I need a new bino harness and have been trying to decide between the FHF and KUIU, as others have as well.
Looking at the KUIU, it looks very simple and light weight. The cover flap simply pulls down and remains out of the way for accessing the binos as well as re-storing them when finished glassing.
Looking at the FHF, it looks slightly more bulky than the KUIU (more squared-off seams/construction and very heavy-duty). And, having to unhook the elastic cord and then lift and hold the cover flap out of the way (although quiet and simple) seems like it is slightly more cumbersome to access the binos, and later re-store them, when compared to the KUIU.
It also seems like the harness approach is what really sets these apart in design. Although they look very similar at first glance, with straps forming an X on the back, there's a significant difference in that the KUIU does not have straps that attach to the top of the bino pouch (the top straps only attach directly to the binos themselves). I'm guessing that this can result in a pretty different feel when wearing these two bino harnesses.
When wearing the FHF, due to having top and bottom straps attached to the bino pouch, the weight is ensured to always be equally distributed between the top and bottom straps and across the X on the back. The exact amount of tension adjusted for the straps doesn't seem to be very important for the pouch to function, it's just a matter of personal preference for how high or low the pouch rides. Imagining hunting scenarios with changing weather, leaving a little bit of room in the strap adjustments could also make it quick and easy for adding or removing a layer or two (because no adjustments would need to be made).
When wearing the KUIU, the company stresses that it requires that the bino pouch rides high and that all straps are to be tight and snug. Examining the design, this requirement makes sense. If the top straps (attached to the binos) were loose, then (1) the top of the binos might start to fall forward away from the body, unless the bottom strap was uncomfortably super-tight and (2) the top of the bino pouch cover couldn't be easily removed one-handed as designed/advertised by pulling out and down because the top of the binos wouldn't be held upright snugly against the body. If the bottom straps were too loose, then this slack would allow the X on the wearer's back to slide up until it was resting on the back of the neck... feeling as though you were only wearing a simple neck strap and not a X harness (not very comfortable). So, the KUIU really must be worn with all straps tight and snug, just as the company states. This might also make it slower to add/remove clothing layers as weather changes because the straps would always have to be re-adjusted to perfectly fit tight and snug.
Regarding actual protection of the bino lenses, both provide cloth padding coverage, but neither FHF nor KUIU have pouches that fully encase their binos. The FHF has small gaps on the sides while the KUIU has an open section on the back. In most of the pictures I've seen of people using both of these bino systems, people often seem to keep using their factory rubber lens covers that came with their binos to keep the lenses perfectly dust-free (personally, I'm curious about how necessary it is to use the rubber caps). So, FHF and KUIU seem to have equal performance regarding bino coverage/protection.
So, conclusions for comparing the FHF and KUIU are:
Bino access: KUIU is easier and more simple (nothing to unhook, as with the FHF).
Bino protection: KUIU and FHF appear to be equal in terms of padding and offer moderate dirt/dust protection (both appear to sometimes still be used in combination with factory rubber lens covers when ultimate protection is desired).
Harness comfort: FHF appears to be more comfortably designed because the straps attach to both the top and bottom of the bino pouch, ensuring that weight is always equally distributed between the top and bottom straps and across the back. The FHF harness also seems to allow the user to determine the level of tension that they prefer for the harness straps, while the KUIU requires that all straps be tight and snug at all times.
Personally, I think I'm leaning away from the KUIU because of how tight it's required to be worn to function. It looks like someone from KUIU recently posted a video on youtube about how to fit the KUIU bino harness (just go to youtube and search for "HOW-TO: KUIU Bino Harness System Assembly, Fitting, & Operation"). Even though that person was fit and trim, it was still adjusted so tight that the narrow straps appeared to be cutting into them at times in order to accomplish the high and tight ride. Straps that tight just don't look comfortable to me, especially when wearing that harness all day, day after day, hiking and climbing. Plus, the inconvenience of having to readjust everything on the KUIU every time a clothing layer is added or removed to maintain perfect strap tightness doesn't sound fun.
Having said all of that, I again want to acknowledge that this post is just what I've been able to piece together, combining everyone else's comments and my own visual observations into this one post, and that I don't own either of these 2 bino systems (yet). Since I'm about to make a final decision to order one of these, I'm curious to hear other thoughts about these conclusions, especially regarding experiences with the strap tension requirements and the ease of adding/removing clothing layers when using the KUIU versus the FHF and their non-elastic straps.
Looking at the KUIU, it looks very simple and light weight. The cover flap simply pulls down and remains out of the way for accessing the binos as well as re-storing them when finished glassing.
Looking at the FHF, it looks slightly more bulky than the KUIU (more squared-off seams/construction and very heavy-duty). And, having to unhook the elastic cord and then lift and hold the cover flap out of the way (although quiet and simple) seems like it is slightly more cumbersome to access the binos, and later re-store them, when compared to the KUIU.
It also seems like the harness approach is what really sets these apart in design. Although they look very similar at first glance, with straps forming an X on the back, there's a significant difference in that the KUIU does not have straps that attach to the top of the bino pouch (the top straps only attach directly to the binos themselves). I'm guessing that this can result in a pretty different feel when wearing these two bino harnesses.
When wearing the FHF, due to having top and bottom straps attached to the bino pouch, the weight is ensured to always be equally distributed between the top and bottom straps and across the X on the back. The exact amount of tension adjusted for the straps doesn't seem to be very important for the pouch to function, it's just a matter of personal preference for how high or low the pouch rides. Imagining hunting scenarios with changing weather, leaving a little bit of room in the strap adjustments could also make it quick and easy for adding or removing a layer or two (because no adjustments would need to be made).
When wearing the KUIU, the company stresses that it requires that the bino pouch rides high and that all straps are to be tight and snug. Examining the design, this requirement makes sense. If the top straps (attached to the binos) were loose, then (1) the top of the binos might start to fall forward away from the body, unless the bottom strap was uncomfortably super-tight and (2) the top of the bino pouch cover couldn't be easily removed one-handed as designed/advertised by pulling out and down because the top of the binos wouldn't be held upright snugly against the body. If the bottom straps were too loose, then this slack would allow the X on the wearer's back to slide up until it was resting on the back of the neck... feeling as though you were only wearing a simple neck strap and not a X harness (not very comfortable). So, the KUIU really must be worn with all straps tight and snug, just as the company states. This might also make it slower to add/remove clothing layers as weather changes because the straps would always have to be re-adjusted to perfectly fit tight and snug.
Regarding actual protection of the bino lenses, both provide cloth padding coverage, but neither FHF nor KUIU have pouches that fully encase their binos. The FHF has small gaps on the sides while the KUIU has an open section on the back. In most of the pictures I've seen of people using both of these bino systems, people often seem to keep using their factory rubber lens covers that came with their binos to keep the lenses perfectly dust-free (personally, I'm curious about how necessary it is to use the rubber caps). So, FHF and KUIU seem to have equal performance regarding bino coverage/protection.
So, conclusions for comparing the FHF and KUIU are:
Bino access: KUIU is easier and more simple (nothing to unhook, as with the FHF).
Bino protection: KUIU and FHF appear to be equal in terms of padding and offer moderate dirt/dust protection (both appear to sometimes still be used in combination with factory rubber lens covers when ultimate protection is desired).
Harness comfort: FHF appears to be more comfortably designed because the straps attach to both the top and bottom of the bino pouch, ensuring that weight is always equally distributed between the top and bottom straps and across the back. The FHF harness also seems to allow the user to determine the level of tension that they prefer for the harness straps, while the KUIU requires that all straps be tight and snug at all times.
Personally, I think I'm leaning away from the KUIU because of how tight it's required to be worn to function. It looks like someone from KUIU recently posted a video on youtube about how to fit the KUIU bino harness (just go to youtube and search for "HOW-TO: KUIU Bino Harness System Assembly, Fitting, & Operation"). Even though that person was fit and trim, it was still adjusted so tight that the narrow straps appeared to be cutting into them at times in order to accomplish the high and tight ride. Straps that tight just don't look comfortable to me, especially when wearing that harness all day, day after day, hiking and climbing. Plus, the inconvenience of having to readjust everything on the KUIU every time a clothing layer is added or removed to maintain perfect strap tightness doesn't sound fun.
Having said all of that, I again want to acknowledge that this post is just what I've been able to piece together, combining everyone else's comments and my own visual observations into this one post, and that I don't own either of these 2 bino systems (yet). Since I'm about to make a final decision to order one of these, I'm curious to hear other thoughts about these conclusions, especially regarding experiences with the strap tension requirements and the ease of adding/removing clothing layers when using the KUIU versus the FHF and their non-elastic straps.
, you've obviously done a lot of research on these harnesses. Do you ever use a tripod for glassing? One of the main deciding factors for me going with the Alaska Guide Creations harness and pouch is that the binos are not attached. Makes it a lot easier to remove and mount them to the tripod.
