Better Snake Than Sorry

Safety Snake - 12” Safety Snake

Founded by Zack Ramos-Taylor, DP and AC, The Safety Snake has quickly become one of those tools I never knew I needed until I tried it. The 12-inch paracord attaches easily to a mounting point with a 1/4 bolt on the side of the camera, suspending the matte box in mid-air while you change lenses. It's a small but clever solution that keeps the matte box from touching the ground, which is a real game-changer on location, where dirt, sand, or moisture could potentially cause issues. It’s especially useful when you’re in a rush between shots and don’t want to risk setting your matte box down in a questionable spot. It keeps things safe, accessible, and off the ground, making lens changes smoother and less stressful.

That said, there are a few minor things I’d tweak. The cord doesn’t offer much in the way of adjustability, so it can feel a bit restrictive depending on how your rig is set up. It also only applies to larger multi-stage matte boxes, as there is nowhere to loop into a smaller matte box such as a single-stage Tangerine Misfit. I’ve found that the fixed length doesn’t always work for every camera configuration (often times this means gimbal work), and a little more flexibility would be a nice touch. Still, these are small nitpicks.

The Safety Snake does its job extremely well, offering a simple but effective solution to a common problem. It’s one of those little tools that you end up relying on more than you expect, and it’s definitely earned a permanent spot in my kit.

What nailed it:

• Creates a solution for a prevalant problem

• Multiple color and size options

• Small company with great customer service

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Check out the snakes for yourself: https://www.instagram.com/safetysnake/?hl=en