MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 floating hide

Simple and good, your entry into professional floating hides

With the MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 floating hide, you quite literally dive into the world of waterbird photography. You move quietly across lakes, ponds, and shallow shoreline water towards your subjects while remaining inconspicuously camouflaged. That’s exactly where the appeal lies: you get very close to ducks, geese, herons, or waders without disturbing them and capture intimate, natural moments that simply wouldn’t be possible from the shore.

The principle is simple and all the more convincing because of it. You lie or kneel in the water, the floating hide supports your camera gear stably on the water surface, the camouflage tent breaks up your silhouette, and the birds perceive you more as a harmless part of the surroundings. This way you succeed in taking images where you photograph the animals at eye level. This perspective makes an enormous difference and creates that typical calm look with soft reflections and gentle foregrounds.

We’d say the Floating Hide 3 is a pretty logical step up from the classic shoreline blind for anyone who loves waterbirds and wants to photograph them seriously. It is simple and good, in the best sense of the word, and opens a new chapter in nature photography for you.

Made in Europe, thoughtful quality instead of compromises

The MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 is manufactured Made in Europe and designed for durability and reliability. Not a wobbly DIY solution, but a robust, field‑tested tool for serious nature photography. The construction combines sturdy frames with lightweight inflatable floats and a hard‑wearing camouflage tent. The result is a floating hide that retains its shape and function even with frequent use in the field, changing temperatures, and constant contact with water.

Modern production methods such as 3D printing are used for complex components. This makes it possible to create parts that are both lightweight and strong. Combined with an optimized design of the floats, the total weight could be reduced to just 5.46 kg. For a fully featured floating hide with tent, frame, and splash protection, this is remarkably light and clearly noticeable during transport.

Stability, reliability, and ruggedness are clearly the top priorities. The Floating Hide 3 builds on the proven characteristics of the previous MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide versions and consistently develops them further. So you’re not getting an experimental toy, but a tool that has been tested and refined in real‑world use by nature photographers.

Developed by photographers for photographers, practical down to the last detail

This compact floating hide has been deliberately developed by photographers for photographers. You can tell from the many small details that make a difference in everyday use. The low mounting plate ensures that your camera is positioned as close to the water surface as possible. This gives you that extremely low‑angle, almost cinematic perspective where the waterline and subject are on the same level.

The system is designed so you can adapt your setup to the way you work. It’s easy to attach different types of accessories to meet your needs in waterbird photography, whether you’re working in shallow water or in somewhat deeper ponds. From telephoto lenses with gimbal heads to smaller telezooms, remote releases, or additional supports, many things can be integrated in a sensible way.

One important note that is often overlooked: for the first use you need to drill a single hole in the mounting plate for the tripod mount. That sounds more complicated than it is. With a 15 mm drill bit, ideally a wood bit, you can make this hole very easily. It’s enough to work at low speed so the bit doesn’t get too hot and the plastic doesn’t melt onto the bit. The correct position of this hole is highly individual and depends on your combination of tripod head and lens. That’s exactly why the hole is not pre‑drilled at the factory.

Several pre‑drilled holes would unnecessarily weaken the plate and wouldn’t be optimal for many setups anyway. This way you decide for yourself where your camera sits. And if you prefer to work without drilling, you can also use the Floating Hide very effectively in combination with a beanbag support. This is often a surprisingly stable and flexible solution, especially with long focal lengths.

Compact floating hide, easy to transport, quick to set up

Despite its full feature set, the MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 is a truly compact floating hide. Folded, it measures only 20 x 20 x 60 cm. That’s roughly the size of a slightly longer camera bag or a compact tripod bag. With a weight of just 5.46 kg, it can be transported easily by car, campervan, or even by train. A short walk to a remote pond is also perfectly manageable.

The scope of delivery includes two inflatable floats with frame, a splash protection system, and the tent with poles. You also get a matching carry bag in which you can stow everything neatly. This keeps the material protected and ensures you have your floating hide quickly at hand when conditions suddenly turn perfect. An air pump is not included and must be arranged separately. A simple small hand or foot pump is usually more than sufficient.

The splash protection system helps protect your camera gear from spray while also concealing your movements inside the hide. Especially in windy conditions or when you need to turn a bit faster to follow a flying subject, this is a real plus. The camouflage tent itself is designed so that you have enough space for camera and lens, yet still maintain an inconspicuous, low silhouette on the water surface.

Flexible in practice, from shallow water to deeper ponds

The floating hide is designed to be used in different types of waters. In shallow water you can move around relatively comfortably while the hide supports and stabilizes your gear. In deeper ponds you work more by swimming or wading, with the floats providing buoyancy and balance. The construction is designed so that you feel safe and can focus on taking pictures.

This flexibility is crucial, especially for waterbird photography. Many species prefer zones that are hard to reach from the shore or are unfavorable from a photographic point of view. With the Floating Hide 3 you can approach these areas without causing conspicuous movement along the bank. You’re right in the middle of things instead of just watching from the outside.

We see the Floating Hide 3 as a tool that enables new image ideas. Scenes in morning mist, backlit situations with sparkling water droplets, calm portraits of birds preening or foraging. All of this appears much more intense from the water perspective. And yes, it sometimes takes a bit of time to get used to working in the water, but the results usually speak for themselves.

Technical data and scope of delivery at a glance

So you know exactly what you’re dealing with, here are the most important specifications of the MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 floating hide in condensed form.

• Weight: 5.46 kg
• Dimensions folded: 20 x 20 x 60 cm
• Construction: Inflatable floats with frame, low mounting plate, splash protection system, camouflage tent with poles
• Manufacture: Made in Europe, use of 3D printing for complex components

Scope of delivery:

• 2 x inflatable floats with frame
• Splash protection system
• Tent with poles
• Carry bag

Important note: No air pump is included in the scope of delivery. So plan for a suitable pump so you can make the Floating Hide 3 ready for use right at the water.

Mounting plate and tripod mount, individually adjustable

The mounting plate of the MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 is deliberately designed to be sturdy and without pre‑drilled holes. For the first use, you drill a single hole for your tripod mount. With a 15 mm drill bit, preferably a wood bit, this is very easy to do. Make sure you work at low speed so the bit doesn’t overheat and the plastic doesn’t stick to the bit.

You choose the position of this hole to suit your combination of tripod head and lens. Depending on focal length, center of gravity, and personal working style, the optimal position can vary. That’s exactly why the plate is not pre‑drilled at the factory. Multiple holes would unnecessarily weaken the plate and wouldn’t be ideal for many setups anyway.

If you prefer to work without a tripod head, you can also use the Floating Hide 3 very effectively with a beanbag support. This is a robust, simple solution that has proven itself especially with heavy telephoto lenses. You place the beanbag directly on the mounting plate, put your camera on top, and benefit from a stable, low‑vibration support.

Who is the MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 floating hide for?

The MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 is aimed at nature photographers who want to take their waterbird photography to a new level. If you’re already working with telephoto lenses from the shore and feel that you’re missing the perspective or proximity to your subjects, a floating hide like this is a very exciting addition.

It is suitable both for ambitious beginners in floating hide photography and for experienced professionals looking for a reliable, compact system. Thanks to its low weight and compact dimensions, it’s also interesting for travel, for example on photo tours to lakes, coastal lagoons, or wetlands. All you need is access to a suitable body of water and some time to get used to working in the water.

All in all, with the MR JAN GEAR Floating Hide 3 you get a well‑thought‑out, field‑tested, and versatile floating hide that opens up new photographic possibilities and helps you depict waterbirds as close and naturally as is hardly possible from the shore.