What bino harness? Kuiu or Badlands?

JimP · Aug 13, 2016

I would get which ever one that I wanted and not the one the someone on line recommended. What I like a lot of others don't like so when it comes to gear I head down to the store and find what I like. If I don't like the price that the store is selling it at I'll then come home and find it on line for a cheaper price.

Also if your binoculars came with some quick detachable links for the harness I would suggest that you find some that are a little bit heaver duty than they might be. I am using some pull apart key chain links on my Swaro's and know that they won't break.

https://www.amazon.com/eBoot-Detachable-Apart-Rings-Keychains/dp/B015DSIK64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471104360&sr=8-1&keywords=detachable+keychains

MtnBuck · Aug 13, 2016

It's hard to compare in the store without ripping them out of the packaging (which I've been known to do occasionally). I went with the Alaska Guide Creations Kodiak C.U.B MAX Bino Harness and I'm very pleased with them.

I'm not familiar with the Badlands or Kuiu other than some online research, but the features that were important to me were:

Complete coverage of the binos to keep out dust.
Cross over back harness to keep the weight off my neck.
QD points to attach the binos to the harness instead of having to use a separate neck strap.
Quick and easy access to the binos.
A few extra pockets or pouches for things like my license, wind checker, and elk call.

MtnBuck · Aug 13, 2016

With the pouch I have you can attach the binos to the harness or leave them unattached depending on what you're doing. I like them attached just in case I need to get my rifle on an animal fast.

WapitiBob · Aug 14, 2016

I have both, with 12 x 50 Leicas.

Badlands worked great if I stood upright 100% of the time. Belly crawl and they dumped my binos into the dirt. It took very little to have the flap get hooked and opened. Been there several times. Also, the flap would snap closed when I pulled the binos out for glassing, making it a two handed operation to get them back into the pouch. My badlands was an original so maybe the lid folds over to stay open now?

KUIU was OK, not great, but they worked crooked on my chest if I took the binos out frequently, no matter how tight the horizontal strap got. The top lid cords need to be pretty tight to hold the lid down, which then makes opening that lid and flipping it over and staying there a bit difficult.

I just bought and used an FHF this weekend and it works well. Better than the KUIU for me. Maybe a tiny bit less bulky as well. I removed the separate bino straps so the binos are not tethered at all. Just too many straps for me. I bought a large and it holds mine at 7 1/2" long but 8" bino's might be a stretch. I had to re adjust the length of the elastic closure so the lid closed with what I thought was "normal" stretch.

Neither the KUIU nor the FHF will keep 100% debris out of the case but I can deal with that. The AGC case looks OK, a friend has one but dang, that thing is bulky.

Camelcluch · Aug 17, 2016

I love the Kuiu harness. Fit well and snug with no bounce. If I was not using the Kuiu, I would have an Alaskan Guide Creations.

rjroberts15 · Aug 17, 2016

I have the badlands xl.
What I like about it: Keeps optics clean and has storage pouch for my deer tag.
What I don't like: It snaps shut pretty loud, so if you're sneaking into an area and glassing, it is definitely a two handed operation bringing out the binos and quietly closing.
I would suggest trying one out before you buy one.

nicktrehearne · Aug 17, 2016

I know you didn't ask about it, but look into Alaska Guide Creations. I owned the KUIU prior and haven't looked back once. They are well built and protect the optics well.

mntnguide · Aug 17, 2016

Alaska guide creations is the best one on the market. .no question. I've gone through about every one there is and will not own anything but AGC now

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

MtnBuck · Aug 17, 2016

WapitiBob said:
The AGC case looks OK, a friend has one but dang, that thing is bulky.

They have a basic model with no pockets also.

Mule3006Elk · Aug 17, 2016

AGC. Bulkiness of this harness is not an issue. After I used it once I was sold. Quick access to needed items vs. using pant pockets is paramount IMO. I could use KUIU but then I would be transferring needed items back to my pant pockets which I did for years. I don't want to do that again. FHF Pro looks interesting but I have not had my hands on one.

Doe Nob · Aug 18, 2016

mntnguide said:
Alaska guide creations is the best one on the market. .no question. I've gone through about every one there is and will not own anything but AGC now

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

A big 2nded for AGC. Just got back from a 3 day scouting trip running mine on it's maiden voyage and it is awesome. Tight to the chest, fits great with my large backpack on as well. I have my binos clipped in there, my point and shoot camera in the front pocket w/ a lense cloth. Leica range finder in the bottom pocket, GPS on the left, wind checker on the right. Everything I might need real quick at hand.

http://www.blackovis.com/alaska-guide-creations-kodiak-c-u-b-max-bino-harness-fusion?color=Fusion&gclid=CjwKEAjwudW9BRDcrd30kovf8GkSJAB3hTxFRbPvFlqexFD27iCtvZq2k_cQO4h4f35NdSGmsLFozRoC4gHw_wcB

My buddy runs and FHF but I think he likes mine better!

Umpqua Hunter · Aug 18, 2016

I've used a FHF harness for the past few years. Check them out. They are tailored to specific binocular types (at least mine was, I sent him the dimensions of my Swaro ranging binos since they had just come out at the time). They are a pouch type with clips that allow the binoculars to hang off the harness or you can unclip them and use them free of the harness. He customized mine with pouches and zippers where I wanted them.

I use the zipper pouch for licenses and tags, since my binos are ALWAYS with me hunting.

One pouch on the side for wind checker dust.

Pouch on the other side for a call.

Here is a good review of the FHF harness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2R_xatQlrw

Pay special attention to how compact the FHF harness is and how quiet it is to use (no plastic clips or magnet closer sounds). It is just slightly bigger than the binoculars themselves.

Bughalli · Aug 19, 2016

I have owned a handful of them and currently run the FHF for my Swaro 10x42's. It's been fantastic. After using it the first time you have one of those moments where you ask yourself, why didn't I buy one sooner! I really like the size, comfort, ease of use and quiet to open. I can open and close...or just drop the binos in with one hand. The pockets are minimal, with really only room for a wind checker and maybe a small call. I like it minimal and compact.

I enjoyed the bino harnes so much I then bought the range finder case and lanyard. That setup is great and makes it very easy. I mounted the range finder on the horizontal chest strap towards my right arm. Very easy to pull out, range and put back with one hand. I also bought the GPS pouch and mounted it to the waist belt of my pack.

The only other harness I would consider is AGC. I have not owned one, but very similar FHF. AGC looked a little more bulky, shoulder straps were a little bigger (concerned how it would feel under a heavy pack), design emphasized more pockets, lid was more complicated and restrictive. (If I was going to be rainy conditions all the time I might prefer the AGC lid). Those are all overly picky comments because they are very similar, but I had to decide between the two. Can't go wrong with either really.

eslofquist · Dec 5, 2016

kuiu for sure. ultra tough and more flexible with or without the bag

sneakypete · Dec 6, 2016

KUIU, by far the best. I had a crooked horn case/harness and gave it away after getting my KUIU harness!

MountainHigh · Dec 7, 2016

Love my Kuiu harness!

ScottR · Dec 7, 2016

The Badlands is a good harness, and this year you could add Mystery Ranch to the list. Their harness performed well for several of us.

What bino harness? Kuiu or Badlands?

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