Gear Review: Cotton Carriers
Written By: Joseph Andreasen
There is one thing that really separates those who casually spend time outside and true outdoor enthusiasts. Are you obsessed with figuring out how you are going to carry all this stuff outside? If you are like me then you gravitate toward all the super fancy backpacks and neck straps, tripods and duffel bags when you walk into an REI or Bass Pro Shops.
As a birder/backpacker I have been obsessed with finding the perfect system for carrying my binoculars, and I think I found it.
Most optic brands will give a fairly usable neck strap with a purchase of a pair of binoculars. When I got my first pair of Vortex binos, they came with a pretty squishy and comfortable neck strap. They even came with a front pouch carrying case. It all looked great coming out of the box! I quickly found that trying to use all of that in the field while searching for birds was a bit of a pain.
This may confuse some hunters, but I don’t like front carry pouches. I hear you. They keep your glass away from the elements and they keep it safe from impacts. For me, the speed with which I can get the glass to my eyes is the difference between whether or not I see a rare bird for the first time. Flipping flaps and fumbling with straps and cords takes a little too long for my taste. Most binoculars are waterproof enough for my use, and a good waterproof outer layer is easier for me to zip over them. I ditched the front carry pouches pretty quick. You won’t see me in the field with those.
Option number two was the neck strap. A good neck strap can do a pretty good job for excursions lasting an hour or less. No matter how comfortable they are, they will always place all the weight on the back of your neck. Try keeping that on for a 16 mile hike. It just becomes way too much weight focused on an easily exhausted part of the body.
Option number three for me is what my wife called the “Binocular Bra”. These are an X pattern of straps that meet between the shoulder blades and wrap over the shoulders and under the armpits meeting in the front at your optics. These are better than the neck strap, but I always had issues with them either being uncomfortable or too elastic. Even describing them that way reinforces the nickname my wife gave them.
I was finally introduced to Cotton Carriers by my brother-in-law. He is also a birder, but he is much more into the photography side of birding. Cotton Carriers market mostly to photographers. Their system is made for anyone carrying optics that they care about for long periods of time. They are also really good for anyone needing quick and secure access to their optics.
I use the CCS G3 Harness. It is shaped like a vest with super light and breathable material. The front of the chest has a plate with a bracket connection where the binoculars go. This positioning spreads the weight out better, and with it, I can go all day without feeling the weight. The harness comes with a secure bracket fastener that stays on the binoculars. I barely notice the bracket on my binoculars and it is actually good for stabilizing in my hands. The bracket slides into the chest plate and gravity turns the binoculars into a locked in position. All you have to do to take them off is turn and lift.
One of my favorite features is that the shoulder straps of the harness are narrower than the straps of a typical backpack. Not only can I wear my binoculars for longer doing more strenuous activities, but I can also do that all while wearing a backpack. The positioning of the straps means that they don’t double up and get in the way of each other. The breathable mesh on the back actually makes wearing a backpack with the harness nicer than a backpack on its own.
When I hike with my family, we usually put my little two year old in a child-carrying hiking backpack for part of the hike. We get a lot further if he rides in the backpack for the tougher parts of the hikes. When I’m putting him in the backpack, I always have to lean over to adjust straps and get his feet in the stirrups. With the CCS G3 harness, I can have my binoculars bracketed in during this process and not worry about them falling on my son or hitting him in the head. This was a problem with the “Binocular Bra” and the neck straps. I had to put the binoculars on after hoisting the hiking backpack onto my back. This was impossible with the “Bra” and difficult with the neck straps. The process is much more fluid and easy with Cotton Carriers.
Another useful feature is the belt holster with the same bracket system. The holster comes with the CCS G3 harness. It offers another option for bracket positioning off the side near the pocket. While it is handy and out of the way, I usually only have my binoculars and scope. I would rather not feel the weight of my binos. My brother-in-law uses the belt holster for his binoculars and the chest harness for his camera. The various configurations mean options for all outdoorsmen of any hobby.
If you are serious about keeping your optics safe, ready, and weightless while moving through the outdoors, then check out Cotton Carriers, and let us know what you think!