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Enclosed Binocular & Rangefinder Pouch

4

4090Sharps

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
649
Location
AZ
I posted this on Rokslide last night, and figured I would share here as well with additional notes--someone else might find this useful for saddle hunting.

Axiom 1: I need binoculars for hunting
Axiom 2: I need a rangefinder for hunting

Problems:
  • I don't really like juggling separate devices with separate attachments and pouches
  • A rangefinding binocular is heavy
  • Rangefinding with a monocular is pretty ideal for bowhunting but glassing with a monocular is out of the question
  • Most rangefinder pouches suck when compared to binocular packs from the same manufacturer (the last couple years they have improved some)
Solution:
Pocket binoculars and a rangefinder in a single, enclosed bino pack. The narrower pack should work better in a saddle--I always found a full size bino pack interfered with my bridge.

Construction Notes:
  • I sewed the back, side, and bottom panels together and added the foam after those 4 panels were together
  • Pockets used shockcord inside a rolled hem for tension
  • The neoprene lid should be two pieces of neoprene to sandwich the Tweave cover and keep everything tight (that's how Marsupial does it). I used one layer and stuffed it into two layers of Tweave for a less than stellar outcome
  • The neoprene lid should have been larger with improved attachment for the Tweave sides that provide full enclosure on the sides. They work ok as is, but could fit and function a little better. Marsupial tacks the Tweave sides to the side pocket elastic to improve the enclosure.
  • Sewing stretchy materials to other squishy and stretchy materials is not fun

Materials:

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Third time I've looked at this and I still can't tell which seam you're unhappy with, looks great, particularly with those types of fabrics giving you grief. I can barely get any seam to be straight in "regular" fabrics lol. Keep up the good work, and let us know when 4090 packs and accessories opens for business
 
Like always looks great!

With regards to the stretchy/squishy fabric, can you share some more details on the difficulty and how you overcame them (technique, specific needle type, etc.)

Did you think about completely neoprene? Rick Young Outdoors has a bino case that is all neoprene. https://rickyoungoutdoors.com/neoprene-binocular-cover/ I was thinking about replicating this in a specific size and adding another pouch. What scared me away was the stretchy material and what looks to be an overcast stitch on his raw edges. It never entered my mind to run neoprene through a binder.

Again, great build!
 
sojourner said:
Like always looks great!

With regards to the stretchy/squishy fabric, can you share some more details on the difficulty and how you overcame them (technique, specific needle type, etc.)

Did you think about completely neoprene? Rick Young Outdoors has a bino case that is all neoprene. https://rickyoungoutdoors.com/neoprene-binocular-cover/ I was thinking about replicating this in a specific size and adding another pouch. What scared me away was the stretchy material and what looks to be an overcast stitch on his raw edges. It never entered my mind to run neoprene through a binder.

Again, great build!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

For stretchy fabric, only putting the absolutely necessary amount of tension on the fabric (front, rear, side-to-side) is important. I should have backed off pressure on the feet much earlier to prevent the neoprene from elongating.

After using a Rick Young bino case, I never gave full-neoprene a second thought. That product is made well enough, but honestly, I think that cover is a pain to use. When I used the one I had, I found I used my binoculars significantly less than I otherwise would while hunting with a chest pack. You could use it one-handed, like a chest pack, but it really worked better with two hands. Also, there was always an annoying balancing act between the tension of the neoprene and binocular hinge to keep the cover on. Binoculars with a really stiff hinge aren't a problem, but one that is a bit looser is problematic. On a couple hunts where I absolutely needed my binoculars more, I ripped the cover off and stuffed it in my pack. Overall, I found that design really frustrating.
 
Thank you for the write up and info @4090Sharps. I'm looking to build something similar, for my Sony RX10 with mic attached, for protection inside my pack. This helps alot.
 
That's clever, I like it.

I've got a rangefinder pouch jerry-rigged to my AGC bino pack, but I've been toying with the idea of attaching a couple of magnets to both the rangefinder and the AGC pack, to eliminate the rangefinder pack. Do you have thoughts on the pros and cons on magnets vs pouch for rangefinders? I assume you prefer a pouch, and I'm curious as to what lead you there and not somewhere else.
 
Very cool! You need a patch or some way of identifying your work on all that nice real estate in the front! Are you using an existing harness you have or making a new one to attach to the pack? The only criticism I have is it seems like you are pretty limited with what size nockers you can put in there, but that seems like it was part of your design process to keep it compact. Makes sense that you are trying to keep the bridge interference down since they are both in one location
 
Iron_llama said:
Do you have thoughts on the pros and cons on magnets vs pouch for rangefinders? I assume you prefer a pouch, and I'm curious as to what lead you there and not somewhere else.
Click to expand...

That sounds really handy! I couldn't bring myself to leave my optics exposed to the elements though.
 
BackSpasm said:
You need a patch or some way of covering up that crooked seam in the front!
Click to expand...

Fixed that for ya! :tonguewink: Thanks for the kind words!

BackSpasm said:
Are you using an existing harness you have or making a new one to attach to the pack?
Click to expand...

I'm using an existing Marsupial harness right now, but that's only because I haven't made my own yet. Overall, it works well, but I find the sides of the straps rub my neck if I don't have a collar of some sort on my shirt/jacket. I may simply need to lose a few pounds, or since I like the pouch to ride high, I'm using the harness differently from how it was designed.

BackSpasm said:
The only criticism I have is it seems like you are pretty limited with what size nockers you can put in there, but that seems like it was part of your design process to keep it compact.
Click to expand...

100%. This was made to fit exactly these binoculars and rangefinder with exactly the amount of room desired--enough to drop in and extract easily with minimum movement otherwise and as compact as possible. If I change my optics, I'll need to make another.
 
4090Sharps said:
That sounds really handy! I couldn't bring myself to leave my optics exposed to the elements though.
Click to expand...
Makes sense. I tend to alternate between still hunting and saddle hunting so it's probably best to leave it covered. Maybe a magnet panel on the lid for easy access while stationary? You've got me thinking...
 
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