Wish I would have bought one earlier...I bought a vortex binocular chest holder off amazon. Works great.

 

I have a couple brands. One is the Marsupial. The other is Mystery Ranch. I love the Marsupial for it's form and function. And yes, I think they are well worth the money and make keeping your binoculars close at hand and well protected. I also have a few other things stashed in there to keep close at hand: wind checker, calls, fire starter, eye drops (my eyes get really dry and irritated during long glassing sessions), knife. You can get extra pouches for range finders and radios.

Out of all the gimmicks I buy for my hunting kit, these are some of the best things to come along in a while.

 

Out of all the gimmicks I buy for my hunting kit, these are some of the best things to come along in a while.

Agree completely. These are so versatile.

Binos, range finder, elk calls, wind indicator, pistol, you can configure some of them in multiple ways.

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Fhf bino case

 

I like my badlands harness, sometimes the whole vortex pack feels too bulky on my chest but that's just me.

 

The marsupial has been my go to for the past 3 years. I love how compact it is and doesn’t stick out very far which allows for movement and not sagging when you bend over.


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Highly highly recommend! I always wear mine while hiking and hunting. I have used 4 different brands and my latest (kuiu) is my favorite. The kuiu one lets me keep it open which is perfect for slow hunting through timber when I need to be silent and use it frequently. I don’t think you will regret it and it keeps your glass nice and protected.

 

I use a chest bono holder made by Rick Young out of Boring Ore. It's an elastic cord that fits over your shoulders and neck and holds your binos closely to your chest, where they are easily accessible for use. The holder can be worn over any variety of shirts, sweaters or coats with ease. You can see them on his website: Rick Young outdoors.

 

I personally use the Alaskan Guide Creations, Alaska Classic HBS with M.A.X. Pocket.

I have tried several and this one works the best for me.

 

For a more minimalist harness that still offers full protection look at the BinoBro from Oregon Pack Works.

Setups like the AGC can feel bulky to me, particularly when bow hunting.

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For a more minimalist harness that still offers full protection look at the BinoBro from Oregon Pack Works.

Setups like the AGC can feel bulky to me, particularly when bow hunting.

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Agree'd many are far to bulky or my liking. The alaska game creations comes to min. My buddy has that one and loves it because he stores a lot in it, so depends what you want. The one thing I will say about the BinoBro that drives me crazy, is not having any form to it. It's a sob to get the binos in and out with one hand. I'm looking at the marsupial for a replacement for that reason. Got my father in law a the marsupial, it looks ideal to me.


As far as whether you should get one or not, absolutely!! If you ever ran to the ridge with the suspender style busting your bino's off your chin on the way it'll be worth it. Also when you gotta sneak the last ways or crawl to crest the ridge line, draggin binos in the dirt is no bueno, this will protect them through all that, and falling pine needles, etc etc

 

+1 on the Badlands. Mine has a net pouch that unzips and lays down the back for a camelbak, or whatever other small items you may want to stow away if you weren't carrying a full size backpack. Very comfortable, easily adjustable. A few other little pockets on it for small items.
I got my son a Vortex harness for his birthday this year. It's alright. I don't like the little strap/hook they have for access. I much prefer the magnet that Badlands has.

 

I can tell you to stay away from the ones that integrate with the straps on your backpack. A friend of mine got this for his EXO pack and found it annoying that every time he stopped to rest and glass and put his back down. Or to ride in the vehicle from camp to the trailhead, his binos weren't with him. It might be fine for those who never ever remove their pack during their hunt...but I don't see it as practical.

Also, don't get carried away with how much stuff you hang from them. After a while you have a short ton of electronics and gimmicks hanging around your neck and head. I had to reign myself in a bit this past season.

 

I have an Alaska guide creations pack. I decided to get one when I bought a paid Swarovski binos and felt I needed better protection for them. I Was skeptical at first as a bowhunters that it’d get in the way of my string at full draw but it doesn’t, not even close. It is a little bulky, I might go with a slimmer version someday but it’s great and pretty solid if I were to drop it somehow.

I also took my rangefinder and slid it on one of the straps so that it’s right up front. I may even look into the handgun holster they make for it now. Pretty versatile and has been a good addition.

 

Another for the alaska guide creations chest rig. It is a bit hot when hauling my carcass up steep slopes but I'm always glad to have it.

 

AGC for me as well. Holds my 12x50"s, my rangefinder and little pockets on side hold wind checker and my keys. My cell even fits in the zippered "basement".

 

I bought a Vortex. Supposedly made by Alaska Guide Creations but cheaper. Seems good.

 

My leopold harness not only carries my bino..but rangefinder...a battery pack, wind detector, reed calls and occasional granola bar [emoji16]

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Another vote for Alaskan Guide Creations. I purchased the larger of the two sizes and it holds the binos, range finder, and a couple of other small items. Sometimes I wish for the smaller size if I want to zip up a jacket over the top. I use this, or another basic elastic chest harness, and the binos are always handy and stay in place.

 

Ya, they're awesome. I've used different ones and like outdoor vision the best :twocents:

 

Marsupial is what I got, works great and worth the $$$$

 

Alaska guide ones are too bulky for my liking. Although I come at that as a bow hunter.

I like fhgear out of belgrade,montana. They are the bee's knees. Stream line and have nice add ons if you want. I have my range finder pouch on the right side at the ready.

Marsupials are also nice. Vortex and Kuiu are also ok but don't love them for one reason or another

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Seems unanimous that everyone likes this piece of equipment. Just need to find the one that works best for my setup after some new glass. There more brands than I realized too.

Thanks guys



Owl

 

Badlands for me, magnetic closure, very comfy shoulder straps too.

 

I have had a few.

Alaska guide creations being my least favorite. Hot, bulky and squeaky. No doubt it provided great coverage but it was just too much.

Had an oregon pack works bino bro and still have it. I really like it for archery hunting as it is light weight and compact.

My go to for later hunts and spring bear is my kuiu. Is it comfy and I really like how slim it is while still providing great protection. I really like how the top flips out for when you want easier access.

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As you can read there is an option for whatever you want out of a set up....from minimal to lets hang 15 things from it...lol.

I hate extra things on me but finally broke down and got the vortex binos and chest harness. I was going to give it a year and see if I could handle it...and it will be with me next year for sure! I use my binos a lot more and the elastic side pocket fits a wind check perfectly. I personally did not like the tethers and dont use them.

The only issue I have ran into is the jacket problem...my zip up hells canyon jacket is my go to and you either have to go half zip on the jacket or put the harness on outside of the jacket...either way not much of an issue.

 

The Kuiu Pro Bino harness is what I wear and it's at the tops for my favorite piece of gear overall.

I appreciate the sewn in waterproof layer as a coastal hunter. It has a slimmer profile so I don't feel like I'm wearing a backpack on my chest. There are still two pouches and a front zipper that I keep my wind checker and diaphragm in. The binos can be completely and easily freed of the harness without removing the harness via clips. It's nice when I am passing off my binos to a buddy for a quick look or if you plan to use binos on a tripod.

They also have nice accessories like a rangefinder lanyard and holder, ammo holder, etc that you can integrate into the harness if you wish to buy them.

I really have no complaints about them. If I HAD to bring up a con, it would be that the material isn't the quietest when it's being scratched or brushed up against.

It may be the best piece of gear I've bought.

 

Some sort of fleece out layer would be amazing....