Tag: laser range finder

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.

October 20, 2022 – ‘Tacticool’ Thursday

October 20, 2022 /

I am going to opine about the past for a minute. There used to to be a local sporting goods chain called G.I. Joes. To me, this was fantasy land. They had auto parts, electronics (including music), Ticketmaster franchise, army surplus, stick and ball gear and a full marine department. In some ways, this is probably why they went out of business. When the children of the founder wanted to retire, the business was sold to an equity group that quickly ran it into the ground (2009). Dick’s bought the name and you probably know how I feel about that.

They had a going out of business sale. I was in China on business when it started and by the time I got back, most remaining things were 50% off and certainly all of the best stuff was picked over. I did find a Nikon pack that contained a scope, range finder and a coupon for a free fleece jacket, which I bought for $150. I still use all three of those things, so I suppose I did OK.

Enough of that… first I will talk about what is old. My Nikon rangefinder was a pretty simple (to operate) device. Press the button and laser goes out to a pointed distance and measures as long at the distance is less than 1000 yards. You can change between meters and yards and there and the results are displayed on a black LCD readout. It cant be too close either, the distance needs to be longer than 10 yards.

Last week at Trap, we saw a coyote out at some distance. My Nikon is the one I carry in my range bag so I got it out to measure the range. I couldn’t get a distance on it. So, I don’t know if the battery is week, my angle was bad or it is actually farther than 1000 yards. Things have gotten a whole lot more sophisticated in the last 13 years.

My new Leupold rangefinder has a lot going on. First note that it is significantly smaller. The output LED is red instead of black; I assume this is for low light use. It claims that it can read reflective surfaces out to 1400 yards and game out to 1000 yards. But that is not all. This one is also usable for bow hunting, so short range measuring is much improved over my older Nikon.

There are multiple modes: TBR stands for True Ballistic Range. Remember your Pythagorean theorem? On any sort of angle, we are looking at the hypotenuse, not the actual distance. So there is some sort of level sensor inside to compensate for angle (if using that mode). One of the use cases is to take a measurement at the top of a tree to determine the actual height. You can then assess whether it is a risk of the tree damaging something if it were to fall.

And there is more. Using a preset of ballistic groups, the rangefinder will calculate your holdover on targets at distance. Your target is 400 yards, you are sighted in for 200, how many inches do you need to aim higher to make the shot. This also takes the angle into consideration. There is some minimal amount of wind compensation if desired. There is even more, but I worry about needing to read the manual before each use, so I think I will set it up and let it be at least during hunting season.

I have never worried too much about range. The truth is, I have never seen an animal and had my rangefinder handy. I have always figured, if my rangefinder can’t measure it, I am likely way too far away. I mostly use it to gauge distances when I am sitting anyway. I know that if I see something between X and me, then I am good, otherwise I am going to have to get closer.

End Your Programming Routine: This is like having a new car. At first, you think I am going to use this for special occasions. But then, you remember that you like working air conditioning and better fuel mileage plus it is parked in a better spot for that quick run to the store. For now, it is going in my hunting pack but it very well may find my way into my range bag after the season is over.