Alaskan Guide Creations Bino Pack Review

We got our hands on this pack and checked it out for a while. Here is the Review.

Overall Rating: 4.9/5
Functionality: 5/5
Value: 4.7/5
Ergonomics: 5/5
Durability: 5/5

Story: The most common problems I have with binoculars are that they either bounce on my chest as I walk, put a strain on my neck, the lenses collect dirt or moisture, or they are not conveniently located. The Alaska Guide Creations Bino Chest Pack resolves all of these issues and offers some other very welcome features.
Bowhunting in the West is one of my passions. This means most of my time is spent in a spot and stalk setting where I like to have the binoculars handy. The problem is, I don't like messing with lens caps, which just get lost and they are too time consuming. As a result, my bino eye pieces collect dust, twigs, snow or rain and when I need to use them, my view is impaired. Another problem with traditional systems is that they take up valuable real estate and don't leave room for important items such as a rangefinder and puffer bottle.
The Bino Chest Pack allows easy access to binoculars on your chest while keeping them encased and out of the elements. The main compartment is roomy and padded. My 10X50 Binoculars fit nicely in the main pocket. My rangefinder also fits well in the smaller pocket in front of the main compartment.
The straps are designed to adjust easily and do no put any pressure on your neck. The same case size will fit all sizes of people and adjust easily when adding or removing coats or other garments. The two side pockets would accommodate a small GPS, lens cleaner, puffer bottle, snacks or a headlamp. There is also thin pocket on the back of the pack that would hold a map, license or other thin item.
I've taken the Bino Chest Pack on several hikes to watch wintering elk and deer and the system is very comfortable with no bouncing or annoying movement. Due to the strap system , I did not notice the weight of my binoculars, rangefinder, and other miscellaneous items I took with me.
I've also taken the Bino Chest Pack with me to the archery range to see if the pack would interfere at all with my shot. I was very pleased to learn that there will be no interference, even when carrying my rangefinder in the front pocket so you can be sure that the next time I'm sneaking through the woods on an archery hunt, the Bino Chest Pack will be with me.

Great review I love mine as well.

I have had one for a few years and it is the best system I've seen.

The one complaint that I have is the snap strap that closes the mail compartment runs over the small zippered pocket on the front. I cut a small slit in the bottom of the zipper pocket and ran this strap through and behind the zipper on the top. I can now unzip this pocket without unsnapping the main bino compartment.

Great design and product.

Yeah I have heard of a few poeple that just cut the bottom strap and then re-sew it above the zipper.

Rackman,
You are welcome to use the review we wrote
You could add it to facebook.
You can find the review at.
IREVIEWGEAR.COM

Bowhunt thanks for the offer. I will use your review in one of my future posts. It would be greatly appreciated, if you have a facebook account to go like our page. Thanks again.

All this talk gave me the gotta. I gotta have one, so I ordered it yesterday and it's already on its way. I've tried quite a few. I hope this one stands up to all the bragging. If it does, I'll come back on and add to the comments. I have several buddies that are looking forward to seeing it.

Im pretty sure your buddies will be impressed. This is certainly the system to comfortably carry and use your binocs while protecting them from the elements. Great product!

I ordered one of these and it ended up going through ebay and paid with pay pal. I ordered it Tuesday and it got here today, Friday. I was very impressed. Like a kid at Christmas, two hours of fun entertainment, deciding what I was going to pack in it. I was even more impressed to find a personal handwritten note from Jaret Owens, the maker and owner of this product. It was only $55.00, shipping and all. The only thing that didn't work was the alaskaguidecreations.com address when I tried to write and thank him for his quick response and personal attention to his customers. I hope he reads this. I think whoever ends up buying this product will become somewhat of a sales rep., just showing it off to friends and hunting buddies.

LAST EDITED ON Jan-23-11 AT 08:58PM (MST)[p]My Alaskan Guide Bino Pack arrived Friday. After messing with it and going for a snowshoeing hike to try it out, it was evident that it was a great product. However, the only downfall that someone else mentioned became evident. If you look at the picture, the main strap starts at the bottom and goes right over the top of the smaller zippered pouch. That makes it necessary to unsnap it to get into the smaller pouch, even if you don't want to access your binoculars. I solved the problem by cutting off the short strap and snap that was attached to the main bino compartment, and then sewing it directly on top of the small pouch, perpendicular to the zipper, with the snap pointing out. It fits perfectly there. I then cut the longer strap/snap that was attached to the bottom, and sewed it on top of the main bino compartment, so the snap just hangs over the front edge just enough to snap it into the other half of the snap. I to a lighter to the cut edge of the straps so they wouldn't unravel. I used dental floss so the thread is extra strong. This actually made it much easier to unsnap. It turned the snap upside down from what it had been and fits the fingers much better when unsnapping it. Now both pouches are independent of one another and it works great!

Could you post up a pic? I'm curious to see how it turned out.

I'm really impressed with the bino pack I got for my Swaro SLCneu. However, it is a very snug fit so digging them out of the pack in any kind of hurry is tough, especially with the objective lens covers on. I got the size that was recommended, but it is a little too snug.

>Could you post up a pic?
>I'm curious to see how
>it turned out.



X2 Post it up.

I'll need a little help doing it and it will take a few days. Right now I'm going through the old colonoscopy prep, so my mind and another part of my anatomy is preoccupied elsewhere. I have shown it to several friends and they really like how it works.

I will pm you my email address. I will post the picture for you.

I got the pics from bucklover, Looks like a pretty good idea. Let me know what you guys think.

I know this is an older post, but I have made an improvement or at least to me it is on the AGC pack that I have.

I had my sister in law who is good at sewing because I am not take and sew some straps on my pack.

Basically I took my old elastic Cabelas bino harness that was pretty much new still and cut about 10" of the elastic strap and the quick relase buckles off.

I then had her sew the buckle on one end of the strap and then sew the other end to the front strap on the Bino pack.

Now I just connect my binos to the quick release buckles and don't have to worry about carrying a piece of parachute cord around my neck. Now if I want I can just look through them and then lay them against the front of the pouch if I don't want to cover them back up right away.


Here is a pic so you can get the idea. If anyone wants more details or pics please let me know.