I am in the hunt for a new quality vest and am curious what peoples opinions are on the Upland Chief and Final Approach 2024 models?
Other than the price tag on the Upland Chief, everything seems top quality and a vest that could be considered a investment to last many years. Not to mention, seems like a down to earth owner and story that really wants to make the customer happy.
I also came across the Final Approach vest and noticed it has a unique seat system and a game/decoy bag that buckles directly to the vest that even has a spot for a turkey chair. No more carrying 3 different things, it can all be combined into 1 system. It has alot better looking price tag but do not know much about the company and quality.
These are the 2 vests that have stood out to me if anyone had more information or pros and cons that I may have missed. Thanks
Where are you seeing the FA vest?
I think it's the Final Rise Vest?
https://fabrand.com/products/last-strut-turkey-vest?_pos=15&_sid=c5ef291eb&_ss=r
Hopefully this link works. I think its brand new on their site. i wish it had more pictures and description but my buddy seen it at the convention and seemed really impressed.
I'd like to see more pictures of that myself
I've been very happy with the final approach gear I've bought for waterfowl over the years.
Not usually too of the line but the price is right, specially after season sales on Rogers, and I feel you get good bang for your buck with them.
Quote from: Johnhunter21 on February 17, 2024, 08:21:02 AM
https://fabrand.com/products/last-strut-turkey-vest?_pos=15&_sid=c5ef291eb&_ss=r
Hopefully this link works. I think its brand new on their site. i wish it had more pictures and description but my buddy seen it at the convention and seemed really impressed.
Nice looking vest, especially for that price. Looks very well made......on sale for $100 bucks...
Nwft posted two videos of the new vest at the convention a few hours ago. There shorts videos on the utube. The final approach has a neat seat retract method.
https://youtu.be/ZTF6BKzu2Ts?feature=shared
That seat set-up may be the best yet......
I'm a fan of the Upland Chief's concept. It's very well thought out and of a high quality. It's completely modifiable, and they only use those stupid magnets where appropriate, so you won't lose your gear in rough terrain and your seat won't continuously open when you don't want it to. It is expensive but certainly not Fox expensive. It's worth checking out.
I pre ordered the chief upland. So time will tell
Saw the FA at the convention. I didn't get to fully lift it, but it seemed a bit heavy when I hefted it off the display. Nice features and well made with good materials. Lives the pot call holder tops. I'm not sure on the weight, but the features are great.
I bought one of the Final Approach vests and let me tell you, it is the best, most well thought out designed vest that I have ever laid hands on and I've had one of all of them over the past 10 or 12 years minus the M2 and the final rise and other upland vest. It's replaced the RNG300 as the standard that I'll hold vest to. I'm buying 3 to 4 more to put back just in case they decide to stop making them.
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Quote from: ScottTaulbee on February 26, 2024, 02:52:13 PM
I bought one of the Final Approach vests and let me tell you, it is the best, most well thought out designed vest that I have ever laid hands on and I've had one of all of them over the past 10 or 12 years minus the M2 and the final rise and other upland vest. It's replaced the RNG300 as the standard that I'll hold vest to. I'm buying 3 to 4 more to put back just in case they decide to stop making them.
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I saw it at the convention. Not being in the market for a vest I gave it a fairly quick look. Sure looked like quality to me but in hefting it off the mannequin it seemed a bit on the heavy side. But I only lifted it an inch or so, not a real good way to judge. Do you know how much it weighs?
Quote from: Tail Feathers on February 26, 2024, 04:55:39 PM
Quote from: ScottTaulbee on February 26, 2024, 02:52:13 PM
I bought one of the Final Approach vests and let me tell you, it is the best, most well thought out designed vest that I have ever laid hands on and I've had one of all of them over the past 10 or 12 years minus the M2 and the final rise and other upland vest. It's replaced the RNG300 as the standard that I'll hold vest to. I'm buying 3 to 4 more to put back just in case they decide to stop making them.
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I saw it at the convention. Not being in the market for a vest I gave it a fairly quick look. Sure looked like quality to me but in hefting it off the mannequin it seemed a bit on the heavy side. But I only lifted it an inch or so, not a real good way to judge. Do you know how much it weighs?
I never weighed it. But I can tell you it's lighter loaded with calls than a nomad mg empty. And it carries a lot better, you can fill the pockets on it and it feels like you never put a call in it.
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A friend of mine just got one of the FA vests and he says it's the best one he's ever owned. I haven't got my hands on it yet, but he said the seat works exactly as described.
Well I ordered one and I feel like its going to be a winner. The back is made from the mesh material like you see on newer treestand seats and it does seem really light and balanced even loaded up. My buddy that seen it at the show said the mannequin had decoys in the bag and he thought it was heavier too himself until he tried one on without the decoys.
Quote from: CALLM2U on February 26, 2024, 06:29:10 PM
A friend of mine just got one of the FA vests and he says it's the best one he's ever owned. I haven't got my hands on it yet, but he said the seat works exactly as described.
It's the best vest I've ever owned and I've had about all of them!.
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Looks like they just posted a better video with more detail.
https://youtu.be/iVclxkzVm-A
Lots to like on that vest.
Does the vest have no back padding or support?
Yes, it has a padding insert where the top and middle of your back would go against the tree.
For y'all who've seen this vest first hand, do you think the seat could be swapped out with one of Glenda's inner-tube seats?
Looks real nice...
On sale right now on their website. Good price considering it comes with a decoy bag
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Quote from: vthokie7227 on March 06, 2024, 04:50:31 PM
For y'all who've seen this vest first hand, do you think the seat could be swapped out with one of Glenda's inner-tube seats?
The seat is not detachable. I am not familiar with the Glenda's seat, but I dont see anything keeping you from sewing on a different seat as long as it fits up inside the pocket. The seat does seem firm enough you wont be sinking to the ground, so hoping it will be comfortable and last multiple seasons. Cant wait to get out there and find out ...:)
Quote from: Johnhunter21 on March 06, 2024, 07:01:47 PM
Quote from: vthokie7227 on March 06, 2024, 04:50:31 PM
For y'all who've seen this vest first hand, do you think the seat could be swapped out with one of Glenda's inner-tube seats?
The seat is not detachable. I am not familiar with the Glenda's seat, but I dont see anything keeping you from sewing on a different seat as long as it fits up inside the pocket. The seat does seem firm enough you wont be sinking to the ground, so hoping it will be comfortable and last multiple seasons. Cant wait to get out there and find out ...:)
Thanks for the info! I didn't realize there was a pocket it needed to fit into. The seat I'm talking about uses an inner tube and is probably three or four inches thick.
Y'all convinced me to pick one up since they were on sale. $120 plus a 15% off discount made it like $115 to my door. Worst case scenario, I send it back
I only found a couple things on it that I wish was different. It doesnt have a cup holder or a permanent "game bag" on the vest since it has the detachable decoy bag. Since I have a turkey tote, I would only want the game bag attached for a place to shed clothes. I think it's genius of being able to leave decoys and chair in a separate bag that easily detaches and attaches directly to the vest only when I needed it. I had a local sewing shop add a couple cupholders on each side of the seat pocket that would work for pruners too and a small "jacket bag" on the back, so Im pretty happy now.
Are there any pockets on the inside?
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Quote from: Johnhunter21 on March 24, 2024, 09:32:19 AM
I only found a couple things on it that I wish was different. It doesnt have a cup holder or a permanent "game bag" on the vest since it has the detachable decoy bag. Since I have a turkey tote, I would only want the game bag attached for a place to shed clothes. I think it's genius of being able to leave decoys and chair in a separate bag that easily detaches and attaches directly to the vest only when I needed it. I had a local sewing shop add a couple cupholders on each side of the seat pocket that would work for pruners too and a small "jacket bag" on the back, so Im pretty happy now.
Can we see this modification?!
Having trouble posting a pic, if you pm me, I can text you a picture.
No inside pockets.
Cool vest. I wish they offered a version without the decoy bag and put a normal style pocket on the back to stuff in a jacket or water bladder.
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Quote from: Johnhunter21 on March 24, 2024, 02:48:15 PM
No inside pockets.
That's my only strike against it
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I like almost everything about the vest except the striker pockets. They are to short like most vests, striker tips stick out the bottom was their way of solving it. That's only part of striker that really needs protection so im not sure why that was the fix. A JLH striker will go right out the bottom of 3 out of 4 striker pockets on mine, would be a simple fix to sew the opening a little tighter but would have been easy fix while being made also.
Making one of striker pockets slightly larger or elastic for a trumpet would have been nice addition for me, but not everyone would want that
Box call pocket I dont use so I wish it was removable but im modifying it slightly to hold a push pin
Decoy bag I took off to use for just a storage bag, material for mouth calls doesnt absorb moisture like most, thermacell pocket is great idea, retractable seat idea is best I have seen, amount of adjustment and being able to make the vest tight to your body is best ive tried.
Overall it was a steal for the $100 you could get it for right after release. its still a good deal at $150 msrp. One of better vests ive tried
I haven't used the fa Vest yet , I will say this their waterfowl gear is superb, durably built, innovative etc..
FA brand has new owners (Rogers) and is on track for market growth in many areas ...watch for them in the future
The only thing im concerned about is them dang magnets. will the pockets stay closed?
Quote from: Old Timer on March 26, 2024, 10:23:16 AM
The only thing im concerned about is them dang magnets. will the pockets stay closed?
Best magnets that have been on a vest so far and I've had em all except 2
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You certainly have tried about all of them over the years! Thanks for your input.
Quote from: vthokie7227 on March 06, 2024, 04:50:31 PM
For y'all who've seen this vest first hand, do you think the seat could be swapped out with one of Glenda's inner-tube seats?
I can't believe no one has come out with a vest yet that just has a zippered seat pocket for the purpose of inserting inner tubes. I'm considering cutting a hole in my rg300 seat pulling the foam out and putting a tube inside.
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Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 25, 2024, 09:26:01 PM
I haven't used the fa Vest yet , I will say this their waterfowl gear is superb, durably built, innovative etc..
FA brand has new owners (Rogers) and is on track for market growth in many areas ...watch for them in the future
I have been buying the deals on FA off rogers for years, when was FA bought?