I’ve been using the Spider Holster V2 system for years and consider it one of the best parts of my London event photographer kit, up there with my ThinkTank Streetwalker Harddrive backpack and Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L lens bag. I love it because it gets my cameras off my shoulders – goodbye straps, goodbye harness, and hello hip-mounted cameras.
I love it so much I wrote a long review of the Spider Holster system, comparing it to the Holdfast Moneymaker harness, and Peak Design’s surprisingly poorly designed ‘capture plate’ system. Anecdotally I know several photographers who switched from both those systems after I raved about my Spider Holsters, and haven’t switched back.
But it’s kind of ‘buy it once and forget all about it’ sort of thing, they’re that good. I’ve never needed replacements, so I never kept up with their marketing, and completely missed the release of the extensive V3 range until recently.
It looks like V3 has significantly redesigned the plates, the pins, the holsters, the belt, and the handstraps, and added a ton more accessories designed to work with the new system including a sling bag and a Holdfast-challenging harness system.
Asking around some friends who’ve already purchased the basic holster kit I’m not sure yet how the redesign improves on using the system but I have to admit the belt with adjustable holster positioning and the padding upgrades do look more appealing than the unadjustable nylon-heavy V2 belt system.
And despite me having switched to holsters-only (on my regular belt, not the V2 beast) I’m mulling a move back to their V3 belt because the weight of even my small Fujifilm cameras drags my regular belt down making me spend wayyy too much time pulling my trousers up and tucking myself back in.
So I’ve decided to take the plunge on the V3 belt system in black – the light brown one looks nice in marketing but it kind of feels like it’s aimed at aesthetic-conscious wedding photographers, and I’d prefer something stealthier, even for weddings.
Here is my review, delivered in instalments as I receive and start using it. As the YouTubers all love to say, “LeT’s DiVe In…”
Part 1: ordering
Aaaand it’s sold out, everywhere. Even their own website cites a three week minimum wait. Some shops have the holsters, others have the belt, but buying it all separately costs a few hundred more than the £350 (average) for the kit.
So, I guess I’ll order it and wait? And that’s as far as I’ve got.
Stay tuned!
