Periodically, I get questions from someone looking for a binocular harness without the leather patch on the back. They might be vegan or maybe they want a harness without a particular logo on back. I’m happy to announce that someone has heard your request and answered.
I get a lot of binocular harnesses. Some companies give them away at festivals like hats because their logo is displayed on your back as you are out birding. I wore one for Eagle Optics (cause I worked there for a year), I had one from Fat Robin (because I think Jim Zipp the owner is one of the most awesome photographers ever and I have a sister named Robin), I’ve had one from Swarovski (because I love their optics and they have been incredibly supportive of my website), and more recently I wore one that was a gift from Guatemala.
Aaron Novak sent me a harness recently and I thought I would wear it in Panama to get a feel for it. It’s a great harness and it has no leather in the back. It’s held together with a ring in the back. It’s great for anyone interested in a harness–especially those who prefer one without a leather patch in the back.
I used to make fun of binocular harnesses when they first came out. I called them the bino bra, but once you use one, you never go back to the neck strap. Harnesses take the weight off of your neck and if you are a lady like myself with a prominent chest, the harness does a great job of working around your chest and hold your bins in place–leaving your hands free to tote a scope or digiscoping camera.
Another advantage to a bino harness, on top of all the ones you note: it has a fantastically slimming effect on the wearer! I suspect most hard-core birders in the field look about 10 pounds lighter than they actually are–what’s not to like?
Another advantage of a harness, at least of the ones I have seen, is that they hold the bins closer to your body if you bend over, instead of them dangling way out there and getting in the way (or worse, into something messy).
On the other hand you can’t slip your bins under your jacket with a harness.
I usually carry a bag with the strap across by body to the opposite shoulder and I can’t see how that would work with a harness, especially since it comes off every time I get in the car.
I didn’t use one because the leather part looked like it would be hot in the jungles. The o ring looks pretty good.
Alas, my long treks in hot areas may be over.
Are you and NBB aware that the mobile version of the blog is not appearing? Once I went to the comments page it did convert to mobile. But the main page is not mobile and as a result takes forever to load on my iPhone.
Thnx birdchick, as a vegan I looked for a non-leather but settled on a leather patch because the bino harness works great with my huge camera bag. I don’t see how bird watchers can eat poultry. Eating meat is very bad for the environment too. 90 % of the big fish are gone from our oceans
@lehman, you bring up an interesting point and I have many vegetarian and a few vegan friends. You mention that you don’t see how a birder can eat meat. I was vegetarian for two years. One day, I was feeding a peregrine falcon a rat while she was perched on my glove. She went for the darkest, reddest bits of meat and made it look so good. I drove out and bought some bacon as soon as she was finished–if a peregrine can have meat, so can I!
But, there’s a big difference in how a wild bird gets its meat compared to how most of us do–I’ve yet to kill any of my own meat with my toes. But I do eat meat and try to make the conscious effort to purchase it locally and from ranchers who engage in good land management practices. I could never be vegan and admire those who can. I’m a cheese junkie and if I were vegan, I could not keep bees.
@sfmary,
I haven’t had a heat issue with the leather patch on my leather patch harness…I hope your traveling isn’t over for good.
NBB has looked into it. I’m able to access it on my Blackberry and we’ve had a friend with an iPhone be able to get to it. Are you still having a problem? Anyone else having a problem with an iPhone?
It has been fine since I left my comment. I assumed NBB fixed it. At least he should take credit for it.