S4Gear LockDown Binocular Harness Review

S4Gear is an American company dedicated into the manufacturing of outdoor products and this Binocular harness with its unique LockDown Optics Deployment System has been welcomed immensely in the market. These are basic binocular suspenders with some special features which you would like to know more about. This one is unlike the usual harnesses in the market that come with a container type storage with no specific protection mechanism for the lens.

The perfect finishing and make of the products was the first thing that attracted me when the harness was opened up. The stitching on the product was fine and every clip, split rings, zip ties all neatly packed. You might be wondering why the thing comes in pieces, well the fitting instructions come along in the package and you can easily set it up. There are very precise information on how to set up the harness taking several factors into consideration. I had come across several reviews where people have written negative comments about the sizing and adjustments, but after taking a look at the instruction booklet, I realize that the problem may have arisen out of a wrongly fit harness without sticking to the details. Have a look at the other significant features of this best binocular harness.

Comfort and Fit

With the proper fitting adjustments made, the harness will stay close to your body. One of the most complained factor about using bino suspenders is the bounding binocular. This one comes with anti-bounce technology. Even when you are on the run climbing or creeping, you can be assured that the binocular stays close to your body without causing uneasiness due to the movement or even noise of it.

If you have not used a binocular harness before then this one is the best choice as you will love the comfort of it. This is also a very good option for bikers as they can carry along one on easy access without affecting the drive. The most attractive factor to me had been that the binoculars failed to budge even when I had bent down.

The weight of carrying a binocular around the neck can be very painful at times, but with this harness with soft padding and ergonomic design walking for hours can seem as easy as it can be. The straps are also made of breathable material so that there is no serious sweat problem when compared to other products in the market.

Security of the Lens

Usually while using optics on the field, you have to keep the lens covered each time. With this product, the lens will well covered and protected in the cover along with its hood. The product houses scratch resistant materials inside the cover. The cover keeps the instrument safe in case of small drizzles or even on falling. I like to keep my optics in the harness even while storing as the covers give ultimate protection from dust and storing the harness is also easy.

The manufacturer has taken care to incorporate Tension Free Glassing technique to allow the user to pull over the binocular to the face in a swift single motion. It comes with a Shock Cord security strap that keeps the binocular in place while allowing easy usage too. These straps can fit snugly with the backpack straps. These are not like the elastic straps that are found in most other designs which come in the way of easy access to the optics.

Adjustments with LockDown Technique

The accessory comes with a complete sizing guide. In my knowledge, there has been no other suspender that I have noticed to have such easy to use and fix adjusting features. You can set the straps according to your body sizing and then using the LockDown mechanism predefine the optics definitions like size, cover position and shock cord length. With proper arrangement you can make the harness fit onto you.

With the LockDown technology used in this unique model, you can easily take off and put on the harness even when you are on a run to grab a sight. Most of the models in the market have elastic suspenders and this makes it rather troublesome to use.

Bulkiness of the Accessory

I specifically do not like to be noticed on a normal tour like a high end tourist with a suspended binocular and have all the glares in my direction. The simple snug harness just clings to your body and you can easily wear a jacket over it without the binocular showing out.

Noise Resistant

The whole armor is covered in shock and noise absorbent rubber material so even if you bumped your optics against a tree or so, there will no huge noise produced from it. This even keeps the optics safe and you do not have to worry about both the factors. Being a snug fit design, the binocular doesn't hang around hitting every other surface.

Warranty

It is really a great feeling of achievement when you have bought a product with a good warranty period and this manufacturer fro Oregon, America seems more than confident in its design that they offer a lifetime guarantee. This guarantee does not apply to any kind of defect caused by wrong usage of the product.

Dimensions

The S4Gear LockDown Binocular Harness is available in two different color combinations viz. Black and Grey or as Black and Camo. Both colors are equally attractive. Its comes in two sizes , one for binoculars and another one for micro binoculars. You can measure your binocular for purchase before ordering as a wrong measurement can end you up with a wrong sized harness which will not give optimal results. 6” to 7.5” binoculars come under normal binocular measurement and those under 6” can be fit in a micro design. The weight is only 16 ounces as described by a customer and he even defines it to be lightweight.

Customer Reviews

The product was only recently released into the market and it has seen a amount of sales on amazon alone. All customers have given 4 or 5 stars for the product with a total of 28 reviews on amazon and the average star rating is 4.5. Reading the positive and negative reviews on the product before the purchase will help you making the right choice based on your requirement. Most of the reviews have noted a problem with the straps and I personally feel that this might because they have not adjusted it accordingly. One of the customers has complained of the neck strap to be pulling on the back side of the neck. The Lock Down technology has been proven to be well accepted by the customers as a whole.

There is a complaint about the manual being not well defined and in such a case one should resort to downloading the instruction kit online. The instruction manual is an important element to ensure optimal usage of the harness. The product in an overall does what it promises to and remains snug on the body without letting the camera move about. People have used it on the fields and even while bicycling and have found it to be effective in all ways to hold the binos in place and there are customers who claim that these are the best binocular harness they have ever used. They are also good for the rainy days where the rain guard can save it from getting wet, even though it gets fogged.

The earlier versions of the harnesses have been bulkier but yet durable. The durability factor of the S4 Gear LockDown Binocular is yet to be found out. The harness straps come with too many adjustments and there are slight complaints about getting it right to place it right at the location that you want the binoculars to stay. There is also complaints about the harness cover not being fit for big binoculars.

There are also reviews where the customers have specified that their specific model and size is not fit for the cover. Either it is loose or in some cases its causes the lens to stay out. This may be because the accessory was not made for any specific design and it should suit a wide array of optics of the defined dimension. If you are looking for a specific design harness, then it is best to buy one that comes custom made for that model.

Pros and Cons

Pros: The product is made of good quality material and the straps are of premium tubular elastic material. The optimal use of the non-stretching stiffer materials for the back makes sure that the product stays in place. The cords that attach to the binos are not elastic and the earlier issue of tension while accessing the optics has been effectively solved.

The comfort factor is a major positive side and customers are congratulated the company for giving them the opportunity to use free hands while on the trek or hunt. The cover comes with a rain guard which is not very effective in case of heavy rains but can keep the lens protected in case of drizzles. The binos can be kept without the lens cover for easy access and the cover in itself provides the necessary protection.

Being a snug fit model, these are extra quiet and you can save yourself from scaring a group of birds of animals which sneaking out. The overall material in a whole is breathable and you can go on long walks without feeling the weight of the whole accessory over you.

Cons: Certain negative factors like the size of the bino holder has been already mentioned even though this is not always the case with all camera models. Only some customers have reported this problem. Then there is the problem of getting the right adjustment but when you have the adjustments in the best possible way, you can make the most use of the harness. This will require that the person will have to meddle with adjusting the straps till you get it right. Some people get it done very easily, but if you are too tall, short, fat or too thin, then you will find it difficult to get it done.

The metal hooks have been reported to shine in sunlight and cause obstruction while on a hunt. The same problem has been reported with the plastic hooks too in slight degrees. The lens is exposed to a certain extent with the stiff lens covers which doesn't fit in snug and thus causes fogging of the lens or even dust settling while you are on a hunt. On such an occasion you have to use the lens with the cover that comes with it and this stays as a hindrance to the easy access facility offered by the shock straps.

There is a small negative effect caused by the elastic lower strap that connects to the bino holder which causes the holder to shift from position while moving. The price is also a little high when compared to other harnesses but these are worth the amount if you are the the birdie type. The Camo color is priced a little above the basic black. But there is no much difference in color between the two. Choosing the right one to fit the size of your camera might seem to be a challenge and trouble. You can try fitting it in a store or showroom before buying it online at discount rates.

Proper use of the S4Gear LockDown Binocular harness will ensure that you have the best harness ever used and it will become your companion in your hunts and bird watches. Choose the right size of the suspender and also make the right adjustments to make the whole apparatus fit snugly to your body placing the binocular at the right position to suit your comfort level. There are video instructions available online how to get the right adjustment done to the holding straps and such small tips will make sure that you get the best performance from your binocular suspender.