Caring For Your Leather Camera Strap
Caring for your leather camera strap is pretty straightforward but its an important process to ensure that you have a long and happy life together.
Bowman Leather only uses natural veg tan leather as it is a far superior product to its chrome tanned counterparts. If you follow the steps below a couple of times per year then you can be sure that your strap will last a very long time!
New Leather
When your strap arrives it may have a white-ish residue of dubbin on the surface. This is perfectly natural and is a sign of a superior leather and sometime is rises to the surface when new. Dubbin a traditional wax based mixture that the leather is soaked in to give the leather better durability, water resistance and a nice level finish. It can be buffed off with a soft bristled brush, such as would be used in shoe polishing or will naturally soak back in during use especially in warm weather.
If you are new to vegetable-tanned leather, you may initially find it to be stiff compared to chrome-tanned leather. This is normal and part of the unique journey you will have with your product. With regular use, you will notice the leather becoming softer and gradually moulding to its intended use without sacrificing any strength.
It is recommended to wear darker clothes while your leather camera strap breaks in as there is a small risk of colour transference (see ‘Water & Moisture’ below).
Our Oak Bark leather with a coating of dubbin
Tools for cleaning your strap
Step 1 - Cleaning
The first step is to give your strap a quick clean to remove any dirt or stains. A very lightly damped cloth is good for this and you can even use some white vinegar to give it some extra power if there are some stains or stubborn dirty but please use sparingly.
Simply wipe over the entire surface but try not to get the leather too wet and then allow to dry naturally.
Step 2 - Conditioning
Over time, vegetable-tanned leather may lose some of its natural oils due to contact with skin or clothing. To prevent it from drying out, we recommend applying a natural wax conditioner periodically. You can find one in the Bowman Leather store here and containins only natural beeswax, cocoa butter and sweet almond oil. This balm will keep your leather goods healthy and protected and It’s white in colour to help prevent colour changes of your item:
Beeswax - creates a smooth protective barrier from the elements
Cocoa Butter - conditions the leather surface
Sweet Almond Oil - softens the leather and replaces the natural oils lost through handling
Applying balm to the strap
Bowman Leather Balm
Simply rub a small amount into the smooth side of the leather (use your hands as it also doubles as hand cream!) and let it naturally soak in. Once dry, give it a final buff to remove any residues and you’re good to go!
Avoid using oil based conditioners, like neatsfoot oil, as these can draw out the natural oils and make the leather brittle.
Water & Moisture
Vegetable-tanned leather is a natural material that breathes. If your item gets wet, simply allow it to dry naturally. Avoid using heat sources or direct sunlight, as it may cause the leather to become stiff or discoloured.
Dye may run in damp environments (rain or sweat!) which is a normal for nearly all leather and is most likely to happen when the strap is new. Over time this will stop as the leather breaks in but it can be helped by rubbing the underside of the strap with a lightly damp cloth and leaving to dry naturally. Any marks on clothes can be removed using a general purpose stain remover and it is recommended to wear darker colour clothes while the leather is breaking in.
Storage
When not in use store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Storage inside the supplied cotton bag is ideal as it will allow the strap to breathe.
Damage Inspection
Every now and then (ideally every couple of months) its recomended to give your strap a check over for any damage to ensure that your camera stays safe:
Check for cracks, tears or and wear on the leather, especially around the split rings.
Check stitching for any signs of damage or fraying.
Check hardware for damage (split rings, buckles, rivets). This could be corrosion, deformation or loose connections.
Check any quick release hardware for damage on the cords (Peak Design Anchors have a coloured warning system see here ).
Get in touch if there are any signs of damage as all of our straps are covered by a ten year warranty as stadard!
We hope these care instructions help you maintain the beauty and longevity of your Bowman Leather item. Thank you again for your support.