S4Gear LockDown Optics Deployment System
We recently had
an interesting product sent to us by S4Gear: the LockDown Optics Deployment
System. Don’t let the name put you off – this is just a really sophisticated
harness strap. Most people who use binoculars already know about harness
straps and many are using them. A traditional neck strap leaves all the
weight of the binocular focused on the back of your neck, right on top
of your spine. Even the lightest binoculars get heavy after enough hours
in the field. A traditional neck strap also leaves the binocular loose
on your chest, so just walking can cause the binocular to bounce up and
down on your ribs, which gets old in a hurry! A harness re-distributes
the weight of the optic between your shoulders and your middle back at
the same time that it more closely secures it in front, limiting the scope
of that chest-pounding action. So a harness increases your comfort in
wearing a binocular.
The S4Gear LockDown
takes the harness concept a few steps further for even greater comfort
and convenience. The strap is designed only for roof prism binoculars,
so if you’re carrying a porro prism, you can pretty much stop reading
now. The LockDown harness comes in two sizes for roof prisms between 4.5
and 6 inches long, and those from 6 to 7.5 inches in height. The device
also substitutes for the rainguard and objective lens caps. The binocular
housing section consists of a semi-rigid, foam-covered shelf that the
binocular fits under, and a flexible flap beneath it that can be brought
up and locked in place when storing the binocular or protecting it from
the elements (see photo view). The binocular attaches by the strap attachment
lugs to a pair of bungee-like cords; then you adjust the tension on those
cords so that it fits snugly up under the shelf. The shelf acts like a
rainguard, but it’s also maintains the tension of the system. To deploy
the optic, grab the barrels and tug slightly down and then out away from
you. It’s a little odd getting used to it, but once you are used to
it, it’s excellent.
The housing is
attached to a broad, padded, Y-shaped strap where the arms of the Y encircle
your neck and the single straight section goes right down your spine.
Two elastic straps at the base of the straight section fit around the
midriff and snap into place with double-toothed clasps to the base of
the housing. The midriff straps pull the binocular housing tight against
your body, preventing it from banging on your chest. Additionally, by
obviating the need for a rainguard and objective lens caps, this harness
actually lightens your binocular ensemble. Those items can add several
ounces to the total weight of the binocular. It may not sound like much,
but the longer you are out on any given day, the more significant it becomes.
The straps are available in a black and gray color scheme or with Realtree
AP camouflage for $5 extra. The inner portion of the strap has kind of
a waffle weave texture to it so it breathes a bit better. Clearly a lot
of thought went into the design of this harness.
Several of us field-tested
the LockDown harness extensively and found it comfortable and easy to
use. You can set it with one of the belt straps permanently locked so
you just slip the Y-section over your head, attach one clip and you’re
ready to go. We’ve tried it with a variety of binoculars from a number
of manufacturers, and we had no issues with fit once the tension in the
straps and cords was properly adjusted. The device is fairly intuitive
– it doesn’t take a genius to figure out how to attach the binocular
to it or how to affix the straps. Because of its configuration, it’s
impossible to twist any part of the harness, though you could tangle the
belt section if you try. It’s even pretty comfortable when you’re
riding in a car. We found that the multiple advantages of this harness
design make it well worth the little bit of extra cost relative to traditional
harness straps. Which brings us to the price: the S4Gear LockDown harness
sells for $39.99. Overall, the S4Gear LockDown is simply a great product
and we highly recommend it to anyone who owns a roof prism binocular.
The S4Gear LockDown Harnessses were discontinued in January 2018. Since then,
Nikon has made some major improvements and in January 2019, introduced their
Trex system with the Nikon Trex EXO Carry System, $69.95,
as the closest alternative harness. We will be reviewing the Nikon system in the future.