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How do you carry your binoculars? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter KevinL
- Start date
In fact, you can tighten the straps so that it remains close to your body. Actually, you can tighten then so tight that using the binoculars becomes impossible, you simply cannot take them up to your eyes.
Sure makes you wonder
Zedster
Well-known member
I didn’t even think of using bandolier style until a couple of years ago when I was birding with someone who wore hers that way. Game changer really. Think about it, people have been using purses for how long? Count how many are worn around the neck next time you’re out and about. Exactly zero. The neck is the worst way you could possibly wear them. In the way when you lean over. Bouncing off your chest when you walk.
I think I’m the source of the harness dislike on the OP. My issue with them is that they are fussy to put on, get in the way of other things, are either on top of or underneath any coats or such. Both options kind of suck. That said I use one with my Swarovski SLC and have since 95. It kinda sucks but the alternatives are worse. I like the pack ideas. I’ll have to look into that for hiking
I think I’m the source of the harness dislike on the OP. My issue with them is that they are fussy to put on, get in the way of other things, are either on top of or underneath any coats or such. Both options kind of suck. That said I use one with my Swarovski SLC and have since 95. It kinda sucks but the alternatives are worse. I like the pack ideas. I’ll have to look into that for hiking
Will K
Too well-known member
It looks as though Swarovski's bag for the NLs is designed for the bandoleer position. I tried using it that way for the first time this afternoon, and it was pretty awkward. Each time I took the binos out of the bag to use, the strap created a lot of friction resistance on my clothes, meaning I needed to shift it round by hand each time. Not very convenient. The bag strap is also too easy to adjust by accident.
Strangely, I find that the bag is perfectly fine to use around the neck, even though it is designed for horizontal storage. If I am travelling with them around my neck, and not intending to using them immediately (e.g., on a train), then I will zip the bag up with the binos stored sideways, as usual. But when its time to go out and find things to look at, I turn them to a vertical position with the straps protruding out the top. It might look weird, but its very convenient for combining quick access with a certain degree of protection from the elements. Like so:
Strangely, I find that the bag is perfectly fine to use around the neck, even though it is designed for horizontal storage. If I am travelling with them around my neck, and not intending to using them immediately (e.g., on a train), then I will zip the bag up with the binos stored sideways, as usual. But when its time to go out and find things to look at, I turn them to a vertical position with the straps protruding out the top. It might look weird, but its very convenient for combining quick access with a certain degree of protection from the elements. Like so:
A lot of very good ideas in this thread. Personally, I only use a neck strap for my 32mm binoculars. For anything larger and especially when stepping up to my 56mm I almost always use a harness. The Kuiu Pro system is my favorite. As folks have said it really does help protect the unit from the elements. I also love venturing off the beaten path and it really isn’t uncommon to find me working through brush or scrambling over a rocky hillside - a harness makes a world of difference here. In addition, the Kuiu harness works very well when also wearing my Peak Designs Camera Strap.
Another vote for the Rick young harness for smaller, lighter binoculars. 50mm and up I carry bandolier style. If I'm beating brush, they're in a marsupial gear chest pack. I would never be caught in the field with lens covers/rain guard. I want to be able to get my subject in view in an instant. The few seconds it takes to remove rain guard and objective lens covers could be the difference between identifying a bird, or not.
Hermann
Well-known member
Depends on the kind of climate you're in. In wet and rainy climates I find you really need a rainguard. And once you're used to it - and if you use a good rainguard! - you won't lose any time. Putting your binoculars to your eyes and taking the rainguard off becomes one fluid movement. BTW, rainguards don't just keep off the rain. They also keep the jam off your eyepieces when you have your jam butty during a long day in the field ...
Objective lens covers are a different matter. I never ever use them. Never ever.
Hermann
Hermann
Well-known member
The comparison to how people carry purses doesn't stick. No binocular, not even a 15x60, is as heavy as a typical women's purse ...
For birding, I find carrying your binoculars bandolier style is just too slow. And if your binoculars bounce off your chest when you use a strap around your neck you didn't adjust the strap properly.Hermann
Redneckbmxer24
Well-known member
I actually really like the side bag that comes with them, but it certainly doesn't lend itself to quick access. I ordered another Marsupial gear chest bag to use with them that will hopefully be here soon and also replace the factory comfort strap which I hate compared to the one that came with my EL's.
Hermann
Well-known member
You'll sure lose a lot of birds if you have to get the binoculars out of the bag every time you see a bird. Much too slow for birding, I think. At least for my style of birding.
Hermann
Redneckbmxer24
Well-known member
This has happened to me numerous times. We'll be hiking and see a raptor soar over the mountain where you only get a glimpse for a few seconds and I don't even bother trying to get them out.
Redneckbmxer24
Well-known member
This is the enclosed version of the Marsupial pack. It offers full protection from the elements while being fast to deploy. They have another version with some of the side material removed that makes it even faster.
I have a mystery ranch bag too but it's more tailored to smaller binos like 8x32's and the like. My BX4 8x42's fit in it nice but its just too small for my EL 8.5's and NL 12's.
www.marsupialgear.com
I have a mystery ranch bag too but it's more tailored to smaller binos like 8x32's and the like. My BX4 8x42's fit in it nice but its just too small for my EL 8.5's and NL 12's.
Enclosed Binocular Pack
Marsupial Binocular Pouch allows quick one handed access to your optics. The front lid stays opens and closes by utilizing strong magnets.
www.marsupialgear.com
This almost strikes me as a contradiction, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time I’ve been wrong.
Redneckbmxer24
Well-known member
The flap is held with magnets, you flip it and pull them out. Nothing is as fast as binos on your chest on just a strap or in your hand with no rain guard or objective covers, but it's as fast as you're going to deploy anything with any level of protection. If you get the standard version and leave the flap back it's as fast as pulling them up to your eyes from just a neck strap.
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WRL
Well-known member
No. In fact this arrangement enables a very fast access, especially, when having the flap down. I am using the (almost, the non-magnetivc version) same harness all the time (on bike, while hiking). If it starts to rain - flap closed.
Werner
Zedster
Well-known member
People keep saying that but I don't understand the comment. I don't put the bins under my arm or on my back but instead below my right chest slightly. It takes no longer to lift than a neck carry and is no more difficult. As for neck carries, since there are only two attachment points at equal height it would literally be impossible to avoid them bouncing in many situations. The bandolier style eliminates most of this because the underarm attachment point can't sway the same direction as the neck side. The only possible adjustment to eliminate sway would be like a necklace and THAT would be useless.The comparison to how people carry purses doesn't stick. No binocular, not even a 15x60, is as heavy as a typical women's purse ...
Hermann
Hermann
Well-known member
Bill Oddie (Bill Odddie's Little black Bird Book, London 1980) summed up my feelings how binoculars should be carried (or, indeed, not be carried) more than 40 years ago:
"Even more significant is where you wear your binoculars. It's likely around your neck, I know that [...] but how long is the strap? Binoculars should be on a short strap, nestling high on your chest - a minimum distance from your eyes. Make the strap too short, and you'll not be able to get them over your chin, and you'll probably knock your teeth out. The straps that come with the binoculars are always too long, and you can't usually shorten them without tying knots in them. Dudes never get round to this, perhaps because it spoils the smoothness of the leather. So dudes wear their binoculars down by their waist or even lower, like a sporran. That's not practical because it's a long way up to the eyes. It can also be very painful.
Dudes invariably carry their binocular case slung around their shoulders. Even worse, they sometimes carry their binoculars in the case. Definitely soppy. The case should have been lost long ago; if indeed you ever had one. Or alternatively, it might be used for carrying your packed lunch, tobacco for rollups, or one of those tide-line corpses. If you're really worried about your image - it's safest to throw the case away." (p. 61)
In case you don't know who Bill Oddie is, check the Wikipedia: Bill Oddie - Wikipedia. And get his "Little black Bird Book". It's still an excellent read.
Hermann
"Even more significant is where you wear your binoculars. It's likely around your neck, I know that [...] but how long is the strap? Binoculars should be on a short strap, nestling high on your chest - a minimum distance from your eyes. Make the strap too short, and you'll not be able to get them over your chin, and you'll probably knock your teeth out. The straps that come with the binoculars are always too long, and you can't usually shorten them without tying knots in them. Dudes never get round to this, perhaps because it spoils the smoothness of the leather. So dudes wear their binoculars down by their waist or even lower, like a sporran. That's not practical because it's a long way up to the eyes. It can also be very painful.
Dudes invariably carry their binocular case slung around their shoulders. Even worse, they sometimes carry their binoculars in the case. Definitely soppy. The case should have been lost long ago; if indeed you ever had one. Or alternatively, it might be used for carrying your packed lunch, tobacco for rollups, or one of those tide-line corpses. If you're really worried about your image - it's safest to throw the case away." (p. 61)
In case you don't know who Bill Oddie is, check the Wikipedia: Bill Oddie - Wikipedia. And get his "Little black Bird Book". It's still an excellent read.
Hermann
Hermann
Well-known member
But do you need full protection from the elements? Surely not, unless in exceptional circumstances. Most binoculars are waterproof nowadays, they're armoured and can stand the elements quite easily. Often better - much better - than the people using them. Modern binoculars don't need to be pampered.
Of course, keeping water off the eyepieces makes sense, otherwise you can't see a lot through the binoculars, so you need a rainguard. But that's about it.
Hermann
