Ok, I see the topic of "whats the best vest" is pretty much wore out by now which has got me thinking.
I have never used one, nor have I felt the need. But I don't carry a ton of crap either. I normally hit the woods with a diaphragm in my mouth, a locator and pot of choice in my pocket, a turkey chair slung over one shoulder and a few extra calls and necessities in a back pack. I can set up quick, lay the pack just to my right and have access to my other calls and gear. I am confident, I never feel unorganized and I do very well with my method . I just always saw vests as one of those things that every new turkey hunter runs out and buys because they think ya just gotta have one if your gonna be a real turkey hunter.
Now... Am I missing out on something that is indeed that useful ? And am I a minority here or does anybody else take the vest-less approach ?
Do not use a vest, I have an old Fieldline fanny pack designed to hold turkey calls and accessories. Never like sitting on a cushion when I can sit on my Gobbler Lounge.
I have a Primos Gobbler vest, but I rarely use it. I much prefer my Beard Buster Belt. I added a couple of more pouches to it so it could carry all of the junk I tote into the woods. ;D I love it though. :icon_thumright:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Various/bbb_zpswfqzyl5k.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Various/bbb_zpswfqzyl5k.jpg.html)
And ditto on the Gobbler Lounger!! I never leave home without it!
I am organizationally impaired to begin with...
I have found a vest to be very helpful to organize my gear, and have items easily accessible without having to dig around in a shoulder bag. Everything is accessible and easy to get to, and I know where it is when I need it... Also easy to put it back where it goes when I am done...
Certainly not a necessity, but a nice convenience that has added to the enjoyment of the experience for me.
And, if the ground is wet, those little seat cusions are an added bonus as well (although I usually hunt without mine).
I don't carry a backpack, never felt the need, and we all know how important "need" is to a turkey hunter!!!.....
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I like having my vest to carry what I want to take no matter how much or how little. Can always dump it if I need to, but can't use something I don't have with me.
I like my vest because I keep everything I use in mine except my shotgun. Even my asat leafy suit stays in the game bag as well as a rain suit. The point is when I grab my vest and shotgun and walk out the door I'm ready to hunt.
I got away from a vest for a year or two but I do too much sitting and leaning against trees to not have a nice seat and back pads.
Really like the no vest hunting, mouth call, pot call and air cushion makes running and gunning sooooo nice!
I started out with vests & b/c of the heat in Texas & Alabama, I quickly ditched using a vest & went with a waist pack/pouch deal from Academy. I carry my dekes & a butt pad inside of a very light-weight backpack. See attached pic for my turkey huntin' get-up.
But, to each their own; I've seen some very skinny, lightweight vests that I think I could wear & make work just as good.
BGD
I have a generic cloth vest. It has two big pockets in the front, a cushion sit, and a game pouch in the back. It's the lightest vest I've found and it does the job. I like the pouch in the back for the clothes I shed as the day goes on. I tend to cover a lot of ground so I keep it as light as possible.
I wear a vest but I removed the flip down cushion and use a gobbler lounger.
Thinking of going to a brossie type bag/lounger setup.
For years I hit the woods with a mouth call and a crow call, shotgun in hand.
Now it's a vest, just easier.
It's nice to grab my gun and vest at 3 or 4am knowing I've got everything I might need. Be it TP, water, bug spray, gloves, face mask, shells, calls etc...
I'm not the most functional that early in the morning.
I've tried the fanny pack thang and back pack but it just don't work for me. I like vests
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Fanny pack with shoulder straps, and a seat cushion attached to the bottom strap. All I need.
everything i have goes in my backpack. Temps dictate that i usually have to wear a coat, so i think a vest just wouldn't feel right. guess i just never had the urge to try one.
Well I guess I'm not alone. Who knows, maybe one day I might try a vest but Ill stick to my pack for now, it carries all my crap and then some.
Thanks..
fanny pack
Backpack for me.
Depends as I like to be diversified it depends on the weapon I am using, terrain, distance traveling and weather. Sometimes it's a vest or small pack, sometimes nothing but a few calls and sometimes it's a pack that carries a blind, bow and stool.
Quote from: born2hunt on February 23, 2015, 11:28:50 PM
Ok, I see the topic of "whats the best vest" is pretty much wore out by now which has got me thinking.
I have never used one, nor have I felt the need. But I don't carry a ton of crap either. I normally hit the woods with a diaphragm in my mouth, a locator and pot of choice in my pocket, a turkey chair slung over one shoulder and a few extra calls and necessities in a back pack. I can set up quick, lay the pack just to my right and have access to my other calls and gear. I am confident, I never feel unorganized and I do very well with my method . I just always saw vests as one of those things that every new turkey hunter runs out and buys because they think ya just gotta have one if your gonna be a real turkey hunter.
Now... Am I missing out on something that is indeed that useful ? And am I a minority here or does anybody else take the vest-less approach ?
if you carry a backpack and a chair you might as well have a vest, lol. just sayin.
This was me. I really liked not being worried with the vest but found myself really missing having more "tools" with me.
Quote from: Gobble! on February 24, 2015, 09:03:28 AM
I got away from a vest for a year or two but I do too much sitting and leaning against trees to not have a nice seat and back pads.
I wear a light vest with not much in it. It's just a habit to grab my vest every morning and know that all my stuff is there. Plus it gives ma a pouch to put bags of morels in.
I use a vest for all the reasons previously mentioned and I also use it to pack my turkeys out after the hunt. It is a lot easier and less bloody to carry a 19lb tom in a game bag rather than hanging over your shoulder on a mile long hike out of the swamp. I have done it both ways and I will never hunt turkeys without a vest again.
No vest. I use a fanny pack with box call /slate holders on the belt. No need for a vest.
I keep my vest stocked with calls, shells, and necessities like baby wipes, and powder. I find it much easier to pick up a vest and a shotgun to head to the woods than stocking each shirt and pant pock each time I head afield.
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 25, 2015, 10:24:22 PM
I keep my vest stocked with calls, shells, and necessities like baby wipes, and powder. I find it much easier to pick up a vest and a shotgun to head to the woods than stocking each shirt and pant pock each time I head afield.
oh trust me, all I might need is kept in my pack.Even a hydration bladder. I don't need to grab anything else but my gun. I'm just wondering if vests keep things at hand that much better. I've just never tried one out.
I use a vest but have considered ditching it, I usually sit in a gobbler longer anyways so I don't need the seat and I could store the calls I need just as well in a belt style pack like the one RutnNStrutn posted.
I would definitely prefer the vest to a backpack just for organization and ease of access to calls, shells, etc.
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 25, 2015, 10:24:22 PM
I keep my vest stocked with calls, shells, and necessities like baby wipes, and powder. I find it much easier to pick up a vest and a shotgun to head to the woods than stocking each shirt and pant pock each time I head afield.
^^^This
I mix it up between a vest , fanny pack and back pack.
vest
I'm switching up this year. Been using the Elite Ii for a few years. I just ordered a Ribz front pack - basically a vest without the back.
I use a vest cause all my stuff is in there, mostly stuff that don't really pertain to turkey hunting so to say, tp, thermcell, extra gloves and face mask, 12 and 20 ga shells depends on what gun I grab I know I have shells just easier for me to grab and go
Have to vote for the vest! I've had a Cabelas mesh vest for over a decade now and it is real good because it gets plenty hot here. As was mentioned several times, can't beat the organization. :icon_thumright:
I have used a backpack for the last two years, but I bought a turkey thug fanny pack to try this spring. I think it will contain all I need, the true test is a good three mile hike over a few hills! I've learned that light is might!
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 25, 2015, 10:24:22 PM
I keep my vest stocked with calls, shells, and necessities like baby wipes, and powder. I find it much easier to pick up a vest and a shotgun to head to the woods than stocking each shirt and pant pock each time I head afield.
About the same for me. About as small a vest as you can find to keep everything together so I don't have to guess where my stuff is the next day.