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Mountain Optics Harness Reviews

Hugh

Feb 12, 2022

5/5

This harness is fantastic! Comfortable

This harness is fantastic! Comfortable and the pockets just make sense. The latches for the side pockets are nice that they open away from the body. You can comfortably wear this harness all day without any rubbing or issues. My very broad chested human being and I am comfortable in this harness

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Hayden M.

Feb 12, 2022

3/5

Big Sitka Gear fan so

Big Sitka Gear fan so I chose their harness over some recommended competitors plus I thought it was nice that their accessory pockets are included and not extra attachments. Overall pleased with the pack but the strap design is pretty bad. Works okay over thin layers but nearly impossible to put on comfortably over the fanatic system in late season. Also find the flap to the bino pocket opens easily on its own as there is only two closing positions. Love their gear and the harness is decent but could use a couple tweaks.

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Alpine Z.

Feb 4, 2022

5/5

Best harness on the market!

Best harness on the market! I carry a Vortex 12x50 (it fits very tight as I would prefer smaller binos someday), Rangefinder (micro clothe in the bottom) and various items (battery, calls, multi tools) in the 3rd pouch. I keep my phone in the pocket behind the main compartment with my hunting tag and license in the zipper pouch. It fits to your body with the cross straps in the back. They make it very comfortable for the outside of any layer! My background is in the small unit tactics in the army, a ton of backcountry hiking/ice climbing, so I couldn't ask for a better form fitting harness that carries everything you need for the scout and stalk. It does not get in the way at all when shooting a bow. I've even used it to help prop my rifle butt up just a little higher with my day bag as the bipod for a well supported shot in the mountains. I love the solids color as it matches any camo!

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Military & Veterans

Paul K.

Jan 19, 2022

3/5

Concept sounds good, however there

Concept sounds good, however there are issues. The Front pocket is too small for both of my Leupold binoculars. The the X-straps in the back are too narrow, twist easily, and dig into your shoulders with the rig loaded. The shoulder straps should be wider and padded.

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Samuel

Nov 10, 2021

5/5

This is a great piece

This is a great piece of a gear. The ability to remove side pockets gives a lot of versatility in how you choose to attach gear that you want readily available. I live in Kodiak and take this with me all the time whether I’m actively hunting, scouting or just hiking. I have tried to attach bear spray in place of one of the removable pockets which I find to be a little awkward. I think having an attachment point on the bottom of the harness to allow for horizontal carry of spray would be a great addition. It is a bit of a stretch to say you could attach a pistol holster to this harness; however, I carry my Glock 40 in a Gunfighters Inc. Kenai chest holster underneath this harness. When the holster is canted to the correct angle it works perfectly with this harness. I give this harness 5 stars with a little room for improvement in accommodating a pistol holster and bear spray.

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Military & Veterans

Kevin

Oct 23, 2021

4/5

Almost perfect, really have next

Almost perfect, really have next to no complaints.

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Brian R.

Oct 13, 2021

2/5

I bought this for a

I bought this for a Wyoming mule deer hunt. My first impression was the pockets and closing system was good. I carry 12x50 binoculars and they fit good. After walking 8-10 miles my shoulders started to ache where the straps crossed my shoulders. By the time I shot my deer I was in actual pain. I think the straps need to have padding, the this straps ate terrible. I was expecting a better product for the price and Sitka name.

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Kyle T.

Sep 28, 2021

5/5

Works great for hunting and

Works great for hunting and scouting. I love the closure method, accessory pouches, and fit.

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Jeffery I.

Sep 25, 2021

5/5

I love this bino harness.

I love this bino harness. I was hesitant at first buying this for whitetail hunting only but the versatility and customization is phenomenal. I run the Vortex Crossfire HD 8x42 and they fit perfectly. Both side pockets are deep and big enough to fit a large number of items. I have my range finder on my right side, attached with an FHF bino tether for added security in the field. I keep my release and other various items in the left side. There are 2 pockets on the outside of the main bino pouch and I carry a knife in one and a wind checker in the other. the material is super quite and very durable. The one major draw back I have found is that it can be warm on your chest when it is hot out. The material on the back is made to protect your binos and doesn't breathe much but that is not something that would turn me away from purchasing this item. My favorite feature are the magnets on the lid. They allow you to silently open the lid and keep it in multiple positions while using your binos. This is well worth the money and I would recommend these to anyone needing a optic harness.

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Matt G.

Sep 19, 2021

5/5

With half star ratings, truly

With half star ratings, truly I’d give this product a 4.5 star review. As for all you women that rate this thing as anything below 4-star, your either lying to yourself (when you purchased this product) or lying to review when you left that. This is a well thought, customizable harness that purely just best-fit-the-bill for me. As a left handed bowhunter with a 55” chest, I can put my rangefinder on the left, my two release aids, Allens, and compass on right pocket and just barely fit 12x50 binos in main. Sure it’s a little more expensive and could be more comfortable while I'm training in June/July and some MINOR room to improve but I bought this to hunt during deer season not for spring turkey season or sweat my butt off in while I’m training! Tons of storage/adjustment & honestly this thing is the best I’ve seen on the market!

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Not H.

Sep 7, 2021

3/5

Researched many cases and this

Researched many cases and this one was the best. So I thought, I ordered and when it arrived my binoculars did not fit. I have the Bushnell trophy 10x50 binoculars, I am returning them and will look to another manufacturer.

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Zachary A.

Aug 27, 2021

5/5

I find the straps outstanding

I find the straps outstanding and simple to use: head in one hole, one arm in each of the other, strap around the waist. SIMPLE. The straps are a nice thickness/firmness that do not tangle or twist easily. I compared my binocular specs to the main pouch spec of this harness so therefore my Vortex Viper 12x50 and my Leopuld RX1400i rangefinder fits in the main & side pouch. I use windchecker/milkweed and fruit snacks/elk jerky in the 3rd side pouch. Theres two compartments behind the main pouch that I put my tags in the smaller zip pouch and phone in the big one, respectively. I use this harness for turkey hunting too, as the main pouch will fit my box call, side pouches for slate & striker. The halfway/partial open capability of the main pouch with the magnets and seamed hinges is a nice feature. All 3 pouches open with a stretch & clasp (SILENT) mechanism. This is my first Stika gear item and will definitely continue to browse their inventory when I need things in the future, for this harness is 100/100. Thanks Sitka, and good luck to all hunters!

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Jon L.

Aug 11, 2021

3/5

Well, I love the design

Well, I love the design on this product. It is an incredible balance of feature richness and simplicity. The side pouches are generous and extremely well designed, down to the stretchy pockets on the fronts of them. The dual pockets behind the main pouch (one zippered and one wide open) allow for separate tag and sidearm storage (I can comfortably fit a full sized Glock in there). I was pessimistic about the strap system at first, but it is very comfortable. This would be a 5 star review except for the size of the main pouch. It's a flat out deal killer, if you run anything over a short 10x42. My Maven B2 (7.1' with eye cups down) won't fit at all and the Maven C series 12x50 and Vortex Razor 12x50 only fit with the cups down. Ideally I'd like to be able to close the cover over a Maven B2 sized optic with a closure that keeps rain out from the side.

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Pro

Matt

Jul 23, 2021

5/5

This harness is great and

This harness is great and even stable enough to mount a pistol. I like the strap system a lot better than the old harness. It is easy to adjust, little foot print to not cause heat spots, and stays put. If they get twisted it doesn't bother me. The pouches are even big enough to hold your beer.

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Military & Veterans

Radek

Jul 3, 2021

4/5

Very nice product, but only

Very nice product, but only for small binoculars. I have Swarovski EL Range - is impossible close cover. I believe that Sitka makes a model for other than small binoculars.

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Pro

Robert T.

Jun 26, 2021

4/5

I love this harness so

I love this harness so much! It is awesome, I like that you can take the side pouches off if you'd like and they fit my binos very well (Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 10x42) I really like the lens cloth that is attached to the inside, because I'd loose or forget it if it wasn't, the little pockets on the side for my lense pen. The side pouches work really well for range finder and small gear such as eye wear and hearing protection. Only thing I don't get is why the bino harness lid opens towards you. Makes it a little annoying on the stock opening it to grab your binos everytime you need em, but isn't that big a deal. It is very comfortable, breathable, quite, and functional.

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Military & Veterans

Bobby

Jun 15, 2021

5/5

Great so far, you can

Great so far, you can even fit a full size 1911 in the rear slip behind the binocular pouch!

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Military & Veterans

Nick P.

Jun 14, 2021

5/5

Bought this bingo harness expecting

Bought this bingo harness expecting great quality and I wasn't disappointed at all. it fits nicely and has tons of room for everything you need on you. I use it with my vortex 12x50 bins and they fit snuggly. I definitely recommend these to anyone looking to get it.

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Driston L.

Jun 7, 2021

5/5

Really enjoy this Bino Harness,

Really enjoy this Bino Harness, love the modularity and the storage, I've been in situations where I could leave my pack and still have everything I need, fit my binos perfectly and my rangefinder as well. I actually enjoy the strap system, it's very comfortable of you know how to set it up properly, it's not hard to figure out. I do wish that Sitka would make a Bino Harness that was a little slimmer for warmer times of the year, something similar to the Leupold Bino Harness with a separate pouch for a rangefinder, other than that, totally recommend this Bino Harness!

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Mateo

May 12, 2021

4/5

Super pumped about this. Been

Super pumped about this. Been rocking my unit issued chest rig and this one is nearly identical. It works perfectly for when I've got my tree stand/climbing sticks on my back.

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Military & Veterans

Brian

May 12, 2021

4/5

Great product. The only issue

Great product. The only issue is that when I’m rifle hunting, this must be worn on the outside of my gear which covers my hunter orange vest. This would be a perfect harness if it was made in hunter orange.

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Southern R.

May 5, 2021

5/5

One of the best products

One of the best products yet!!!

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Nick

Apr 18, 2021

4/5

I actually run this for

I actually run this for spring turkey. Instead of binos, I keep my pot call in the main pouch which gives me quick and easy access so I can tuck it away quickly and easily if I get a response. Love the knife and mouth call storage area, and the smaller storage pieces are great for phones, GPS, gloves or whatever the hell you want to throw in them. Zipper pocket in the back keeps your license and tags. My only complaint is the strap system; it takes a bit of work to get it balanced and the ends come loose from the elastic a little too easily. I’m going to add velcro to mine to ensure I don’t have it hanging loose. Overall, I much preferred this to a pack as I don’t run decoys and the harness lets you keep it on while leaning against a tree.

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Chris

Feb 22, 2021

3/5

Very nice product, I agree

Very nice product, I agree with everyone else, the straps get tangled and make it not so easy to use. Would like to see them make a strap system for them like the old bino bivy system.

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Tim H.

Feb 12, 2021

4/5

I do really like this

I do really like this harness but there are a couple of issues. It does not fit either pair (two different brands) of my 10x42’s without pulling and stretching. It is a two handed operation to get it closed and latched. I hope it stretches enough over time to accommodate the binos’s. I do like the additional side pockets a lot. The narrow straps had concerned me but they work fine. It’s a great idea that needs a little improvement.

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Mt H.

Dec 10, 2020

5/5

I love this harness. I

I love this harness. I struggled finding one that was quiet, comfortable and functional that could keep all my 'stuff' easy to access but secure. This does the job perfectly.

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Pro

Casey S.

Dec 8, 2020

5/5

The mountain harness is without

The mountain harness is without a doubt the best bino caddy system i have ever used. Incredibly comfortable, super light, and well thought out. Since i have to pick something to criticize literally the only thing i can think of would be to have the two accessory pouches open from the front rather than the rear but that’s 100% personal preference.

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Greg M.

Nov 20, 2020

3/5

Well made but too small

Well made but too small for our 10x50 Binos which are taller than the case so the cover won’t close.

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Justin E.

Oct 29, 2020

5/5

Great Bino harness and my

Great Bino harness and my favorite to date. Very quiet, fits everything I need and the material has a nice water repellent to it. Only thing I would like to see for improvement is the ranger finder pockets lid. It would be nice if once you open it there was a way to keep it open, I cut the lid off one so I can pull my range finder out quicker and don’t have to fumble with the lid or make noise opening it. Other than the pocket lids I love this harness and fits all my needs.

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Military & Veterans

Nick O.

Oct 25, 2020

3/5

Overall the harness is ok.

Overall the harness is ok. What I like about the harness is the amount of items I can have in the different compartments. It fits my 10x42 leupolds nicely but I wouldn’t go much bigger. Comfort of the harness is decent and the large surface area of the front of the harness gives a very comfortable and stable feel to the hunter. The strap system is not very user friendly and can easily get tangled up/ twisted especially when layering up. The soft fleece type material on the very front of the harness that makes up the small side pouches on the main compartment and the outer pouches on the two side compartments is incredibly susceptible to snow and ice build up. It holds onto the elements and requires constant cleaning. If these things are not an issue for you then I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it. It will serve me well for archery seasons but I will be using another option for rifle seasons here in Montana.

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Military & Veterans

Brandon

Oct 10, 2020

2/5

Really wanted to like this

Really wanted to like this harness but the strap system is quite poor. Not having a central back attachment causes the straps to move around too much and create uneven stress points. For the price I really would have expected a much better design.

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Nick

Sep 20, 2020

5/5

I ordered the Sitka Mountain

I ordered the Sitka Mountain Optics Harness in Subalpine. First off, this harness is amazing. I have held and compared many other bino harnesses, and it's clearly superior. Lighter, modular design, quiet and everything else that you'd want in a bino harness. Prior to purchasing this I read many reviews and the size of binocular that it fits was very contradicting. So, here is the down low on fitting binoculars in it. I am currently using a pair of Vortex Viper HD 12x50's and have ZERO issues with using this harness. Despite what other reviews state, the Viper 12x50 binoculars fit like a glove. The dimension of this binocular is 6.5' x 5.2'. If you're on the fence about buying this harness, do it! Thanks for the quality Sitka!

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Ben M.

Sep 13, 2020

4/5

Pros: Quiet opening and closing

Pros: Quiet opening and closing if you move slowly. Great design and build quality. Cons: Bino opening should be a bit bigger, it's very tight on my 10x42s. The side modules open from the rear which is awkward to open but I could get used to it. The compartment grab tabs needs to be bigger as trying to open the lid with winter gloves on is very difficult. The back webbing design is not as good as the gen1 design because when throwing the harness on over a winter jacket the webbing gets twisted up nearly overtime, which is frustrating. The two side modules make it the best bino harness out there. Great purchase but could use some improvement!

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Brad M.

Aug 29, 2020

5/5

Best system I have ever

Best system I have ever used. Innovative and typical amazing Sitka quality. No other harness competes in versatility so far.

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Military & Veterans

Dave

Aug 15, 2020

2/5

Great build quality as expected.

Great build quality as expected. Huge negative- Zeiss Victory 10x42s do not fit without jamming them in. Getting them out is a struggle. Forget about leaving the eye cups Extended. Hugely disappointed in Sitka for making the harness to small to fit 10x42 binos without a struggle. Returning and looking elsewhere.

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Andy B.

Aug 14, 2020

2/5

Bought this harness hoping it

Bought this harness hoping it would solve all of my extra issues. range finder, GPS, etc. It did that, But have to say the strap system is the worst I've ever dealt with. For once i wish these guys who think their hunters would ask a professional for some advise. These common mistakes would never happen.

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Carter R.

Jul 5, 2020

5/5

This bino harness is legit.

This bino harness is legit. All the right pockets in all the right spots. Absolutely love it! Do be aware that it will not fit 15x binos... I intentionally bought it for my new 15x Leupold Santiams and they will not fit... I would say 12x or smaller for this harness.

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Pro

Dbowman

Jun 29, 2020

5/5

I love the modularity of

I love the modularity of this product. It reminds me of when I was on active duty and changing load out for mission set. Great product. I cannot get the lid to close well on my vortex 10x50s. They are tall enough to keep the flap up high enough to really strain the closing. My 8x42s fit great. I love the pockets and stash places that are built in. I will get years of use from this bino rig I am sure.

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Military & Veterans

Taylor C.

Jun 27, 2020

5/5

This harness is genius. It’s

This harness is genius. It’s lightweight, well built and super functional. The bino compartment is a little snug with my vortex razor uhd 10x42’s but they do fit. All in all it’s a stellar harness. I’ll be using it for the 3D season as well and it’s got great room for a range finder and a couple different releases. Nice job.

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Brian

Jun 26, 2020

1/5

Why would you not make

Why would you not make this in a EV2 pattern?

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Pro

Joel S.

Jun 23, 2020

5/5

I really like the layout

I really like the layout and fit compared to the last Sitka bino harness and the extra pockets are super accessible. My only complaint is it barely fits my Zeiss Victory SF 10x42's, this would seem to be a standard bino along with Swaro ELs and Leica Noctovids to confirm fit (can't confirm if the last two fit). The lid will not close with the eyecups raised.

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Austin

May 7, 2020

3/5

There are some great things

There are some great things and not so great things I’ve found with this harness after taking it out on some summer scouting trips. Pros: >excellent modular design that allows you to customize the layout and what you want to carry. I hope sitka thinks about making their own side arm holster for this. >typical Sitka build quality that shows me this will take a beating and keep going. >intelligent mapping of brushed fabrics to keep noise down on the exterior side compartments. >ridgid enough construction to ensure that your binos shouldn’t slip out when open. >the first rear opening lid design on the binocular portion that I trust won’t open when I don’t want it to and stows out of the way nicely with the hood magnet. Cons: >almost impossible to latch with a 12x50 binocular. I’m using some Swarovski EL 12x50s and you have to stretch the bungee latch to its full extent and pull the top plastic receiver clip past a normal tension. Even then, it’s seems like it’s ready to pop at any second. I even tried a buddy’s 10x42s in there and it was even very snug. This is absolutely not a one size fits all or even most harness. Sitka would be wise to post internal dimensions for perspective buyers. Nitpicks: > I’m not overly fond of the strap retention bands for the excess amount Of your shoulder straps. You could obviously modify this with cutting and burning the amount you don’t need, sewing down the ends, or zip tying, but it would be much better if they used some sort of a Velcro strap or pliable, notched, strap. >the removable side compartments are not as easy in and out as I would like for a rangefinder. They are also a little louder than I would like if you need to drop something in there quickly in a hunting situation. There is definitely a pretty resonant thud. You could fix this by cutting a little piece of foam or something to put in the bottom to dampen or I would be cautious. In conclusion: This harness has so many good ideas going for it, but is not at all designed for larger binoculars. They could fix this by either 1) deepening the bino compartment in an “XL” version 2) increasing the length of the bungee latch or 3) adding one more plastic receiver clip up higher to accommodate taller binocular profiles. I also hope they continue to iterate on it in regards to modular accessories.

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Patrick

Apr 5, 2020

2/5

Hunters sweat on their back

Hunters sweat on their back while hiking with a pack because of the contact surface area. Your design will make every persons chest sweat similar to their back by covering their entire chest with this harness, with or without the side pockets being worn. My opinion... this product needs to go back to the drawing board. You can still place molle loops in the side straps for additional module pockets if desired instead of covering the entire chest with thick fabric.

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Aaron

Mar 10, 2020

3/5

Case needs to be adjustable,

Case needs to be adjustable, doesn’t fit my 12x42 Leupolds; my Ziess Victory RFs 10x42s come next week and it sounds like those won’t fit either... my 10x42 Leupolds fit snugly... would be nice to see an expansion option for large optics... especially the Victory RFs - I would suggest that most of the people buying Sitka gear are premium gear junkies and that means RF binos and probably the ziess victory set... Other that that this harness is perfect, dead quiet materials, snug fit, no heavy straps to make you hot....

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John M.

Mar 9, 2020

3/5

well made but does not

well made but does not fit the Swarovski EL Range 10x42, had to return

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Josh

Jan 11, 2020

4/5

Overall, I love this harness.

Overall, I love this harness. I agree with other reviews that the straps can get a bit tangled at times, but so far hasn't really been an issue for me. I think the only real improvement needed is some sort of velcro tab to manage the excess straps, rather than cheap elastic bands. That would be a wonderful addition in my opinion. Otherwise, it's a great and well thought out design, especially when you consider what you would pay for a GPS pouch and rangefinder pouch in addition to a different harness.

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Lee

Jan 10, 2020

3/5

Leica 10x42 rangefinder binos barely

Leica 10x42 rangefinder binos barely fit. Requires both hands to put back in harness and have to really stretch the clasp and use both hands to get closed. Storage on either side is too small for iPhone 8. Would not recommend or purchase again without some changes.

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