A few tips on what accessories to carry in your bino harness
Photo credit: Anthony Wright
Pictured above, the Gerber Dime Micro-sized Multitool.
The NEW Marsupial Enclosed Binocular Pack in Coyote.
Modern bino harnesses have come a long way from merely a string attached to your glass hanging off your neck. Current company options are great utility wise and very versatile. Having small amounts of storage at the ready on your chest has enabled hunters to have a cache of items at their fingertips, making each bino harness’s contents unique to what game is being chased and also to the hunter’s style. The list of additional storage along with a harness is vast, ranging from accessory pockets to bear spray holsters to rangefinder pockets to much more. Below, I will share the items I have fine-tuned for every species I hunt — from coyotes to elk and everything in between.
Photo credit: Anthony Wright
Surprisingly, all of these items fit in the front pocket with also a little room to spare for an elk diaphragm or even some rifle cartridges.
Pictured above, the Gerber Dime Micro-sized Multitool.
The NEW Marsupial Enclosed Binocular Pack in Coyote.
A nice feature of the Marsupial Gear Binocular Pack is the MOLLE webbing on the bottom, which allows for the ability to add a bear spray holster. There is also the option to add a Kydex Pistol Holster from Razco Gear, making the Marsupial a very modular harness.
Hopefully, these small pieces gave you some new ideas for your own bino harness. Add what items you like to carry in the comments below!
Wax-based Chapstick: I like to keep some Burt’s Bees Chapstick in my harness not only for the obvious lip protection, but it also has other viable uses. While in the field it can be used as an impromptu bowstring wax if you happened to forget yours at home or it can be used as a moisturizer/protectant for wind-burned skin, such as nostrils or cheeks (yes, this one is odd but it does work!).
Gerber Dime Multitool: I found this micro-sized multitool at a hardware store and I believe it was only $15; now they are around $20. I don't tend to carry a pocket knife so having this light object at only 2.2 oz has come in handy plenty of times. Because it is small, it fits just fine in the small front pocket of my Marsupial Gear bino harness. This small multitool includes the following tools: knife, scissors, tweezers, flathead driver head, pliers, a file and a bottle opener.
Mini lighter: Plenty of obvious uses for this item. I mostly carry it for a backup fire starter along with one Wet Fire cube in the event for some reason I don't have my pack. I also use it for singing frays on bow strings and burning ticks during spring bear hunts.
Small flashlight: This comes in handy when around camp when it’s dark and when you need a light in a pinch. The one I am currently using is a Fenix E05. At 85 lumens and only 2.5", this small yet powerful light is operated by one AAA battery and has multiple brightness options. It is activated by a twist on and off method, which I have found doesn't allow it to be accidentally powered on. I will also attach a small lanyard and hang it from the peak of my ultralight tipi as a light source.
Wet Wipes: I keep these in the back pocket of the bino harness. Conveniently having them readily accessible is nice when my pack isn't around. Having them in the back pocket against my body also helps keep them warm via body heat, especially during colder hunts.
Tags: Most of the time I will carry my tags in this pocket since every time I venture out for a hunt I have my bino harness on so it helps my sometimes forgetful mind in not forget my tags. To keep things in great condition, I'll place my tags in a ziplock bag.
