Nando Harmsen

Review of the handy Haida Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth

Friday 21 May 2021, 14:41 by | 5,696 views | 6 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Would you like a little extra protection for your equipment when you put it in your camera bag or rucksack? A pouch can help, or you could wrap it in a cloth. Haida has responded to this need with the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth.

I have a panorama gimbal set from Really Right Stuff. I recently wrote an extensive review about it. One problem with this set is the lack of a handy bag or pouch to pack it in. The separate parts rattle against each other if you are not careful, which is not ideal.

Nando haida wrapper cloth bag loose

All those loose things in your bag rattle against each other. You obviously want to prevent that.


Putting everything together in a pouch is not ideal, as it is still metal against metal. Wrapping it in a cloth is a solution. A loose cloth does carry the risk of things falling out when you are rummaging around in your bag. I know, this is a luxury problem, but it can still become annoying.

Cloths that stick



Haida came up with the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth. A long name for a cloth that has a sticky side on one side and is a microfibre cloth on the other. Two sides, each with a separate use. I was given these cloths to try them out and give my opinion.

The cloths come in three sizes, 36x36cm, 48x48cm, and 58x58cm. They come with a small carabiner, which can always come in handy. The blue-grey microfibre has a white illustration of the Haida M10 system filter holder on it.

Nando haida wrapper cloth close-up

The front and back of the Haida Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth


The microfibre side of the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth is useful for cleaning the front lens of your lens, or the LCD screen of your camera. Or your glasses, for that matter. We all know this type of cloth.

Nando haida wrapper cloth cleaning

The microfibre side works well as a cleaning cloth for the front lens of your lens or your LCD screen.


The other side of the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth is what makes these cloths special. It sticks, so you can use it to wrap things without them falling out. In fact, you can even fold it into a small pouch.

Using it in practice



I had to think for a moment about what I could use this sticky side for. One use was immediately clear. That is why I mentioned the RRS PG-01 Pano Gimbal Head at the beginning of this article. I used the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth to wrap its three separate parts neatly.

Nando haida wrapper cloth pano head

Packing the RRS PG-01 Pano Gimbal Head.


Another use is wrapping your lenses. It makes it safer to put a lens and a camera, or several lenses, in one compartment of your camera bag. It prevents them from bumping into each other.

Nando haida wrapper cloth bag packed

All the loose items from the first photo packed neatly. No more rattling in the bag or accidental damage.


While preparing one of the photography trips I lead, I thought about how vulnerable a tripod head is in luggage. I always remove the head and put it in a separate pouch. But it is also possible to wrap a Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth around the head. The sticky side keeps it from coming loose.

Nando haida wrapper cloth tripod

The tripod head wrapped up. This prevents damage during transport.


Haida Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth, useful or not?



The examples I used clearly show that they certainly have a use. But it may not be immediately obvious what that use is. To be honest, their usefulness is also somewhat related to the price of these Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloths.

Nando haida wrapper cloth overview

The three sizes of the HAida Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth, including carabiner.


The prices of these cloths are quite reasonable, though. With prices ranging from 9.95 euros to 16.50 euros, they are not much more expensive than the microfibre cloths you find in photography shops.

The alternative is a neoprene pouch for your loose items. These have a fixed shape, so they are less flexible to use. In many cases, you also pay more for one than for a Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth.

Nando haida wrapper cloth packing

You can pack anything. Camera, lens, filters, or even your iPad.


Conclusion



At first, I did not immediately see the point, apart from a way to keep my panorama components together. Over time, I came to appreciate the cloths, as they make it easier to protect your equipment properly when needed.

Nand haida wrapper cloth travel tripod

My travel tripod can be wrapped completely with the Haida Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth in the largest size of 58x58cm.


I have noticed that wrapping a lens or camera, or the panorama components I mentioned, works best when you have a flat surface. So you may need to spread the cloth out on the ground. It can get dirty there.

Fortunately, you can wash the cloths without any problems and even iron them. If they get dirty, that is not an issue. Just make sure you do not use the microfibre side of a dirty cloth to clean your front lens.

Nando haida wrapper cloth rain

A light shower? The cloth protects against that. Because it sticks, you do not have to worry about a bit of wind.


The Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloths are also water-repellent. They provide some protection against rain when needed. That is useful to know too. It took me a while to find a use for the carabiner, until I noticed the inconspicuous opening or eye in the corner. That could have been clearer, such as with a brightly coloured thread around it.

All in all, I believe the Haida Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloths can certainly be useful. They are not too expensive and, especially for photographers who travel regularly, they offer a way to give your valuable equipment a little more protection.

Pros



  • Sticky side offers many packing options
  • Remains wrapped because of the sticky side
  • Microfibre cloth is useful for cleaning lenses, LCD screens, or filters
  • Washable
  • Can be used for many purposes
  • Water-repellent
  • Available in three sizes
  • Prices are very reasonable


Cons



  • No examples included showing how best to wrap something
  • Works best when there is a flat surface for packing
  • Opening or eye for attaching the carabiner is not obvious. You can easily overlook it
  • Also sticks to the inside of the camera bag, which can be a positive too



The Haida Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth is available from Omnifoto's online shop.

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Nando Harmsen

About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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6 comments

  1. J W Hartmann
    J W Hartmann wrote on Tuesday 25 May 2021 at 14:28  | reply

    The microfiber cloths/towels from Decathlon are also very handy and even cheaper.

    Translated from Dutch.
  2. Nando
    Profile Nando wrote on Tuesday 25 May 2021 at 15:19  | reply

    @J.W. Hartmann;
    Those are probably very different cloths than these. I assume those don't have an adhesive side.

    Translated from Dutch.
  3. J W Hartmann
    J W Hartmann wrote on Tuesday 25 May 2021 at 15:21  | reply

    Indeed no adhesive side, but fine and simple to use as protection.

    Translated from Dutch.
  4. Ernst
    Ernst wrote on Tuesday 25 May 2021 at 16:18  | reply

    Seems very practical to me because I do sometimes take things with me in my regular backpack. I just don't know what is meant by sticky. How easily do things like lint stick to that side, for example, and/or do you end up getting your wool sweater caught in it (like with Velcro). Using it as a cleaning cloth will undoubtedly work fine, but not, at least not for optics, as soon as you use the cloth to wrap things in. If dirt gets onto the microfiber (outer) side (and it only has to be a tiny grain) then, with a bit of bad luck, you ruin your lens. That doesn't change the fact that I'm going to buy one to try it out. Of course, you can also wrap the separate parts in a microfiber cloth and/or fleece fabric bought at the market and use a wide elastic band, but this seems much more practical to me.

    Translated from Dutch.
  5. Nando
    Profile Nando wrote on Wednesday 26 May 2021 at 12:12  | reply

    @Ernst:
    The fibers of the fabric cause the 'sticking' to the microfiber side of the cloth. When the inside of your bag, or your sweater has a similar fiber to the microfiber side of the cloth, it sticks as well.
    It is not Velcro, though. You can't compare it to that.

    Translated from Dutch.
  6. John Jansen
    John Jansen wrote on Wednesday 26 May 2021 at 13:19  | reply

    I prefer to carry as little extra stuff as possible, the cloths seem handy but they are places where dust/sand and dirt collect. Of course you want as little of that as possible in your bag or on your photo gear and do you really want to wash cloths every time after taking photos as well? You can also fasten loose materials with a couple of elastic bands or a Velcro strip (dirt will also collect in that again).

    Translated from Dutch.

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