20 October 2025

By Tim Brazzel

If you’ve ever spent hours out in the field flying your drone, you know that after a while your arms, neck, or your back start screaming for mercy. It’s like you signed up for a surprise upper-body workout you didn’t ask for. Yeah… It’s happened to me many times.

But what if I told you there’s a way to make flying your drone not only easier on your body but  also more comfortable, secure, and even stylish? That’s exactly what I discovered at the Commercial UAV Expo 2025 in Las Vegas when I met Brian Saunders from Fitek Gear — a company that’s redefining what ergonomic gear looks and feels like for drone pilots.

Comfort Meets Innovation

At the Expo, I got hands-on with Fitek Gear’s Drone Controller Harness — and honestly, it blew me away. The setup was refreshingly simple: slide it on, adjust a couple straps, and you’re ready. It fit snug, felt secure, and within minutes, I mostly forgot I was wearing it. That’s a rare compliment when equipment actually becomes invisible to your mindset and lets you focus on the shoot.

As a videographer and drone cinematographer, the creative possibilities jumped out at me immediately. This isn’t just a harness for holding a controller — it’s a creator’s tool. I mounted my action camera on it, then my mirrorless camera. Both felt stable and locked in place. Suddenly I was thinking bigger than “just flying.” I pictured multi-angle shoots, hands-free behind-the-scenes footage, quick camera swaps, and streamlined workflows where I didn’t have to constantly set equipment down to make an adjustment.

What You Get

In the video, I break down everything that comes in the package. At its core, the harness is built with sturdy yet flexible components and comes with two different types of brackets. The primary bracket I talk about most features two unscrew-able plates — a smart design that supports a wide range of drone controllers from DJI, Autel, and others. Whether you fly a compact consumer model or a larger controller, this bracket adapts. That kind of compatibility is huge if you switch gear often or work on varied shoots.

The second bracket gives you alternate mounting options and adds to the harness’s versatility. Together, these brackets make the harness usable for both pilots and content creators who want to attach cameras or other gear without a complicated rig system.

Real-World Testing

Here’s where the harness proved its value — during an all-day shoot at a unionized strike event. That was my true stress-test: long hours, a busy environment, and the need to move fast between shots. These are not controlled studio conditions — this is real-world hustle.

Key Takeaways

All-Day Comfort — I wore the harness literally all day. Normally, after hours of flying I’d feel shoulder and forearm fatigue. Not this time. The weight distribution is excellent; the harness transfers load off the arms and into the torso, letting you stay nimble and focused.

Hands-Free Freedom — The ability to go hands-free was a game-changer. During the event I switched between capturing aerials and grabbing quick B-roll on my mirrorless. Being able to step away from the controller without juggling gear made workflow infinitely smoother.

Professional Presence — Let’s be honest: gear affects perception. Multiple people complimented the setup and one guy told me seeing my rig made him hesitate to fly because he didn’t have the credentials I did (Part 107). The harness communicates competence — it’s a practical confidence booster.

Fast Attach/Detach — The bracket release mechanism is efficient. When you’re in the field and time matters, you need hardware that doesn’t slow you down. The Fitek brackets attach and  detach without fuss, and that small efficiency compounds over a long day.

Honest Drawbacks

No product is flawless. Here are a couple of honest observations:

Warm Weather Considerations — On a hot day you might sweat more across your back or stomach. I’m slim and didn’t find it unbearable, but in high-heat situations add a lightweight moisture-wicking layer and you’ll be fine.

More Mounting Options Would Be Nice — I’d love additional attachment points for quick-access pouches, battery holsters, or a side camera mount. Currently you might have to reach into a Pelican case or backpack for spare batteries or accessories. Adding modular attachment points would turn this from “excellent” into “indispensable.”

The Little Things That Matter

Beyond specs and brackets, the harness changes your workflow psychologically. You care less about “will this setup hold” and more about “what shot do I want next?” For creative work, that’s priceless. The harness lets you treat your controller like a tool that’s always ready — not a thing you’re constantly babying. I felt more confident, moved smoother between shots, and even found myself smiling a little more because I wasn’t fighting fatigue.

Use Cases Beyond Flying

Because of its adaptability, this harness is useful beyond flying drones. I used it to mount one of my action cameras and a mirrorless camera — perfect for BTS (behind-the-scenes) content, vlogging during events, or fast documentary-style shooting where you need to be both mobile and stable. For creators who wear many hats on a shoot (pilot, camera op, director), this harness effectively becomes a wearable workstation.

Why It’s Worth It

The Fitek harness is more than comfort — it’s a workflow upgrade. It saves time, reduces fatigue, and elevates your presence in the field. For creators, that’s worth more than a few extra dollars on a piece of gear. The harness helps you stay efficient, focused, and — yes — professional-looking. And for folks who fly long hours, that ergonomic support pays dividends in both quality and stamina.

Final Thoughts 

After testing the harness at the UAV Expo and using it during an intense real-world shoot, I can say this: it’s one of the best accessories I’ve tested this year. It’s simple to use, comfortable for long sessions, and I believe with a few updates and modifications, it will be flexible enough to suit a variety of rigs and cameras. If you’re a content creator, commercial pilot, or someone who demands dependable gear in the field, this harness should be on your shortlist.

Watch the Review!