NM_HighPlains
New member
Review: Alaska Guide Creations binocular packs
First, I have no financial affiliation with this company. I was just looking for a binocular pack, contacted them with some questions, and they very kindly sent me several choices. Since I had them in hand and knew that probably someone else would have the same questions as I did, I decided to write up this little review.
I received 4 packs- 2 in the “Compact” size with different camo patterns, 1 “Regular”, and 1 “Large”. I have a bunch of binoculars from Zeiss 10x40 to Vortex 10x28 and I’ll use the pack for bowhunting, coyote hunting, and deer/elk hunting. I also use them for falconry, an activity that often calls for me to do some sprinting- the last thing I want there are binoculars swinging around. I want protection for my binoculars and a place to store little stuff- GPS, calls, flashlight, phone, that sort of thing. For years, I’ve used the elastic bino carriers but I’m tired of them stretching out and swinging forward when I need to belly crawl after a bedded mule deer or pronghorn, or climb over a fence. I want the binos to stay snug to me. All of the cases feature neck and side straps that fasten with Fastex type buckles. This makes it really easy to put them on, as you can either stick an arm thru one side and buckle the other or unbuckle both sides and slip the pack over your head and then buckle the sides. Once adjusted, they stay put. In addition, the carriers act as great cases all by themselves. You can clip the straps off entirely or stuff them into the rear pocket and you’ve got a nice padded case for your binoculars. Finally, these cases are USA made and the construction/attention to details is excellent.
From Top Left: Large, Regular, Compact.
First up, the Compact size. My Zeiss, Vortex 8x42, and Nikon 8x42 all fit perfectly in these, snugly but with a little room to spare. There’s obviously a lot of room to spare with the smaller 10x28. There is 1 elastic holder on top, 2 net pockets on the side, and 1 zippered net pocket on the back. The side pockets are too tight for anything but a small flashlight, single coyote call, wind indicator bottle. For those things, they’re great, but you can’t get a Garmin Oregon GPS in there. The Garmin will fit- tightly- in the top elastic pocket. There’s no room for my rangefinder anywhere, so I just strapped it to the side strap.
My Compacts came in two materials- multi-cam and True Timber. I originally thought I wanted the multi-cam but the company owner told me that it was noisy and the True Timber was not. He was right. In the hand, the latter is much, much quieter.
Compact in True Timber with Rangefinder case to side.
Stays put when leaning forward:
Next up, the “Regular”. This one has two elastic holders on top, two small zippered pockets, and 1 zippered front pocket with 4 shell holders. Being larger than the compact, it fits all my binoculars, easily, with a lot of room to spare. The side zippered pockets can hold a small flashlight, predator calls, wind indicators, and so forth. The front pocket holds my GPS, although it’s a little light if I also load rifle cartridges in the slots. I generally carry 10 extra shells on a buttstock holder, so I’m likely to skip the cartridges and use the space for the GPS. The only thing I didn’t like is that the pack closes with a buckle over this pocket- to get something out, you need to unclip the buckle first. I the one-handed elastic strap of the Compact better, but I’ll survive. I would use the Regular size for rifle hunting of all kinds except for the….
….Large size, which is just a little larger than the Regular and adds a zippered pocket on the bottom of the pack. This bottom pocket was perfect for my GPS and I didn’t have to unbuckle the front to get to it. The size pockets were just a little more roomy. My Large came in Gameguard desert camo in a softer material that was quiet enough for my purposes.
Regular size:
Large:
Large front pockets:
Large side pocket:
Large with GPS up top:
Large with GPS in bottom pocket:
Fold the straps into the zippered back pocket:
Large and Regular have two top elastic pockets:
Bottom line. I’ll be using the Large for rifle hunting and the Compact for bowhunting and falconry purposes.
First, I have no financial affiliation with this company. I was just looking for a binocular pack, contacted them with some questions, and they very kindly sent me several choices. Since I had them in hand and knew that probably someone else would have the same questions as I did, I decided to write up this little review.
I received 4 packs- 2 in the “Compact” size with different camo patterns, 1 “Regular”, and 1 “Large”. I have a bunch of binoculars from Zeiss 10x40 to Vortex 10x28 and I’ll use the pack for bowhunting, coyote hunting, and deer/elk hunting. I also use them for falconry, an activity that often calls for me to do some sprinting- the last thing I want there are binoculars swinging around. I want protection for my binoculars and a place to store little stuff- GPS, calls, flashlight, phone, that sort of thing. For years, I’ve used the elastic bino carriers but I’m tired of them stretching out and swinging forward when I need to belly crawl after a bedded mule deer or pronghorn, or climb over a fence. I want the binos to stay snug to me. All of the cases feature neck and side straps that fasten with Fastex type buckles. This makes it really easy to put them on, as you can either stick an arm thru one side and buckle the other or unbuckle both sides and slip the pack over your head and then buckle the sides. Once adjusted, they stay put. In addition, the carriers act as great cases all by themselves. You can clip the straps off entirely or stuff them into the rear pocket and you’ve got a nice padded case for your binoculars. Finally, these cases are USA made and the construction/attention to details is excellent.
From Top Left: Large, Regular, Compact.
First up, the Compact size. My Zeiss, Vortex 8x42, and Nikon 8x42 all fit perfectly in these, snugly but with a little room to spare. There’s obviously a lot of room to spare with the smaller 10x28. There is 1 elastic holder on top, 2 net pockets on the side, and 1 zippered net pocket on the back. The side pockets are too tight for anything but a small flashlight, single coyote call, wind indicator bottle. For those things, they’re great, but you can’t get a Garmin Oregon GPS in there. The Garmin will fit- tightly- in the top elastic pocket. There’s no room for my rangefinder anywhere, so I just strapped it to the side strap.
My Compacts came in two materials- multi-cam and True Timber. I originally thought I wanted the multi-cam but the company owner told me that it was noisy and the True Timber was not. He was right. In the hand, the latter is much, much quieter.
Compact in True Timber with Rangefinder case to side.
Stays put when leaning forward:
Next up, the “Regular”. This one has two elastic holders on top, two small zippered pockets, and 1 zippered front pocket with 4 shell holders. Being larger than the compact, it fits all my binoculars, easily, with a lot of room to spare. The side zippered pockets can hold a small flashlight, predator calls, wind indicators, and so forth. The front pocket holds my GPS, although it’s a little light if I also load rifle cartridges in the slots. I generally carry 10 extra shells on a buttstock holder, so I’m likely to skip the cartridges and use the space for the GPS. The only thing I didn’t like is that the pack closes with a buckle over this pocket- to get something out, you need to unclip the buckle first. I the one-handed elastic strap of the Compact better, but I’ll survive. I would use the Regular size for rifle hunting of all kinds except for the….
….Large size, which is just a little larger than the Regular and adds a zippered pocket on the bottom of the pack. This bottom pocket was perfect for my GPS and I didn’t have to unbuckle the front to get to it. The size pockets were just a little more roomy. My Large came in Gameguard desert camo in a softer material that was quiet enough for my purposes.
Regular size:
Large:
Large front pockets:
Large side pocket:
Large with GPS up top:
Large with GPS in bottom pocket:
Fold the straps into the zippered back pocket:
Large and Regular have two top elastic pockets:
Bottom line. I’ll be using the Large for rifle hunting and the Compact for bowhunting and falconry purposes.
