Tag: Badlands

December 19, 2025 – Better Late Then Never

December 19, 2025 /

This is just another sign that I am over my head. Typically Fridays would be a book review or nothing at all. That being said, I have not had a single chance to read in the last couple of weeks. My typical day lately starts work at 5 AM and my head hits the pillow around 9:30 PM at the earliest. I am packing, wrapping or attending social obligations. However, this post was supposed to happen some time in October.

I probably have enough content to do two posts, so I will probably do something next week on my hunting trip. I really wanted to talk about the binocular harness and how it did so that is today. I invested pretty significantly in this setup based on hearsay from Meat Eater and you might want to know if it is worth the money. You can also tell that I am no good at selling things because I don’t even show the product in my picture. Here is a link to my previous article.

Today I won’t rehash the previous article but my thoughts on how the product worked. We are talking about the Badlands Bino Harness that I used every day for my week long hunt. First and foremost, I would put it on first things in the morning as we were getting ready to leave camp. When you try to put the harness on with the binoculars in them, gravity tends to pull the harness down making it difficult to snap together. It would be helpful to have a second set of hands when trying to get the apparatus on. Another added issue I had was that with my shoulder pain, I had some mobility problems reaching around. I never tried to put it on dry or empty.

Once I got the harness on, it was comfortable. I never really felt constrained when driving or sitting at the table for lunch. I also never felt any weight strain on my back or neck. I had no issues putting my coat on and my backpack after that. Some of the early days were in the upper seventies so I didn’t need a coat but only in the early morning and late afternoon. Due to the fact that it was difficult to get rigged up, I left it on from sunrise to sunset.

Later in the week, it started raining. The harness is water resistant but that doesn’t mean that I am. I was able to zip my coat over the the whole thing without problem. Another indication that it is not too bulky. If you are out of shape and hence a sweater, Wearing a bino harness is going to cause addition perspiration due to its padding and footprint on your chest.

It was comforting having my best pair of binoculars handy. Previous to owning this, I would carry a compact set of binoculars around my neck. This worked OK, except that sometimes I didn’t wear a shirt with a front pocket. There is no way I would walk around with loose binoculars banging around as I step over logs and such. The visual quality of my full size binoculars was certainly an upgrade.

I actually have more attachments/pockets for my harness then I used. I had it setup with the rangefinder and the utility pouches on the harness. I can say that I used my rangefinder for the first time where I wasn’t sitting still because I didn’t have to dig it out of my backpack. The utility pouch held my phone securely enough and I would be able to access it to look at maps while I was hiking. There is also room for my compass that I kept for backup and navigation purposes. One caveat is that the utility pouch is not waterproof. If you phone or whatever you put in that pouch is not, keep that in mind.

Did I like it? Heck yes. Here is my review.

ScoreScoreAdvantagesDisadvantages
Value2/5Badlands have lots of accessories to customize your rig how you want it.Of all the choices out there, many are significantly cheaper with the same configuration that I used
Quality5/5This is a well built rig that fits binoculars snugly
Performance4/5All the gear you need in a place to easily get at when you want it.It is not the product’s problem that it is difficult to put on but maybe there is a better way.
Because of the semi-custom sizing, sometimes the flaps (magnets) would come open dug to snug fit
The small amount of MOLLE led to a compromise placement of the rangefinder pocket.

End Your Programming Routine: You may think that based on my scores, I didn’t like the product. I did, I really did. That being said, I probably should have purchased the cheaper option based on how much I am probably going to use it in the future. I would recommend this for a multiple season hunter. They can take advantage of the modularity based on multiple uses. I am one of those guys that has more money than time. No problem buying the best, just be aware that there are suitable alternatives.

August 7, 2025 – Binocular a.k.a. ‘Bino’ Harness

August 7, 2025 /

I am trying something new this year for hunting. It is called a binocular harness and it straps over your shoulders so that the binoculars are securely stored on you chest. It is the number one piece of gear that is recommended by the Meateater staff. They say that it has revolutionized their hunting. Since they seem to be much more successful than me, I think that it is worth a try.

Meateater is not the only one that has noticed a problem. I have typically left these binoculars in the car because I cannot wear them around my neck and be agile in the woods. I have tried carrying them in my backpack but then I never have them when I want them. That leaves me doing the bulk of my work with mini-binoculars (8×30) which is less than ideal. But even those swing around wildly unless I have a breast pocket to put them in.

Some makers of these packs are also modular. I purchased the Badlands brand and it is. I recently added the rangefinder pocket. It attaches with the MOLLE (MOdular Light weight Load carrying Equipment) system. My rangefinder ran the similar fate as my binoculars, never there when I wanted it and too inconvenient to want it. I rationalized it by using it only when I was sitting to get distance bearings on certain landmarks.

I do plan on adding more accessories. There is a bear spray holster, a multipurpose pouch, a bottom pouch and even holster attachments available through Gunfighters Inc. This way the gear can be setup for recreational hiking, bicycling, hunting or whatever since the chest is typically free space. I do plan on packing it for some practice hiking before the season starts. I think a full, after action report is appropriate in October.

There are lots of cheaper options out there than the Badlands brand. Believe it or not there are more expensive options too. All of them have the same basic premise, mount the binoculars on the chest so it doesn’t swing around. Most of them also have a rangefinder pouch as well. That makes price ranges from $50-250. Of course, I wasn’t able to handle and try on all of the options but it was the Badlands that seemed to be available at every retailer.

The features that I liked were magnetic lids. This makes for a quick and quiet removal of the optic. Each unit comes with quick connect rings and tethers so the expensive things are safe from dropping as well as can be kept out for ready use. But, the quick connect doesn’t keep the optic chained to the harness semi-permanently. It can be removed very easily and quickly for other uses.

They come in different sizes and mine is a pretty stuffed 10×42, size medium. I think that you want them snug because you certainly don’t want stuff bouncing inside the pouch. That being said, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for things like your phone or GPS. This is why the accessory pouches are necessary.

I think another advantage of the Badlands brand is that modularity and their other products. I know for sure that the MOLLE accessories can be attached to their branded packs. I assume that some accessories can go the other way. But realistically, any MOLLE attachment should work as long as it fits the space.

I want to be careful and not fall into toolbox fallacy. You don’t need this to be successful. In fact, most of western Oregon hunting is temperate rain forest and optics are not that useful. The very best tactic is to be out there looking with or without binoculars. But, this year I am hunting the significantly more open central Oregon and I am hoping that having my better optics with me is a tactical advantage.

End Your Programming Routine: I still have to try out the harness but I think the best use case for this is when you want to be beating the bush with quick access to binoculars. That means that if I was just a hiker, I think just sticking with the 8×30 binoculars and save the bulk. But, I could see serious birdwatchers or nature lovers finding them convenient. They are really purpose built for hunters.