Maybe it’s just me, but growing up hunting in Texas I had never heard of a bino-pack, much less the AGC Bino Pack. I was completely oblivious to what it even was. Everyone I knew, myself included, always put their gear in an old backpack and headed out to hunt. For the record, I grew up hunting mostly box blinds, so the need for a bino-pack would have probably seemed strange to me if I had known what they were. Typically, these packs are geared and catered to Western Big Game hunting, but boy is that the far from the truth.
There are several brands and options on the market, so finding the right fit for your needs and style of hunting is important. I had to take into consideration not only my personal hunting needs, but also my needs as a hunting guide, which is what led me to choose the Alaska Classic HBS (with M.A.X. Pocket) by Alaska Guide Creations. This bino-pack stores all the gear I need in one quickly accessible unit, sitting comfortably right on my chest. In the field, having access to your gear at a moments notice is vital in situations where a quick decision has to be made. I’m often moving quickly and making fast decisions on spot and stalk hunts, so my gear being at my fingertips at all times is important and plays a huge role for the success rate in the field.
AGC BINO PACK – Features
- Main Compartment- The main compartment measures 6.75-inch tall x 6.5-inch wide x 3.5 inches deep and is the hub for any bino-pack. After all, these things are ultimately made for your binoculars. The Alaska Classic fits sizes 10×50 to 12×50 perfectly; keeping your binoculars protected and out of harmful weather conditions. Personally, I use 12×42’s and still have a small amount of extra space for gloves, a headlamp, or other smaller items that I need in the field.
- Front Compartment- The front compartment measures 4.5-inch tall x 6-inch wide x 1.5 inches deep. This compartment stores my rangefinder for quick access, with a little extra room if I needed it for another small piece of gear.
- Side Compartments- The side compartments measure 2.5-inch wide x 1 inch deep, which are great for a knife, flashlight, bullets, small broadhead case, first aid items, or any other gear of that size.
- Rear Compartment- The rear compartment measures 6-inch tall x 6.5 inches wide “flat”. This compartment sits right against your chest, so I recommend flat items be put in there if needed. This would be a great place for your hunting license and tag, band aids, zip ties, neck gator, or any other item of gear that can comfortably lay against your chest.
- M.A.X. Pocket (optional)- The M.A.X. Pocket is an additional pocket that can be added on for more storage if needed. This pocket measures about 1 inch tall and is the same depth and width as the main compartment. I highly recommend this addition for the extra storage, because you will most likely need it. In mine, I store extra replacement blades for one of my knives, reflector trail markers, my SD card reader, and sometimes more.
- Potential Add-ons- AGC offers some add-ons for other gear needed in the field, such as a rangefinder pouch, handgun holster, and radio/gps pouch. They also partnered with a company called Razco to provide custom fit holsters that mount beneath the bino-pack. This is the option that I chose because it perfectly met my need of where I wanted to carry my handgun.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t already use a bino-pack, go get an AGC bino pack, because this piece of equipment is a GAME CHANGER. I know there are many options, but I give you my word, the packs made by Alaska Guide Creations are top notch and I recommend them to anyone looking for a bino-pack. The plan for anyone going into the woods is to always pack in as light as possible, and hopefully pack out a little bit heavier, which is why the Alaska Classic by AGC is my go to for storing my essential gear.
