Camera tether
Also known as: leash, safety tether, lanyard
A short cord that connects a camera or mount to a fixed point, so it does not fall away if the mount breaks. Cheap insurance for water and speed.
Updated
What it means
A tether is a backup connection. One end loops through the camera frame or mount, the other attaches to a helmet, board, bike, vehicle or wrist. If the main mount snaps, peels off or opens by accident, the tether keeps the camera from disappearing into a river, the ocean or the bushes at speed.
Most mounts fail eventually: adhesive lets go in cold, plastic fingers crack in crashes, suction cups lose pressure. A tether is tiny and light compared with what it protects: the camera and all the footage on its card.
Water sports, motorsport and anything high above the ground are where tethers matter most, because a lost camera there is rarely found again.
How it works in practice
Keep the tether short enough that a dangling camera cannot hit you, the wheel or the board badly, but long enough not to restrict the mount. Attach the far end to a solid point: a helmet vent, a leash plug, a frame tube or a roll bar.
In surf and rivers, tether to the board leash plug or your wrist. On board mounts, a tether to a second anchor saves the camera after a hard wipeout.
Check tethers and their knots regularly, since UV, salt and abrasion weaken cords over time.
What to watch out for
A loose tether can wrap around moving parts, such as spokes, chains or propellers, and cause accidents. Route it away from anything that moves and keep it tight.
In crashes, a tethered camera can swing and hit you. Short tethers and sensible mounting positions reduce the risk.
Some tethers are too thin or have weak clips. A camera at speed or a wave pulling on a board exerts strong forces, so use tethers designed for the job. Combine them with floating grips in water for double security, and replace any tether that looks frayed.
How RawClip handles it
A tether keeps your camera, and the footage on its card, safe for upload. Copy the clips after the session, upload them to RawClip in one order, and the AI builds your highlight.