Oh man, I totally feel your pain! When I first got my heavy Nikon and big glass, I thought my neck was gonna snap. It was a nightmare! I honestly almost sold my gear until I found the Peak Design Slide Camera Strap Black SL-BK-3 and it literally saved my life. It uses this seatbelt-style material and the padding is fantastic for heavy rigs. Here are my favorites for big setups:

• Peak Design Slide Camera Strap Charcoal SL-CH-3
• The anchor links are amazing because you just click them in. No more fumbling with tiny loops!
• Op/Tech USA Pro Loop Strap Padded Neoprene
• This one is super budget friendly and the thick neoprene really cushions the weight. Seriously, dont give up! Spending that $65 makes the camera feel way lighter. You're gonna have a blast in Maine!

Just saw this and had to jump in because I totally agree with the physics talk earlier. Being frustrated with a heavy setup is the worst, honestly felt like I was dragging a brick around Maine last year! You dont have to spend a ton to get relief though. I’ve been super satisfied with the USA Gear TrueShot Camera Strap with Neoprene Padding for my kit. It has these little pockets for extra SD cards and the neoprene is super thick, so it doesnt dig in at all. Another one that works well and is really budget friendly is the Altura Photo Rapid Fire Camera Neck Strap with Safety Tether. It’s got a solid metal swivel and clips on easily to the tripod mount, which is way easier than messing with those tiny loops. Seriously, dont let the weight get you down... once you swap that stock strap you'll feel like a new person. Maine is gonna be beautiful!

Any updates on this?

Quickly weighing in here... honestly its all about the physics of weight distribution. If you hang a 5lb Nikon D850 from your neck you're putting massive pressure on a tiny surface area. I usually dig through data on sites like DPReview or the Fred Miranda forums to see how these things handle actual weight. You definitely want a sling strap because it moves the load to your shoulder and torso. Check these out for heavy setups:

• BlackRapid Curve Breathe Camera Strap Black with FR-5 FastenR - this clips into your tripod mount so its super fast to attach and uses a moisture wicking mesh.
• Think Tank Photo Camera Strap V2.0 Grey Blue - very grippy and doesn't slide around if you're wearing a jacket. Basically look for neoprene or high density foam because they act like shock absorbers. It stops the camera from bouncing and jarring your neck while walking. This should make the Maine trip way more bearable.

🙌