Best Binocular Harness Straps For The Money
Binocular harness straps for shooters are an asset that you will want with you on the range or when you are hunting.
Rather than using a spotting scope, many shooters prefer to use binoculars. They are lighter in weight, don’t require a tripod to use them. In addition, binoculars provide a crisp, clear view of your target.
When using binoculars at the range, having a harness for them frees your hands, spares your neck and is an all around asset.
We feel that the best binocular harness strap for the money is the Vortex Optics. It is lightweight, inexpensive and will also work with your range finder.
Best Binocular Harness Straps
Product | Name | Feature | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Badlands | Ventilated Shoulder Straps | 4.8/5 | |
  | Allen Company | 4-Way Adjustable | 4.6/5 | |
  | Allen Adjustable | Adjustable Straps | 4.6/5 | |
  | North Mountain | 4-Way Adjustable | 4.4/5 |
Review of The Best Binocular Harness Straps For The Money
Keeping your binoculars at the ready, but without the strain on your neck or always having them in your hands is what the Badlands Bino Camouflage strap harness does best.
Ergonomically designed, the fully-vented shoulder straps keep the weight of your binoculars off your neck. Sturdy elastic straps reduce bounce as you hike the trails and keep your hands free.
The Badlands harness has wide, padded, and vented straps to distribute the weight of your binoculars evenly. The Badlands includes sliding binocular clips that bring your binoculars up to your eyes without twisting or snagging.
Badlands is sure that their product will meet or exceed your expectations that they offer an unconditional lifetime warranty.
Features:
- Ergonomic design
- Ventilated shoulder straps
- Sliding binocular attachment clips
- Compatible with most backpacks
- Camo pattern material
For those on a budget, or if you need to have multiple binocular straps for family and friends, the Allen Company has an inexpensive binocular strap that will fit the bill.
Constructed of an elastic body harness that ensures your binoculars are held comfortably against your chest. The distribution of weight in this way takes the load off of your neck.
The Allen Company harness strap will hold your binoculars for you when at the range, out hunting, bird watching, or fishing. Use this adjustable strap system for your camera, too.
Features:
- Black blended material
- Keeps your hands free
- Adjustable
- Inexpensive
- Includes extra ring and ties for the second pair of binoculars
This is the way to go to be comfortable while you are birding or on the hunting trail. The North Mountain Gear binocular strap system takes the weight off your neck to make it out on the trail all day.
The North Mountain distributes that weight that starts out feeling light but gets heavy after an hour or two across your shoulders and chest. When you are at the range, the North Mountain will keep your binoculars at the ready without you needing to look for them in your gear.
Rather than having to end your day because of neck pain, you can stay out all day. The North Mountain has a four-way adjustable strap, which means this harness will work for people’s shapes and sizes.
These stretchy shooters’ binocular straps provide a comfortable fit so that you will forget you even have it on. The Quick Release connectors will fit most brands and enable you to connect and disconnect your gear with ease.
Features:
- Quick-release connectors
- Four-way adjustable straps
- Works with most binoculars and cameras
- Straps are flexible and quiet
- Inexpensive
For those who like the camo effect to help you blend in when on the trail or out in the field, the Allen Camo straps will be the straps for you. They also look great when you are practicing at the shooting range.
The Allen straps will attach to most binoculars with quick ties. These straps will keep your binoculars from swaying as you walk and will keep them close to your chest for protection, yet be at the ready when you need them.
Use them for spotting at the range, for hunting, birdwatching, fishing, or when out with your camera. The Allen camo straps are adjustable and will fit almost anyone.
Features:
- Camo material
- Fits most binoculars
- Adjustable straps
- Includes extra ring and ties for the second pair of binoculars
Binocular Harnesses Buyer’s Guide
Binoculars can be delicate instruments that require additional protection to keep them in great functioning condition. Getting bumped can knock the lenses out of alignment, which would not be a good thing.
It is not the most convenient or feasible idea to carry your binoculars in your hands if you are going out hiking, birdwatching, or scouting for an ideal hunting spot.
When you are at the shooting range, you especially don’t want another item to keep track of. It is best to have some way to secure your binoculars to keep them safe and your hands-free
Even the best binocular straps will cause your binoculars to move back and forth as you hike or walk. This might be fine if you are just in your backyard, but if you are going on a serious venture, do what you can to protect those delicate binoculars.
If you are on difficult or challenging terrain, you must have a secure way to carry your binoculars. Again, straps will hold your binoculars but won’t make them secure.
If you are going to go on a serious walk or hike, or when you are practicing at the range, a harness is a must.
Not only will it keep your binoculars from swinging and swaying, but it will also keep both of your hands-free if you need to balance yourself or climb over terrain or back and forth to the target on the shooting range.
Styles
Previous harness designs for binoculars were really simplistic. They were just elastic straps, much like suspenders. Users would wear the straps around their waist and over their shoulders.
An extra strap would connect to the binoculars. While today’s harnesses are essentially the same, today’s models are studier and have some great features.
Sling
A sling harness is a favorite among bird watchers. The sling is a single strap that goes over the soldiers. This makes it easier to put on and take off.
A wearer would just slide one arm through the sling. It is lightweight and compact. It is inexpensive, too. However, a sling offers little protection and has no storage space.
Traditional
A traditional binocular harness is also lightweight, small, and easy to take along with you. It is easy to get on and off but doesn’t offer much storage space or give your binoculars much protection from the elements.
Bag
The bag offers many accessories and features convenient to have. It also offers a higher level of protection for your binoculars.
The bag is a very popular harness, and some of them can replace the need to have a carrying case while out in the field or at the shooting range
They will help to keep dirt, dust, and debris from your binoculars. The downside is that a bag can be heavy, bulky, and can be pricey.
Cover
A cover harness offers protection for your binoculars, but not quite as much as the bag style harness. Its advantage is that it is lighter and not as bulky.
Depending on where you are going and how long you will be out, this might be a factor in its favor for you.
Case
A basic harness will be a set of straps and clips. A full-size harness will come with a binocular case or pouch. These make carrying your binoculars easier.
The main difference between the pouch and the bag is the amount of coverage provided to your binoculars.
The pouch will cover the top and bottom of your binoculars but leave the sides exposed. The pouch’s design is mainly to protect the lenses of the binoculars and keep them free of dust and dirt.
A case will give your binoculars full coverage by completely encasing the binoculars. A case will protect them from dust, dirt, and rain.
Dual
Depending on your needs, if you want a harness that includes storage space, you will be looking for a dual harness.
A dual harness will carry other items, like a compass, field guides, sunglasses, and other necessary items.
One drawback is that it does not provide as much protection as a bag style harness. However, depending on what your needs are, it might be the one for you.
How A Pair Of Binoculars Work
If you want to see something in the distance, two convex lenses placed in front of the other can help you do just that. Put those lenses in tubes, add an outer case, and you have a pair of binoculars.
Binoculars are marvelous devices that allow you to see an object up close and personal without being up close at all. Binoculars have a pair of prisms inside them, either placed back to back or at 90 degrees.
These prisms are the reason why binoculars are heavy and sometimes can be bulky. Field glasses are more compact, as they use only lenses (no prisms), and so are lighter weight. They also have a poorer image quality.
Once you have selected and purchased your favorite pair of binoculars, the next step is to protect them when they are in use. A harness will help you do just that.
When you are walking with your binoculars on a strap around your neck, they will tend to swing, matching your gait. If you are on a trail that requires you to traverse uneven ground, or if you are going through trees and brush, this means that your binoculars have the potential to swing and hit trees or brush.
Because of the prisms inside, binoculars can be delicate devices. Although manufacturers try to make them sturdy, getting knocked against a tree will do them no good.
A harness can prevent that from happening and yet keep them at the ready for viewing.
Here Are Some Other Benefits Of A Harness For Your Binoculars
Minimal movement
There will be connectors that clip onto your binoculars on the front of the harness and keep them close to your chest.
This limits the movement of the binoculars. It keeps them steady and secure so that the binoculars are not knocking around or banging into brush, trees, or rocks.
Accessibility
Having your hands free is vital when on a trail or going through brush. You can keep yourself from falling or be able to navigate uneven terrain with ease.
The binoculars are close to your chest and easy to bring up to your eyes when you need them.
Hand free will be especially valuable at the shooting range, and a harness gives you that freedom.
Comfort
If you have a quality pair of binoculars, they will be on the heavy side, and will feel heavier the longer you wear them.
Having your binoculars hang from a strap around your neck can get to be a literal pain in the neck. A harness will distribute that weight across your shoulders and disperse the weight.
Also, consider the type of harness you will need. If you go out mainly in a shirt, harness straps can cause rubbing and irradiation.
The strap system is fine if you have on a jacket, but if you are in a shirt, look for a harness with padded straps.
Attachment Options For Binocular Harnesses
There are several different attachment options when you are choosing a binocular harness.
Quick-release
This release option works via a buckle type closure system, similar to what a backpack buckle is like. It is easy to use and release and is usually durable.
This type of attachment will stand up to heavy use. Most can be tied to the binocular anchors to give a more secure hold
Snap-on
A snap-on attachment is also sturdy but not as convenient. It consists of a metal ring you place on a binocular’s anchors.
The clips’ quality will vary from brand to brand, so some may not be as durable as the quick-release.
Also, the metal rings can rub on the binoculars and scrape the finish, which would not be desirable.
Size
Most harnesses are “one size fits all.” Straps on harnesses are adjustable, and so they will fit a wide range of sizes of people.
However, the one size you do need to consider is if you are buying a harness that comes with a bag or pouch. Then size is important when it comes to the binoculars.
Some of these types of harnesses accommodate a specific brand or model of binoculars. Check on the spec list that comes with the harness to make sure that the bag or pouch will work with your pair of binoculars.
Heavy-Duty Design
One of the main reasons to use a harness is to relieve neck pain. A close second is to protect your binoculars. Make sure that the harness is strong and heavy-duty.
If your binoculars fall out of the bag on the harness or one of the clips breaks, that will defeat the whole purpose.
The harness should be able to withstand wear and tear. A harness will get snagged by branches or rub against trees, and so should be able to stand up to use in the field.
Breathability
If you are wearing your harness for hours at a time while you are at the shooting range, you will want it made from a material that allows the harness to breathe. This will keep you more comfortable, especially if you are out in warmer weather.
Waterproof
If you plan on being out in all kinds of weather, or even if you are caught in unexpected rain, you will want your harness to be waterproof to be able to keep your binoculars protected and dry.
If the harness has additional storage compartments, those should also be waterproof, especially when using them to stow your cell phone.
In Conclusion
Binocular harnesses are easy to use, relatively inexpensive. They can make your day at the shooting range much more pleasant by distributing the weight of binoculars that would typically settle on your neck.
Having a harness means that you will be able to spend more time practicing at the range and keep your binoculars protected at the same time. A win-win situation!
FAQ
Who are binocular harnesses designed for?
They are for anyone who carries binoculars around. They are used by shooters, hunters, bird watchers, hikers, and anglers. Harnesses are also handy at sporting events or for photographers.
How do you adjust binocular harnesses?
First, attach the binoculars, and then start from there. Adjust the shoulder straps of the harness so that they conform to your body. They should be close to your chest. It should not be too tight, or it will rub, and it should not be so loose that the binoculars can move or swing.
