HPG Kit Bag, AGC Bino pack, or DIY

[cvandervort]

Won $100 at work, and I've wanted a chest pack for a while.

Originally, I was thinking "Kit bag, hands down."
Then I figured that I could just DIY my own - kinda on a MYOG kick lately.
Now I've found AGC's stuff...looks pretty sweet!

I want it for backpacking AND hunting.
My concern with the Kit bag is that I'd be wearing a separate bino harness as well, which would be awkward.

Anyone have experience with both, or all three, options?

Pics are always helpful!

Jeez, I've been posting a lot lately....when's September gonna get here??!!

 

[DWinVA]

I use the HPG kit bag. I carry compact Swaros, the essentials and a Glock 19. Good luck.

God Bless.

 

[cvandervort]

All of that fits ok?

Then I shouldn't have a problem: I only run compact binos.

 

[colonel00]

I love my AGC bino pack. Small enough to not be too bulky but still has space to carry some essentials. Typically I have my binos, rangefinder, headlamp, tag/license, bino tripod adaptor, extra ammo, Delorme inReach (when I had it), and maybe a lighter or other stuff in the other side pocket. Basically, I have everything I "need" to hunt so if I had to drop my pack or just didn't feel like bringing it along, I could still have everything in one nice package I can just grab and go.

 

[DWinVA]

Yes. There is a lot of room. My binos are the small 8x25 Swaros.

God Bless.

 

[Randle]

I have had both and like AGC for what I carry now. HPG if I wanted to carry pistol on the chest with compact binos. I now carry pistol on hipbelt, so the AGC works well. What are you thinking for DIY?

 

[cvandervort]

Thanks guys.

Randle: not sure exactly.
Matching a low profile harness with some sort of bag combo.

 

[justinspicher]

I had both and had to get rid of them. If I've got room or a pocket, it has to have something in it.

 

[bcimport]

I really like the HPG kit bags. Harness rides well and the organize gear well without sticking too far out the front.

 

[badkneesbro]

I use both, but never together. I like the kit bag for scouting & backpacking because it carries my ruger Blackhawk well, & I like having everything handy on my chest. When Im hunting, I like the agc for my binos because it rides well low on my fat belly which I like better when I carry my rifle since I don't use a sling. I like them both a lot, but if I could only have one, it would be the agc. The kit bag doesn't ride low very well at all.

 

[mt100gr.]

I have both and have tried at least 3 other harness style bino packs. Last year I finally DIY'd my own. It attaches to the front of the HPG Recon kit bag and is the only way I can keep electronics flat against my chest. In late November I have had every battery device I carry go dead because the pockets they were in are exposed and exterior. When it's snug to my body I keep them all warm. I pack an iPod for ballistics calc, DeLorme inReach, Leica 1600b, small Nikon camera, and an old GPS. It also hold my tags, fire kit, ear plugs, knife, etc. With the binos handy on the front. It's not perfect but it works the way I need it to.

 

[cvandervort]

Love to see a picture of that, mt100Gr!

 

[WoodsWalker270]

Does anyone run a small pistol in their AGC pack? I have a Ruger LCR and was wondering if it could fit in the front pocket or the MAX pocket beneath.

 

[AdamW]

Based on your description I would go with the Original Kit Bag. It will hold 10x42 Vortex binos vertically, a GPS and in most cases also a rangefinder in the main zipper pouch.

If you're looking for a good bino harness that will hold a couple other items, get the AGC. If you're looking for a chest pack that you can use in and out of hunting season for a lot of different things that you can also carry your binos in well, I'd go Kit Bag. My 2 cents.

I'm surprised Kit Bags aren't more common than they seem to be. They're pretty slick.

 

[cvandervort]

Sounds like a kit bag is more my speed.

 

[mt100gr.]

Here is a pic of my "gen 1" adaptation for the HPG Recon kit bag. its a simple webbing and elastic sandwich that only stretches far enough to hold the binos snugly. it worked but it was cumbersome getting the binos back in with one hand and it offered no protection for the glass. I also didn't like how it pulled the sides of the pack in and forward.



Then I found a simple neoprene bino cover for $4.99 and the gears started cranking.

First, I sewed on a piece of elastic and a webbing tab to pull up and over the eye cups. (sorry this one is so blurry)



Then I attached a series of 3 bar sliders that pull against each other to attach the bottom of the cover. I reinforced this with 1.5 inch webbing for depth and because this needs to be robust enough to support the weight of the binos when they are being carried. I routed some shock cord through the pals matrix on the pack to suck in the corners and keep everything tight. this also doubles as a way to hold the cover up when you take the binos off the pack.

Simple clips on the end of 550 cord tethers hold them up. when adjusted to length the tethers keep them from falling forward and there is really no bounce or flop when I hike.







Its not perfect. you have to work around the tethers to get into the pack but if you are careful and play a little with how you organize your kit bag, its not bad.

 

[mt100gr.]

And here is how I ended up deciding a $5 neoprene bino cover was the way to go and this pic should include a couple of the standard elastic harnesses by Allen, Crooked Horn, etc.

Trial and modify!!



There is another thread on here in the DIY forum showing my S4 harness mod for my kit bag. I am not a fan of the rectangle mesh. there were a few spots that rubbed under my pack.

 

[Redmech]

I'm using an original HPG kit bag. I have 10x42 Vortex binos in big pocket, with my GPS and Rangefinder on each side of the binos, still have room for cell phone in front pocket, compass in main pouch, and then lots more room in gun pocket for small pocket auto plus other gear. I like mine.

Everything I stated plus some is in the Kit bag in this picture, it works pretty good.
Untitled by redmech, on Flickr

 

[cvandervort]

And here is how I ended up deciding a $5 neoprene bino cover was the way to go and this pic should include a couple of the standard elastic harnesses by Allen, Crooked Horn, etc.

Trial and modify!!



There is another thread on here in the DIY forum showing my S4 harness mod for my kit bag. I am not a fan of the rectangle mesh. there were a few spots that rubbed under my pack.

WOW, man....expensive experiment! ahhhh so much fun though.
Once I snag the Kit Bag, I'll figure out something for my binos.
I like the S4 mod: I think I remember seeing that a while back.

 

[LBFowler]

Kit bag for me, I keep tons of stuff in there. Compass, maps, headlamp, dummy cord, GPS, snacks, etc. i would occasionally stash my Nikon 10x25s in there but they didn't live there most of the time.

Super handy to have a chest pack big enough to just stash whatever happens to be in your hands at the time (half eaten snack, gloves, binos) when you need to do something else. It also just keeps a lot of little tiny stuff out of my backpack.