Alpine Innovations Bino Bandit

[FLO]

The Alpine Innovations Bino Bandit fits most binoculars used by astronomers.

Reduces wind and glare in daytime and prevents ambient light from entering the eyepieces at night. 

Made from soft flexible neoprene so easy to fit and comfortable to use. 

 

[Mark at Beaufort]

Just ordered these for my deep sky observing with my Apollo 15x70 binos. Although I have used an observing hood these appear to be a better option especially when I use filters in the eyecup. 

[callisto]

14 minutes ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

Just ordered these for my deep sky observing

Me too 😁

[Ken82]

Funny I was just looking at these a couple of weeks ago on another website. Just a coincidence 🤔

Just ordered 👍

[AdeKing]

I have had one for a while, as recommended by @BinocularSky.

Very effective at cutting out extraneous light indeed.

Ade

[FLO]

We have just learned the brand name is now 'Alpine Innovations Bino Bandit'. 

Apologies for the confusion. 

[Second Time Around]

I've had one for about a year and can thoroughly recommend it.  Great that FLO are now stocking them.

[FLO]

Stock is now a little low but more will arrive at our warehouse tomorrow or Monday 🙂 

[Sp@ce_d]

Look interesting

2 hours ago, FLO said:

The Alpine Innovations Bino Bandit fits most binoculars used by astronomers.

Reduces glare from the sun in daytime and prevents ambient light from entering the eyepieces at night. 

Made from soft flexible neoprene so easy to fit and comfortable to use. 

 

Looks interesting, are these big enough to still provide adequate shielding for glasses wearers?

"Reduces glare from the sun in daytime" NOTE:  Obviously nobody should be looking at or near the Sun without proper Solar filters in place!.. jus' saying 🤔 

[FLO]

1 hour ago, Sp@ce_d said:

Looks interesting, are these big enough to still provide adequate shielding for glasses wearers?

Depends on the size of your eye glasses but for most I would say - yes. 

1 hour ago, Sp@ce_d said:

Obviously nobody should be looking at or near the Sun without proper Solar filters in place!.. jus' saying 🤔 

I hope nobody would read our description then conclude they were intended for unfiltered solar observing but, to be 100% sure, I have edited my first post 🙂 

NEVER use binoculars to observe the Sun without a suitable Solar Filter! 

Steve 

[Ricochet]

Has anyone tried using these with binoviewers? Are they a pain to keep fitting with eyepiece changes? 

[AdeKing]

I've used them with my Maxbrights and it can be a bit of a faff if you are swapping eyepieces every five minutes, but if you're swapping only occasionally then its not too bad.

The material is fairly flexible so easy enough to pull over the end of small eyepieces in the binoviewers. 

[F15Rules]

Thanks Ade. 

I've just ordered one tonight to use with my 9x63 Orion Mini Giant bins👍

Dave

[Ricochet]

10 hours ago, AdeKing said:

I've used them with my Maxbrights and it can be a bit of a faff if you are swapping eyepieces every five minutes, but if you're swapping only occasionally then its not too bad.

The material is fairly flexible so easy enough to pull over the end of small eyepieces in the binoviewers. 

Thanks. It sounds like they might be worth a try with binoviewers, although perhaps an observing hood would still be a better bet in that situation. 

[Sky-searcher]

Ordered last night. Cheap enough to try out. Will give them a go with my binoviewers & if doesn’t work out will fit to my 20x80’s. 🤞

[Ken82]

Just home and the misses says not more astronomy stuff lol. 
 

Just the job thanks 👍

[callisto]

24 minutes ago, Ken82 said:

the misses says not more astronomy stuff

Yeah, my wife shouts through to me "You've got more boxes here with the cloud sticker on"  😁

[Ken82]

Is it possible to get a single ocular type for eyepieces? 

[Frank the Troll]

17 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Thanks Ade. 

I've just ordered one tonight to use with my 9x63 Orion Mini Giant bins👍

Dave

Dave,let me know how they fit, I have a 9x63 celestron

[F15Rules]

2 hours ago, Frank the Troll said:

Dave,let me know how they fit, I have a 9x63 celestron

Sure, they have been dispatched today so may arrive tomorrow with any luck. 

I'll post a photo when they arrive.

Dave

[Mark at Beaufort]

Arrived today and fits nicely on my Helios Apollo 15x70 binos. I still have easy access to place my 1.25 inch filters. The big test will compare the view using these bino-bandit especially viewing items like Rosette Neb and the like.

[F15Rules]

Mine arrived this morning, usual fast FLO service - thanks, guys and gals😊👍.

Such a neat, simple idea. Easy to fit on my Orion 9x63 mini giants and daytime testing looks very promising. Operating with a 7mm exit pupil, I'm hoping that night  use with these will help my eyes get the best possible dilation to maximise the performance of these lovely bins 😊.

Dave

[Telescope40]

1 hour ago, F15Rules said:

Mine arrived this morning, usual fast FLO service - thanks, guys and gals😊👍.

Such a neat, simple idea. Easy to fit on my Orion 9x63 mini giants and daytime testing looks very promising. Operating with a 7mm exit pupil, I'm hoping that night  use with these will help my eyes get the best possible dilation to maximise the performance of these lovely bins 😊.

Dave

Hello Dave. Trust you are well. 
Do you  remember the Pentax 12x50’s I took off your hands a few years back - would this upgrade sit well with them do you think. 
TIA.  John 

[Paz]

On 26/02/2021 at 16:14, Ken82 said:

Is it possible to get a single ocular type for eyepieces? 

The that's a good question. I guess you could mask off one hole so that you could observe through the other and still keep both eyes open.

[F15Rules]

1 hour ago, Telescope40 said:

Hello Dave. Trust you are well. 
Do you  remember the Pentax 12x50’s I took off your hands a few years back - would this upgrade sit well with them do you think. 
TIA.  John 

Hi John,

Am well thanks, and hope you are too.

Yes, I would think these would fit those bins really nicely..the material stretches well, and you just need to push them back or pull them forward until you get to the point where you only see the view of the object and all around in every direction is just really dark.

At night I'm sure they will work brilliantly.

HtH,

Dave