Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting HPG Recon Kit bag + Bino Pouch vs. FHF harness

Title says it all. Looking for something better than the 10+ year old bino harness I've been using. Like that both of these have the ability to carry a few small items and have the rangefinder and/or phone in/on them as well as being able to carry a sidearm should I choose too.

Like the ability to use the Kit bag without the bino pouch attached. But it does seem like it would be a bit bulkier than the FHF.

Any thoughts between the two would be greatly appreciated.

if you're only wanting to carry a few small items- the FHF in the appropriate size is going to be quite a bit trimmer; firearm carry w/ the FHF is pretty easy- Razco makes a holster setup just for the FHF

I have a small kitbag (Snubby) that I use a fair bit, but it's w/o binos

I use a HPG Heavy Recon Kit bag to carry my binos (10X42 Leica) rangefinder, and a pistol. You can get most any pistol in there, but a revolver does tend to jab you in the sternum with the cylinder if there is a pair of binos hammering on it. Autos are great.

I think a bino pouch added to my setup would be too much, but it might be just perfect with the recon.

I like the concealment/protection that the kit bag gives you, and I doubt you'll regret getting one, even if it doesn't become your goto bino carrier.

Have you considered Alaska Guide Creations?

I have their largest model and really like it. I can keep my 8x42mm binoculars, a knife, headlamp, LRF, lighter & firestarters, and tiny space blanket all in it so that if I got separated from my pack I’d be able to get by.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021528989

I've zero experience with HPG, but that Recon Kit does look intriguing. It also looks REALLY bulky which is one reason I can't stand Alaska Guide Creations harness.

I am all about FHF harnesses....have three of them. I also have several of the Razco holsters like Mtwarden, and have no reason to veer away from that system. I carried a .454 Casull and those 15X Meoptas when getting my WY ek out this year, and it was way more comfortable than I thought it would be even with so much weight.

I have the Recon with bino pouch. The bino pouch either carries Zeiss Conquest 10x42s or a camera set up. It works fine with my G20, and my typical minimal load in the front pocket. Personally, I wouldn't go with the Heavy Recon and that load. I have no experience with the FHF stuff, but personally can't picture 15x binos and Casull with any rig. Power to you.

Which is exactly my point...with the FHF and the Razco, it was way more comfortable than I thought it would be.

The HPG sounds like it has a following though, and I suspect for good reason.

Thank everyone for the discussion and pros/cons. Doubt there's really a bad choice between the two, as I think either would be better than I have.

I tend to drive myself in circles and my wife crazy when looking at getting stuff like this. Heck, maybe I should get both and say one's for the boys....

Sounds like the prefect solution. I don’t always carry a pistol when rifle hunting, and have considered a dedicated bino pouch for that scenario. Kids make great excuses for gear.

pointer- do it and let us know how it works, and I'll do the same with the Decker.

After using most of the bino pouches out there I have settled on the Badlands magnetics and believe they are the best option by a good bit. You can wear the Gunfighters Kenai holster under them and it works out very well. I spent a week or so trying this out (the pistol was a S&W mdl 69) and was extremely pleased with the set up. No compromise accessing the pistol and no binding or "dig in" at all.

Wore this while carrying an Eberlestock J1 pack loaded medium heavy. I like the HPG snubby pack and use mine mostly to carry a S&W mdl 60 but even with the smaller revolver it tends to dig in more than I like and it's more difficult to draw the pistol, also a greater chance of flubbing the draw (in my experience). The big advantage of the HPG is concealment of course.

It looks like the Razco holster may ride a bit low for what I prefer.

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I sure like that set-up.

That looks like a massive clusterf_ck to me. If it works for you that is great. But I'll stick to FHF and Razco. Straps on top of straps just isn't comfortable, add the backpack to it and that is a huge no thank you.

Thanks for your input, use what works for you. I know a clusterf when I see or use one and this isn't.

One mistake that all the companies make is not putting the straps at an angle on the pouch. They all sew them vertically. A slight angle would improve the straps location across your shoulders.