new upland vest

gim

Well-known member
Mine needs replacing before next season. The one I have now is about 20 years old and has been patched with zippers replaced more than once. I asked for a new one for xmas but my wife was uncomfortable buying it for me, so she told me to buy the one I wanted whenever.

I am looking for one that has orange shoulder patches/back and pockets in front. Not the shell loops. Those wear out too quick. I am 6'2" and 210 pounds.

Price tag is not that big of an issue as it will last for many years.
 
Gim, you might tell what kind of hunts you do. Are you after the strap vests like what Fireman just posted a pic of...those must be for the guys that maybe hunt early in warm temps and big parcels with long treks away from the truck.
Those are of no use to me, as my outings are smaller parcels, a full quarter is a bigger parcel here, very seldom will I be away from the truck for over 2 hours, so carrying water is of no value to me.
I just need an easy front-loading game pouch and several pockets...a couple of big bellowed ones for shells, inside ones for a phone, and a few more for a bell, maybe a face mask...not much else. A cap and different gloves might ride in the game pouch, don't need a seperate pocket for those. I am not using something I can't quick slide a bird into...that is the number one thing I would look for....but maybe some folks like taking a quick break each time they shoot a bird. I have had guys out that can't put a bird in their game pouch without help or taking the vest off, that seems silly to me.
 
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Looks like that game bag would be bouncing on your butt as you walked. I have a Pyke. Good vest easy to put a pheasant in the bag. Stays open , and is deep enough for 3.
 
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I mostly hunt in Nov/Dec. My hunts are about 30-60 mins long, back to the truck, then to the next spot.

I'm open to just about any suggestion here. Not going to discount any version someone posts. Right now the one I am looking at is a Browning version like this.

 
I mostly hunt in Nov/Dec. My hunts are about 30-60 mins long, back to the truck, then to the next spot.

I'm open to just about any suggestion here. Not going to discount any version someone posts. Right now the one I am looking at is a Browning version like this.

Something similar to that is what I use to guiding becuase it has orange and birds go in easy. I have been using the Orvis Pro this year and really like it a lot. No complaints so far really.
 
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Wingworks, the one that all the others try to copy. Mine is probably close to 20 years old and looks like new if you could get rid of the blood stains. Pricey but you can pass it on for generations. 1000000735.jpeg
 
Remy, it might seem silly to take off your vest to load a pheasant, but you probably are not a candidate for shoulder replacement.
It wasn’t always this way, just the last ten years. I have understanding hunting friends and I’m out there. no perfect vest.
 
I have a vest like that,its a Colombia full vest. Really nice if you dont want a strap vest. Has place for collar transmitter and d rings to hold other things
 
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I bought final rise this year after using a filson for 20 plus before that. The only way I could get a bird in the filson was to remove it and yes that is inconvenient. The final rise is lighter. You can easily drop a bird or two into it on the move. I really like the water bottle placement. It comes with 2 I just carry one at a time. I keep the garmin in the left pouch and ammo in the right. It’s got all the webbing and hooks and other do dads. You can also carry out a injured dog if you’re in a
 
I just ordered one of these. On sale for $59 at Rogers. I have a browning strap vest and I can load a pheasant without taking it off but it is a struggle and I know that isn't the design of most all strap vests. I hope I can load one without removal with this one. I hate taking a vest off to load a pheasant, especially with me hunting by myself all the time. It isn't safe with the dogs when you have to lay your gun down. Should have it tomorrow. I ordered one of the expensive ones from Scheels but sent it back 5 minutes after taking it out of the bag.

 
I use a water bladder in the back of mine for the dogs on warm days. When it’s full, plus a couple roosters in the bag, that Filson is definitely heavy. I do like the way it functions however. I have had to sew up the shell pockets, as over time, they have worn through…
My filson had holes wearing in the shell pockets. I mailed it to filson in the off-season, they sewed it up for free.

I think what I'm gonna do is go to pheasant fest this year and try on vests, pants, boots, etc. Hopefully a lot of these companies are there with product to try on to get the fit right. Then I can order online at a later time.
 
I think what I'm gonna do is go to pheasant fest this year and try on vests, pants, boots, etc. Hopefully a lot of these companies are there with product to try on to get the fit right.

I did that a few years ago and was not impressed with the products there. The event is not really designed to be a "flea market" with related products like that.

I think you'd be better off going to another sports show like the Northwest one or similar if you wanted to specifically go for product review.
 
Remy, it might seem silly to take off your vest to load a pheasant, but you probably are not a candidate for shoulder replacement.
It wasn’t always this way, just the last ten years. I have understanding hunting friends and I’m out there. no perfect vest.
Front loaders are just that, you don't have to reach around to the back to get the bird in. With a bad shoulder, which my left one is not good, I am sure it is easier to get a bird into a front loader than taking off any vest.
 
I did that a few years ago and was not impressed with the products there. The event is not really designed to be a "flea market" with related products like that.

I think you'd be better off going to another sports show like the Northwest one or similar if you wanted to specifically go for product review.
I thought these events were exactly the place to put your hands and eyes on the products you would want to purchase. They will have a "vendor list" or whatever you call the exhibitors, and see if the companies your are interested in will be there. I have been to 3 of these, there is almost any company you can imagine at these. They are a huge trade show, most don't bring an inventory of product to sell, but some do just that.

Gim, what vendor were you looking for that was not there?
 
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I think what gim is getting at, there's not been a lot of vendors at pheasant fest selling things. I've been to two, and it seems to be getting better. I will check the vendor list before I go. Even if vests etc. aren't for sale, all I want are some examples to try on. If I get any info I'll let you know.
 
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I was expecting to see a giant retail store of shotguns, ammo, vests, boots, and other upland related items when I went. It was nothing like that. The show is not really designed or built that way. At least it wasn’t when I went a few years ago.
 
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