Developing the Ridgeline Kahu Bino Case
Ridgeline Ambassador Rowan Brady was integral to development of the Ridgeline Kahu bino Harness, so we invited him to tell you himself about the process. Have a read and see what really goes on behind the scenes in product development and why the features are chosen.
Developing the Ridgeline Kahu Bino case – Rowan Brady
Named so in honour of a bird of prey with deadly sharp vision common to New Zealand and Australia. These birds of prey hunt open areas and utilise their keen eyesight and speed of attack to find the dead possum or rabbit in the middle of the road. Also known as the Australasian Harrier Hawk. I thought it sounded kinda like ‘carrier’ and being a predator animal surveying the land is exactly what a wearer of a bino harness is. Also abundant throughout most of New Zealand including the coastal fringe, estuaries, wetlands, pine forest, farmland and high-country areas.
Fitting that both hunters would generally also be hunting wide open areas and spend a good deal of their time surveying the areas their prey resides before identifying the quarry and making a plan of attack.
When I first presented the idea to the Ridgeline team about producing a bino case everyone was keen to see how it could be made tough and remain affordable. It is well understood it was a priority given the bino harness is key to protecting one’s high value investment and a key tool in the hunting process. It is impractical to have them swinging from your neck or down your side when you are tramping for miles or climbing around the tops. If you have to extract them from your pack you might have missed out on being the first to spot the quarry, we know the bragging rights are seriously diminished.
So began the thorough development process, prototype one was just a few pieces that did the rounds through the bush and over the mountains. It was slim with a zip all round, didn’t give quick access to the glass, easily held a more compact set of binos but the final product had to manage various sizes and shapes and in some way be easily modified to accommodate them all. One that made production I felt wasn’t on the mark as it didn’t completely enclose and protect the binos. The top hood pulls up and over, to be fair they work, some people love them. I much prefer the Kahu Bino Harness system for its shape and the fully enclosing magnetic closure top is a premium feature.
The last couple prototypes and two that went into production fit a range of binos, Ridgeline have allowed for the large glass and smaller units to be accommodated securely with the help of internal foam shims. The user can leave the light soft foam shims stacked in there for the shorter units or remove enough of them to make room for the larger sets.
The back cross style harness is very comfortable and allows the wearer to adjust so the main body of the case sits higher or lower against the chest. Two thin security leash straps connect easily to your binos with small clips so that if you drop your binos they will not get damaged falling onto the ground or down the hill. They are easily unclipped if (when) you need to hand your good glass to your cheap friend that can’t make out what you’re trying to point out with his 8 x 10 Watevas. We’ve all been there.
Most modern-day hunters and huntresses will have their mobile phone with them, who’s going to know you went hunting if it doesn’t make the gram right? They do make great cameras these days that don’t take up much space. A steady hand and you can get some close up shots with a phone camera held carefully up to your binos, and the generously sized zipped shut slip in the rear closest to your chest will protect your phone. I know the large S22 Ultra fits perfect in the Kahu chest pouch so unless you rock out like your Aunty Debbie with a A4 sized tablet you should be alright. Also, a great slip for your laminated drop chart or map if you are that way inclined.
There are elastised accessory slips/pockets on either side of the main compartment and we eventually went with ones that aren’t symmetrical for a very good reason, we all know not everything we have is the same length. I always ear on the side of caution when putting hunting accessories into pockets or slips that cannot be zipped up. I can say after numerous trips and falls I have yet to lose anything out of the Kahu side pockets. In the taller right side I have a Merkator Knife (a mean German made carbon steel folding blade) and a DMT sharpener (diamond grit fold out, fine and course on opposite sides) that fit perfectly together in the long slip, and a lens pen for removing dust and grit and polishing the binos (some manufacturers will not provide warranty if you use anything else). In the shorter left-hand side, I keep a wind indictor/ puffer bottle for easy access and use when quickly checking why animals are spooking out in front of me or double checking I will be getting my hunting companion right in the biscuit with some (did something die up there?) gaseous emissions.
The main compartment that houses the binoculars are easy to access given the fact Ridgeline went with the strong magnetic closures, they are quite the production expense and as we know and love Ridgeline aim to provide quality and still remain affordable to the masses. This magnetic closure takes them to the next level it is what I believe make the harness top quality and put them in the top class of glass protector carrier systems. Bowhunters originally complained during the testing phase that they audibly snapped shut but during development trying to suppress the closure only weakened the hold on the lid and c’mon to be fair if you are within earshot of an animal it’s unlikely you’d be getting your binos out again. Invest in some contact lenses or use some caution in the final stages of your stalk. Some of Ridgeline’s bowhunting testers mentioned you can push the lid almost inside out in the final moments of your stalk so it’ll never shut audibly on you if you’re worried about it.
There are angled wings on either side in line against your body and fitted with moly tabs to attach anything else you need to carry. Ridgeline offer accessory and more specifically rangefinder pouches in plain or camo finishes to match your harness. A quick access rangefinder pouch will give you that last minute opportunity to check the target distance and elastic to hook closure systems will make for quick release and easy ‘no look’ securing. I do find returning it to the pouch without looking needs some work, but everything is easier with practice.
The bino harness system is a great product and allows the owner to carry a number of necessary items not just your binos. It is very convenient to have it all at arm’s reach in front of the wearer and the steel hooks to secure the straps around your body allow easy removal of the system when you want to lie on your front or undress for whatever reason.
The steel hooks are an absolute fail-safe key feature and fit flat against one’s body, you can rest assured these hooks are virtually unbreakable and adornment and removal is silent. No loud snapping quick release plastic buckles to worry about breaking on you.
The Ridgeline Kahu Bino Harness system has allowed me to carry less in my main pack given all it can carry and it balances wellbeing in the front of me and not all packed on my pack or around my waist. I can’t recommend it enough and hope you find it valuable protecting your gear and helps make your hunting pursuits that much better.
