Why Gordy’s camera straps are one of photography’s best-kept secrets

The distinctive Latigo-leather camera straps made by Gordon Coale are one of photography’s best-kept secrets. In general, neck and wrist straps come and go, prices continue to rise, many secret sauces are claimed for perfect handling. But Gordy never changes. His simple straps, the wrist straps in particular, are beautifully crafted and only improve with age.

I got my first wrist strap from Gordy about 15 years ago, and did my last review for Macfilos some 13 years ago (see the link below). Since then, I have built up an impressive collection. I just love the considerable range of coloured binding strings that are Gordy’s hallmark. But the problem for Gordon is that his confections never seem to wear out, and I have been swapping the original wrist straps from camera to camera throughout all these years. Not one has bitten the dust.

A check on inflation

Since Macfilos started in 2007, I’ve tested and praised many wrist straps (which, generally, I prefer for anything up to the weight of a Leica M, even the slab-sided Fujifilm GFX100RF). But I keep coming back and dusting off one of Gordy’s wonderful confections. They are just so right. And good value, too: I bought my first wrist strap for $18, and it’s encouraging that, despite rampant inflation, the cost today is only $24.

You might think that wrist straps are wrist straps. They’re a bit like a paperclip: perfect and beyond improvement. In general, they are. But the Gordy strap’s simplicity is its secret. The sturdy square-section Latigo leather is actually very comfortable when it fits around the wrist. And the simple rubber o-ring can be adjusted instantly to allow just the right amount of play to ensure comfort. This level of craftsmanship isn’t surprising, since Gordy and his small team have been making these unique straps for over a quarter of a century.

Early years

Gordy started his photographic journey at the age of 14 in 1958, when he took his savings from a summer job at the Tachikawa Air Force Base Exchange and bought a 35mm Petri 2.8 Colour-Corrected Super rangefinder. His dad was in the Air Force, and they lived in Japan for four years. Despite this incentive, though, it wasn’t until 1973 that Gordy got serious about photography, specialising in medium and large format.

Lately, he has been shooting micro four-thirds cameras — an Olympus PEN EP2 converted to infra-red, a PEN Mini-EPM2 and a Lumix GX7. However, his “forever camera” is an Olympus OMD E-M1X. Plus an iPhone, of course.

He has now come full circle and is getting back into medium format, using a 6×9 Kodak Medalist II converted to 120; a 6×6 Minolta Autocord and Mamiya-6 Va folder. Added to that is a modern camera made to the latest manufacturing technology — a 3D-printed Camaradactyl Homonculus 69 with a 6×9 back, a 6×6 back, a reflex viewer, and a set of Mamiya Press lenses.

The team

Gordon Coale is a true artisan, working from Northwest USA with a small team of seasoned experts. His wife Zoe has been involved from the beginning. She and Gordy do most of their work on the computer, using spreadsheets “to keep the train on the tracks”. Gordy does the product photography and the website, and Zoe handles the social media.

Kim is the longest serving member of the team, and she now looks after repairs, shipping, customer service and bookkeeping. Kim’s husband, Doug, cuts up the hides and strips the leather for straps. He also makes neck pads and leather strap bumpers. Tassa is the assembler, taking the pieces of leather and turning them into Gordy straps.

An offer for readers

I’m astonished that I haven’t told Macfilos readers about Gordy’s straps for so long. The wrist straps, which come in various lengths, are some of the most attractive, comfortable and durable I have ever encountered. And I am sure that the wide range of neck straps and accessories will be equally impressive.

If you like what you see, use the code MACFILOS to get a 15 percent discount at checkout. It’s limited to one order per customer, however. This is a discount for you; we don’t get anything out of this apart from the satisfaction of supporting some of the nicest and most genuine people in the photographic accessory business.

Find full details of Gordy straps here

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