Vest or no vest

[timberchicken]

Ok I realize that this topic is probably beat to death but I started going through my turkey hunting stuff and remembered that my vest didnt make it back from MO last year. After 10 years of service she had a catastrophic failure and had to be left behind.  That was a Bass Pro turkey lounger which I liked the vest but loved the seat. I would buy another one but I heard the quality has gone down hill. Other than Ol tom and Cabelas what other brands out there?   I dont have a problem paying for quality but I dont want to pay for a name or something that looks like it should be on the swat team. Most of my hunting is run and gun style. Thanks for any input.

[timberchicken]

I forgot part two of the question. I dont carry a ton of calls, box call, couple slates with strikers and some mouth calls. Am I better off with a Ol Tom shirt? What are the reviews on them?

[idratherb]

I have 2 tenzing packs that are well worth the money and I wont use anything else. Id give them a look I dont thing you'll be disappointed.

[davisd9]

Check out the knight vest! That was what I was getting until I found an Ibeam for a great deal.


Sent from the Strut Zone

[Tail Feathers]

I've tried no vest and keep going back to one.  One big issue is carrying water.  I'm not a fan of the Camelbacks and most of the no-vest carries don't have a bottle holder.

[Kates]

This is what I use, no frills two pockets and a two water bottle holders.  Briars and barb wire will not tear it. Its not camo but I have never had a turkey notice. 

http://www.filson.com/men/vests/mesh-game-bag-16019.html

[dirt road ninja]

Vest, after years of using a vest I've tried both a back pack and fanny pack to see if they were better - IMO they are not. The Ol' Tom shirt is very nice as I own 2 and have been happy with them, but you will find a box call real hard to carry in it. I've been using a Ol' Tom Duralite vest for 4 seasons now and I'm very pleased.

[Gobspur]

I use a variety of systems based on my hunt strategy.  When I'm out all day and traveling several miles potentially, I'm partial to my Russell Super Elite vest. But I'm thinking of getting a Cabelas Tatr'.  My super elite can carry everything including water, snacks, and raingear.  I've tried a backpack but hate taking it off everytime I sit down and digging through it.  Also have to carry a seat pad separate.  When I'm going short distance or dont need to carry as much, I use a fanny pack and hip pouch, with a seat pad on the belt.  When I go real light, I just take my gun, mouth call, and pot call in pocket.  Just have to adapt to each hunting situation.  I've found two things influence whether I go with vest or simple belt packs: 1) how much water/snacks I need to carry & 2) clothing - do I need raingear or will I be stripping off layers when temps go from 35 to 65.

[Tail Feathers]

I got the Tactical Tater with the kickstand after season this year.  My field testing has been all positive but I haven't hunted with it yet.  I LOVE my Gobbler Lounger for sitting, but it's a pain to carry.  This vest gives me similar comfort and the whole vest weighs less than the GL.

[davisd9]

http://www.knightshuntingproducts.com/

[paboxcall]

I got rid of the vest a couple years back and only use a fanny pack with built in shoulder straps.  I remember the day like it was yesterday: reached into the back of my vehicle to don my vest, and when I lifted it, my vest felt like it weighed 80 pounds.

In the woods that day I emptied every pocket - I had like two of almost everything.  With 21 pockets you are inclined to fill 21 pockets.

So I downsized to a fanny with shoulder straps.  Much lighter, and I carry only the essentials.  By essentials I mean for a half day hunt: a long box on my hip, one or two pot calls, 4 strikers, call conditioning equipment and chalk, extra hat and gloves, an extra layer for cold mornings, lunch, trail bars, turkey tote, TP, small flashlight, knife, chap stick, hand warmer.  I fastened the foam seat cushion to the bottom of the fanny pack.  This all sounds like alot, buts it not, the fanny pack is small.

The trumpet goes around my neck, the mouth call goes on my clip attached to my shirt pocket, and the scratcher in the shirt pocket.  Motorola radio around my neck too. 

That list is what I downsized to - a vest just begged more equipment and calls, and I obliged.

If I'm on the bike, its just the long box, trumpet, scratcher and mouth call.  Maybe a Screamin Demon pot in the cargo pocket, but no fanny pack.

Water: I buy the Fred brand water bottles, they are shaped like a flask, fit flat in your pack and BPA free.

I will not go back to a vest, I actually gave mine away to a new turkey hunter.

[grayfox]

Been using the Tactical Tater from Cabela's for about 5 seasons now & it has served me well. I had been using the older Hunters Specialties for a few seasons but it didn't have an attached seat. Now I use it for a dove hunting vest. Later I bought a Mossy Oak Elite because it had a nice thick cushion. Hadn't been using it a full season before the strap holding up the game bag came off. I got my wife to sew it back on & I later sold it. It just didn't seem to have all the pockets I needed for all my stuff I carry. I've bought several more other brands to try but I returned them. So of all the ones I've tried I like my Tactical Tater the most. It has plenty of storage & a comfortable seat that swings back up out of the way quickly. It also has mesh bags on the sides for water bottles or bug spray. I don't think I could do without a vest except maybe for shorter hunts. Another thing about vests is here in Alabama it can be cold in the mornings in the earlier part of the season. So when it warms up later in the morning I have to shed some clothes & they go in the game bag in the vest. Your style of hunting may be different from mine so what works best for me might not fit your style of hunting. But if you do decide to go with a vest I think the Tactical Tater would serve you well. Mine is still in good shape except maybe a small hole or two from where the end of my pruning snips stuck through.

[timberchicken]

thank you for the input. There is a retailer close to me that carries the Knight vest and I am going to check them out.  Does anyone have a report on the Turkey lounger from Bass Pro? Wondering if they had quality issues or if I just heard of a few bad cases.

[VA_Birdhunter]

I love my super elite vest!  I have been using them for years and picked up a new one two season ago and plan to use it for many yrs to come!

God bless

[TRG3]

With my very comfortable ground lounger, the vest just didn't work, so I switched to a fanny pack, the same one I wear during bow season. A big black plastic bag allows me to slip it inside when it's raining along with any calls I have out. A few leaves over the plastic bag does an adequate camo job such that I've had gobblers come from behind me within 10' and not notice it as they then challenge my Pretty Boy some 20 yards away, the last thing they ever do!