Field Tested: Rhino Blinds 180 See Through

A portable ground blind is a tool every serious bowhunter needs in his or her arsenal. Let’s face it; there are many great ambush locations — open fields, food plots, fence crossings, pond berms and the like — where treestands and saddles simply won’t work. A blind is tailor-made for such scenarios, keeping you comfortable, concealed and protected from the elements as you wait for game to pass within bow range.

Even on hunts where spot-and-stalk is your preferred tactic, keeping a portable ground blind handy is a wise move that has saved many hunts. For example, if you run into an unseasonably warm week for your elk hunt, setting a blind on a well-used wallow or waterhole could be just the ticket for filling your tag.

Portable blinds have been around for many years, though recent innovations make new offerings such as the Rhino Blinds 180 See Through far superior to the old blind that may have been knocking around your garage for the past decade. As the name implies, the big deal about the 180 See Through is the fact that two of the blind’s four wall panels are made from a unique, two-way mesh that allows you to look out with a panoramic view of your surroundings while preventing deer, elk, antelope and other game from seeing you inside. This is a huge upgrade over conventional blinds that are often criticized for an overall lack of visibility. I assure you that won’t be the case in the 180 See Through, which makes you feel as though you are looking through a pair of large, pane-glass windows.

Getting in and out of the 180 See Through is quick and quiet thanks to a large, zipperless door on the back wall. Another key feature is a set of top and bottom brush loops so you can add native vegetation to better conceal your setup.

As for shooting from the blind, the 180 See Through features large triangular windows in the center of three walls — all except the back — that can be quietly adjusted to your desired size via a series of “silent-slide” height adjusters and some hook-and-loop closures. The back panel features a single, rectangular window to help you capitalize on shot opportunities behind the blind.

Another important consideration when choosing a ground blind is durability and longevity. Rhino addresses that by adding extra, reinforced stitching at all stress points around the corners and hubs and building the blind with Triplebond Fabric that has a DWR (durable water-repellent) treatment to keep you dry in the rain along with UV and anti-microbial treatments to prevent fading, dry rot and mold.

Setting up the 180 See Through is a cinch. Like all hub-style blinds, all you have to do is pop the walls into place by pulling on each hub during setup and collapse them by pushing on each hub during takedown. The 180 See Through weighs about 16 pounds and measures 58 inches square at the base, 75 inches square at the center hubs and stands 66 inches tall in the center. Rhino advertises the blind at a three-person capacity, but if you want ample room to maneuver during your hunt, I’d limit it to two hunters and their gear.

The 180 See Through is available in your choice of Mossy Oak Break-Up Country (pictured), Mossy Oak Bottomland, Realtree Edge or Predator Deception camo and comes with a backpack-style carry bag, ground stakes and tie-down ropes. — Editor Christian Berg