting reading about the vegetable v chrome tanned process on your website! and about the sustainable practices you have as well. Can you share a bit more about your background/drive to be as environmentally conscious as possible? You mention a family farm and I’m curious to learn more about your philosophy/experience/influences in regards to the sustainability component!

CB: Being as environmentally friendly as possible is something that has always been a part of my life and I am proud to be implementing this into my business too. I grew a little bit fed up with all the inaction from most companies and the blatant greenwashing that happens. So, I set myself some goals to try and do the best I can to be a responsible business. It’s still early days but I hope to become certified carbon neutral in the future. Some of my current practices like plastic-free packaging and tree planting should hopefully have me set on the right path to achieve this goal!

35mmc: Last one – future plans for Bowman Leather? What are you looking forward to in the next couple of years for the business and yourself?

CB: In addition to my sustainability goals, I’m looking forward to getting creative with my products! I have quite a few ideas and prototypes in the works for items that offer something a little bit different. I really want to get my name out there as someone who offers customers greater options and more versatility with their photography gear. I’m also really looking forward to seeing how being my own boss works out over the years and how it can benefit my growing family! So, watch this space!

Field Testing

To test out the straps, I attached the Ridge strap on the Rolleiflex MX and the Peak strap on my Canon L3 rangefinder which has the Jupiter-12 lens attached.

The lengths are just right for me! I am 5’6 and the 100cm Ridge strap leaves my Rolleiflex just about where I like to shoot it from. The longer 115cm Peak strap works great as well because, for this set-up, I like to sling my right arm through the strap and wear it like a crossbody bag. Weight-wise, the straps felt appropriate for each camera. I wouldn’t put the thinner straps on the Rolleiflex though, the thicker version feels perfectly supportive. However, I can see the thicker straps on smaller cameras, depending on what feeling you prefer on your neck.

The Comfort Plus level is super soft. It’s lovely. Without having the lower levels to compare to, I’d say I can’t imagine ordering a strap that wasn’t at the top comfort level. I love a strap that is soft and comfortable, especially if I’m going to be out all day with it.

Simplicity is also a highlight for me regarding these straps. I’m not a fan of a bunch of clips and connectors, especially the ones you have to slide through various extenders. However, these are handy if you want an adjustable strap. Although, if you always wear it in the same place anyway, it’s nice not to have those things in the way. I worry about clips slipping out and the extra pieces of strap hanging out of the extenders are annoying. So, I appreciate the simplicity of these leather straps, granted that you select the right length.

The lug protectors worked brilliantly for my Canon L3. However, they didn’t fit so great on the Rolleiflex MX but this is because the Rolleiflex metal strap connectors are shaped awkwardly. For typical metal strap holes on cameras like the Canon L3 and other rangefinders and vintage SLRs, they are perfect.

Using the Peak strap as both a neck and wrist strap came in handy. When I’m out shooting, I often switch around how I hold my camera and the strap depending on the type of shoot. For street shooting, the neck strap is nice to have when I’m not in ‘active mode’! Then having the wrist component when I need to shoot quickly is handy. At times though, when I am using the wrist portion of the strap, the extra neck bit needs to be reined in a little which can take a few seconds of fiddling to sort it out.

Price Points and Affordability

With the Comfort Plus level selected, the 100cm Ridge strap and 115cm Peak strap that I tested out would run you £45 and £47, respectively. Going through the options on the website, the length of the strap and colour don’t seem to change the price, it’s only the comfort levels that do. So for the Ridge strap in Comfort, it would be £40 and in Classic, it’s £36. For the Peak, it’s £43 for Comfort and £38 for Classic. For the level of quality these products are made with, I’d say this is very affordable. I do recognize that affordable is a relative term that is dependent on individual situations and budgets. For me though, looking at comparable goods on the market from other quality leather camera strap makers, Bowman is more on the affordable end. The care taken by small businesses in production (and don’t forget the warranty) especially this one is a premium in itself worth the price.

Ending Thoughts

The straps I tested feel incredibly well-made and I have no doubt about them lasting for a long time. Features such as the double rivets instil trust that the maker cares about longevity and quality, which many would appreciate from a customer point of view. I can’t say anything remotely negative about these straps other than perhaps being conscious of the length you select and mindful of which cameras you would like to use them with. To find more information about Bowman Leather and browse the selection of camera straps and accessories, head over to their website linked here!

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