Magnets GPS Debate Bino harness

[jadkins223]

Hello. Looking to purchase bino harness soon. I really like the marsupial enclosed setups but keep seeing post about the magnet affecting the directional GPS. Which I use a lot for navigating in the dark and when off trial.

Have you experienced this one way or another?
I intend to carry phone in Bino harness.


I could go the “no mag” but it seems a good bit bulkier.

YouTube video for reference.

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[Beendare]

I too have heard rumblings of this happening…and thus stayed away from the magnets.

I’m in for actual experience with this as Im curious too.

 

[neil.hansford]

It can affect it is you hold the GPS or phone near the magnets. But I've had the Marsupial harness for about 10 years and never had issues navigating.

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[87TT]

The Mags definitely screwed with the compass on my Garmin if too close to it. I could work it if I held it out at arms length but it was a pain. Ditched the Mags and never looked back.

 

[pirogue]

Don’t stay away from magnets, stay away from androids and other cheap phones, other than I phone. Also, how hard is to hold the phone a little farther away from the harness? I’ve never had an issue.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Lol, Androids are cheap phones? Geesh. If figuring out how to overcome magnetic interference from a harness is the biggest issue one needs to overcome, make sure not to forget an extra pair of socks while contemplating magnetic interference. If it's a concern, avoid magnets or one will need to make a choice to make between a magnetic bino harness or navigating.

In all seriousness though, thanks for making the post, it provides information for those that come later.

 

[Muleburger]

I always have weird stuff happening with the directional compass with On x with my iPhone. My badlands bino harness has magnets all over it. Are you telling me that my gps directionality is affected by the magnets? It is enough for me to get a new harness if true. Honestly, it never occurred to me that it could be the cause.

 

[35WhelenAI]

If the compass is only based upon satellite information it shouldn't be a problem. However typically you need to be moving in order to get a reading. However if there is any type of magnetic component to it, science in grade school can predict what could happen. I use a harness without magnets and definitely will not be looking at one at this point.

On another note, I would strongly suggest using a phone for communication and emergency, have a separate GPS dedicated to navigation. If it's about weight, then that's a choice a person makes. For me having all the eggs in one basket doesn't seem the best.

 

[Muleburger]

If the compass is only based upon satellite information it shouldn't be a problem. However typically you need to be moving in order to get a reading. However if there is any type of magnetic component to it, science in grade school can predict what could happen. I use a harness without magnets and definitely will not be looking at one at this point.

On another note, I would strongly suggest using a phone for communication and emergency, have a separate GPS dedicated to navigation. If it's about weight, then that's a choice a person makes. For me having all the eggs in one basket doesn't seem the best.

I typically only have trouble with the directional pointing on the OnX app. When I point my iPhone to determine direction. It’s not absolutely necessary to have, but it is nice. It does improves with movement, but it is still way off. My hunting buddies works better than mine, and I guess he doesn’t have magnets in his harness.
I do bring Garmin Inreach for redundancy.

 

[35WhelenAI]

For sure, redundancy is real helpful. And for the weight of a simple compass, along with a USGS Topo map, it's hard not to find the way back to camp.

 

[jadkins223]

I always have weird stuff happening with the directional compass with On x with my iPhone. My badlands bino harness has magnets all over it. Are you telling me that my gps directionality is affected by the magnets? It is enough for me to get a new harness if true. Honestly, it never occurred to me that it could be the cause.

So my research has showed that in phones there’s 2 types of “compass”. Your location gps is obviously based on satellite communications. But your directional gps, the “blue cone” feature that tells your heading is based on an actual compass. Called “flux gate” and can be affected by magnets. Some say setting phone to “true north” can help. That’s what is on marsupial website.

Screenshot from another RS post about it. I’ve spent way too many hours looking into this lol.

I shot an archery shoot yesterday actually and had a guy with magnets marsupial. I pulled out OnX and put near the harness and couldn’t get it to negatively affect it.

Not sure fellas.

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[jadkins223]

For sure, redundancy is real helpful. And for the weight of a simple compass, along with a USGS Topo map, it's hard not to find the way back to camp.

I probably shouldn’t rely so heavily on my phone to navigate. This last year was my first back country hunt and I went 7 miles back and harvested an elk. I did use the blue cone feature a lot to navigate out there. Big country in NM


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[jadkins223]

The Mags definitely screwed with the compass on my Garmin if too close to it. I could work it if I held it out at arms length but it was a pain. Ditched the Mags and never looked back.

What harness did you go with?


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[Indian Summer]

My navigation unit is too important to keep in a bino pouch. My Inreach stays in the day pack. I use OnX Maps and my phone fits in the rear pouch of a Badlands bino pouch easily. I like the fact that it stays warm up against my chest. Better for battery life.

 

[cuerro viejo]

The magnets on my phone case are 10x stronger then marsupial, I literally run onx while my phone is stuck to the roll cage of my Mule pro….. zero issues there or using it at night with blue cone walking out

 

[butcherboy]

Stone Glacier harness doesn’t use magnets. That’s what I use and have no complaints. Also have a T&K but haven’t been able to use it much yet.

 

[wapitibob]

I typically only have trouble with the directional pointing on the OnX app. When I point my iPhone to determine direction. It’s not absolutely necessary to have, but it is nice. It does improves with movement, but it is still way off. My hunting buddies works better than mine, and I guess he doesn’t have magnets in his harness.
I do bring Garmin Inreach for redundancy.

I have no trouble with the OnX direction arrow, iphone, and marsupial harness.

 

[Brooks]

Not taking a chance…KUIU Pro harness.

 

[Blackdog317]

I had issues with magnets affecting my phone's compass in OnX while packing out an elk a few years ago. It was very frustrating. We figured out the problem and made it to the truck. But, we were in new country, completely exhausted and dealing with weather at midnight. Not a good combination. Could have been worse if there was a medical issue. After that experience I prefer to keep magnets away form navigation equipment. My harness is an Alaska Guide Creations - Kodiak Cub Max. It has been great.

 

[johnw3474]

I've been impressed with my Kifaru harness plus it has no magnets.