I tried several of the top of the line strap vests and sent them all back. For me a strap vest needs to be super light weight. I also need to be able to load a pheasant without removing it. My old browning does this better than all of them. I want a vest that I don't realize I am even wearing. Hunting in Kansas and Iowa, there is no need to ever carry a water bottle so this vest serves me just fine.
Upland Strap Vest - Hunting Clothing - Browning
A minimalistic upland hunting game vest design for use over jackets in cold weather or a t-shirt in warm weather. Solid, durable construction with plenty of storage for birds, shells and spent hulls.www.browning.com
new upland vest
- Thread starter gim
- Start date
westksbowhunter
Well-known member
Kansas has a road every mile so you are never very far from the truck. Most walks are 30 minutes or less and you are generally hunting 160 acres or less. Our habitat is sparse and small. My dogs aren't going to stop for a drink on a 30 minute or less hunt. I water them at the end of each walk. You hunt with whatever vest you want to wear, I am just stating what works for me.
Yeah that’s fine. Sometimes, I like to walk into the bunches of sections of WIHA and cover it in one push. That can be a couple of hours away from the truck. To each his own.
westksbowhunter
Well-known member
I break those big sections up for that exact reason. Then I can rotate my dogs, keep them fresh, and give them water. And if we do have an injury I am not that far from the truck. Makes more sense to me but like you said, to each his own. But I don't hunt WIHA, all private.
gim
Well-known member
This is me too. Rarely am I hunting a spot that is not within sight of my truck. At most, each spot takes about an hour, usually less.
And I also do not hunt when it's hot out anymore either. I prefer 50 degrees or less.
westksbowhunter
Well-known member
I don't hunt unless it's sub 50 either. If it's going to get warm I just hunt til 11:00 or so. Been hunting upland for over for over 50 years now so skipping a warm day isn't a big deal. And like I said I break those bigger parcels up so it doesn't take me more than 30 minutes. Keeps me and the dogs fresh. I only hunt 1 dog at a time so I can rotate them. Keeps them fresh and injury free.
That1uncle1776
Well-known member
You look short... what happened?
Miforester
Well-known member
Ben, my son bought a Pyke this year and really seems to like it. I still have my original cabelas strap vest that I use. Easily holds three roosters and is light weight. It does lack pouches for water so I just put them in my game bag as 99% of my water goes to the dogs. I have been holding off buying a new one as what I currently have is still in good shape.
westksbowhunter
Well-known member
I tried the Orvis Pro and the Scheels Endeavor and sent them both back. Since I have liked my cheap Browning maybe I need to try the Bird N Lite.
www.pheasantsforever.org
Ultimate Upland Vest Review
We put 10 top upland hunting vests through the wringer last season, and here’s what our bird chasers have to say.
gim
Well-known member
Sadly, I have struck out on locating a new vest.
I've been to Scheels, Cabela's, and Fleet Farm. All three had paltry selections.
It might simply be a bad time of year to locate one. Or it could be that upland hunting is so low in popularity that they don't feel the need to keep any stock on hand.
I've been to Scheels, Cabela's, and Fleet Farm. All three had paltry selections.
It might simply be a bad time of year to locate one. Or it could be that upland hunting is so low in popularity that they don't feel the need to keep any stock on hand.
westksbowhunter
Well-known member
Heartland Outdoors in Hutchinson KS has a good selection.
I love my final rise summit XT but it is definitely designed for long days afield in the west where going back to the truck isn’t an option. For ruffed grouse hunting in the Northwoods, I prefer my old Filson tin cloth vest as I don’t need to carry as much and we are often making much shorter hunts.
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Bob Peters
Well-known member
Gim, time to go to pheasant fest! List of exhibitors is online.
Mosby
Well-known member
FWIW...I saw this vest online and it seems to be an old school version of a strap vest. I think it's made of waxed canvas.
duckcamp.com
Canvas Upland Strap Vest - Blaze/Wheat
A perfectly balanced game bag set constructed with water resistant waxed canvas and plenty of pockets for any range & field essentials.
duckcamp.com
Wind River
Well-known member
Consider one vest and a shell belt for different gauges. Keeps the weight around your waist. But I am all for extra equipment. Whatever you choose will be right for you.
I'm a pretty good shot, don't need many shells. Never liked the belts or anything with loops for that matter. I like pockets. I've had filson strap for 20 some years. My seamstresses (had many different ones over the years). have kept patching it up. It's still functional if not a little heavy. This past winter I bought a final rise. I really like it lighter, came with 2 water bottles in stead off the old pop bottles I used to use. These modern materials are just better. Time will if it lasts 20 years. The filson I had to remove to stuff a bird in there. Part of that might have been my build if you know what I mean. The final rise I can stuff and run. It has plenty of pockets for all my essentials. I really like the Pyke stuff I have lots of it. I'm going to get one or at least go fondle one for sure.