Not all harnesses are alike. Hunters tend to fall into one of a few use-cases:

1. Chest Pack + Harness (All-in-One)

These combine a padded binocular pouch with an integrated chest harness and extra storage. This is the best all-round choice for hunters who carry:

• Binoculars

• Rangefinder

• GPS / phone

• Small tools and accessories

Best option: Bushbuck Bino-Pro

2. Minimalist Harness

If you’re packing light and only want your binoculars on the chest, a minimalist harness keeps things compact, closer to the body, and lighter overall. It’s great for:

• Spot-and-stalk hunts

• Warm-weather hunts

• Minimal storage for extras

Best option: Bushbuck Bino-Lite

3. Heavy-Duty / Tactical Chest Pack

For hunters who are particularly hard on their gear, or who want maximum durability and modularity, a heavy-duty chest pack is the next step up. These systems prioritise toughness, abrasion resistance, and customisation over weight savings.

Well suited for:

• Rugged backcountry hunts

• Bush bashing and scrub-heavy terrain

• Hunters running additional pouches or accessories

• Those who value durability above all else

Best option: Bushbuck Combat-Pro Bino Bag + Harness

Choosing the right system comes down to a few key factors. For hunters who spend hours patiently glassing ridges and river valleys, here’s what matters most.

Fit and Comfort

You’ll be wearing this against your chest for hours on end in all sorts of conditions and positions. Comfort starts with an adjustable harness that won’t chafe, pinch or ride up when you move.

What to Look For

• Wide, padded straps that spread load evenly

• Breathable, mesh-backed panels

• Adjustable, ergonomically-designed harness

Optics Protection

Aside from comfort and convenience, the main reason you get a bino bag is to, well, protect your binos. You want to know your precious optics aren’t being knocked around while you’re scrambling along rocky ridges or breaking your knees on steep descents.

What to Look For

• Padded, lined interior to cushion against knocks and drops

• Secure closure that’s quiet and fast to open

• Weather resistance so dust, rain and wind stay out

Storage Space and Organisation

You want to know that the binocular bag is actually going to fit your binoculars. But a good bino bag will also have space for other essentials you want close at hand.

What to Look For: 

• Specific dimensions for your binoculars

• Extra storage for items like your rangefinder, GPS, PLB, and smartphone

• Pockets for snacks, energy gels, and other small items

• MOLLE-style attachment loops for attaching extra storage capacity

Durability and Materials

A binocular harness cops a serious hiding in the field. It gets dragged through scrub, scraped on rock, soaked in rain, and ground into by pack straps day after day. That’s why durability should be near the top of your checklist. 

What to Look For

• Abrasion-resistant outer fabric

• Reinforced stitching and/or fabrics in high-wear areas

• Strong buckles, clips, and webbing

• Structured shape that won’t collapse with use

• Water resistance and waterproof cover

Silence and Stealth

Silence matters more than many hunters realise. When conditions are still, the sound of a zip, buckle, or loose fabric can be enough to blow a stalk or spook animals before you ever get eyes on them. A good bino harness should allow you to deploy your binoculars smoothly and quietly, without sharp ripping sounds or hard plastic clicking together.

What to Look For

• Quiet closures (magnets over loud Velcro)

• Soft, low-noise fabrics

• Snug fit that prevents gear movement

• Minimal loose straps or flapping material

• Camouflage or earthy colour tones 

Weight and Bulk

When you’re spending long days in the hills with a heavy pack, every gram counts. Your bino bag shouldn’t weigh you down or slow you down. 

What to Look For

• Lightweight – 500-600 grams

• Minimal, compact design

Ease of Use and Accessibility

When the moment comes, you don’t want to be fiddling with clips and zips to get your binoculars or other items out of your bag. A good harness should have an intuitive design that allows you to slip your binoculars out without taking your eyes off the prize.

What to Look For:

• Easy access (magnets are great for this)

• Retrieve glass with one hand

• Slide your optics up smoothly without catching harness webbing

Dialling in Your Bino Setup

Choosing the right binocular bag and chest harness comes down to how you hunt, how much gear you carry, and how hard you push into the backcountry. A good system should keep your binoculars protected, accessible, quiet, and comfortable from first light to last glass, without getting in the way or wearing you down. 

Whether you prefer a lightweight, minimalist setup like the Bushbuck Bino-Lite or a fully featured chest pack like the Bushbuck Bino-Pro, investing in a quality harness pays off every time you’re glassing, moving through scrub, or lining up your next move. 

Get it right, and it quickly becomes one of those bits of kit you won’t head into the hills without.

Check out Bushbuck’s bino bags