Chest Pack/Bino Harness. Do You Have A Favorite?

[Ezana4CE]

I'd been thinking about this over the past few weeks. I've tried a few and I always find something that I wish was better. I admit, I don't always use them and sometimes they can feel like they're in my way when shouldering a rifle. I have used them on day and night hunts. They can be beneficial to use to hold hand calls/diaphagms, magazines, rangefinders, binos/thermal scanner, e-caller remote, multi-tool, lens cloth, extra knives, small flash light, phone, license/ID, and gloves (nitrile or thing shooting gloves) - all while keeping things in front of you. I'm still exploring packs until I find what works best with certain setups.

Do any of you use them similarly? If not, how do you use yours? What brand and model do you prefer? Why is this your favorite and for which application(s)?

 

[igolfat8]

We use Fanny packs swung around to access as belly packs to hold our pellets and magazines and other smalls like “Little Hotties” hand warmers. We wear Camel Backs on our back to hold our air tanks. They have nice padded shoulder straps and we rig our rifles to hang vertically off of one the front straps. The dual shoulder harness spreads the weight of the rifle onto both shoulders making carrying it feel lighter. We tried a few other methods and have found this one works best for our hunting and stalking needs.

 

[Gerry52]

Dave, a friend gave me one (binoculars harness) I never use. It's yours if you want it. Looks to be brand new.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Dave, a friend gave me one (binoculars harness) I never use. It's yours if you want it. Looks to be brand new.

@Gerry52 I have several. I couldn’t take another for free. I really don’t need another. I’m just trying to find a setup that works well with my various hunts. I’ll use different packs for different hunts. There are a few I still want to try. Thanks for the offer!

 

[Mtnviper]

If you are not familiar with the Badlands products, take a look. They have an unlimited lifetime warranty. I have a few of their products and find them well thought out and well made. Check out the Bino XR. It has two main pockets that have strong magnetic closures, the top main pocket can handle up to a 10x42mm bino, and the bottom pocket holds a good sized range finder. It has two smaller side pockets for other small accessories and a built in raincover. It is a bit pricey, but if you put it in your wishlist on MidwayUSA, during your B-Day month, they give good discounts on whatever you have in the wishlist. I have a couple of their other bino cases for larger binos and like them too. They are chest mount harness cases that don't get in the way of shooting. Look under "Gear" on the top menu and you will see the bino cases listing. Happy and straight shooting to everyone!

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Mtnviper I’ve seen some of their backpacks. Although, I’m not too familiar with the brand. I’ll take a look. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[jmsdad]

I have two... AGC Alaska guide creations Hybrid for my 10x42 Swaro SLCs and a Marsupial gear for my 6.5x32 Kowas. I prefer the slimmer Marsupial gear pack

 

[Ezana4CE]

@jmsdad Those Marsupials are decent looking packs. I haven’t tried one, but I’d seen them in a comparative review video. Does yours interfere with movement or does it get in the way when you shoulder your rifle?

 

[Harv24]

I'm a fan off a simple bino harness that keeps them close and a little low. Got one off Amazon that has small fastex buckles the lock into the female fastex end with small loops that loop thru the bino strap loop.
I wear them all day while I hunt and they don't get in the way.

I also carry a pack with basic essentials if I had to spend the night. My Brocock gives me 60+ shots , and I carry 5 fully loaded magazines plus some extra pellets. More then enough for a day in the field.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Harv24 Sometimes I’m comfortable shooting with the buttstock high on the shoulder (like in your photo) other times I like it tight in “the pocket” closer to my pectoral and arm pit. That’s when it tends the pack tends to get in the way for me. That’s part of why I asked. Thanks for sharing the photo, great illustration.

 

[jmsdad]

@jmsdad Those Marsupials are decent looking packs. I haven’t tried one, but I’d seen them in a comparative review video. Does yours interfere with movement or does it get in the way when you shoulder your rifle?

Doesn't get in the way. I'm used to it

 

[Mr.H]

Check out Hillpeople Gear. I've heard nothing but great things about their products.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

Real use gear for backcountry travelers

hillpeoplegear.com

 

[Ezana4CE]

I've come to appreciate my Alaska Guide Creations bino harness above others.

 

[GhostRider1685]

I have a Nikon chest harness that I like, but wanted a pouch for some protection. Picked up a $29 Vortex chest pouch at Cabela’s for deer season this year. Did not like it at all. It was awkward. My buddy has one of these. He added the handwarmer and a range finder bag. Nice setup. It’s at the top of my list now!

Recon Modular Bino Pack

Designed with modularity at the forefront, the Recon Modular Bino Harness is based on a chest rig platform that can be scaled up or down depending on your needs with a suite of add-on accessories. It features a magnetic forward pull access to the bino pouch, an easy access large front zipper...

eberlestock.com

 

[Ezana4CE]

@GhostRider1685 I have an earlier Eberlestock Scout Recon bino pack (I think that’s what it’s called)l. It’s ok. It’s rather small and I don’t like the direction that the bino pouch opens. The Alaska Guide XL harness is nice and has plenty of room and several pockets. I have a Vortex harness and the fabric is too noisy. Brushing up against the fabric can give away my location on a hunt.