Binoculars are a must for hunting and bird-watching. And a good binocular harness is a must for any activity that requires you to wear them.
A harness for binoculars is a piece of equipment that you wear like a jacket, and that transfers their weight to your shoulders and upper torso. Unlike a regular strap, which just puts pressure on your neck, a harness will make you comfortable throughout your adventures.
There are a few different types of binocular harnesses that we’ll check out in this review, namely basic and full-size ones. Plus I’ll divide all of them by budget, so everyone can find something in their price range!
We’ll do this in ascending order, starting with the most affordable harnesses, and moving on to the more expensive ones. And we will check out the basic harnesses first, so, if you are looking for one with a pouch or a case, skip to the second half of the review.
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Most Affordable
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Best Mid-Range
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Best High-End
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In this section, we will check out the basic harnesses, whose prices range from $10 to just a little over $40. If that’s your budget, you’ll definitely see something you like here.
The OP/TECH binocular harness is as basic as it gets – you get a couple of webbing straps that you wear on your torso. You put them on just like a jacket, and you can adjust the straps so that they can fit you properly.
This is definitely not the most comfortable binocular harness you’ll find. The straps can cut into you if you are bigger, which will become really uncomfortable after several hours. But the harness still gets the job done, that’s for sure.
One good thing about it is that you can use it for both your binoculars and your camera. I like that these two are interchangeable because you get more use out of them. It features uni-loops that you attach to the binoculars, just like regular straps.
So, it’s really simple to set it up, and at 1.6 ounces it’s extremely lightweight to wear. Additionally, since the harness is made up of two parts, you can actually disconnect the binoculars if you need even more freedom of movement. And then just quickly snap them back in place when you want.
Overall, it’s a great binocular harness for the price. And it will definitely keep the binoculars stable on your body. Plus, you can actually choose between elastic and webbing straps – the former gives you more freedom of movement, for when you want to pick up your binos.
In this section, we will check out the basic harnesses, whose prices range from $10 to just a little over $40. If that’s your budget, you’ll definitely see something you like here.
The Eyeskey binocular harness has a slightly more comfortable design. It only weighs 4 ounces, and as you can see in the image, there is a soft “plate” in the back. This way the weight of the binoculars is spread better over your upper torso, which ultimately makes you more comfortable, especially on longer outings.
Another great feature of the backplate is that it is both padded and ventilated. Meaning that your back will be able to breathe, and when you actually take off the harness, you won’t be left with a plate-shaped sweat stain on the back. And I think that’s pretty important.
The part of the binocular harness that you attach the binoculars to is not a simple loop. It’s actually a webbing strap that you pull through a slider, which is both good and bad.
Good, because it will later allow you to adjust the amount of freedom of movement you need. Bad, because this can be tricky to adjust. It took me longer than I would like to admit when I first had to adjust these to the strap of my Nikon. But honestly, that was 2 years ago and they haven’t budged at all since.
Overall, this is one of the better harnesses you will find, and it’s under $15. Affordable, comfortable, lightweight, and sturdy – what else could you want?
The Bushnell harness is really similar to the Eyeskey harness. However, there are three notable differences. First, the Bushnell harness is lighter – it weighs only 3.2 ounces. Second, it is much smaller overall, so it’s definitely more convenient to carry it around in your backpack.
It’s hard to say whether this binocular harness is more comfortable than the previous one. Both are equally adjustable and can be tightened or loosened until they fit you perfectly. However, since this one has a smaller backplate, I would say that it’s a better fit for people who are smaller in general. While the other one would fit bigger people better.
They cost almost exactly the same, so the price difference shouldn’t impact your choice between the two. But maybe the third and largest difference will – the Bushnell harness features plastic hooks that you attach to the binoculars. These are really easy to set up and remove, and give you a lot of freedom of movement.
Especially because all the straps on the harness are elastic, in addition to being adjustable. And obviously, this harness is also fully padded and ventilated and will feel comfortable even after you’ve worn it for hours.
The Tract binocular harness is pretty different from what we’ve seen so far. It features just a tiny plate on the back – nothing as functional or as important as on the previous two harnesses. But, what makes the Tract stand out is the straps – they are pretty thick, when compared to the harnesses we checked out so far.
These are generally more comfortable to wear and do a better job at distributing the weight evenly across your shoulders. And since they are made of heavy-duty nylon, you can expect them to be extremely durable. Plus, the Tract does an excellent job at keeping your binoculars stable at all times.
This harness is designed to fit pretty much any type of binoculars out there, due to its universal attachment system – loops. And there is a quick detachment option when you want more freedom of movement. Pressing both sides of the clips will allow you to detach your binoculars from the harness, without having to remove it.
The Tract harness is fully adjustable and weighs only 0.32 ounces. It’s a bit more sporty than some previous harnesses we checked out, due to wider straps and attachment clips. But it is still really affordable, at less than $20. Overall, if you’re not into a large backplate, I would definitely recommend the Tract.
The Bino-Pac binocular harness is definitely the sturdiest and most comfortable out of the basic ones. It’s also the most expensive, but I really think that it’s worth it. For one thing, this is the best harness for really heavy binoculars, as its unique design ensures that you won’t feel their weight at all. Meaning that it does a remarkably good job at spreading its weight over your upper torso.
In addition to that, all of the fabric parts of the harness are fully ventilated and breathable. They are made of tricot Polyester, which is a pretty sturdy material on its own. And, what I love the most about this harness is that it’s completely waterproof. This is pretty important, considering the amount of fabric it’s made from.
Finally, the entire harness is padded, and it will feel soft and comfortable on your back. And, considering how large it is, it’s not even too heavy – just about 5 ounces.
There are tiny metal loops that you use to attach your binoculars to this harness. The webbing straps that hold them in place are adjustable, meaning that you have plenty of freedom of movement. Or that you can adjust it to what you want it to be. Overall, this is definitely the best basic harness you can get, especially if you’re looking for a professional piece of equipment.
Here we will check out binocular harnesses that include a pouch or a full case. And you’ll also see some pretty affordable ones here – ranging from just below $50 to over $100.
As you can see in the photo, the S4 Gear Lockdown is a binocular harness with a pouch. It is designed so that you can access your binoculars easily, by just unhooking the thin elastic strap. The pouch provides protection that a plain harness just can’t, as it completely covers the lens of the binoculars.
This means that even if you bump them on a rock or a tree, you won’t have to deal with any nasty scratches.
Both the pouch and the binoculars are fully attached to the harness. However, this still doesn’t mean that it will keep your binoculars stable at all times. In fact, this particular harness does struggle somewhat in that aspect. For one thing, the lower straps are elastic, and they sometimes move up your back.
In addition to that, if you bend the pouch sideways, sometimes the binoculars will fall out. Nothing bad will happen to them since they are still attached to the harness with plastic hooks. But, it does defeat the purpose of a protective pouch.
This binocular harness is pretty lightweight, at 14.4 ounces. You have to also take into consideration that the pouch itself significantly adds to the weight of the entire harness, and this is about as lightweight as it can be.
Plus, its upper part is made of breathable materials, and the ventilation on the S4 Gear Lockdown is pretty good. Overall, it’s not the most impressive full-sized harness, but it does a pretty good job for the price.
Here we will check out binocular harnesses that include a pouch or a full case. And you’ll also see some pretty affordable ones here – ranging from just below $50 to over $100.
The Henry Pahvant is the most affordable full-size harness with a case that you’ll find. It weighs only 10.4 ounces, which is awesome. But, keep in mind that the pouch won’t fit every pair of binoculars out there. But as long as yours is up to 6.5” tall and 5” wide, you won’t have any issues with that.
Everything about this harness is completely adjustable. As long as you adjust it to fit snugly on your chest, the binoculars should be 100% stable and bounce-free. You can even completely remove the case, which I actually really like. If on occasion you just need a case to put your binoculars in, you don’t have to bring along the entire harness.
One thing I really like is that it’s a really quiet harness. The top of the pouch just folds over its body, and there are no straps, Velcro, or magnets on it. This is awesome if you’re in a situation where even the slightest noise is not acceptable. But there’s also something I’m not a fan of in this harness – there are no additional pockets on the case, so it’s not really multi-functional.
This harness also comes with a rain cover. You put it over the pouch, and it will keep your binoculars safe and dry even in the worst of storms. And I really think that’s great, especially considering how soft and padded the actual pouch is. It’s not waterproof, and it would soak up water in a matter of minutes. But with the rain cover, you absolutely don’t have to worry about that issue.
If you’re looking for a really functional harness with a case, then this is an awesome choice. The actual back of this harness is made from breathable materials, and it is really comfortable to wear. Plus, the entire thing is completely adjustable, so you should have no problems getting it to fit you perfectly.
In addition to that, it will stay completely stable on your body – no more bouncing around when you’re on the move. It weighs 15.2 ounces, so it’s not the most lightweight harness you can find. But, considering the size of the case, I think that’s a pretty reasonable weight.
And you get plenty of features for that weight. Not only does the case protect your binoculars from various weather conditions and outside debris, but it also features several pockets on it. It’s like a tiny backpack for your binoculars! Granted, they aren’t the most spacious pockets, but you will be able to fit a rangefinder, pocket knife or sharpener, or any smaller items inside them without any issues.
Vortex is generally a well-known and appreciated brand in the industry. So, we only expect the best from it, and the Optics P3000 harness more than lives up to those expectations. If you don’t mind spending a little more money on premium quality, this is certainly one of the top products you can buy.
If you’re looking for a binocular harness that can also fit a smaller hydration bladder, then this is the perfect one for you. The Badlands Bino X has a zippered pouch on the back of the harness for a 1-liter hydration bladder, which is a pretty unique feature. And not to mention that it can fit almost all types of binoculars. In fact, you can put pretty much any 50×10 binos in it.
The Badlands Bino X shoulder straps are comfortable, ventilated, and backpack friendly. In fact, this particular harness is fully compatible with most hunting backpacks. And it can only make your journey more enjoyable.
The lid of the case opens up with a tug, and there are no noisy and messy zippers on the pouch. You can also fit a rangefinder or another smaller item in the case, in addition to your binoculars. And its interior is fully waterproof, meaning that even if you get caught in a nasty storm, all of the things inside the case will stay dry.
The only downside to the Badlands Bino X is that it is not really lightweight. At 1.5 lbs, it weighs almost as much as a regular backpack! Which has a lot more space than this thing. But it is completely adjustable, and if you make it fit you properly, you will barely feel its weight.
If you want the best all-in-one harness, then this is the perfect one for you. The Badlands Bino XR has some seriously great features – like the padding and the ventilation on the part of the case that is in contact with your body. That’s amazing detail, one that you don’t even know you need until you try it.
In addition to that, the back part of the harness is also fully padded and ventilated. And completely adjustable, so that anyone is able to make it fit them perfectly. The case features a magnetic closure, which means no noisy zippers when you just want to get your binoculars. It can fit most smaller binoculars, which are 10×42.
On top of all that, the Badlands Bino XR also features plenty of external pockets, for all of your smaller necessities. And it also comes with a built-rain cover and a couple of daisy chains that you can attach your other gear to.
Seriously, this is the harness that does it all – but for a pretty high price. Yes, this is the most expensive binocular harness we are checking out, but I really think it’s worth the splurge.
There is only one aspect that doesn’t really impress me, and that’s the weight of the XR. With 1.6 lbs, this is also the heaviest harness out of the bunch. However, I can overlook that, since it does have the most features.
Binocular straps are the cheaper option, but they are not really what you want to get if you frequently wear your binoculars. For one thing, they force you to wear the entire weight of your binoculars around your neck, which will make you really uncomfortable after an hour or so.
A harness, on the other hand, distributes that weight evenly across your upper torso and ensures that you can barely feel their weight at all.
Another thing to consider is the level of protection a harness provides to your binoculars. When you only have a strap, the binoculars will swing around when you are walking. This often means they could bump into something while you are walking, damaging them along the way.
And it’s not just that – binoculars that swing around will often hit you in the chest or arm. Since that can be pretty painful (and annoying), you definitely want something to cushion this area of your body.
A harness also holds binoculars closer to your body and makes them a lot more stable. Meaning that there are zero swings and bounces. A big plus for sure. And what’s even better, this doesn’t impact your ability to use them – you will still have freedom of movement when you actually pick up the binoculars to look around, which is crucial if you only have seconds to act.
A basic binocular harness often has just two clips that hold your binoculars together. Meaning that they are still fully exposed, and fairly easy to use when you want to. But they are not protected from any dust or debris out in the wild.
A full harness, on the other hand, frequently features a little pouch or a case for your binoculars. This will keep your binoculars protected at all times, but it also means that they are not as easy to access.
So, if you use your binoculars a lot when you are hunting or bird watching, you should go with a basic harness. You’ll benefit a lot from the convenience of use, and you won’t have to waste time on getting them out of the pouch.
But, if you don’t use them that frequently, and don’t mind having to take extra steps to open up the pouch and grab your binoculars, then definitely consider getting a full-size harness. It’s a much better value, especially if you want to ensure that your binoculars are 100% safe at all times.
Keep in mind that there is also a big difference between a pouch and a case. A pouch is often open on the sides and features a magnetic closure. This means that just grabbing your binoculars and bringing them up will open it up – you only need to take extra steps when you want to close the pouch.
But the full case is more like a backpack for your binoculars. You will need to tuck them inside it, and it takes a few extra seconds to get your binos out.
And I want you to consider one thing – I know it’s rare, but in case the worst happens and your binoculars fall to the ground, a case will provide them with some impact resistance. And the regular pouch will not.
Full sizes binocular harnesses are often much more expensive than basic ones. However, they are also of higher quality and just have more features overall.
If you are on a tight budget, then go for a basic harness. You’ll still get all the functionality, just without the addition of a pouch. Which you won’t even miss if you’ve never used it.
But if you have money to spare, and don’t mind spending extra to ensure your binoculars are protected at all times, then go for a full-size harness. Try out the pouch – maybe you’ll really like it. And if you don’t, you can always grab a regular harness for about $20.
Generally, I will show you both high-end expensive harnesses, and some really good ones with an affordable price tag. Both of them will do a great job at keeping you comfortable and ensuring that your binoculars are stable while you are walking around. So, there will be something for everyone’s budget!
Since we checked out quite a lot of binocular harnesses in this review, I’ll show you what my favorite ones are. We’ll do one for each budget type so that all of you can find something for yourselves.
If you are on a tight budget, then I recommend the Bushnell Deluxe Harness. It is comfortable, lightweight, fully adjustable, and pretty much the best one you’ll find for under $20. It also does a really good job at keeping your binoculars stable and eliminating any bounce when you’re moving around. Plus, the elastic straps will give you all the freedom of movement you need.
The best mid-range harness is the Hunting Bino-Pac. It’s a basic harness, but with a back of a full-size one. Which I think is much more comfortable than just a pair of webbing straps attached to a plate. This particular harness is much more comfortable than that, especially since it is fully padded and ventilated.
Plus, there is no pouch on the front, so you have full access to your binoculars at all times, as well as a generous amount of freedom of movement.
Out of the more expensive harnesses, the Bino XR is by far the most impressive one. I genuinely loved the addition of breathable material on the back of the pouch – it’s something most other manufacturers overlook. But your chest needs to breathe as much as your back!
Also, this harness is designed to be really comfortable, and its pouch features a few other external pockets. It’s overall the best choice if you want all of your gear to be easily accessible at all times.
Head over to Amazon if you want to check out the prices of these harnesses. And also if you want to see some design options, with the full-size ones.