What's important to you when selecting a bino pack?
We've come a long way in how we carry our binoculars. Hopefully you've moved on from grandpa's antique heavy leather single pocket design. With such a wide selection these days you can be pretty picky on what features are most important.
Do you go for new technology like the Badlands Magnetic closure system, keep it simple and quite with a tiny elastic band like Alaska Guide Creations? Is weight and breathability most important to you, or does matching your camo pattern outweigh everything else? Do you keep it simple or load it with pockets and features to carry some of your other gear?
We want to hear what you guys are using, why, and what brands we need to bring in if
BlackOvis.com doesn't carry what you want. If you could make your ultimate pack by mixing features across brands, what would it look like?
- Join the discussion below and share your thoughts! -
I have modified my straps and cut them in half. I also took out the water bladder out of the back and used that material to create a longer yoke in the back and re attached the straps so they come across the body better. I also added on side pieces of webbing to hold a wind check and range finder or radio. Now I think I have created the ultimate bino case and I am not sure if I would switch. The only thing I would like is if it was in Sitka Open Country to match my camo I am currently using.
The first harness I ever owned was the Badlands Mag Case. I loved it and used it for about 3 years but I had two main issues with it: 1. the magnets were too loud and 2. I never had a placed to attach my rangefinder and the webbing on the side never held it tight enough. At that time I never knew what I wanted, I just wore what the "cool kids" wore and it worked. It just needed more.
The Sitka Bivy was cool but after about 2 weeks of use I ended up returning it. The Magnets worked great and seemed to be a lot quieter than the Badlands but after fighting that zipper on the corners each and every time I closed it, I couldn't wait to take it back. I could just seeing that happening out in the field and turning into a complete disaster.
After that I went and bought the Tenzing OSS15. After messing with the Badlands and th Sitka, I finally had a way to clip my rangefinder on the side of the pack. It was just an elastic webbed pocket but it actually held it surprisingly well. The only downside I had with the OSS was that it shared the same Kuiu style where it was just a cover not an actual case and once you pull the bino's out, the pack drops down to your stomach and it's nearly impossibly to get it back in one handed.
After a lot of soul searching I was siting at an Archery shoot up in Tamarack and every body and their dogs had this bino system that I had never heard of or even saw before. About 5 minutes later I was talking to Brian Call from Gritty Bowmen and I knew that in seconds THAT was the pack I had been searching for! As soon as I got back to Salt Lake I googled them, found their site, and ordered one for myself which ended up being an hour and a half conversation on the phone with the owner and designer of the packs Jaret Owens. As soon as I got it I knew I'd love it. The H.A.L.O Closure (elastic cord) is awesome and I can easily get my bino's in and out of the case one handed, even with gloves on. But overall my top favorite feature was the front pocket of the CUB, call it destiny or what but my Vortex Ranger 1000 fit's like a glove in that pocket and makes it extremely accessible at all times. Never once shooting have I ever felt like my pack has came too close to my strings and I have never had it slip once. Another great feature I like about the AGC is the shoulder straps. They are built with a breathable mesh and are thin which allows me to use all of my backs without bulking up a bunch of materials on my shoulders keeping me comfortable all day long.
I think there are a lot great Bino Harnesses out there and I think what it really comes down to is not what EVERYBODY is using but what YOU are looking to get out of it. Regardless if you have a harness or not, the Alaska Guides are definitely worth checking out and I would strongly suggest getting your hands on one.
I'm currently using the Sitka because it has a better harness system over the Badlands, keeps my binos relatively clean, is quite simple to access (I don't like having my binos tethered to the harness/pack) and doesn't get in the way of an archery shot. Plus I like the camo pattern. With trying First Lite Fusion this year, I may be switching to a more neutral color on my bino harness and am looking to try the Alaska Guide Creations.
Basically you have to determine what features are the best for your style of hunting. For example I went on a stalk once, crawling for about 2 hours to get to bow range of a bedded bull elk and I loved the mesh inner of the Sitka harness because it prevented my binos from falling out while having them one hand accessible to keep glassing as I moved forward. Once you know the features you like, then you can start to really compare harness systems and zero in on one.
If I was going into it blind and had to chose one, I'd probably go with the Alaska Guide Creations KISS for simplicity, harness stability, and functionality with neutral colors that will go well with most camo clothing..
I like the amount of organization the AGC provides. I love how comfortable it is, even with a pack on. It holds my Binos very secure and protects them from the elements. It also keeps my wind checker handy, a fire starting kit, some snacks, etc. If buying a new bino harness today it would be a AGC Kodiak C.U.B. with max pocket. It is simply a quality product that works.
The most important things for me in a bino harness are:
Truly one hand operational
QUIET
Holds tight to the chest (doesn't bounce around)
Covers the binos completely
comfortable
minimizes the amount of adjustments needed when taking off/adding layers
ease of adjustment
Ranking the Kuiu harness against my criteria above:
I think the Kuiu harness is the easiest harness to manipulate and use with one hand. It is very easy to open the Kuiu lid, pull out the binos, put the binos back, and close the lid all with only one hand and while not looking. In my opinion the Kuiu is the most one hand friendly of any on the market.
The Kuiu harness uses a soft shell material and is therefore very quiet. I think cordura is too loud.
The Kuiu holds very tight to the chest and does not bounce around at all! I can and often trail run with my binos strapped to my chest.
The Kuiu harness is a bit lacking in the cover department. There is a large opening in the back that allows debris to get inside. The glass is protected and covered but debris can get inside.
The Kuiu harness is very simple and comfortable
The glaring fault with the Kuiu harness in my opinion is the adjustability. THe way that it is designed you are constantly having to adjust the chest strap as you take off/put on layers. Other harness where the over the shoulder straps remain fixed are more forgiving with the fit as you take on and put on layers (ie... the Sitka, Badlands etc)
Finally the Kuiu harness is a bit of a pain to adjust... The tri-glide can get annoying to adjust as you are constantly taking off and putting on layers. And because of the design you have to adjust it as you put on and off layers otherwise it wont stay up on your chest. THe fit has to be dialed everytime.
I like the Kuiu one the best but by no means do I think it is perfect. I think it can be greatly improved.
Then I tried the badlands because I loved their packs so much. It was great for keeping my glass clean and it was rather easy to slip them in and out. But you do have to be careful when closing them because they will give a loud clack if you don’t use your finger to buffer the magnet. Also I didn’t like the hydration pack on the back. If you have a pack on over it, it can cause a hot spot.
Hens why I have the Alaskan Guide Creations pack. The side pockets are great for those things that you will always need. Depending on the trip, I keep calls and field knife. There is plenty of room for many other things like a fire starter and a survival blanket if you are going in deep. But the most important item I keep in this pack at all times is my range finder. Now I know it is always with me and it is as equally protected as my binos. I used to just use a small S clip and 550 cord to sling over my shoulder for range find and it works really well, but like the elastic system it left the glass exposed. I still use the sling system but now I tuck it in the front pocket until I am in situation that calls for it.
BlackOvis has the best price on the web and they include the straps to connect your binos to the harness if you see fit. If you are looking for your first system and or upgrading I hope this helped.
S4 Lockdown X:
Likes: - Easy to remove binos one handed.
- Bungee system
- Compactness
Dislikes: - Harness would ride up on my neck area and would rub against my skin.
- Binos were NOT completely covered/protected.
I decided it was time to upgrade. I still wanted to keep my set up as compact as possible, but wanted something that would have binos totally covered/protected. I had looked at many but narrowed it down to the FHF and AGC. I carry Vortex 10x42s in my harness so I was looking at the FHF Md and the AGC CUB. I really liked the FHF design but only thing that held me back was that the binos were still exposed just a bit near the top flap/cover. The AGC CUB looked like it was a nice design but just looked a tad big for what I was used to using. Sort of looked like a small backpack. So this had me trying to decide between the two. When I was doing my research I came up on Black Ovis. Here they had a AGC model that AGC did not have listed on their website at the time. This was the KISS model. It looked perfect and exactly what I was wanting. Small, compact, protected and also had the bungee closure. I contacted AGC and found out it was somewhat of a newer model but they hadn't updated their website with pics of it yet. AGC customer service gave me prices and options for the KISS model. I was glad I had stumbled on Black Ovis and found this KISS model. Not only was it what I wanted but Black Ovis pricing was better than AGC with all the options. Free Shipping, Bino Tether system included and also got the model with max pocket on bottom. All this still came out cheaper than AGC website. Oh and forgot to mention also got a sweet Black ovis cap. After ordering it I've been super satisified with it. I like to keep my optics as clean as possible and this harness fits the bill. I would say this has to be my favorite piece of gear. I wear it for hunting, scouting, archery range trips, hikes. If you're thinking about getting the AGC KISS, do it. I carry my 10s, rangefinder (attached on lower strap), windchecker, havalon knife, hunting license and headlamp in mine. The harness is well built and made in the USA. Shoulder straps are super comfortable and a bunch of adjust ability. I'm happy with mine.
The FHF gear harness is perfect for antelope and turkey blinds or spot and stalk on the plains when you're back to the truck or camper each night. Bear on baits and shed hunting are FHF territory also. Whitetais in corn stubble don't need backcountry gear either.
However, drawing an elk or muley tag means I'm tied to a backpack for days and as such I carry the AGC Cub with the basement ( Jaret's word for the bottom pocket).
I have my Leicas , rangefinder, multi-tool, fire flint, knife , TP and hand sanitizer , tags and chewing gum right up front. Incidentally, I have an FHF gear coiled lanyard on my rangefinder and attached to the cloth loop on the AGC bag. You can drop your backpack and have everything you need in case you're away from it for hours. Flying into a remote camp? AGC. Going for a day hunt? FHF. Two small snap clips and your glass switches out in 30 seconds. Easy!