Skout is a new camera carrying system from Cotton Carrier, designed for active photographers who want an easy way of carrying their camera and being able to access it quickly.

Launched by Cotton Carrier, Skout went through a very successful Kickstarter campaign and the harness is now for sale with various retailers. Let’s have a look at the Skout in more detail.

Design

The Skout harness is made from Kodra synthetic canvas and is available in either charcoal grey or camouflage colouring. Skout is designed to hold either a camera or a pair of binoculars (which attach with a Velcro strap and binocular bracket) and comes with a waterproof cover for protection from the elements. There’s also a small zip-up pocket on the back of the harness, which is the perfect size for a mobile phone.

Using Skout

Skout is a one-size fits all harness, which secures over the shoulder and is fastened with a single clip. The harness has 3 tightening points that can be adjusted so that it sits centrally on the chest. Ergonomic cuts in the front panel help the Skout to conform to female bodies and the webbing means that it can stretch to 57 inches.

The attachment / detachment system is a patented ‘twist and lock’ mount. You secure a hub to the tripod screw of your camera with the supplied Allen key and then insert your camera at 90 degrees into the Skout. Then, simply twist and lock with the lens pointing downwards. For extra security there’s also an eyelet metal ring, which attaches to your camera and then to a camera tether strap on the harness.

Thoughts on Skout

Skout is certainly a lot smaller and less bulky than the traditional gear associated with carrying your camera on your body. Gear has traditionally come in the form of either bulky waistcoat or full harness styles, so Skout is a breath of fresh air in its compactness and one shoulder design. It’s also surprisingly light considering that it’s designed to carry large DSLRs and heavy telephoto lenses.

Skout retails at $79 and my only slight concern on this price is that the material felt a little scratchy to the touch – I would expect a smoother feel for the price. However, the harness is waterproof and webbed, so perhaps I am expecting a little too much!

The ‘twist and lock’ system feels extremely secure and I had no concerns about it holding the weight of my cameras and lenses. However, I really liked the extra security of the camera tether strap and would recommend that all users employ this feature. There is never any harm in having a secondary support and it also means that when you unlock the camera, it’s still secured if you slip and drop it. The system is extremely quick to use and would be ideal for wildlife photographers, as you can literally ‘grab’ your camera if you see a shot.

I am of a very slight build and did feel that Skout would be better suited to someone with a few more muscles (although in fairness, that is most people in the world!). You do feel well supported in the Skout although I did wonder if the one-shouldered approach might cause a few aches if worn for the whole day. However, you are well supported with the strap around the middle, which helps considerably to balance the weight out.

In conclusion, Skout is a great alternative to the traditional harnesses. With its sleek design and clever locking system, I can see the Skout being extremely popular with landscape, architecture and wildlife photographers as it’s so light and easy to use. It’s a great addition to a photographer’s arsenal.

Shout is available here and on Amazon.