For Those Who Know What They Need

FHF (Fish, Hunt, Fight) Gear was born out of a need for quality gear that the company founder, Paul Lewis, says he could not find on the mainstream market. So, what does one do when the market isn’t meeting your needs? Answer – you make it yourself.

And that’s exactly how it started, by making custom gear for himself, his friends and his coworkers. When demand became such that production sewing was needed, he was clearly on to something. And a commitment to finding a quality U.S. manufacturing company meant and continues to mean that FHF Gear is proudly 100% Made in the USA.

Not only does FHF Gear plan to never leave the states, they also try to source everything from the U.S. At the time of this post, only their metal hooks were sourced overseas. And they intend to work to increase their local sourcing too! Now that’s locally grown outdoor gear!

The FHF Gear Breakdown

FHF Gear is a small company that makes unique, high quality gear for those who know what they need.

At FHF Gear we’ve paired the functionality of the hunting and fishing industry with the utility and durability of tactical gear to produce unique and high-quality outdoor gear. Using a design that is minimalistic and modular in nature, our products provide the user the freedom to add or eliminate accessories as needed.

Our gear is proudly made in America and backed by a warranty that exhibits not only our confidence in our product, but our belief in customer service. – FHF Gear

For reader ease, American Outdoor Gear Hub put FHF Gear into the four categories below, but it’s important to note the following:

  • Not all FHF Gear is listed below
  • A lot of FHF Gear can be used across categories.

Many products fall into two or more categories. For example, the MOLLE-Muff was primarily a tactical product designed to attach to a plate carrier, but hunters and fishermen have found it useful and it can be integrated into both of FHF Gear’s Chest Rigs. The Tech Pouch is for tactical users and backcountry hunters alike. And the Sportsman’s Bag is an awesome addition to your gear quiver for all your pursuits.

  1. Fishing: Fishing Chest Rig, Fly Boxes, Equipment Lanyard
  2. Hunting: Bino Harness PRO-M, Rangefinder Pouch, RINO Radio/GPS Pouch
  3. Tactical: Self-Rescue Tourniquet (SRT) Pouch, Ballistic Rangefinder Pouch, Kestrel Pouch
  4. Other: Visor Organizer, Trifold Wallet, Synergy Series Organizer Bags, Hats, T-Shirts

One neat feature about a lot of FHF Gear is that it is “modular,” which means you can customize it to meet your exact needs and specifications. For example, if you fish in bear country, the Expandable Bear Spray Holster can easily be attached to the bottom of the Fishing Chest Rig for quick, easy access. If you hunt, the two sizes of Rangefinder Pouches are specifically made to mount next to your bino harness and bear spray can be attached to them as well. And the Harness Shoulder Pads are an accessory designed to slip over any existing FHF harness.

Quick Endorsement: A friend of American Outdoor Gear Hub and an avid Montana hunter says he and all his Montana hunting buddies use the FHF Gear bino harness. He is the kind of gear guy that only uses high-quality outdoor gear, so this is a strong endorsement in our book! You can also check out a gear review HERE – Note: this review is from a few years ago, so check FHF Gear for current product colors, specs, etc.

Why Bozeman?

FHF Gear is in Bozeman, Montana, for a few reasons.

  • It is where the founder, Paul Lewis, worked as a Sheriff’s Deputy for 20 years.
  • FHF Gear notes that Bozeman is a hub of outdoor businesses and credits this business community as one of the reasons for FHF Gear’s early success.

Bozeman is certainly a burgeoning outdoor industry location and given investments occurring in this space and new businesses opening or moving there, this sector will continue to grow, which benefits the local and regional economy. This ties into the economic development approach of “cluster strategies,” which is being used on some level in Bozeman. For example, the 406 Labs Business Accelerator , Montana’s first technology and high-tech manufacturing accelerator program, focuses on clusters already thriving in the city (one of them being Outdoor Technology). I’ll save you the dissertation, but if you’re interested in the concept, Google it. It’s fascinating in my book, but be warned, excessive amounts of caffeine may be needed – brew coffee in advance to stay awake 😊 I digress………

The Economy, Conservation, and Collaboration

FHF Gear is not only putting out solid American-made gear, they are also benefiting the Bozeman-area economy in numerous ways. They employ a small team in Bozeman and contribute to the local economy through their commitment to remain American made, their involvement with local nonprofit conservation organizations, and their work and collaboration with other local outdoor companies.

FHF Gear is involved with local conservation organizations including Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wild Sheep Foundation, Back Country Hunters and Anglers, and the Montana Goat Alliance. We are also proud to donate where we can to local veteran and law enforcement charities. – FHF Gear

It’s Not Easy Making Outdoor Gear in the United States

. . . and that’s why it’s good news that FHF Gear isn’t the kind of company that bows out when things are hard.

FHF Gear, and other U.S. outdoor gear makers, is faced with the challenge of maintaining high quality, consistent manufacturing that can keep up with their demand. As has been stated on AmericanOutdoorGearHub.com before, there is opportunity where supply is not keeping up with demand. Can you say business opportunity!

Maintaining a pricing structure that is competitive with larger brands manufacturing overseas is also a challenge. As a result, FHF Gear has been forced to primarily sell direct to consumer. This helps keep costs competitive, but does have its own logistical challenges. On the price front, it is also tough for FHF Gear to offer steep discounts to outdoor industry folks (guides, etc.) and military and law enforcement personnel like those offered by some of their larger competitors manufacturing overseas.

On this topic, FHF Gear says:

We fully support this [discounts to Military, Law Enforcement, and Outdoor Industry folks] and are glad they get the opportunity to run great gear. We do offer discounts, but we don’t have the large margins to offer as deep of a discount. This can make them feel as though we don’t support them as much when I believe the opposite is actually true. We’re doing our best to keep our money local, keep jobs in the US, and support those who support us. – FHF Gear

A Jaw-Dropping Story

When asked to share a story (funny, serious, or otherwise) about people’s experience with FHF Gear, the following was provided.

I was contacted by a customer who told me our harness saved his life and he wanted to say thank you in person. He sent a picture of himself wearing very bloody camouflage, holding a bandage used as a tourniquet in his teeth, and showing off his completely mutilated arm. I called him immediately and found out he was injured in the backcountry by a negligent discharge of his rifle. Because our harness allowed him to mount a TQ [tourniquet] on the bottom of his harness, he was able to access what he needed and slow the bleeding immediately. He walked out 8 miles with only his harness because he knew it had everything he needed inside and would also contain his ID if he didn’t make it out. – FHF Gear

This is a harrowing tale, and one that we all hope is never repeated. Safety first folks! That said, kudos to the individual involved for his grit and determination to get himself out of a bad situation. FHF Gear clearly played a role in saving his life, which points to the versatility of their products.

In It for All the Right Reasons

There is no better way to wrap up this post then with a few words directly from FHF Gear about making their outdoor gear in the USA.

For us it’s worth the cost to keep our business here instead of taking it overseas. We don’t have the incredible profit margins that might allow us to donate more, cut costs more, or advertise as much, but we are proud that we can do as much as we do while keeping business here. – FHF Gear

Thanks to FHF Gear for being a part of American Outdoor Gear Hub!

Don’t Go, Take Action

  1. Check out all FHF Gear and get yourself something for hunting season, your next fishing trip, or adventure in the woods HERE .
  2. If you’re profit minded, build space for American Outdoor Gear makers in your city/town.
  3. Talk to your city/town’s economic development agency/office about American-made Outdoor Gear in your city/town!
  4. And don’t forget to visit AmericanOutdoorGearHub.com’s The Goods every time you’re looking for new outdoor gear and support local gear makers with your wallet.
  5. Follow American Outdoor Gear Hub on Facebook and Instagram @americanoutdoorgearhub
  6. Get outside with your American-made gear, and send a little hashtag love #AmericanOutdoorGearHub when you do the social media thing.