Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Binocular Chest Rigs

Would like to get the thoughts from those of you who use binocular chest rigs. Have used a harness for years and have been happy, but am intrigued by the potential utility of these.
Any specific recommendations would be appreciated. Saw a link on here about a week ago for a product made by a guy in AK, but have had no luck with internet searches without the name of the product.

Badlands Makes a really good 1 with water bladder built into the rear straps, yet tucks away if not needed.
http://badlandspacks.com/bino.php

I've been using a Crooked Horn Bino system for 6 or 7 years. I love it. I don't even know the binocs are there most of the time. I wear it under my pack, but fasten the sternum strap under the top bino straps so I have full use of them when wearing the pack.

I have a very good day pack with built bino straps but they're a PIA. You have to unclip the binocs every time you take the pack off. I just wear the Crooked Horn and forget the straps on the pack.

This photo from Crooked Horn shows the guy holding the binocs with the straps stretched out. Put the sternum strap through the V against your chest. And don't waste the extra $5 getting the camo version.

chopperjockey, the bino system you are referring to is the Bino Chest Pack made by Alaska Guide Creations: http://alaskaguidecreations.com/

I like the way it looks, and might give it a try. I've been using something called a Binocsock for a few years and really like it. Apparently they have stopped making them, though.

Has anyone tried this Alaska Guide Bino pack? I tried making my own, but am not satisfied with how it hangs. It constantly slips down no matter what I try. If the Alaska guide works as well as it looks, it would be well worth $50.

Have you tried this one? The strapping attaches very much the way I designed mine. It doesn't work for me. Just wondering if you found it to work?

crooked horn is great for a heavy set, I like how the binosock protects the glass, but if you want simple and light a piece of surgical tubing tied around your back works well to keep them from bouncing around and still allows holding them up to your eyes

I use a Coaxsher radio chest harness. It holds my radio, GPS, and SPOT on the front and in the main compartment holds a pistol or a pair of binoculars. It's not a hunting specific rig, it's for search and rescue (SAR), but it works well for what I need.

I use the Alaskaguidecreations, and that's the one chopperjockey is looking for. It is USA made by a regular guy like us, badlands isn't, the AGC is much better anyway. Badlands made the AGC then changed it just enough to get off the patent and sell their own. If you like stuff like that, ok.

The AGC can be worn with a pack and works great, I wear mine with my MR nice frame no problems. Holds alot of electonics right where you can get to them.

I know others that post here do the same, will probably chime in.

Kent

Very nice!

Allen also make a BinoBuddy that works well. I like the clips better on their set-up. I rufuse to dangle $600+ glass on 30 cent clips.

I also use a BinoHide from Cabelas to keep the crap out of the eyecups.

Like Kent, another current user here of the AGC bino pack. No bounce or swing with the 10+15 Duovids inside. Leica LRF 1200 fits in the front pocket. Side pocket carries a lens pen for the brush and a few lens wipes. I have not attached the bino to the harness, so the Leicas are quick and easy to put on a tripod.

Before that I had the IPI Bino Manager (now by Mad Dog/Coleman). It too stopped bounce and swing.
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanCom/detail.asp?CategoryID=25531&product_id=COLEH651

Is the AGC setup slim enough to have chest clearance for shooting a bow?

Anyone actually use of the Badlands Bino pack?

For me it sits low enough that the string doesn't come back behind the pouch, the pouch sits below the angle of the string from axle to release. I bought mine after archery Lope hunting, trying to crawl up on animals with your binos dragging in the dirt or trying to keep them out of the way was terrible, live and learn.

I only have one crappy picture of me wearing it with a pack, while on a quick spring trip with my family. The same trip with the first pic I posted of the contents.



Kent

Thanks for the info. The AGC system was what I had seen earlier and looks to be the closest to what I'm looking for. Glad to hear those that have tried it, like it.

I had seen the Badlands, but the straps are so big, it doesn't look to be very comfortable when worn underneath a backpack.
Eberlestock makes one that looks pretty nice, but it attaches to your pack straps. I'm not sure if a strap system could be rigged so that if you shed the pack to low crawl, you could still have your glass with you (might be able to make current harness work so that it could be worn under a pack).
Thanks again for the links and feedback.

I have the Badlands Bino Pack and I love it. I have been using it for almost a year. I think it is very well made and very comfortable. I wear it with a day pack and an Eberlestock 107 with no problems at all.

I recently used it on a WY antelope hunt. It was raining and muddy as could be. My glass was always clean and not foggy. A few times we ended up belly crawling through mud and I was sure glad I had it. One of the guys I was hunting with was carrying Swaro ELs that he paid almost $2k for that were wet, foggy and dirty the whole time.

I think the Badlands product is great and I cant recommend it enough. But I am kind of anal about looking through clean glass.

krp

I am on an a iphone right now but if you could post the pic of me with the bing pouch on while sporting the MR pack hauling on my boy it might show how it rides better.

Is it possible to swap the straps on the Badlands Bino to incorporate it into a 2200 or Monster Fanny? Some of the older packs you could mix and match straps, packs and bladders. Now that I think about it I sent some stuff back and they custom stitched clips for what I was wanting at the time. Anyway, do you see any opportunity to attach it to the front of a 2200 and when you ditch the pack use the intended straps?

Thanks, KRP. I like the looks of the AGC rig a little better than the Badlands. If it works with a bow I may give it a try.