How do you carry your binoculars? (2 Viewers)

[Zedster]

I have some fieldwork experience (roughly, latitudinally from the Arctic circle to East Antarctica, and Longitudinally from US to Australia). Yes, I have scratched both bin and camera glasses. I have actually smash an Swarovski glass that had to be replaced, a pair of zeiss Jena that are now just part of decoration, and a couple of cameras that ended up in the bin. I also broke a swaro STS80HD on fieldwork in Heard and Mcdonald island.
Shit happens, it is a matter how much you use a thing, how intense, and of course, bad luck.

Wow, that's amazing. I've never even scratched a pair. Worked in dense PNW US forests to Eastern Sierra dry lake beds to scrub steppe and more. I have done a number to rubber armor on my Swarovski SLCs though. That sage brush is brutal on stuff. Though I did once break a pair of Nikons that might have been left on the roof of my car.

 

[Trinovid]

I've never even scratched a pair. Worked in dense PNW US forests to Eastern Sierra dry lake beds to scrub steppe and more.

There’s more to potential damages than just what one does, as opposed to how, and some of us are able to work in harsh environments without destroying our gear.

 

[murmeltier]

While looking for a green midlayer I found these, they might be useful.

 

[Fimmus]

I recently bought the Härkila Deer Stalker bino strap, couldn't be more happy whit the purchase.

You can take out one layer inside if you need more room for bigger bins, see the last picture.

 

[Georgebirds]

I read this thread with interest while waiting for my binoculars to arrive, wondering which method I'd end up choosing once I had a pair to carry, hah!

When they got here, the original strap had a surprisingly horrible design feature - oversized sharp plastic fake-leather patches sewn on where the wider web met the narrow, so scratchy they were bothering my arm and snagging on my shirt when I was focusing the binos! So I swapped it for a basic but soft camera strap I had spare.

This weekend, I took them for my first birding day - six miles walked, a little under five hours out, so plenty of time to figure out what worked for me, and long enough that I'd have had neck-ache or building annoyance if I couldn't get them comfortable!

The binoculars were around my neck for all of twenty seconds before deciding no, that's not comfy at all, I'd rather carry them in my hand all day than hang them off the back of my neck!

On one shoulder, ladies-handbag style, and after a few minutes no that's not nice either. I've got multiple old injuries to shoulders, collarbone, ribs, and spine (inflicted by horses directly, or the ground shortly after parting company with horses - either way it's one species to blame for all my broken/misplaced bones, hah!) So the posture/weight change for carrying anything on one shoulder or the other, twinges various aches and pains.

So I tried bandolier style, which was a massive improvement comfort-wise, the weight vanished and they're 10x50s so they're not tiny.
But I found it a bit awkward wriggling out of the strap to use them, so I had to adjust it to full length so I could easily slip my arm through. The binos then tucked down comfortably by my hip, didn't swing around while walking, didn't start fights with my camera, and I could trap them even more secure with my arm if I wanted to sit down or bend forward, so they felt very out-of-the-way and stable there. Still just as comfortable at the end of a long day as at the start, so it looks like this is my method from now on.

 

[Trinovid]

I tried bandolier style, which was a massive improvement comfort-wise, the weight vanished and they're 10x50s so they're not tiny.
But I found it a bit awkward wriggling out of the strap to use them, so I had to adjust it to full length so I could easily slip my arm through. The binos then tucked down comfortably by my hip, didn't swing around while walking, didn't start fights with my camera, and I could trap them even more secure with my arm if I wanted to sit down or bend forward, so they felt very out-of-the-way and stable there. Still just as comfortable at the end of a long day as at the start, so it looks like this is my method from now on.

That's the only way I'll wear binoculars and since I prefer them on a fairly short leash, only slippery nylon straps for me, which allows them to swing around to the front much more easily.

 

[Elkhornsun]

Whether out on a boat or hiking in the field I prefer to have the binoculars hanging from my neck to using a harness. I keep getting harnesses with my binocular purchases but they end up in a drawer and never used. For a wide variety of reasons I dislike having something attached to my body that could get caught on something.

With my compact 10x25 binoculars the weight is only 12 ounces and I can fold them up to go inside a small carry case attached to my belt.

 

[moomac]

Another variant on this harness: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/diy_binocular_harness_by_kurt_holmes2

It took a couple of tries to find swivels that worked well, a lot of them are too small and too 'catchy' - these work great in size 8: https://a.co/d/4KRmsPE

3mm bungee cord (I needed 2 metres), split rings, and the adjuster and stopper came with a set of elastic shoelaces...

 

[dannat]

For me the neck strap around the neck is fine as long as I am wearing a hoodie or a coat. On longer outings or when I am just wearing a T-shirt I carry my binoculars like this:
View attachment 1426883
My anorak has a kangaroo pouch into which my bins slip easily when they're on the rucksack rig.

@jafritten are they peak design straps ?

 

[jafritten]

@jafritten are they peak design straps ?

Yes, they are.

 

[Ignatius]

Does anyone here carry a rangefinder (and possibly also a monocular thermal) with their binos?
I use a Kuiu harness for my beloved FL 7x42s and the SFL 8x40s go into a AGC Kodiak Cub Max. My next purchases will be a Leica CRF rangefinder, so I will need a pouch for that (not an issue with either harness) and after that some sort of thermal monocular, most likely a Zeiss DTI (NOT the big, fat, long, brilliant, very expensive 6). This last item seems to be a real problem if you want to hook it up to your bino harness. No one seems to make pouches for that kind of gear.

Unless you guys have better information.

 

[GrampaTom]

Does anyone here carry a rangefinder (and possibly also a monocular thermal) with their binos?
I use a Kuiu harness for my beloved FL 7x42s and the SFL 8x40s go into a AGC Kodiak Cub Max. My next purchases will be a Leica CRF rangefinder, so I will need a pouch for that (not an issue with either harness) and after that some sort of thermal monocular, most likely a Zeiss DTI (NOT the big, fat, long, brilliant, very expensive 6). This last item seems to be a real problem if you want to hook it up to your bino harness. No one seems to make pouches for that kind of gear.

Unless you guys have better information.

I do. I own the Kuiu harness/pouch. Believe its best used for hunting on longer days in places where conditions, weather, threaten optics. I prefer to leave the objective lens covers on my Swaros, dangling when deployed. That made the Kuiu annoying for birding. Having to lift the pouch flap, (as well designed as it is), and then tuck in the obj covers makes it a two hand operation - too slow too much fiddling, given the number of times binos are in and out of pouch. As I mostly bird, in benign weather, albeit around largish bodies of water, several hours a day, several days a week, Ive come to prefer the RYO harness, for that. I carry a Leupold rangefinder, under these same conditions via the strap it came with, bandolier style, over top of the RYO harness. It rides at my side, behind and a bit below the binos, if the terrain demands and the thing might swing about, I just tuck it into side with arm. I get a hunter moving larger distances to and from the actual viewing spot might like one of those small add-on rangefinder pouches attached to the KUIU or a belt.

 

[jafritten]

Does anyone here carry a rangefinder (and possibly also a monocular thermal) with their binos?
I use a Kuiu harness for my beloved FL 7x42s and the SFL 8x40s go into a AGC Kodiak Cub Max. My next purchases will be a Leica CRF rangefinder, so I will need a pouch for that (not an issue with either harness) and after that some sort of thermal monocular, most likely a Zeiss DTI (NOT the big, fat, long, brilliant, very expensive 6). This last item seems to be a real problem if you want to hook it up to your bino harness. No one seems to make pouches for that kind of gear.

Unless you guys have better information.

I do. I use a small Tasmanian Tiger pouch. I usually leave it half open and attach it to the chest strap or the belly strap unless I am wearing a jacket, in which case I just carry it in a pocket.

 

[ReinierB]

Anyone already tried this BH bino harness of Swarovki? Might be useful when you are a day long in the field and the weather isn't too good.
But still, I think they are mostly designed for hunters. Will a normal harness (rick young etc.) be sufficient for a birdwatcher? But somehow I am intrigued by this harness. I just bought the NL 10x52 and it is quite heavy hanging on the neck. Bandolier style is not quick enough when I am surrounded by passerines. Rick young harness is nice, but some extra protection would be nice too.

 

[Ignatius]

Anyone already tried this BH bino harness of Swarovki? Might be useful when you are a day long in the field and the weather isn't too good.
But still, I think they are mostly designed for hunters. Will a normal harness (rick young etc.) be sufficient for a birdwatcher? But somehow I am intrigued by this harness. I just bought the NL 10x52 and it is quite heavy hanging on the neck. Bandolier style is not quick enough when I am surrounded by passerines. Rick young harness is nice, but some extra protection would be nice too.

View attachment 1605520

Nice to see the Europeans finally catching up. These might be intended for hunters, but there is no reason why other people with intensive bino use should not use them. I have been using harnesses since about 2016, and I have never hunted an animal in my life - except with a camera. The only thing I (severely) dislike about this Swaro harness is the magnetic closures. I am very old-fashioned in that I still wear real watches, ie. with automatic or manual-wind movements. Magnets are a huge no-no.
I suggest you go ahead and get one. I feel almost certain you will not regret it.

 

[WRL]

[...]
But still, I think they are mostly designed for hunters. [...]

Why? What is the difference between hunters and birders in using a bino?
I myself use those type of chest gear always for birding (in my case I got two different sizes from Marsupial Gear). When, as an example, riding my bike the bino is firmly attached to my body but readily accessible when stopping to have "a look". And yes, in bad wether it is also a good protection.
Werner

 

[ReinierB]

The only thing I (severely) dislike about this Swaro harness is the magnetic closures. I am very old-fashioned in that I still wear real watches, ie. with automatic or manual-wind movements. Magnets are a huge no-no.

Why do you dislike magnets?
I just recently wear a smartwatch, because I got one for free (when buying a new smartphone). The first thing I did was removing all the apps and choose a clock face als analog is possible. So I do understand what you are saying. It's also a reason why I really like the looks of an oldfashioned porrr like an Habicht.
But I do not dislike magnets. I haven't found disadvantages yet. Maybe not as secure as oldfashioned belts or buttons?

Why? What is the difference between hunters and birders in using a bino?

Hunters carry a rifle and the binoculars are just used occasionally. And do stealth, crawl, run, etc. through the bushes.

Birdwatchers (like me) do it slow pace, mostly with non-birdwatching family and friends, and it would feel akward for me to look like a ranger at occasions like that.
Besides that, I don't run through bushes and on real biding days I use my binoculars a lot and want them as active as possible (not being put away in a pocket).

Those are my thoughts. But I see the appeal of this chest gear on long days in the field, or when hiking (with occasionally birding) in the mountains or forests.

I suggest you go ahead and get one. I feel almost certain you will not regret it.

But who knows I might try it one day...

 

[ReinierB]

And room for more.

 

[Mono]

No one seems to make pouches for that kind of gear.

The only birders I have seen carrying thermals along with bins have been using military style assault vests. If you use the Molle system you can attach all sorts of different style pouches. The downside is that you can look a bit like a LARPer and some countries take a dim view of civilians wearing military kit.

 

[Cavendish]

The only thing I (severely) dislike about this Swaro harness is the magnetic closures. I am very old-fashioned in that I still wear real watches, ie. with automatic or manual-wind movements. Magnets are a huge no-no.

Totally with you on this. If I'm in the mountains then I'll always have a magnetic compass with me and I detest having to worry about whether a magnet is nearby. So many manufacturers think they're a good thing to include (eg on the bases of torches or to hold pouches shut) but in the latter case I would far rather have a simple zip.

Why do you dislike magnets?

I would assume it's the risk of components within a mechanical watch becoming magnetised and thereby failing to function properly (even after the magnet is removed).