Sold Out Immediately: We Review the Peak Design and Sitka Collaboration Gear

There are a lot of photographic accessories on the market, and some are more pleasing than others. Peak Design is a brand that never ceases to impress, and their latest collaboration with Sitka became a huge hit and sold out immediately. Here's why.

Sometimes, products the demand for new products takes the manufacturers by surprise. The last time I noticed it happening was with the OM System's 150-400mm f/4.5 PRO lens that, despite its premium price tag, disappeared from the shops upon release. OMDS needed to increase its production capacity to cope, and months later it is now able to fulfill the orders immediately. It's just happened again with the collaboration between Peak Design and Sitka with the limited-edition Slide Lite strap and Capture Clip.

What Is Peak Design

Peak Design ticks all the boxes for me. If you have read my previous reviews or bought any of its equipment, you will know that they are very much a business driven to being genuinely concerned about our planet’s finite resources and the damage humanity is doing to it.

They have a six-point mission that they seem to hit every time:

• Make the best things.
• Succeed at the expense of no one.
• Treat our customers as peers.
• Offset our environmental impact.
• Use our voice to inspire positive change.
• Prioritize happiness over growth.

Peak Design's Mission

It’s little wonder that they are so successful. Evermore, consumers are becoming more discerning about what they buy and the impact the products have on people and the environment. Furthermore, most photographers are more socially and environmentally aware than most, so businesses that treat their staff and the planet well are going to be noticed, and those that don’t are shunned. It’s not just that, though. Peak Design makes first-class products.

Their means of achieving that success is a lesson that I wish other companies in the photography industry would pay heed. Several of the big manufacturers pay lip service to these issues and still do incredible damage to the environment in which they operate. Many others show no respect neither to their employees nor their customers.

Peak Design is certified climate neutral, a member of 1% for the Planet, and is a Certified B Corporation.

• Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing our risk review. Multinational corporations must also meet baseline requirement standards.
• Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and achieve benefit corporation status if available in their jurisdiction.
• Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website. 
  
  B Corperation certfication requirements

What Is Sitka?

Sitka is a company that produces specialized clothing that is widely marketed for use in hunting. However, the same gear is also bought by photographers, ornithologists, and people working in conservation, as well as emergency responders. Furthermore, Sitka conducts its business with very high ethical standards. It is a member of the Fair Labor Association and supports a wide range of conservation bodies. Their ethos is very closely aligned with that of Peak Design. Consequently, it’s a collaboration that makes sense.

Between them, they produced two limited edition products that were so sought after they disappeared from the online shelves as soon as they appeared. That was good news for the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership as a portion of the proceeds made from the sales were donated to them from both brands

The Sitka Limited Edition Slide Lite

The first item was the Slide Lite camera strap that was adorned with the Subalpine Optifade camouflage pattern from Sitka.

I reviewed the Slide Lite strap back in October and found it a perfect companion for my mirrorless camera. The secure and quick release system and the one-handed adjustment of the strap’s length, so it can be used around the neck, over the shoulder, or across the body, make it one of the most versatile straps I’ve used. It’s robust and well-made.

Besides the camouflage patterns, the SITKA version of the strap has entirely black anchor links, unlike the red and black ones that are usually supplied with the Slide Lite.

For a birding or wildlife enthusiast, many of whom dress in camouflage to get close to their subjects, this is the perfect, low-visibility strap.

The Sitka Edition Capture Clip

The second item from the collaboration was a Treeline Green Capture Clip. This fabulous device claps onto a camera strap, belt, or camera bag shoulder strap. Then, using the supplied Peak Design Standard plate, which is Arca Swiss style so compatible with many tripod heads, your camera can be slid into it and held securely. A quick-release button allows it to slide free.

I had not used a Capture Clip before, and I didn’t know what I was missing. I usually carry two cameras with me. Now, using the Capture camera clip means that I can reduce the amount of gear I carry, as I will explain further below.

By loosening the two thumb bolts, the front plate of the Capture clip swings upwards. That allows the camera strap to be placed against the rear plate. You then swing the front plate back down again and tighten it, so the strap is firmly sandwiched in the middle. For thicker straps, there are two longer hex bolts supplied that can be used instead of the thumb bolts.

With the Peak Design Standard Plate attached to the base of the camera, it can be slid into the Capture clip and is securely held in place. It’s far more convenient than having two straps hanging around your neck. The Standard Plate is of Swiss Arca design and so will fit most modern tripod heads.

Why I Found the Capture Clip Especially Useful

As I alluded to earlier, the Capture Clip reduced the amount of kit I carry. This is especially so when shooting seascapes. I travel light and don’t usually take a camera bag with me.

Because of the airborne salt and water that I don’t want to enter my camera, I don’t change my lenses by the sea. Therefore, I often take two cameras with me. I usually carry two tripods with a camera attached to each because it is easier than having a second camera dangling from a strap when I am crouching or kneeling. Swapping the camera strap and tripod over is a faff too. 

Now, using the Capture clip, with a Standard Plate attached to each camera, I can remove my first camera from the tripod and the second from the Capture on my belt. Then, I can easily swap them over. Attaching the camera to the Capture clip is a single-handed operation. That leaves both hands free to mount my second camera on the tripod. It takes a little practice, but it’s feasible. I am contemplating buying a second Capture Clip to make this process even easier.

If I was still shooting weddings – I’ve officially retired from doing those – then I would be tempted to have a second Capture and probably not use a strap at all, just have the two bodies attached to my belt.

For wildlife, I keep the Capture clip attached to the main camera's strap, using a camera with a shorter lens without a strap. My OM-1 and my big telephoto lens would stay attached the strap.

What I Liked About the Peak Design and Sitka Collaboration Products and What Can Be Improved

What I Liked

• The Peak Design Slide Lite strap is a versatile and well-designed camera strap.
• The strap is quick to attach and remove from the camera.
• It’s very well made.
• The Sitka Subalpine Optifade camouflage pattern looks great and works well when used with camouflage jackets popular with wildlife photographers.
• I like the low-key black anchors better than the red ones.
• The Capture Clip is similarly well made. Although secure, it’s easy to attach and remove a camera from it.
• The green silk finish is not going to scare off your subjects.
• They do not feature bold logos.
• Kind to the environment.

What Could Be Improved?

• This was a limited-release project, and the entire stock sold out almost immediately upon release. Of course, other Slide Lite straps and Capture clips are available. But this collaboration proved so successful, let’s hope Peak Design and Sitka will repeat it soon.
• For my largest lens, I use a larger Peak Design Slide attached to it, as opposed to a Slide Lite. If there's a next time, let's hope the joint venture includes this bigger strap.

In Conclusion

It’s a pity this was a limited-edition collaboration because it didn’t give me time to write it up and recommend it to you to buy. However, although these versions are currently unavailable, the other Side Lite straps and the Capture clip are. I hope the popularity of the collaboration will lead to the two companies working closely together in the future.

Although this limited edition version is not currently available, it was sold exclusively through the Sitka website, other versions of the Peak Design Slide Lite strap and the Capture clip are available individually or bought together.