Peak Design Capture Clip – Best Backpack Strap Camera Mount

I must admit I ignored the Peak Design Capture Clip for a long time. I didn’t want one and did not see any use for it, and I asked myself several times why I would even need a camera clip for my backpack strap. “I can keep the camera safe in my backpack and pull it out when needed“, I kept telling myself.

Today, however, I firmly believe this is one of the best, if not the best, accessory hiking photographers can have. There isn’t one reason I think that, but several. Apart from my camera and lens, this is the one piece of camera gear I always have with me.

Peak Design Capture Clip on an Osprey Thalos 44

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How the Peak Design Capture Clip Works

The Capture Clip is designed to work with any camera and can hold up to 20 pounds. Crafted in aircraft-grade aluminum, the clip is made of two components. A base, which you can attach to your backpack strap or your belt, and a plate, which is what you will clip into the base. The clip also has a rubberized grip, ensuring it stays firmly in place even when moving around.

Like any other tripod plate, the plate must be attached to the camera. Once connected, the plate will be kept in place by two small “arms” and a locking mechanism. When you’re ready to take a shot, you can push a small lever to release the plate, and your camera is ready. When you’re done, click it back into place. Easy!

Top three reasons why you should use a Capture Clip Backpack Strap Camera Mount

• Safety:

First of all, it keeps the camera safe. This may seem counterintuitive as you have the camera exposed at all times. With the camera attached to your strap, you are unlikely to hit the camera when falling. If you fall face down, you will first stop your fall with your hands. If you slip and fall on your back, the camera is more likely to be damaged if you have it in your backpack, despite the padding. I’ve had the Peak Design Capture Clip for two years, hiked more than 1,000km, fell a few times, and never hit it once. I fell three times on my backpack tough. Okay, I fall a lot, but that’s another issue :)

• Accessibility:

Having the camera handy means getting more shots. I used to keep my camera in the backpack, and quite often, I would be too lazy to pull it out and back in all the time. In retrospect, this behaviour was quite limiting. Having the camera always at hand means you will be getting more shots, and you will be getting better at it too. Furthermore, you will save yourself the hassle of constantly unpacking and packing the gear. I used to keep my camera in the backpack, and quite often, I would be too lazy to pull it out and back in all the time. In retrospect, this behaviour was quite limiting. Having the camera always at hand means you will be getting more shots, and you will be getting better at it too. Furthermore, you will save yourself the hassle of constantly unpacking and packing the gear.

• Usability:

The Clip fits all the backpack straps I have, you can place it where it suits you best, and it is compatible with Arca Swiss Tripod heads. You can also mount it on Arca Swiss compatible Manfrotto’s heads, the RC-2 mount. You will need to purchase a separate adaptor, the Peak Design Dual Plate, for this. It does not work the other way around; a Manfrotto mount will not clip in the Capture Clip. Also, If you have more than one camera, you can buy an additional plate and put it on your second body. So you can quickly snap the camera out of the clip and clip it directly onto the tripod head.

The Dual Plate.

Other Advantages:

• Comfort: by default, I have my 24-70mm f4 lens on my Nikon Z7II. I hardly realize the camera is there when clipped in. I can also carry the 14-24 f2.8 with no problem.
• Quick release: The quick release works like a charm; you need to press the button, pull the camera up, and you’re ready to shoot.
• Compatibility: The clip features an adjustable grip that can accommodate various device sizes. I will work with any camera that has a tripod mount.
• Durable construction: The clip is made of high-quality materials built to last. This is an excellent piece of gear. I’ve had mine for over two years. I hike about 600km each year, and I always have my camera with me. This thing shows no sign of possible failures.

The only disadvantage I could find

• Condensation: How can the Peak Design Capture Clip cause condensation on the lens’s front element? If you are huffing and puffing up a mountain, you’ll sweat. When you sweat, you essentially evaporate liquids. Since the camera is essentially attached to your body with the lens facing down, moisture (sweat) from your body will hit the front element of the land, causing condensation. This, of course, depends on several factors, like how warm it is and how much you are sweating, but it does happen. It’s even more accentuated with the lens cap on since it traps moisture between the lens and its cap. This can be a problem if you are ready to pull your camera and then have to wait for the moisture to evaporate. It’ll take a couple of minutes, but to prevent or minimize this, you can remove the lens cap or keep the camera slightly tilted toward the other part of your body. Also, this will be a problem in warm weather only, but no big deal. Just be aware this can happen.

Conclusion – is the Peak Design Capture Clip worth it?

It isn’t worth it. But, as a hiker, this is a must-have. This is the one piece of gear I always have on my hikes. I only take it off my backpack if I need to switch backpacks. It keeps the camera safe, ensures your camera is always handy, and you can use it directly with Arca Swiss-compatible tripod heads. In my experience, the clip transformed hiking with a camera into a much more enjoyable experience. When I’m Hiking, I can completely forget the camera until I need to pull it out of the clip to shoot. For this purpose, it always ensures I have the camera handy when I need it.

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Additional Resources

• Curious about what’s in my camera bag? Check the full breakdown of my Camera Gear here.