One of the First and Still One of the Best: Marsupial’s Enclosed Bino Pack

When I first started hunting, bino harnesses were few and far between. Nowadays, they are standard, and for good reason. They offer ultimate protection from the elements, quick access to optics, and a much more efficient fit than those old elastic bino straps we all know so well.

In a sea of so many different bino packs today, the Marsupial Enclosed Bino Pack is one that stands tall.

Marsupial makes a wide range of different products, but the brand is mostly known for its magnetic, forward-opening bino harness. Being that the company is based right here in my home state of Arizona, there wasn’t a way in the world that I could go without testing one of its packs.

Do the diehard Marsupial fans have it right? Do these bino harnesses hold their own with the competition?

In short: In the realm of front-opening bino packs, Marsupial is a leader (and one of the first). The Enclosed Bino Pack is a perfect example of why. Hunters looking for a fully sealed system on their chest will be very happy with this. No product is perfect, but the shortcomings of this bino harness are pretty minuscule.

Marsupial Enclosed Bino Pack: Review

Overview

For those that don’t know, Marsupial formed back in 2015 and was the first one to really bring a front-opening magnetic bino harness to market. It was different and it was fresh. Naturally, hunters took notice. Now, more than a few people sport a Marsupial bino pack.

The Enclosed Bino Pack offers full containment as well as its trademarked front-folding magnetic lid design. Bino pack sizes offered are small (14 ounces), medium (14.5 ounces), and large (15.5 ounces). So, it doesn’t matter what size binoculars you have; Marsupial has you covered. The brand also offers this bino pack in eight different colors, which is a huge plus on the aesthetics side of things.

All Enclosed Bino Packs come with a stretchy side pocket on each side and a front zippered pocket. This is all covered in a durable stretch fabric that allows for more volume within these pockets. Oh, and before I forget, there is a rear cellphone pocket as well. This means that you’ll have what you need at the ready past that of your optics.

Features

Front-Folding Magnetic Lid (One-Handed Operation)

Of course, first and foremost, we must talk a little about that front-folding magnetic lid. After all, it’s kind of Marsupial’s thing. This is a slick system that offers one-handed operation. By simply grabbing a small pull tab on the lid and pulling it forward, you’ll uncover the inside of the pack. And with the same pull tab, it’s just as easy to close. This lid is secured by a strong magnet that ensures that the pack will stay closed until you need your optics.

Full Containment

This is called the “Enclosed” Bino Pack. Unlike the Standard Bino Pack from Marsupial, this Enclosed Bino Pack features taller side walls. By design, these walls, paired with the lid, offer full containment from the elements — a neat feature that will no doubt help when the weather hits.

Secures Open as Well

To add to the lid, there is not just one magnet to close it. There is another one to help keep it open. By pulling the lid via that pull tab and toward the bottom of the bino pack, you can secure the lid open, so it’s not flapping in the wind and getting in the way of things.

MOLLE Attachment

On the bottom of the bino pack, there is a MOLLE attachment. With this, you’ll be able to choose from several accessory attachments that Marsupial sells, or simply choose your own to attach to the bottom of the chest pack. This is a great feature that adds to its versatility.

My Experience

When I first took the Enclosed Bino Pack out of the Marsupial box that landed on my doorstep, I was impressed with the look. This bino pack is super neat and tidy looking, which makes it very easy on the eyes. Traditionally, hunting gear of the past always seemed to have a messy kind of look to it. Loosey-goosey fits and not a huge emphasis on aesthetics were the norm. Marsupial does not fall into that category in the least.

Once I put the bino harness on, I immediately noticed how high up this pack naturally sits. It sits on your chest, like a chest rig should, not down by your stomach. Because of that, it fits very uniformly to your body. So, the fit is as neat as the look.

I put on a ton of miles with this harness and largely had a good experience with it. It didn’t swing left, right, or away from my chest at all. My binos were easily accessible, and I didn’t have to look down in order to operate the bino pack. Shooting my bow with the pack on was also a breeze.

What’s Wrong?

This bino pack doesn’t have a whole lot wrong with it, but there is one shortcoming that stood out to me.

Rangefinder Pouch

While the bino pack is as neat as can be, I can’t say the same thing about the Rangefinder pouch, which is a bummer. The rangefinder pouch operates just like bino pack does, with a front-folding, magnetic lid. It also can be secured open the same way via a magnet on the bottom of the pouch.

The thing that doesn’t quite sit well is, well … how it sits. It hangs forward a bit. What I’m trying to say is, it just doesn’t sit right. The pouch itself is fine, though it certainly isn’t as beefy as the pack itself. However, the attachment is really lacking. It’s just floppy. I have no doubt, with how much these guys pay attention to aesthetics, that this will likely change in the future.

Marsupial Enclosed Bino Pack: Conclusion

In a day and age where we spend no shortage of spare change on our hunting optics and need the ability for quick, efficient access to them, it just doesn’t make sense not to be running a quality bino harness. It’s a no-brainer.

So, whether you’re late to the game or are in the market for a new chest rig, don’t overlook adding the Enclosed Bino Pack from Marsupial to your list of harnesses to check out. There’s a reason so many folks are wearing them.