Cotton Carrier SKOUT Holds Your Camera and Keeps Your Hands Free

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by Olaf von VossJuly 17^th, 2018

If your jobs take you into challenging terrain from time to time you might want to keep your hands free while still being able to have your camera ready whenever you need it. Cotton Carrier just launched a new Kickstarter campaign to fund their latest product: The SKOUT is a lightweight yet pretty strong and robust camera holster.

SKOUT camera holster

Sure, you can put your shiny gear into a dedicated backpack and off you go. There is a vast amount of brands and models to choose from. The same is true for camera straps. And, of course, it’s also true for camera holsters. There’s one more choice in the latter category, though: The SKOUT camera holster by Cotton Carrier is a lightweight camera holster with some neat features.

SKOUT Camera Holster

According to the creators of this Kickstarter campaign, the SKOUT can hold quite a bit of weight securely to your body: A 50-500 Sigma lens (4.33 lb / 1.96 kg) on a Nikon D850 DSLR (2.01 lb / 915 g) doesn’t seem to be a problem. Check out the official Kickstarter campaign video here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/893267118/skout-the-hands-free-camera-or-binocular-carrying

There are two different variants available: Realtree Xtra Camo or Charcoal Grey. These are just color variants but since camo is not for everyone it’s good to have a choice. Furthermore you have to choose whether you want a camera or a binocular mount (I assume the former).

Speaking of the camera mount, this is one of the aformentioned neat features of the SKOUT holster. The camera locks into place by twisting it by 90° so it won’t snap out accidentally. And if it does, there’s a short quick-release safety leash in place which prevents your gear from dropping. The holster itself sports an additional flat pocket for documents or credit cards.

The benefit of using a camera holster rather than a backpack or camera strap is that it’s tight to the body. So you can even run or climb without having the camera banging against your body. And, to make this a really outdoor compatible product, a slip-over weather cover is also included if you purchase the SKOUT.

Pricing and Availabity

The campaign has just started and will run until August 9th. The goal of CAD 8.000  (~$6.000) is almost reached (95% by the time of writing this). If you’re quick you still can grab one of the early bird tiers. One SKOUT holster is CAD 64 (~$49). Once the early birds are gone, the regular (Kickstarter) price is CAD 77 (~$60).

Bear in mind that this is a Kickstarter campaign, not an online shop. Once the campaign is over, production will be ramped up and if everything goes smoothly, shipping should start in November. Since Cotton Carrier has a reputation of being a long-term manufacturer of camera holsters and accessories, there is no reason of doubting in the success of this product but in the end every Kickstarter campaign comprises some risks.

Links: Kickstarter | Cotton Carrier Website

What do you think of this holster? Could it be useful on one of your jobs? Share your experiences in the comments below!