BillinghamSP40 Leather Shoulder Pad (Chocolate)

When the shoulder pad that came with my messenger bag started falling apart I looked for a replacement. I had hoped to find something better than the original and this come very close to meeting my expectations. It is comfortable but could use a bit more padding as then I have heavier loads in my bag or wearing for longer periods I can feel the pressure but otherwise it is wonderful. I was worried about the snaps and after daily use for a couple of months I have only had one snap come undone. It stays centered most of the time where the original pad had the tendency to slide to one end or the other.

The item that arrived looks like painted pleather. This is definitely not what I expected from a product claiming to be made of "top-grain leather", Save your money and look elsewhere! I put on a little neetsfoot oil to darken the tan to better match my full grain leather bag. The oil isn't even soaking in! The oil should've soaked in darkening the color and adding shine. If you're looking to spend top dollar on a piece of pleather to compliment your full grain leather strap- look no farther! This is the garbage you're looking for!

This is a very well made shoulder strap to be used on one of the Billingham camera bag shoulder straps. I didn't think it would make much difference carrying the bag, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a more comfortable carry as well as lessening the strap slipping off the shoulder. You can use this on any other shoulder strap as long as the width of the strap is 1.5" or less. Highly recommended.

If you're into Billingham, you're used to paying extra for something well made, functional yet simple as simple is. This pad is designed to clip onto to a 1.5 inch strap via two tiny straps (nickel plated snaps). The fit is tight, so tight you must unsnap it to adjust position. The outside is well finished top grain cowhide while the underside is grippy textured neoprene. You must try hard to get it to slip off your shoulder. Although it seems a bit stiff at first, it breaks in quickly and flexes into the contour of your shoulder.There is a minor gotcha: the connecting straps go all the way through the pad and I can feel a wee lump on the pad while wearing a t-shirt. It's not uncomfortable but may bother some wearers. With a jean or leather jacket, I can't feel the lumps. It's also bit on the heavy side but, after all, it is a thick piece of leather and neoprene.I'm using this pad on a Domke F-5XC camera bag and it matches perfectly, complementing the black cotton canvas as if it were original equipment. I also have another one on my black Hadley Pro and, obviously, matches anything Billingham. Excellent product and I'm thankful it saved me from the hard and uncomfortable Domke shoulder pad.

This is so classy and just what I needed fro my leather bag. The strap on my bag is not detachable and I was wondering what I could do to put it on so I would have some padding on my shoulder and not have the strap fall slip off my shoulder all the time. I look around and when I saw this I thought I'd give it a try and it is the best. It's well worth the price because of its quality and workmanship. It looks like it was custom made for my leather bag.

I purchased this to help with the skinny shoulder straps on my Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM handbag. The color matches very well with the Damier Ebene canvas. Anyone who owns this handbag knows how heavy it can be when it is full. This shoulder pad makes carrying this bag effortless. I don't use it every day but when the bag is filled to capacity I do use it and there is no stress at all on my shoulder. A lot of people complain about the skinny straps cutting into their shoulders, this definitely remedies that situation.

It's a shoulder pad, what more can you say? Seems to be very well made, good quality leather and a nice grippy pad on one side. Stiff enough to distribute the load well and non-slip so certainly makes my Hadley bag much more comfortable and convenient to carry. Because of the price, so I resisted buying one for 2-3 years but eventually got tired of either having to have the strap across my chest (i.e. head and arm through the strap) or accept it constantly slipping. So it works well, and I would give it five stars except for the exhorbitant price. I feel the same way about Billingham bags generally - way overpriced but I've found no other bags that work so well for a DSLR and a couple of extra lenses.

I can't tell much difference with or without the pad. It surely is not worth what they charge. They are very nice quality bags but for what the bag cost the pad should come with it. A rip off.

Got this for my Billingham Pro 2020 camera bag - itself no cheap item, but beautifully made. Having choked down the feeling of being slightly conned and buying this item I was actually rather surprised when it arrived; MUCH more robust than somehow I'd expected, and can't deny it's beautifully made.So, OK, I've had my moan, but it works well, it's comfortable, it looks good, and it will, I'm sure, outlast me. If I could outlast it for the princely sum of £35 I'd be well chuffed. And you know something? Once in a while it's just plain satisfying to give in and pay over the odds for something so oozing "quality". Somehow, though, I think I must have forgotten to tell 'er Indoors what it cost :-).............. "sixpence-ha'penny on a well known auction site, luv. From China......... y'know. "

I've had my Billingham Hadley Pro for about a year now and never thought at buying this shoulder pad at first until I realised that I almost always had to have it across my body to make it more comfortable when carrying it around. My reluctance at buying this shoulder pad was obviously as many other people have commented was due to the price and I've lived without it but as my shoulders are tapered, the strap kept on sliding down causing me to adjust it every couple of steps I took. I decided to bite the bullet and purchase the shoulder pad and couldn't be happier now. Its grippy and thick with plenty of padding to distribute the weight more evenly whilst stopping it from sliding down my shoulders! Hurrah!Overall, its great and does look like it completes the look of my Hadley Pro and definitely makes it more comfortable when carrying a bit of weighty camera gear and other stuff but downside to it is the fact that I purchased it for £30. Something which, having paid quite a bit for the Hadley Pro this shoulder pad *should* have been provided in the first place...

I have had Billingham bags for over 30 year and they last the course. except the shoulder. pads. I replaced my old one, which was original and never had any padding with this and the newer ones do have some padding.I carry two cameras in my bag. One film, Leica M6 ttl and either a Leica Monochrom or a Fuji X-Pro 2. Now they are not particularly heavy but I had hoped that the padded should def strap would ease the tension on my shoulder and help to distribute the weight. It does but no where near as well as I expected and to be frank, I think the shoulder strap needs far more padding and maybe needs to be a little wider.

It should come with the bags but hey ho, it's not REALLY expensive - and it gives the bag buyer the option to save a few pounds and go without the pad if they want to (in other words, Billingham could include it with the bag purchase and just add the price on). It's really comfortable, looks nice, doesn't move about on the strap too much and moulds to your shoulder in time (though not straight away). Its slightly high in its profile but that's a consequence of its materials and quality. Good on the Hadley Pro and necessary in my opinion. Good on the Hadley small, but more optional than necessary - though I like it and think it adds to the comfort for a long day of carrying camera + 2 lenses. Would be overkill for the Hadley Digital.

I purchased the Billingham SP40 to replace the supplied SP15 for my Billingham 335 shoulder bag. the SP15 is too thin IMHO, whereas the SP40 offers greater comfort and weight distribution on the shoulder. As usual with Billingham gear, the quality of materials and craftsmanship is superb. Yes, it may be expensive but as the old saying goes, "Buy cheap, buy twice". Highly recommended.