I’m beginning my search for some chest mounted binocular packs/case for my SLC 15x56 binos. So many options, what are people main options they are looking at when purchasing a bino chest mounted case?
Binocular hunting case
- Thread starter southerngolfer
- Start date
I’ve been hunting with Badlands bino cases for a few years now and absolutely love them. The magnetic closure can be very loud so I always close it on my thumb and quietly weasel it out. Never had them pop open either.
So is main compartment access the biggest thing I should be looking for. Would I assume most chest rigs are adjustable and fit most hunting clothes scenarios?
Oh yeah you definitely want to make sure you have the right size for your binoculars and that it’ll close properly with your eye cups set for your eye relief. If you can you should try and test them with your binos exactly how you’d expect to carry and use them.
There’s a lot of adjustment in the harness itself for different sizes. My Leica rangefinder I attach on one of the bottom straps but some models have a bottom pouch for a rangefinder. I found they added too much bulk for me and opted to run the strap through the rangefinder’s pouch belt loop instead.
There’s a lot of adjustment in the harness itself for different sizes. My Leica rangefinder I attach on one of the bottom straps but some models have a bottom pouch for a rangefinder. I found they added too much bulk for me and opted to run the strap through the rangefinder’s pouch belt loop instead.
You should consider weatherproofing if you're going to experience any precip, does it open forward or backward (forward is much easier), is it big enough to get the binos in/out one-handed, what other gear will you be putting in there (lens pen, tags/license, tripod mount, etc.), and comfort. Some offer a hydration bladder sleeve, but I've found those to be pretty awkwardly balanced when I use them.
They'll fit over clothes if you aren't gigantic.
Good point. My tags ride around in an internal pocket because I never go hunting without my binoculars. I change camo all the time depending on the amount of snow etc. but the bino case is always with me so I never forget my tags.
Opening forward?… as in the top opens away from u or towards the body? That is another good point, since I don’t own bino/lrf combo, I’ll check to see if they have separate pockets or place for a LRF or just to have it on my hip. Ty for the suggestion
Top opens out and away from your chest. Your chest is in the way when the top opens backwards towards it, so you basically have to cram the lid back to get it outta the way. Hard to keep it crammed while also removing the binos silently with one hand.
That’s why I drastically prefer ones where the top flips out away from the chest and stays down outta the way while I extract the binos.
One other feature to look for, a way to strap the binos to the harness with a quick-release. The Badlands ones come with a key ring on the end of each tether, so I added some string and one of those one-inch keychain carabiners to each side so I could pop the binos loose quickly. Better designs have quick buckles built into the bino tethers.
Look at Alaska guide creations Denali or marsupial gear packs. Both are quality. I have 2 different AGC packs with no complaints.
I’ll second the AGC packs, I love mine. It has a pocket on the front for my range finder, pockets on the sides, back and bottom as well. I myself like the lid to flip back towards my body, for one it self closes when you pull the binos out, but the main thing for me is I bow hunt a lot and don’t want the lid hanging out away from the pack.
I use a kuiu pro works good for me I also have it setup with the hydration rig, my rangefinder is in one of their pouches that fits on the side. They have a lot of good options for their gear plus it’s fairly water proof with their kwr added to the fabric
I've tried several and FHF Gear has been my favorite by far.
fhfgear.com
Bino Harness PRO-M | FHF Gear
Made with high-quality Cordura, our binocular harness is designed to be quiet, lightweight, low profile, modular, and easily operated with one hand. The updated features of the PRO-M harness include MOLLE on the underside of the pouch for attachment of modular accessories.
fhfgear.com
I like the features on this one. It looks like flip toward, away from body, rangefinder pocket, easy way to attach or options to attach to chest rig, waterproof are main things I need to consider. The hydration bladder isn’t something I deem necessary at the moment. Thank you guysI've tried several and FHF Gear has been my favorite by far.
Bino Harness PRO-M | FHF Gear
Made with high-quality Cordura, our binocular harness is designed to be quiet, lightweight, low profile, modular, and easily operated with one hand. The updated features of the PRO-M harness include MOLLE on the underside of the pouch for attachment of modular accessories.
The lid attaches at the front with a bungee so it doesn't flip forward per se like the Badlands. I couldn't stand the magnets on the badlands and it was really large for what it held. The FHF isn't completely enclosed but still protects the binos exceptionally well, i've hunted in some extreme dusty environments and my bino lenses stayed clean.
I have the FHF gear and their kit to mount it to my pack. Should be able to mount to most packs or rigs with the kit. I havent had the chance to drag it through the woods too much, but seems to do a decent job of protecting binos while still fitting a cinch lr on them.
Agreed with everyone else, if the lid doesn’t fold away from the chest don’t even bother with it. I have a Marsupial gear, and really like it. I did install the $3 top buckle delete kit that they sell. Makes it ride closer and removes some of the bulk.
I also suggest the extra $ to make it fully enclosed. That way you don’t have to futz around in the field with lens covers and extra parts dangling or getting lost.
I also suggest the extra $ to make it fully enclosed. That way you don’t have to futz around in the field with lens covers and extra parts dangling or getting lost.
that marsupial gear fully enclosed is something that I looked at today. yes a little pricey but I guess you get what you pay for. thanks
also, those side pouches or the zippered front, is it large enough to fit a hand sized range finder?
Definitely not. If it’s not very small or flat, it’s not fitting in any of those on board external pockets. No worries for me since I have LRF bino’s. No such luck on 15x56 (gay)
Edit: my cell phone in Phone Skope case does fit nicely in the back mesh pocket, up against my chest.
Edit: my cell phone in Phone Skope case does fit nicely in the back mesh pocket, up against my chest.
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I like my Kuiu pro harness. I order to keep things trim and slim and they're about the cleanest option I found. As mentioned before they're pretty weather proof and open away from you. Plenty of options for adding other pouches to them but I keep mine as just the one pouch. Not much else is fitting though. I've got a wind checker and can keep some mouth calls or something in the other side.
After checking out the Kuiu Pro recommended in this thread I think I’m going to make the switch from badlands when I pick up my new binoculars. They look like they’d be silent. Wouldn’t have to worry about they slamming shut and making noise like the badlands.
I've used the AGC and like it a lot. The zippered side pockets are more secure than open-topped pockets and can store some windicator, lip balm, mini sunscreen stick, mosquito net, Petzl e-Lite, and basic firestarting kit.
The bottom pouch can fit a small survival blanket, signal mirror, credit-card sized magnifying lens (weighs almost nothing and good firestarting backup), Band-Aids, and folding knife.
Back pouch works for mini notebook, pen, tags, etc.
In other words, in addition to the binos, rangefinder, and optics cleaning gear in the main pouches, you can carry a lightweight but pretty extensive survival kit on you at all times.
However, I'm considering moving to a Marsupial Gear pouch for matches, just for the ease of the lid hinging forwards, as others have mentioned.
The bottom pouch can fit a small survival blanket, signal mirror, credit-card sized magnifying lens (weighs almost nothing and good firestarting backup), Band-Aids, and folding knife.
Back pouch works for mini notebook, pen, tags, etc.
In other words, in addition to the binos, rangefinder, and optics cleaning gear in the main pouches, you can carry a lightweight but pretty extensive survival kit on you at all times.
However, I'm considering moving to a Marsupial Gear pouch for matches, just for the ease of the lid hinging forwards, as others have mentioned.
