Bino harness " chestpack" ?

[handwerk]

So for many of you guys these seem pretty popular, but I do see folks selling them used frequently as well. I understand some of the benefits of the system but personally just couldn't get comfortable having anything besides my binos hanging off my chest.
How many guys have bought them only to end up unhappy with the setup and gone back to a simple neck strap or bino "suspenders"?

 

[LaHunter]

For active mountain terrain hunting/hiking, a good bino harness is a great piece of gear. I use the fhf harness and like it a lot.
I would bet that if you tried one, you would continue using it. For me, the fhf is the perfect balance of protection and size. I have never felt like it was bulky or in the way at all.
For stationary whitetail type hunting, a simple strap my be better.

 

[mtwarden]

I'll let you know this fall . I've always used a simple "suspenders" setup, but figured I'd give a case a try this year. I'm having to tuck my binos in fair bit into an outer jacket when the weather starts in or if it's extremely dense foliage for protection. It might be handy to have my range finder a little more handy too. Worth a try anyways.

 

[daddie63]

Personally I went from a suspender harness to a Marsupial gear pack and won't be going back. The Marsupial gear pack rides well and isn't too bulky for me. I forget it's on sometimes even.
I tried the AGC before and liked the protection and pockets but it was a little too bulky for me. Since trying out the Marsupial I don't feel the need to try any others or go back to the suspended harness.

 

[handwerk]

Yeah, that Marsupial maybe the one...does it have enough adjustment to work well with wearing a backpack giving you access at all times?

 

[daddie63]

It seems to have enough adjustments yes. I'm barrel chested so am pushing the max adjustment with a pack on but so far so good. Jim the owner is a good guy and if it didn't work like you were hoping I would be surprised if he didn't work with you to make it right.

 

[LostArra]

I've tried a few of the binocular chest packs and I just don't like them.
I've got a pack and belt pouches on my pack and pockets on my pants. I don't need more gear storage.

I primarily bow hunt and do a lot of quick one-hand glances with my binocular and I don't like fiddling with a chest pack lid.
I never had any string interference with compound or traditional bows.

I use the Rick Young harness which works for me as a chest harness and can easily go to a side carry under one arm.
If it's raining and I put on my rain jacket the binos go under the jacket. I do carry a small Crooked Horn bino shield that slips over the binocular if its too exposed.
I don't worry about binos getting wet. I just like to keep the eyepieces clean.

 

[realunlucky]

Marspusial flap can be latched opened or closed so no fiddling with it. I've tried the Rick Young and didn't enjoy it as much

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[veganhunter]

I tried the AGC before and liked the protection and pockets but it was a little too bulky for me..

I had the exact same experience. It was a nice featured pack but just way too bulky for my taste.

I ran the Rick Young harness last year and it worked well but doesn't offer much for optics protection.

Gonna try the Sitka Bino Bivy now and see how it goes.

 

[LostArra]

Marspusial flap can be latched opened or closed so no fiddling with it. I've tried the Rick Young and didn't enjoy it as much

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

I had a dicey experience with a compass, magnets and a blinding snow storm so I try to avoid magnets when possible even though the problem was user error.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[realunlucky]

Not all magnets affect a compass. When I'm home in a couple days I'll check the pouch against a compass. Years ago I worried about magnets and rangefinders but earth magnets don't effect them

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[twall13]

One reason you see them come up on the classifieds is the guys on this forum tend to tinker with their setup a lot. They aren't necessarily abandoning the concept so much as trying a different setup. Just look through this thread, switching from AGC to Marsupial or FHF or Sitka, etc. Everyone has different preferences and it sometimes takes a few tries to figure out what works for you. I originally bought a very minimalist harness (Oregon Pack works Binobro) and an AGC to compare the two. I fully expected to keep the Binobro and sell the AGC but ended up doing just the opposite when I found I like having a few extra items close at hand at all times. I'm sold on the concept and have been using the AGC for 2 seasons now without any plans to change. Again, everyone is different, figure out what works for you.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[rbljack]

I'll let you know this fall . I've always used a simple "suspenders" setup, but figured I'd give a case a try this year. I'm having to tuck my binos in fair bit into an outer jacket when the weather starts in or if it's extremely dense foliage for protection. It might be handy to have my range finder a little more handy too. Worth a try anyways.

x2...just got my Alaskan guide creations classic max bino harness....we shall see. This bino harness idea is going to have to grow on me. My initial instinct is that its going to be in my way, and bulky....but I put aside my reservations and decided im going to give this a full year to see how it grows on me.

I put some thought into what I wanted to put into it....and in THEORY, I like where this is going. I am trying to use the basement area for emergency use items, so in there I have my compass, emergency blanket, some paracord, a few "wetfire" fireestarters, and a ferro rod/striker. There is still some room in there for a snack, or some jerky, pro bar maybe. I also put 2 water puri tablets in there, and will add a 1 gallon zip lock bag for water collection. that set up doesn't weigh anything extra, and really didn't take up much room either.

In one side pocket I put mouth calls and windicator. the other side pocket has my gerber TI multi tool and my back up headlamp which is the zebra 52. Main pouch will hold bino's of course which are currently leopold 8x42's. Front pocket holds either a GPS or rangefinder. Back pocket holds TP, a pen wrapped in Electrical tape, some flagging material, and my tags.

I think my phone can also go in the main bag with the binos. but I will have to play around with it to see. Anyways, that's what I have come up with so far, but I haven't worn, shot, or hunted with it yet. LOL

 

[LostArra]

Not all magnets affect a compass. When I'm home in a couple days I'll check the pouch against a compass. Years ago I worried about magnets and rangefinders but earth magnets don't effect them

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Good to know
Keep us posted


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[FlyGuy]

I essentially have mine set up the same as rbljack above in my AGC. Emergency-make it through one miserable night-in the bottom zippered pocket, plus some extra batteries for my GPS and/headlamp. It's just nice to not have to stop and take off my pack to get those. I also keep a camera card reader with iPhone connection thingy in there for white tails. I REALLY like havin my GPS and Rangefinder attached to my chest harness. It's just a grab and go setup and the weight doesn't bother me at all. I think it kind of helps to balance out the pack even. I was worried that it might obstruct my string path at first but it stays well out of my way. I love to try new set ups, but I can't imagine I'm going to find anything that I'm happier with than this.

 

[Bwana]

I like the chest pack style in cool/cold weather, in warmer weather I switch over to a neck strap. For bowhunting the pack is better for me, I don't have to worry about the binos swinging out into the path of the string during a shot.

 

[fngTony]

I'm still thinking about one myself. Yesterday I made a rough mock up of the Rick Young harness with paracord and will be ordering one. (shock cord is ideal but paracord gave me enough of an idea of how it functions).

I think he sells them for about twenty five dollars. No harm if if I buy a harness too. The R.Y. will work on my old back up also security friendly at the stadium.

 

[PJG]

I had a dicey experience with a compass, magnets and a blinding snow storm so I try to avoid magnets when possible even though the problem was user error.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mine affects the compass and electronic gps big time. I won't wear it when I need to navigate using a gps or compass.

 

[FreeRange]

The rick young style works really well, I made my own easily and added a rangefinder pouch to it and it worked fine. Definitely zero protection so if theres any chance of precip I'd use a more protective holder. I now use an FHF and pretty much use it all the time. Another reason I stopped using the Rick Young style was I got Vanguard Endeavor binos and with the way they're built it's hard to double the strap around the objective end of the binos to keep them from bouncing or swinging out, which gets annoying. That is a great trick with those harnesses though if you can secure the shock cord over the objective lenses. Here's a picture of what I'm talking about: Redirect Notice

 

[406]

Really like my fhf (once it broke in). Only reason I'm thinking of switching up to AGC is I want to have my pistol on my chest as well, and in something that doesn't "look" like a chest/shoulder holster.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk