Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo Review
I've been testing the Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo sling strap for several months now.
I got ahold of it after using other Holdfast products - namely the MoneyMaker dual camera harness and the Roamographer Camera Bag.
I was impressed with those two items, to say the least.
The question is, has Holdfast hit the mark again?
In this hands-on Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo review, I offer my thoughts on Holdfast's latest camera strap.
Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo Leathers
Let's start with the leather aspect of this camera strap.
The MoneyMaker Solo is constructed from one solid piece of full-grain leather - not leather bound to a sub-par backing like many leather camera straps.
With this single-piece construction, you get a strap that's highly durable and will likely outlast your camera!
In fact, Holdfast Gear has worked with a U.S. tannery to custom-develop the leathers for the MoneyMaker Solo. That means you get a product that is specifically designed for what you need it to do. No other camera strap company can claim that.
What's more, since Holdfast uses only premium full-grain leather, it looks absolutely stunning.
Full-grain leather includes any scars or markings from the animal, so it's full of character that tells a story about the animal.
Additionally, this strap has a suede-like backing, so it feels soft and comfortable against your skin. That added layer of comfort will only help you as you strive to tell stories of your own with your camera.
Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo Hardware
The leather used to craft this camera strap isn't the only eye-catching element...
The hardware that Holdfast has made is both beautiful and functional.
In fact, Matt Swaggart, founder of Holdfast, designed the hardware in-house, so the metal components you see on the strap are 100-percent custom.
There's no cheap metals or imitation metals here - just the finest stainless steel hardware to ensure long-lasting durability, functionality, and security for your camera.
And since these metal components won't rust, you don't have to worry about unsightly rust stains getting on your clothes if you're out shooting in less-than-ideal weather.
As you can see, the combination of the full-grain leather and the custom hardware is quite fetching.
Honestly, the photos simply do not do this thing justice - you have to see it with your own eyes to appreciate the aesthetic appeal of the strap.
What Holdfast has created here is something that ticks all the boxes for form and function. That's tough to do!
Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo Comfort & Fit
The whole point of getting an upgraded camera strap is to improve your comfort level as you shoot.
I think we can all agree that factory camera straps simply don't cut it in the comfort department. But the MoneyMaker Solo certainly does...
The large shoulder pad helps distribute the weight of your gear over a larger surface area, which helps stave off shoulder and neck fatigue. That means you can shoot longer without suffering the aches and pains you get with a lesser strap.
The shoulder pad is also contoured, that way it hugs your shoulder perfectly to give you an even more comfortable carrying experience.
And, as noted earlier, the full-grain leather construction with suede-like back means the strap is ultra-soft. Over time, the strap will conform to the unique contours of your shoulder, so it will only get more comfortable with time.
Perhaps more impressive than the comfort level is the ingenious construction of this strap that makes it fit like a glove.
On the one hand, the integrated stabilizer strap keeps the shoulder pad in place, that way you aren't constantly fighting to keep it in the desired position.
On the other hand, the handy Belt Anchor slides onto your belt and locks your camera in position so it's not flopping around as you work.
In fact, you can be walking or jogging, sitting or standing, and the Belt Anchor will keep your gear right where you want it. See the MoneyMaker Solo in action in my video review below:
Then, when it's time to raise your camera to take a shot, you can disengage the belt anchor with a quick one-handed pulling motion on the release tab.
You can also reattach the Belt Anchor with one hand by reattaching the clasp.
It's little details like this that set this strap apart from the rest. It's incredibly functional, geniusly designed, and will help you improve efficiency for a better workflow.
Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo Functionality
When you buy a new camera strap, you want something that's not just comfortable and looks good, but also offers functionality.
The MoneyMaker Solo does that by being an "expandable" system.
On the front of the strap is a stainless steel D-ring where you can hang your sunglasses while you take a shot. Better yet, you can add one of Holdfast's Sightseer pouches - a cell phone pouch or a lens pouch - to the D-ring for quick access to necessities without them getting in the way.
Additionally, Holdfast's pouches can be attached to the back of the MoneyMaker Solo for even more functionality.
That means that you can carry your cell phone on the front of the strap and an additional lens on the back of the strap, both of which are easy to reach but won't interfere with your workflow.
And because of the attention to detail in the comfort department, carrying that extra weight is still a comfortable experience.
Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker Solo vs Peak Design Slide
As you've no doubt gathered by now, I'm in love with the MoneyMaker Solo.
I was admittedly skeptical at first because I'm not a huge fan of sling-style straps. But Holdfast has certainly changed my mind.
The MoneyMaker Solo is comfortable, beautifully made, and incredibly functional - features you want to have in a camera strap, no doubt.
And my high marks for this rig aren't being made ambiguously, either.
I've tested dozens of camera straps over the years, and the Solo is certainly a top performer among them.
One of the other sling straps I've used a lot is the Peak Design Slide, shown above and below.
It's a great strap - it can be worn as a sling, a neck strap, or a shoulder strap, and the non-slip underside of the strap helps keep it in place (the other side is smooth so it slides easily over your clothes).
It's well-made, too, with a super-wide strap that helps distribute the weight of your gear.
Speaking of weight, the Peak Design Slide can hold a whopping 200 pounds of gear, though I'm not sure you'd want that much weight dangling from your body!
I appreciate the fact that the Peak Design Slide is highly adjustable and comes with a fair amount of padding, too.
But when the MoneyMaker Solo came along, I have to say that it outperformed the Slide.
What's more, though the Slide is well made, it definitely isn't as eye-catching as the Solo.
I found the Solo to be more functional as well - the ability to add pouches to it certainly helps it win in that department.
So, if you're in the market for an upgraded strap and you like the sling style, it's hard to beat the MoneyMaker Solo.
It's been in my hands for about seven months now, and it's proven time and again that it was a more than worthy investment.
All photos of the MoneyMaker Solo are by Brandon Burk
