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ECHO NiNER Dee Lux Camera Strap

By on November 3, 2012 in Tactical Gear

ECHO NiNER (E9) just released their third camera strap and it is their most feature rich strap yet. The Dee Lux Camera Strap has many of the features of their Original Camera Strap but takes the comfort a step further with a large padded section that also has webbing attachment points for items like the previously reviewed E9 Mini Flat Pouch. It also features a Velcro panel on the padded section for displaying credentials, ID, or morale patches.

The Dee Lux Camera Strap has the ability to be converted into a hand strap like the Original Camera Strap. The hand strap configuration is also useful for attaching the strap to the shoulder strap of a plate carrier.

Like the previous E9 Camera Straps, the Dee Lux is made from mil-spec materials and available in Black, Coyote, and Multicam colors.

Check out the Dee Lux Camera Strap on ENiNER.com.

 

Review: ECHO NiNER Mini Flat Pouch

By on October 15, 2012 in EDC, Reviews, Tactical Gear

The ECHO NiNER Mini Flat Pouch has a pretty appropriate name. It is small and basically flat, but that doesn’t really tell the whole story of what this little pouch does.

The E9 Mini Flat Pouch is sized perfectly sized to carry items like memory cards, remotes and more.

Overview

The E9 Mini Flat Pouch measures 3” x 2.5” when it is folded.  The front of the pouch is nearly completely covered with a loop Velcro panel and has a small zipper that allows access to the pouch. The Velcro allows the Mini Flat Pouch to serve as a patch/ID carrier (like a PRESS patch), while the pouch is the perfect size for spare memory cards, a small camera remote, spare cash, or similar sized items.

It has a tri-fold design that allows it to wrap around whatever you are attaching it to and secure with Velcro. The surfaces that engage whatever the Mini Flat Pouch are wrapped around are coated with the same grippy gel-like material that is used on the E9 Original Camera Strap. The material does a great job of preventing the pouch from sliding around even when it is mounted on slippery material like tubular webbing.

This rubber material helps lock the E9 Mini Flat Pouch in place on wherever you put it.

Observations from Use

This is a handy little pouch for an amateur photographer like me. It is great for keeping my camera remote and a couple of spare memory cards on hand while I am shooting a piece of gear for review. Keeping them in the Mini Flat Pouch like this means they stay attached to the camera and out of my pockets (and out of the washing machine when I forget to take them out of my pockets).

I kept the Mini Flat Pouch attached to a camera strap for most of the time that I have been reviewing it. The tri-fold, Velcro closure means I can move it easily between my cameras so it can be attached to whichever I am using at the time. I also found that it was very handy on a backpack strap which is where I kept it while I was attending a recent event.

The back of the pouch features the E9 logo.

The tri-fold design allows Mini Flat Pouch to lay very flat. It is hard to imagine that a pouch could have a lower profile than this. This low profile design makes it best suited to carrying mostly flat items. It won’t carry much in terms of volume but it carries everything I need it to carry.

It could be used to carry an extremely compact boo-boo or survival kit. The Mini Flat Pouch could easily handle a few meds, some adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment packet, and similar items that you might find in a boo-boo kit. You could just as easily pack away a small ferro rod, water treatment tablets, button compass, and other useful survival items.

The only complaint that I have with the pouch is the zipper. It appears to be of high quality but the zipper pull jingles like a cheap bell when you move. I snipped off the metal zipper pull with wire cutters and replaced it with gutted para-cord to save my sanity.

The Mini Flat Pouch is right at home at a camera strap like this ECHO NiNER Light Speed Camera Strap.

Wrap Up

ECHO NiNER takes a simple pouch and dresses it up into something more useful with the addition of an ID/Patch carrier. The no-slip, tri-fold design makes it easy to attach to just about any strap and it really does a great job of staying out of your way even when mounted on your camera strap. I would like to see them get rid of the metal zipper pull.

Check out the ECHO NiNER Mini Flat Pouch on ENiNER.com.

Disclosure: ECHO NiNER sent me the Mini Flat Pouch for review, free of charge.

The Mini Flat Pouch can be attached to a variety of objects like this backpack strap.

Review: ECHO NiNER Head Lamp Pouch

By on September 27, 2012 in Flashlights, Reviews, Tactical Gear

Head lamps are one of the most useful lighting tools ever created until you have to wear something else like a helmet or hat on your head that precludes the use of a head lamp. Using a head lamp as a hand held light when you are unable to wear it sounds like a good idea until you try it. If you can’t wear it and you don’t want to hold it, what can you do? Well, if the head lamp in question is a Surefire Minimus (previously known as the Saint Minimus), you can use the ECHO NiNER (E9) Head Lamp Pouch to secure the light to your MOLLE gear for hands free use.

Overview

The E9 Head Lamp Pouch combines both unique features with unique materials to create something very functional. In fact, there are some materials used in this pouch that you are likely going to start seeing a lot more frequently.

The main body of the pouch is made from Hypalon which is a synthetic rubber material that is relatively light in weight and very tough. It is not stretchy but feels somewhat rubbery to the touch like dry bag material. It is water resistant (though the pouch is not), chemical resistant, temperature resistant, and UV light resistant.

The interior of the pouch is stiffened with a thin frame of plastic. This is necessary so that the pouch doesn’t shift and sag under the load of the head lamp. It works very well for its intended purpose and also serves as some additional impact protection for the items contained in the pouch.

The top flap of the pouch is constructed of 1000D nylon with a pack clothe lining. The flap is secured over the opening of the pouch via hook and loop.

There is a large opening in the front of the pouch that allows the head lamp to protrude. The top of the opening is split to allow easy installation and removal of the head lamp. Each side of the head lamp features a short shock cord loop that prevents the head lamp from falling out the front of the pouch. This design works well for the wide barrel shape of the Surefire Minimus that I tested.

When the head lamp is secured in the pouch, the body of the light is outside the pouch while the strap and forehead “mount” is contained within the pouch. It is very secure and allows for all functions of the Minimus to be accessible (brightness adjustment, tilt).

E9 says that this pouch is also useful for GoPro cameras and any other item that you don’t mind being visible/exposed through the front of the pouch. I was not able to test a GoPro Camera but I did find that it the pouch is useful for items other than head lamps. You are really only limited by what will fit in the pouch without falling out of the hole in front.

Observations from Use

More than anything else, I wanted to test how secure the head lamp was secured by the E9 Head Lamp Pouch. It is very well secured. Even if the flap opens accidentally, the shock cord will retain the Minimus head lamp well enough that accidental loss shouldn’t be an issue. It is a pretty ingenious set up. E9 says the pouch will work specifically with the Minimus (which includes the Saint and Saint Minimus) and ICON head lamps. I tested with a Minimus but I suspect that other head lamps with a similar barrel shaped form factor will work.

The E9 Head Lamp Pouch work really well mounted on the high center of a plate carrier. From this position, the broad beam of the Minimus can be put to good use illuminating items in your hands like maps or the path that you are walking. It attaches via 2 MOLLE straps so it is also narrow enough to attach to items like some backpack or chest rig straps via the horizontal sections of webbing that can often found on these items. The higher you can mount the pouch, the better it will work.

There is enough room in the pouch to secure a few extra batteries and color filters. This can be very handy for the Minimus since the newest versions allow the use of somewhat bulky, “U” shaped color filters. However, if the head lamp is removed, these small items will likely fall out of the pouch immediately upon movement.

The quality of the pouch is very good. The materials are all bomb proof. There were no surprises here.

I did note two potential issues with the pouch. One is noted earlier. Small items like batteries and color filters will not be retained if the head lamp is not in place which renders the pouch useless for small items unless you also have the head lamp installed. Some way to close the opening in the pouch would make it more useful. Perhaps if the perimeter of the opening was covered with loop material a patch could be used to cover the opening.

The other issue is that the gnarled adjustment knob of the Minimus can rub on the stitching that secures the plastic stiffener to the inside of the pouch. Mine is already starting to fray the stitching a bit so I have placed a small piece of tape behind the adjustment knob to protect the stitching. This will likely be a non-issue with the ICON head lamps and care can be taken with the Minimus to prevent this when operating the knob.

Wrap Up

The E9 Head Lamp Pouch is extremely handy. It improves the usefulness of your head lamp when you don’t have it on your head. In fact, my Minimus will probably spend more time in this pouch than it does on my head. I would love to see a way to close the pouch’s opening in a future version. It would also be very cool to make an expanded version that was more of an admin style organizer with the head lamp holding capability built in.

Check out the E9 Head Lamp Pouch on ENiNER.com.

Disclosure: This product was provided for review by ECHO NiNER, free of charge.

Review: ECHO NiNER Light Speed Camera Strap

By on September 21, 2012 in Reviews, Tactical Gear

I recently reviewed the ECHO NiNER Original Camera Strap. Today, we will be taking a look at the new Light Speed Camera Strap from ECHO NiNER (E9).

Overview

The Light Speed Camera Strap is the second camera strap offering from ECHO NiNER. Like the Original, the Light Speed is designed to stand up to the abuse that comes along with combat photography. E9 bills it as a simpler and more low profile alternative to the Original Camera Strap.

The Light Speed is made mostly from 1” webbing. The quick adjust “tail” portion of the strap is standard mil-spec flat webbing while the main portion of the sling is made from 1” tubular webbing. There is one side release buckle that serves as both the quick adjust for length and an emergency release should you need to free yourself from the strap.

In addition to the quick adjustment tail on the SRB mentioned above, the Light Speed features a tri-glide for additional adjustment. The result is a strap that is longer and more adjustable than the Original Camera Strap.

Like the Original Camera Strap, the Light Speed utilizes para-cord attachment points for durability.

Observations from Use

I love the Original Camera Strap from E9 but I might actually like the Light Speed a bit more. It is hard to put my finger on exactly why but the extra length and adjustability has a lot to do with it. What it lacks in features, it makes up for in focused simplicity and greater adjustability. It is a good trade-off.

The Light Speed has a minimum length of about 27” so it can be cinched against your body to prevent your camera from swinging around. Its maximum length is about 52” which means that there is plenty of room for wearing the sling across your shoulder instead of just around your neck, even if you are wearing some gear.

The dual adjustment points make harnessing that extra length very easy. I found that the tri-glide provides a lot of gross adjustment while the quick adjust tail can be used to fine tune the length on the fly. I adjusted my tri-glide so that the strap was long enough to allow me to wrap it over my shoulder with the quick adjust in the fully extended position. That way, I can quickly cinch the camera to me by pulling the quick adjust tail. The Light Speed lacks the tacky rubber grip strip of the Original, so it doesn’t lock down quite as tight but it does an admirable job.

The choice of tubular webbing is excellent for this strap for a few reasons. One, its edges are rolled so it doesn’t wear out your neck as it moves. Two, it is slick which makes it easy to maneuver the camera. Three, it is extremely durable. Wider straps are typically more comfortable than thin straps but the tubular webbing goes a long way toward making this a pretty comfortable strap.

Wrap Up

This is a great strap. It has plenty of adjustability, enough length to handle various gear configurations, and purposeful simplicity. It is rugged, reliable, and looks good. The Light Speed Camera Strap is a nice change up from the Original Camera Strap.

Check out ENiNER.com.

Review: ECHO NiNER Original Camera Strap

By on September 11, 2012 in Tactical Gear

I take a lot of pictures for JTT so I spend a fair amount of time with a camera hanging around my neck. I rarely use a tripod so having a decent camera strap is vital to how I take pictures. It doesn’t take much time spent with the typical strap included with a camera with its uninspiring hardware and uncomfortable faux leather lining to send you looking for a quality strap like the ECHO NiNER Original Camera Strap.

When I purchased my ECHO NiNER (E9) Original Camera Strap, it was known as just the E9 Camera Strap because it was the only strap E9 offered. Now, with the addition of the E9 Light Speed Camera Strap (and others coming soon), the strap that is the subject of this review is referred to as the Original Camera Strap.

This will be the first of several ECHO NiNER reviews.

Overview

The E9 Original Camera Strap is made to stand up to the rigors of combat photography (so it has no problems with the rigors of backyard blog pictures). Given this purpose, it has features that combat photographers and everyday shutterbugs will find useful.

The E9 Original utilizes para-cord(ish) connectors. The connectors are sewn to the strap with beefy box stitches that inspire a lot of confidence.

There are two side release buckles (SRB); one on each side. One SRB serves as a quick adjust for length. The SRBs are oriented in such a way that they can be connected to each other after the section of strap between the buckles is removed, allowing you to create a shorter hand strap. This shortened strap is also useful for hanging the camera from the shoulder strap of a chest rig or plate carrier.

The strap itself is a work of functional art. It consists of 2 layers. The outer layer is webbing in the case of the black and coyote brown straps or 1000D nylon folded and sewn into a flat strap in the case of the Multicam strap. The second layer has a thick, flexible rubber line applied to a heavy duty canvas-like material. This line of rubber is very tacky and is very effective at preventing the strap from sliding around on your back and neck.

Observations from Use

Face it. The strap that came with your camera is junk. It is probably uncomfortable, poorly made, and does nothing more than hang your camera around your neck. That was certainly the case with my camera strap. The E9 Original is well made, very durable, and offers useful functionality. This alone was reason enough for me to replace my old strap.

Now that I have used the E9 Original’s quick adjust feature for length, I won’t be without it. The length of the strap can be quickly shortened by pulling a webbing strap on one of the SRBs. It functions a lot like a 2 point sling. The ability to tighten the strap, combined with the tacky rubber line on the underside of the strap make it possible to tighten the camera down against your body so that it barely moves. This frees up your hands for other tasks and prevents the camera from being damaged by flopping around. I use this feature all the time!

For instance, say that I am shooting a new flashlight mount. I need pictures of the flashlight off the rail by itself and mounted on a rail. With the E9 Original, I can snap pictures of the mount, then tighten the camera against my back while I work on attaching the mount to a rail, and then loosen it and shoot those pictures, too. I never have to set the camera down. It is also great for when I have my hands full of review items and I need to do a bit of hiking to the spot where I will take the pictures. I can take my hands off the camera without fear of it swinging around and beating itself to death against the gear that I am carrying.

The ability to shorten the strap into a hand strap can be handy too. If I know I am going to be working on a tripod, I will often shorten the strap just so it stays out of the way. My cameras have articulating screens, so they are very easy to use over head or at arm’s length. The hand strap option works well for these situations when you have the camera held out further from your body than the full length strap will allow.

Wrap Up

If you want or need a strap that is more durable and more functional than your typical camera strap, then the E9 Original Camera Strap may be exactly what you are looking for. It is made from extremely durable materials with extremely durable construction methods and offers useful functionality beyond just hanging the camera from your neck. Whether you are taking pictures on the front line or in the back yard, I think you’ll really like this strap.

Check out the E9 Original Camera Strap on ECHONiNER.com.

 

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