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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > The Diana Factor (Women in the Field) > Trying out the Crooked Horn Bino System
Trying out the Crooked Horn Bino System
Julia Lloyd - JHO ProStaff
- SF Bay Area, CA
July 02, 2004
On a recent pig hunt I did something I rarely do; I wore my binoculars.
Truth is I always take them out into the field with me, but I usually carry them in my daypack. I never wear them. I hate the way it feels on my neck while I’m hiking in. The last thing I need is to fight my way up a ridge with the glasses swinging around. I tried slinging them around one arm, and wearing them that way, but then when I want to use them I have to stop and pull them back over my shoulder. I never seem to be able to do this gracefully. Finally, I decided it was just easier to keep them in my pack until I get to the place I want to sit and them dig them out.
I have seen many different ways to carry the binoculars. One of my hunting buddies uses surgical tubing instead of the neck strap his binoculars came with. He rigged a system that allows him to carry the glasses so the shoulders are carrying the weight instead of his neck, but it keeps them close to his chest without flopping around as he hikes. When he wants to use them, the tubing gives way enough for him to raise them to his eyes. This seems like a good idea, especially if you’re handy at making stuff like this. But what if you’re not handy… or just don’t have time for homemade solutions?
On this recent pig hunt I was handed the Slide and Flex Bino-System made by Crooked Horn Outfitters. I was a bit skeptical at first but I agreed to try them out. I had seen strap systems before, but most of them just are not made to be comfortable to a woman. (I bet you can guess why.)
They were easy to put on and easy to adjust. I walked around camp for a while and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I got used to them. When I pulled the glasses up to view a distant object the flexible straps gave way to allow me full movement. I kept them on as we headed out for our evening hunt. The binoculars stayed snuggled to my chest while I hiked but gave way when I pulled them up to view the ridges. At no time did the straps bind my shoulders and my neck stayed relaxed.
I would recommend these straps to anyone that has tried other systems and found them binding or ill fitting. A quick look around the Crooked Horn web site (www.crookedhorn.com) showed that this product is also made in America.
These should be on every hunters shopping list.
Blatant Promotional Note Here: The Slide-n-Flex Bino System is now available in the JHO Online Store, along with other Crooked Horn products.
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