Field Tested: Elevation Modular Gear System

These well-designed accessories keep critical gear protected and at the ready.

When bowhunting, certain items must always be close at hand. Binoculars, rangefinders and release aids probably top the list for most hunters, though a host of other items such as trail cameras, game calls, smartphones, scents, knives and licenses certainly qualify.

As the years of bowhunting experience gather under our belts, we each develop our own “system” for how we like to carry our gear in the field. And while I am a firm believer in the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” I also believe there is always room for improvement.

Enter the Modular Gear System (MGS) from Elevation, a smartly designed series of accessories that will help keep your optics and other essentials safe and organized while allowing you to quickly and quietly access them in the field. I recently had the opportunity to test four MGS items — the Encompass Bino Harness, Rangefinder Case, Utility Pouch and Utility Box — that will be mainstays of my hunting outings this fall.

These days, a good bino harness is a must for serious bowhunters. In fact, I rarely head afield to scout or hunt without a good binocular on my chest, and I give Elevation high marks for making a durable, comfortable, quiet harness that will accommodate your favorite 8X, 10X or even 12X glass. Highlights of the Encompass harness include padded shoulder straps and neoprene-sheathed, quick-connect side buckles; dual magnetic closures for the main binocular compartment; a zippered front pocket perfect for handheld release aids; stretch side pockets for wind checkers and other small items; an integrated lens-cleaning cloth; integrated tree strap; and built-in, adjustable binocular tethers that allow you to keep your hands free when necessary.

Meanwhile, Elevation’s Rangefinder Case melds seamlessly with the bino harness via the MGS attachment points. It is easy to attach the case to the bottom of the harness or, as I prefer, to one of the two chest straps, keeping your range reader within easy reach at all times. The Rangefinder Case features both magnetic and elastic closures, a push-up design that makes it easy to get your rangefinder out of the case, small side pockets to store small items such as SD cards and an integrated lens cloth.

Much like the Bino Harness and Rangefinder Case, the MGS Utility Pouch and Utility Box go together like peanut butter and jelly. Featuring a four-point, snap attachment system on the back, the Utility Pouch rides perfectly on a belt for summertime scouting missions, making it easy to keep a couple trail cams, a pair of pruning shears and more at the ready. And during hunting season, this pouch will undoubtedly be attached to my tree saddle to help store tether lines, haul ropes and more. I love the fact that, unlike most saddle pouches, the Utility Pouch holds its shape, a feature that makes it much easier to both remove and stow items with one hand while hanging 20 feet off the ground. A drawstring closure on the top of the pouch keeps gear secure while hiking to and from the truck, and smaller side pockets are perfect for holding bottles of attractant scent or scent-elimination spray.

For smaller items, use the many rows of webbing loops on the front of the pouch to attach the MGS Utility Box. Featuring a full zipper closure and smaller interior pockets, the Utility Box is perfect for organizing multiple SD cards, spare trail-cam batteries, licenses, field-dressing kits, mouth calls and more.

All four of these useful, feature-rich MGS items are constructed from strong but quiet fabrics in Ambush green. When used collectively as a system, these products easily provide sufficient gear storage to make summer scouting hikes and even quick morning and afternoon hunts without the need for an additional pack. Honestly, they're a perfect choice for today’s mobile bowhunter. — Editor Christian Berg

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