10 Best Binocular Harnesses for Hunting of 2021 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on May 20, 2021

Your hunting binoculars need a good harness to keep them safe and secure. Without one, your expensive gear may not survive its first outing in the field. But without performance testing, how can you know for sure that a harness will stand up to the trials of your hunting trip?

You may not get to test out your products before buying them, but we can. Indeed, we have. In our efforts to write this guide, we’ve looked at dozens of different harnesses. The 10 units down below earned their spots by being durable and effective.

Additionally, we have made sure that there is something on this list for buyers of every budget. So, without further ado, read on for some hunting binocular harness reviews!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Vortex 100 Optics Binocular Harness Strap	Durable Effective Comfortable	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Think Ergo Binocular Harness	Ergonomic Vibration reduction Very affordable	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Badlands Tactical Bino Harness	Hydration pack Magnetically sealed Lifetime warranty	CHECK PRICE
		T.O.M Horizons Binoculars Harness	Lightweight Comfortable Breathable fabric	CHECK PRICE
		Allen 198 Adjustable Binocular Strap	Affordable Adjustable Rubber padding	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Binocular Harnesses for Hunting – Reviews 2021

1. Vortex 100 Optics Binocular Harness Strap – Best Overall

The Vortex is designed with comfort in mind. The straps are optimized to spread the weight of your binoculars evenly across your shoulders and chest. The idea is that the burden never aggregates in one spot, cutting back on pain and fatigue.

The Vortex also prioritizes the health of your binoculars. The strap helps to keep them stable so that they don’t get bumped around on the trail.

Finally, the nylon straps are durable, designed to go the distance on the hunting trail. While this is one of the more expensive harnesses that you are likely to come across, it pays dividends in long-term efficiency.

2. Think Ergo Binocular Harness – Best Value

Think Ergo is our best binocular harness for hunting for the money. The ergonomic strap is designed to be comfortable for long-term use. The straps are elastic and able to absorb shock and vibration.

And, as a backpack style harness, it is also able to distribute weight across your torso evenly. Unfortunately, security is a bit of a problem. The binoculars have a lot of “give” and tend to bounce around as you move. This means that you may need to keep a hand on your gear at all times—or risk damage down the line.

Major setback? Not necessarily. Though it is inconvenient, many people may be willing to overlook this flaw when they factor for the overall value of the unit.

3. Badlands Tactical Bino Harness – Premium Choice

Here we have a harness that is fully loaded. The Badlands features ergonomic straps, a magnetically sealed carrying case sized to fit most binoculars, and tubing that can be hooked up to a hydration pack for effortless thirst-quenching. The pack can hold up to one liter of water at a time.

The unit weighs just one pound and benefits from a lifetime warranty. This means that the manufacturer will fix or replace the harness with no questions asked.

The fabric is waterproof and can house binoculars with dimensions of up to 20 x 56 inches. At that size, pretty much any set of binoculars is going to be just fine. Unfortunately, all of this utility comes at a pretty lofty price. This is the most expensive harness on our list, so budget accordingly.

4. T.O.M Horizons Binoculars Harness

The T.O.M is similar to the last unit that we looked at. It features a comfortable pack in a camouflage print. It is sized to fit almost anyone and features storage dimensions of 8 x 5 inches, 9 inches deep. The straps are made extra wide for enhanced comfort, and the fabric is breathable to reduce sweat and fatigue.

And, at approximately one pound, it is about as lightweight as you can hope for. Last but not least, the manufacturer features a one-year buyback guarantee. If you aren’t thrilled with your purchase, the manufacturer will buy the harness back from you. This may not mean that you get all of your money back, but it is better than nothing.

There are two things to be wary of. Price is one. Comprehensive products like this one are always going to be a little bit pricey. It’s also a little bit bulky and can be difficult to move around with for long periods.

5. Allen 198 Adjustable Deluxe Binocular Strap

The Allen is an adjustable harness that is optimized for buyers on a restrictive budget. The straps can be altered easily to suit users of a wide range of sizes. They are also fortified with a rubber padding that makes them relatively comfortable to wear.

Unfortunately, this is offset somewhat by awkward weight distribution. The weight of the binoculars falls on your neck and shoulders, which may be uncomfortable over time. This harness also does very little in the way of stabilizing the binoculars. This means you may need to keep a hand on your gear to keep it from bopping around.

Still, for those on a restrictive budget, it is a good piece of equipment.

6. ALPS OutdoorZ RMEF Binocular Harness

The Alps Outdoor is a moderately priced unit that features a sizable padded pouch that you can place your binoculars in. The pouch is sized to fit just about any pair of binoculars, while the fabric is made to be comfortable, and breathable.

It is a backpack style harness that distributes weight evenly across your upper torso. The fabric is waterproof, which makes it well suited for the great outdoors.

Unfortunately, there are some durability concerns to note. Some people have noticed a great deal of wear near where the binocular pouch meets the straps. This means that it may break down after prolonged periods of use. Still, if you are looking for a moderately priced harness that performs mostly very well, this will be a good unit to consider

7. Leupold 55895 Quick Release Binocular Harness

The Leupold features a backpack style strap system that distributes the weight of the binoculars across your chest and shoulders. The harness is also specifically designed to keep your binoculars close to your body. In this way, dangerous swinging is eliminated, ensuring that wear and tear are minimized.

Regrettably, we have heard from a number of people who’ve suffered unfortunate experiences with this harness. The number one complaint that we come across is one of durability. Regular users have reported that the straps break down quickly with tears and rips, which will be problematic for those that will depend on this product frequently.

For the same money you spend here, it shouldn’t be very hard to find something that is much more durable.

8. Nikon 6121 PROSTAFF Bino Harness

The Nikon features nylon straps that are designed to be shock absorbent and comfortable. Your binoculars are naturally kept very close to your body but can be released with the click of a button to make it easier to bring them level with your eyes.

And, at only a couple of ounces, these straps are extremely light, reducing fatigue as you use them. Value is the main concern. It seems that the word “Nikon” has jacked the price up here a little bit. You can find a comparable product at roughly half the price by going off-brand.

9. Tract 14 Custom Binocular Harness

The Tract 14 is specifically optimized for the Toric binoculars, but can effectively be used with a range of different equipment options. The harness can be easily adjusted so that it will fit just about anyone, and the straps are made to distribute weight evenly.

The Tract is also optimized to keep your binoculars as close to your body as possible to avoid wear and tear.

These things said, the strap itself is pretty so-so. The nylon stretches very easily, which can lead to its premature demise. Some may prefer to get something a little bit more durable.

10. Bushnell Ultra-Light Binocular Harness

We close out with the Bushnell Ultralight. The weight of this unit is probably the biggest selling point. At just a couple of ounces, it is easy to use for longer periods. Unfortunately, though, that may be the most impressive thing this product has going for it.

The material is overly thin. While this keeps things lightweight, it also keeps the straps very fragile. If you are the type of person that goes on rough and tumble trails (as many hunters will) this might wind up being a big problem.

Additionally, the thinness factor provides little in the way of padding. This can lead to a significant comfort problem in the long run.

To make matters worse, this unit is also more expensive than many of the other options on our list. It’s not very hard to find a better product that costs half what you pay here.

Conclusion

You’ve read our hunting binocular harness reviews. Did one of the products really cinch the deal for you, or are you still feeling lost? If you don’t know what product you want to go with, it may help to remember a couple of our top picks.

Buyers that drift towards quality, regardless of price, are going to opt for something like our top choice. The Vortex 100 Optics Binocular Harness Strap is going to be great for people that want the best of the best.

However, budget buyers also have good options. If you’re trying to save money while still getting a reliable piece of equipment, you’re probably going to appreciate our runner up, the Think Ergo Binocular Harness.

Fortunately, all of these harnesses are dependable, so no matter what you pick, you’ll wind up with something good.