Y0ur bino harness is a critical gear item, no matter where or what your hunt. Kifaru’s Deluxe is one of the very best.
by Jace Bauserman
My most critical piece of hunting gear is my bino harness system. No matter the species, continent, or environment, my bino harness rides on my chest. I demand a harness that is compact and fully adjustable in the shoulders and around the ribs. The material must be ultra-durable, and access to the bino bucket must be straightforward and immediate. I want the bucket to hold my optics, so they don’t move around in it when I’m moving, but not so tight that it makes them hard remove when it’s time to glass. It’s also critical that the harness allows for the addition of a rangefinder pocket and accessory pouch.
My OG bino harness, rangefinder pouch, and accessory bag lasted seven hunting seasons. The system is still functional, it’s just grimy, stinky, and gross. The system served my needs so well that I purchased the upgraded model with an added rangefinder pouch and accessory compartment. It works great.
But then …
Last month, Kifaru’s Deluxe Bino Harness showed up on my doorstep along with a few of the manufacturer’s new-for-the-year packs. I decided to give the Deluxe Bino system a go. It looked well-built, durable, and the optic and rangefinder fit seemed perfect.
Kifaru’s Deluxe Bino Harness hits an under-$200 price point, comes in bino bucket sizes of Small, Medium, and Large, and in colors of Ranger Green, MultiCam Black, and Coyote Brown. I’m partial to the Coyote Brown and Ranger Green.
The Deluxe system comes with a rangefinder pouch and accessory pouch. Kifaru lets you pick between the Mesa Harness, which has a full air-mesh back panel and shoulder straps. The Regular Harness uses only slim nylon straps. I quickly realized how much I preferred the comfort of the Mesa Harness.
I wasn’t used to a bino bucket or rangefinder pouch that didn’t use magnets. All of my previous bino buckets and rangefinder pouches used magnets. They store lids and keep them out of the way. My only issue with magnets is the click they make when the lid is folded up or down, and I’ve had them disorient my compass.
It didn’t take me long to see the advantages of Kifaru’s one-handed operation, non-magnetic lids. The bino bucket and rangefinder pouch feature a single nylon strap that makes one-handed lid operation a breeze. Lids fall away quickly, silently, and can be tucked under the bucket and pouch. MOLLE straps line the front for added gear attachment, and two side pockets hold my hinge release and wind checker powder perfectly.
The bucket protects pricy optics. I like the air-mesh interior with padded foam bottom. The bucket holds tight to the chest, doesn’t interfere with the bowstring, and the 1-inch Rhodesian-style x webbing on the shoulder straps keeps excess material out of the way.
I added the rangefinder pouch to the system’s right side. This pouch, like the bino bucket, features a sewn-in stay in the lid that allows the lid to roll over the top and bottom of the pouch and bucket, preventing lid interference. The stay also boosts ergonomics.
My last add was the zippered accessory pouch. I love the roomy main compartment and the added single-slot pocket. The single-slot pocket is ideal for an Allen wrench, lighter, extra bullets, etc. The main compartment is perfect for other need-right-now items you want to keep close.
After two weeks, I’ve shot rifles, bows, and shotguns while wearing the Deluxe Bino Harness. I’ve jogged with it, crawled with it while scouting turkeys, and worn it on a six-mile shed hunt. The system is durable, tough, and does everything it promises. I added Zeiss’ SLF 10X50 binos to the bucket and Leupold’s RX-FullDraw 5 to the accessory pouch. Both were easy to retrieve. I will note that the fuller frame body of the SLF 10x50s fits a tick tighter than I’m used to, but as I take the binos in and out more, the bucket is getting broken in. Not broken in a bad way, but like a baseball mitt conforming to a ball over a period of time.
Your bino harness is one of the most critical pieces of gear you have. Thus far, Kifaru’s Deluxe Bino Harness is the very best bino harness that I’ve tested. As I do with many articles, I will update this piece after testing the harness during spring and fall hunts.
