In the Summer of 2024, Stone Glacier released their Sentinel Bino Harness to compete against other common binocular chest harnesses out there such as those made by Marsupial Gear, FHF Gear, and Kuiu. At the time the Stone Glacier Sentinel Bino Harness was released, I was using the Marsupial Gear No-Mag Enclosed Binocular pack. This is a pretty robust pack but I wanted to try out Stone Glacier as I use their Approach 2800 backpack.
The Sentinel Bino Harness comes in either Granite Grey or Coyote Brown, and in either Regular size or a Large size. As shown in the prior photo, I opted for a Large in Granite Grey.
Based on the specifications on the Stone Glacier product page, the Regular size will fit up to a 7″ tall/long binocular while the Large fits those that exceed 7″. As far as the cited weight, the Regular is 9.4 ounces and the Large is 10.4 ounces. When I weighed my Large Sentinel, I came it at 11 ounces with the straps.
The Sentinel is constructed using what Stone Glacier refers to as 3-Layer HydraShield waterproof textile. The material does feel thinner and would appear to be lighter in weight to the often used neoprene or Cordura-type materials used in soft goods like binocular harnesses.
While the shell itself is the HydraShield-dubbed material, there is a rigid frame and some padding used for the core shape of the Sentinel.
The design is similar to other binocular chest rigs where the top flat opens to the front to expose the pouch for the binocular. The top flap itself lacks any discernible padding and does feel thin.
However, the top flap and rear panel are adjustable for the height of binocular the user will be carrying. This helps to mitigate issues with the one-size-fits-all aspect of a binocular chest rig allowing the user to shrink or expand the Sentinel to some degree so the binocular does not move around within a larger internal compartment.
The flap and rear panel are held in place using hook and loop and are quick to adjust.
Once adjusted, I was able to fit my Swarovski Optik EL Range TA 10×42 with the RRS Cinch-LR tripod adapter attached.
The EL Range TA 10×42 is a beefy laser rangefinding binocular, especially with the forehead rest attachment and RRS Cinch-LR attached. It looks a bit tight, but it fits securely in the Sentinel.
With more standard footprint and/or small binoculars such as the Vectronix Shooting Solutions Vector X, the Sentinel Bino Harness is more than accommodating.
The shoulder straps are also relatively thin and do not have any thick padding. They are still relatively comfortable, but may be an issue for long periods of time or with heavier loads in the rig. Furthermore, while the straps on the bottom side of the rig use quick release buckles, the ones at the top of the rig are held in with clasp buckles, which also allow the user to adjust the length of the straps.
If one felt so inclined, the straps could be removed relatively easily, although these are not “quick-release” like side-release buckles often used for other nylon gear. So removing and reinstalling the straps will take a little more time and one would need to put markings on the strap to index where they were before if they used a placement more towards the middle area of the strap adjustment range.
The Stone Glacier Sentinel Bino Harness has two wings covered in loop material. This is to accommodate optional accessories Stone Glacier makes specifically for the Sentinel platform.
Stone Glacier has a few accessory pouches to compliment the Sentinel, including a laser rangefinder pouch (monocular style), bottom pocket, and a bear spray holster. I acquired the Stone Glacier Sentinel Side Pocket (pouch) and Sentinel Ballistics Pocket (magazine and Kestrel pouch) as these would be most useful for me.
The Ballistics Pouch will hold a Kestrel weathermeter (e.g., Kestrel 5700 Elite) as well as a short action cartridge AICS, AW, or similarly sized magazine.
The Side Pouch is basically an all-purpose pouch where you can place small notepads, pens, and other gear.
The accessory pouches have a flap in order to wrap around and engage both sides of the wing of the Sentinel Bino Harness for a secure attachment.
At an MSRP / direct to consumer price of $139 USD, the Stone Glacier Sentinel Bino Harness is on par with other binocular harnesses on the market.
Pros:
- Relatively lightweight
- Degree of adaptability / customization with optional accessories
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Top flap lacks padding
- Shoulder straps lacks padding
- Shoulder straps lack a quick release
The Stone Glacier Sentinel Bino Harness is definitely more lightweight than other binocular chest harnesses out on the market, including ones that binocular manufacturers include in the box. Yet, the Sentinel does appear to have ample padding and rigidity in certain areas to protect against impacts or abrasions.
However, I don’t think the Sentinel will protect from the same type of impacts than neoprene based packs or packs with thicker padding.
The accessory platforms on the wings of the Sentinel are a distinct aspect of the Sentinel that I appreciate. It allows for some flexibility for customization, albeit with accessory pouches made by Stone Glacier.
There is less padding in this binocular harness compared to others on the market, such as the Marsupial Gear bino harness line. Whether this means less protection is up to debate. In practicality, the Sentinel Bino Harness should be adequate protection in the field.
The Stone Glacier Sentinel Bino Harness is well-deserving of consideration by anyone looking for a chest harness to carry binoculars. You can run a minimal configuration with no accessories for a very lightweight chest rig, or you can configure it with options to adapt to your requirements.
To acquire a Stone Glacier Sentinel Bino Harness and learn about the other accessories made for the Sentinel, visit the Stone Glacier website at https://www.stoneglacier.com/.
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