1. History, Introduction & Unboxing
Ever since SpiderHolster dropped a teaser at the end of 2025, I was hooked. In January 2026, the new products were finally revealed, and I pre-ordered the very same day. I was so excited that I ended up changing my order multiple times - switching from the black version to the beautiful brown leather, and adding more items before they finally shipped everything in mid-February.
It took 10 nerve-wracking days for FedEx to ship the package from the US to Germany. When it finally arrived, I couldn't wait to unwrap it! Unfortunately, all the events where I could have already used them are over, but new events are coming up very soon, and I am incredibly eager to put this new gear into action.
Opening these beautifully packaged items, I am over the moon right now. I've been a SpiderHolster user for 10 to 12 years, and this V3 gear looks completely different from before—it's no longer purely functional synthetic material. It's truly beautiful, premium gear!
2. SpiderPro Camera Plate v3 & Pins
The new Spider Pro Plate v3 and SpiderPro Plate Pin v3 are simply brilliant. The camera plate is essentially two-part now and features a built-in Arca-Swiss compatible insert. This means I no longer have to swap plates or buy extra accessories just to mount the camera on a tripod!
When I saw the plate's shape, I was thrilled, thinking it might fit right into my Peak Design Capture Clip. Unfortunately, it is not compatible. The Capture Clip has a smart cutout at the bottom which the SpiderPro plate lacks by just a couple of millimeters, so I'm out of luck there.
As for the pins, the new V3 pins are much larger than the older, cute little ball-shaped V1/V2 pins. Because of this size difference, the old and new generations are incompatible. However, it is possible to switch the pins! There is currently no lens plate for the V3 system available yet, so I ordered some standalone V3 pins and attached them to my existing lens plate. A word of warning though: it's incredibly hard to loosen the original screws the first time because they are fixed with Loctite. I had to remove one with brute force and finally a drill. But hey, now I have a fully V3-compatible lens plate!
The plate also includes brilliant little anti-rotate nubs for smaller bodies, and an angled Allen key seamlessly held in place by three strong magnets. If the key were straight, it wouldn't fit past the new larger pin!
The QD mount is also worth mentioning! It pairs very nicely with the SpiderPro Dual Shoulder Harness v3—either attached directly to carry the camera or to act as a safety tether to protect it from falling if you miss the pin mount. I love this additional level of security, though honestly, I’ve never missed the mount in all my years of using the SpiderPro belt.
3. Spider X Backpacker Kit v3
I also pre-ordered the Spider X Backpacker Kit v3 along with the Accessory Holster. To be honest, I was slightly disappointed that it's made of hard plastic instead of the high-quality metal found on the main holsters. While it's designed to mount on a backpack shoulder strap, hanging a heavy camera there pulls the backpack down awkwardly, so I won't be using it for that.
For those who do want to mount it there, you can attach the base plate directly into the mount. No adapters are needed, and the camera locks into place using the tripod mount, just like the Peak Design Capture Clip (I'm hooked on that thing, I know!). The same release protection found on the other mounts is available here too. Alternatively, it's also possible to attach the Accessory Holster v3, which allows you to use the pins to mount your camera.
Instead, I'll mount it on the waist belt of my backpack, where I can use the pin-based mount! I'll soon find out if having a dangling camera in this position while hiking is actually a good idea.
4. SpiderPro Dual Shoulder Harness v3 (The Suspenders)
The SpiderPro Dual Shoulder Harness v3 is next-level comfort. Designed with incredibly soft leather, it looks slim and sleek. On the back, the central cross is equipped with elastic suspension bands on all four sides. This means if the camera swings, it bounces softly and gives way, vastly reducing the strain on your shoulders.
I must highlight the Quick Disconnect (QD) mount! The QD connector (a system proven in tactical gear) attaches directly to the camera plate and provides an extremely fast way of attaching the SpiderPro Dual Shoulder Harness v3. The entire harness is easily adjustable via two side screws on each side, which conceptually also allow you to swap out parts over time if needed.
5. SpiderPro Dual Camera System v3 (The Belt & Holsters)
Now to the absolute heart of the system: the SpiderPro Dual Camera System v3 belt. The entire exterior is now beautiful, soft leather instead of synthetic fabric. The two camera mounts slide seamlessly into slots on the belt. Interestingly, there's no bottom lock for these slots, meaning you can rapidly pull the mount out and reposition it anywhere else on the belt. You could use your own belt, but considering the weight of professional cameras, I really don't think that's a good idea.
The padding underneath is completely made of soft leather. It takes comfort to the next level—you can easily sit in a car without the belt digging in or feeling awkward. The padding on the inside is so soft that I have to pull it a bit tighter to keep it from slipping over my hips, but combined with the suspenders, it holds perfectly.
The closure mechanism has entirely changed! It's no longer a plastic snap buckle. It's a classic belt buckle that fits all sizes. On the inside there's a velcro band to quickly close and hold the belt, and then you secure it with the physical belt buckle.
The holsters themselves are made of high-quality metal (now matching perfectly in black!) and feel unbelievably sturdy. They still feature the manual release lever. While you can lock this lever up into an "always open" mode, I find it relatively dangerous and strongly advise against it. Plus, once locked up, that lever gets quite stiff to push back down.
Overall, looking at the belt—multiple layers of glued, stitched, and sealed leather over foam and velvet padding—the sheer build quality is fantastic.
6. SpiderPro Hand Strap
The ergonomically soft, S-shaped SpiderPro Hand Strap v2 beautifully complements the plates. It now mounts directly onto the base plate, but I noticed a major flaw on the left side of the belt. When you slide the left camera into the left holster, the plastic band from the hand strap is completely in the way of the slot. Long-term, this will scrape and eventually damage the plastic band.
A temporary fix is to move the pin to the right side of the mount, but then the left camera no longer seats perfectly in the slot to hinge downwards. I truly hope SpiderHolster introduces a v3 hand strap purely dedicated to fixing this caveat! Spider-people, if you're reading this: I need to replace 4 hand straps. So please make it a good solution 😁.
7. Pricing & Conclusion
So, what about the price? The Dual Set V2 was around 350 Euros originally, plus some extra plates. But ordering this full V3 setup from the USA—the Dual Belt, the Shoulder Harness, extra plates, the Backpacker kit, and a spare hand strap, all coupled with shipping, import duties, and VAT—pushed the total investment to over €1000.
That is a massive investment and quite a lot of money for a camera strap system. But honestly? I am so incredibly happy they finally made a beautifully designed version of the SpiderHolster. The quality is flawless. If this V3 setup lasts me 10 years just like my old V1 Spider system did, then every single cent was absolutely worth it!