Bino Harness Recommendation

[greyghostnw]

Alaska guide creations. AGC. Been using for 10 years.

Running the same AGC over a decade, thought bout replacing but it keeps on and like it. Many miles…

 

[flyfisher117]

I thought both the fhf and the marsupial opened the same. What’s the difference?

Does anybody know if the rare earth magnets in the front and back of the fhf harness has any effect on range finding binos or any other electronic gear you’d have near them?

They both fold away from you.

The marsupial opens and lays flat against itself.
The FHF folds onto itself like an accordion. I have a hard time sometimes getting it to stay open and magnetized down. It likes to just stick up/out/around and do what ever it pleases. I always get a little weirded out it may snag my bow string.


I have not had any issues with the magnets being around my RF/Phone/Inreach. Even while using them to track myself.

 

[mt terry d]

The only thing(s) so far that I don't like about the Marsupial is
that when binos out the flap doesn't fold down enough to always
stay down (open) and will sometimes snap closed making noise.
I've only had it a short time so maybe the hinge part will loosen
up and become more flexible over time.

The other is that I wish on the right side there would be a loop I
could attach my extra mag to. As is, I attach it to the bottom. It's
been okay so far but I fear the magnetic cover of the mag pouch
may open and the mag fall out. I may just put a rubber band around
it to be sure.

 

[WyldGoose]

I recently switched from a magnetic Marsupial which served me well the last several years to a SG Sentinel.

For me, there’s Pros and Cons to both.

Pros to the Marsupial: it’s a very secure/padded storage case, you could pretty much throw it around and not worry about your binos being damaged. Simple, smooth flap opening that functions efficiently, with one forward/downward motion. Sealed completely from dust.
Cons: overly bulky, and for me, eventually causes a sore neck/shoulders.

Pros to the SG Sentinel: low profile, comfortable to wear all day, 1/4 pound lighter than my Marsupial. Shoulder harness geometry is awesome, comfy, and the elastic/stretch connections at the lower buckles allow for forgiveness when layering or moving around.
Cons: Practically no padding/protection. Opening is adjustable bungie tension that doesn’t open directly forward, you pull the lid upwards over eye cups first then forward and down. If you keep things in the side sleeve pockets, the bungie tensioner likes to snag em when opening the lid. Not totally sealed from dust when closed.

For my uses, the ultimate bino harness would be an enclosed Marsupial with the thick padding/bulk cut in half and the SG shoulder strap design. Keep the Sentinel attachment wings, but swap the Velcro for laser cut molle fabric like Exo uses on their K4 belt.

 

[Boarmaster]

My AGC was too bulky for my needs. As well as opened the opposite direction I wanted. I looked at many options. It was built bulletproof but just wasn't what I wanted. I been happy with my more minimalist marsupial. I am older and like a few have too much junk in the trunk. I dont need anymore than necessary hanging off the front of me. I wanted something as short as possible that still held my binos. Happy with my marsupial for about five years. Not looking to replace it with anything. Theres been a few new harnesses come out since I bought mine but none have seemed like they would work any better for my needs and wants than my old marsupial.

 

[Agar426]

My AGC was too bulky for my needs. As well as opened the opposite direction I wanted. I looked at many options. It was built bulletproof but just wasn't what I wanted. I been happy with my more minimalist marsupial. I am older and like a few have too much junk in the trunk. I dont need anymore than necessary hanging off the front of me. I wanted something as short as possible that still held my binos. Happy with my marsupial for about five years. Not looking to replace it with anything. Theres been a few new harnesses come out since I bought mine but none have seemed like they would work any better for my needs and wants than my old marsupial.

That's my issue with my AGC harness. It's really a great piece of equipment. Durable, functional, in every respect. My issue is that it's too bulky. As I get older, I've become more and more clumsy, and not being able to see my feet is a big factor.

 

[bigbassfish]

I really like the Marsupial Gear stuff, but I kind of wish I would've gotten the standard version vs the no mag. I've had mine for about a year now and use it on a weekly basis and it is still a little challenging to get my binos in and out one handed, as the lid tries to slip closed.

 

[Boarmaster]

Thank God my feet are size 13. If they were size 9 I wouldn't have seen them since 1986…..

That's my issue with my AGC harness. It's really a great piece of equipment. Durable, functional, in every respect. My issue is that it's too bulky. As I get older, I've become more and more clumsy, and not being able to see my feet is a big factor.

 

[justin davis]

Big fan of the Kifaru harness

 

[VenandiHolsters]

So what seems to be the more popular that we see and maybe ones to look into.
The Badlands EZ (no magnets)size medium, marsupial enclosed medium , eberlestock recon large, muley freak gamechanger. The FHF FOB has been getting more popular.

 

[Touchdown88]

I have an old school FHF gear bino harness. It's minimalist and does everything I need it to.

 

[Bluumoon]

Stone Glacier is my favorite out of it/Kuiu/Marsupial.

The Marsupial carries nice, but those magnets will screw with phone nav big time.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

I have used Alaskan Guide KISS for years. Minimalist with a few pockets which is all i need. Anything more and I think they get too bulky.

 

[WKR]

T and K makes the best hands down. Usa made and great customer service. Super modular high quality stuff. @TandKHunting is a great company.

 

[SloppyJ]

SG Sentinel is my pick. My issue was that i needed no magnets because of my RF binos. This severely narrowed the field. I also want low profile.

I was between the Catamount and the SG. Well I got 20% off the SG and pulled the trigger. The side phone pocket is really nice too.

The SG pics make it look way bigger than it is.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I’ve stuck with the marsupial but like others would love a little lighter, more streamlined version with wings. Waterproof like the SG would be a nice touch. The marsupial pouches etc that attach are really nice. I think the webbing molle like FHF is using with their molle system is a good, lighter direction to go (kind of like the Exo accessories).

This seems like a good place to drop some comments on the FHF. I got one over the summer and could not stand it. Mainly due to their harness, but also the ride height of the actual pouch. The one photo below shows how the harness just doesn’t work for me personally. That doesn’t mean it’s not great of course, but for me it just wouldn’t work with the giant “pinch” of extra fabric between my shoulder blades.

The FHF does some things well - you can shape the pouch, it’s modular, the spacer mesh on the back is robust, and the materials are top notch. The laser cut sections are very nice. The actual constriction was quite poor. Lots of unfinished and crooked seams. One photo below shows even the grab handle was skewed, ha.

Apart from harness fit and cosmetic stuff (not super important) the functionality of the hood itself was an issue - no matter how I shaped the pouch, it wouldn’t actually seal that complicated lid at the top. It’s a cool design, but on this sample, doesn’t help if it won’t work.