Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Protecting Binocular Lenses in the Field

I just got an email today, saying the my wife's 8x30 SLC Swaros are on the way back after some warranty work, and restoring the coating on the lenses. I am pretty anal about keeping dust and other stuff off the lenses of my binocular, but she regards the factory lens covers as "clunky" and refuses to use them. She also doesn't want to use a harness to carry her binocular.

I need some ideas about a binocular pack that is simple to carry and easy to access the binocular inside. Since recoating the lenses cost $150 above the warranty work, she is in the mood to try something else. I would appreciate your suggestions as to what might work for her. Thanks in advance!

It must be something in the corporate mind that even the very top end binos don't provide mostly decent lens covers. Is this rocket science? I could probably do better with duct tape and some PVC tubes.

I keep my bare in AGC bino packs. What packs has she tried?

She hasn't tried any, but has agreed to do so--that is why I am looking for suggestions from people who have actually used them.

I like the AGC pack the best because of the extra little pockets. If that's not important to her, the FHF gear pack is nice and compace. The small one would be the perfect size for those 8x30's.

I use binocular packs now, both FHF and AGC. If you don't want to go that route, buy some Butler Creek scope caps that fit. Once you find the correct size, they actually work quite well. I know, I know, who wants to flip up 4 caps? They do work to protect the lenses.

Does anybody have any experience with the Rick Young Outdoors binocular cover? It looks like it has a smaller profile and hugs the body more so than other binocular packs.

You've seen my setup ben. I love the badlands magnetic closure case. Its also handy for keeping a call, wind powder and a tube of chapstick handy at all times.

Maybe if you tell her? She has a hard time accepting suggestions from me.

Another vote for the AGC.

I use and like the Kuiu bino harness. Complete protection and easy access with some practice.

Bob

Ben, get her a $250 set of Vortex

Well, the binocular came back from Swarovski looking like they had sent us a new one, and they included a new set of lens covers. The new style ocular lens cover that is click adjustable solved her problem with the old style, and she can live with the new set of objective lens covers that fit much better than the old ones did. We may go ahead and buy a binocular pack, probably an FHF once they get them back in stock.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Ben,

Muley Freak just came out with their own bingo harness which looks a lot like an improved version of the Kuiu harness. I am thinking hard about giving that a try.

https://muleyfreak.com/product/stealth-bino-harness/

Wow that Muley Freak harness solves every minor inconvenience I have with my Kuiu harness. And creates a new one with that front pocket. Everything is a compromise!

I bought this one about five or six years ago, been pretty happy with it. Can't remember the brand name, a company in AK if I remember right. I could go dig them out should you decide you are interested,

I looked at that to see about cutting it off... might have to order one and do some modifying...

What is wrong with the case that they came with? I use the Butler Creek Storm Caps made for scopes with the clear glass windows on mine and they work great. Those Butler Creek packages are reclosable, so take the binos in and just keep trying them at the sport shop until you get the right sizes that fit. The storm caps with the windows work great on your scope too.

Tagging in. We'll be releasing a new binocular harness and cover system in the next few months. I'll get it posted as soon as I get the final details and images.

I have one and it is a nice unit.
I think it should be a bit bigger as my Nikon LX 8x32 are a pretty snug fit. Not sure how most makers x 40's compare size wise.

The ocular and objective covers on the 8x30 SLC are as good as it gets... if your wife won't use those, there's nothing less complicated or more streamlined available she would use.

Agree with all. The flip ups I found spooked game. They would flash if the sun caught them. These were butler creek yellow ones so a solid one might not do that. The classiest I have seen are fitted leather. Ones I saw were from S. Africa but surely someone here makes them or it is a good DIY project. I might do ones in Kudu hide to be different.

One of the best I have used is to cut about a six inch wide piece of inner tube, match the tube to the size of your binos. These are great for rainy weather and quick and silent to remove. Good even inside of a pack or case. Too bad it is getting so hard to find old inner tubes. But it would be worth it to buy a new one and make scope and bino covers for your buddy's.

d30,

I have a RYO cover in the ultralight version.
I am not a fan of wearing a backpack on my front and the cover works in all the carry configurations the harness does. Downside is it's not as easy to remove bino as some of the chestpack options.

I used the AGC bino case this year and really like the system. The additional pockets are nice for license etc.

The Marsupial Gear bino harness is very good. Very easy one handed in and out of it.