Backpack strap mount
Also known as: shoulder strap mount, strap clip mount
A clamp that attaches an action camera to a backpack shoulder strap, giving a steady chest-height POV for hiking, ski touring and city walks.
Updated
What it means
A backpack strap mount clips around the shoulder strap of a pack, usually at chest height. It gives a view similar to a chest mount, showing what is ahead along with your hands or poles, but without a separate harness. Many come with a rotating ball joint for fine angle adjustment.
It is especially popular for hiking, ski touring, splitboarding and travel, where you already wear a pack. The strap moves with the body in a steady way, giving fairly smooth footage for walking and skinning.
Quick clips make it easy to move the camera between packs or remove it for handheld shots.
How it works in practice
Mount on the strap of the side you use less, so it does not interfere with poles or reaching for gear. Tighten the pack straps so the camera does not bounce, and angle the camera slightly downward to show the trail and some horizon.
For ski touring, the strap mount shows the uphill track, the group ahead and the view at the top. Switch to a helmet or chest position for the descent, where fast turns make a strap mount bounce.
Combine it with a time-lapse or hyperlapse mode on long walks to compress hours into a short sequence.
What to watch out for
Loose packs sway side to side, and the camera with them. Cinch all straps before filming, and use stabilization such as EIS.
In cold weather, a camera on the outside of the pack loses battery fast. Swap batteries often and keep spares in an inside pocket.
The strap can rotate the camera slightly as you move, tilting the horizon. Check the angle after putting on the pack, and use horizon leveling if available. A quick test clip at the trailhead is worth the minute it takes, and a strap pad stops the clamp from slipping down during the day.
How RawClip handles it
Long hiking or touring clips from a strap mount often contain lots of walking. Upload them as they are, and RawClip removes the dead time and keeps the best views and moments for your highlight.