When to Use a Binocular Harness

When to Use a Binocular Harness

When to Use a Binocular Harness. Binoculars are used for a multitude of reasons. Some we own for hunting, others we take hiking and birding yet there are those that have no real purpose. I just like having them. Then there are those with a strap, some with a harness and the rest with neither. Let me explain.

To Be Bare: Binocular Harness

Why not attach the strap that’s included in the box? For one, the binoculars we keep on the kitchen counter or bookshelf near our back porch are for the quick “Hey, what’s that?” moments. We’re always watching birds at the feeder, gazing the moon and stars, or checking out great sunsets. Sometimes it’s a red tail hawk eating a blue jay that grabs our attention. These binoculars will always have their place in the house so they don’t need a strap, which would probably just cause us to pull stuff off the shelves and table.

Strap It Up

Using a binocular outside is a different story. The ones we keep in the truck have a strap on them for all those times we might take a spur of the moment hike, scouting trip, sporting event or see a big buck standing out in a bean field. In these situations, we’re not glassing for long periods of time as to experience any neck strain. A neoprene strap works perfectly when the binocular is shared among friends or for accompanying me for a short trek in the hills.  

Harness Time

The harness is a part of my essential hunting gear. I do a lot of bowhunting and an 8x binocular is my greatest asset in the heavy wooded areas of New York where it’s essential that my optic becomes a part of my body and adds no bulk or stress to my setup. Being able to grab the binocular with one hand and the bow in the other is done effortlessly with this system. No added noise and movement stays concealed with the outline of your body.

For all those times hunting the western slope of the Rockies, the binocular harness distributes the weight for long hours of glassing and hiking. There’s no neck strain and it keeps them close to my body as I maneuver up and down rocky ledges or through thick cover. The binocular harness is key to enjoying time in the field.