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!

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.

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

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!