Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: Hornseeker on December 02, 2011, 11:28:41 AM
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What do you like? Mine is 20 years old and needs replaced. Vest or Harness? I saw a good looking one from Browning, Boyt, Berretta, and even that Badlands one is intriguing...oh and the Quilomene...
What do you like/need in an upland vest? Good ones?
Thanks!
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wing works are the bomb! and they are bomb proof. http://wingworks.biz/
for lighter work, pella has a new bird pack that looks pretty legit
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I'm not sure if LJ's Vests in Omak is still building vests or not, but if so, I'd highly recommend one. They custom build the vest to your size and specs. I had mine build with front loading pockets to put birds. Had larger lower pouches with shell holders on the bottom front for 7 1/2s and had smaller pockets with shell holders right above them for 6's. Had small pockets on the upper chest on each side that held 3 slugs on one side and 3 00 buck on the other side. Had a special pocket sewn on the back for holding a water bottle for the dogs. Also had a vertical pouched sewed on the back for holding a spotting scope and tripod for combo deer/bird hunting in the Palouse country. Couldn't ask for a better pack for my style of hunting. Several other friends had them build and each was to their specs. All different, but all our favorites.
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wing works are the bomb! and they are bomb proof. http://wingworks.biz/
for lighter work, pella has a new bird pack that looks pretty legit
I've been doing some shopping lately and if I had $200 in the budget, it would go to WingWorks.
I am looking at the sub-$100 market and am focused on the Filson Game Bag.
Not nearly as cool as the others but I like Filson.
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A good shopping source for vests: http://www.uplanders.com/home.php?gclid=CIb--N-bo5sCFQk_agodVn7zAg
And actually my favorite upland vest is this one ON SALE at LL Bean:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/69600?feat=9200-GN2&attrValue_0=Tan
Tom
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I have a plain vanilla mothers. I liked it so much that I bought them for my bro and father in law. After a long day my back feels better wearing the pack than not.....my fil and bro feel the same. Look at a pack type vest with a good belt that carries weight low. I would easily buy another mothers.
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I've used a Boyd Strap vest for years and like it but after a week of 8 hour days my shoulders get sore/achy. Bought a Camelbak(upland strap vest) for the easy of packing water for the dog. I spent two weeks between SD and WI hunting grouse, pheasant, ruffs and woodcock, no pain till the day I used the Boyd thinking it would be a little lighter. I think the padded straps and snap in the front that keeps the straps from sliding down the should make all the difference.
AWS
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http://www.cabelas.com/product/Bargain-Cave/Rock-Bottom-Deals/Hunting-Clothing|/pc/105591780/c/105642180/sc/111012480/Cabelas-Rapidloader8482-Upland-Vest/753852.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fbargain-cave-rock-bottom-deals-hunting-clothing%2F_%2FN-1105963%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_111012480%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat105591780%253Bcat105642180&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat105591780%3Bcat105642180%3Bcat111012480
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Hey, not sure how handy your wife is with a sewing machine but she could probably hook you up with a sweet one. Having said that, does anyone know if a normal home sewing machine can sew through the corduras and thicker nylong webbing such as the ones used for shoulder straps? The other problem is my wife takes about a year to sew whatever she's making. Unless it really interests her haha. :chuckle:
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Hey, not sure how handy your wife is with a sewing machine but she could probably hook you up with a sweet one. Having said that, does anyone know if a normal home sewing machine can sew through the corduras and thicker nylong webbing such as the ones used for shoulder straps? The other problem is my wife takes about a year to sew whatever she's making. Unless it really interests her haha. :chuckle:
I make my own version of the kifaru gun bearer. It is 3 layers of webbing in one spot....big needle and go slow.
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Thanks. My wife has a habit of turning needles into grenades. Lucky for me her feet are the only ones that find the shrapnel, not mine.
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Mother's Vest are no longer in business. I had mine for several years but left it on a t-post fence by accident when I was leaving. I came back a few minutes later and somone had dumped the contents out on the ground and took the vest. Nice! I ended up ordering a custom one from a guy in Idaho. I should get it next week.
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Thanks all!
Eburg, can you fix your link? I cant figure out how to get it to work.
I would really like to get something under 150... I'll take a look at all of them though.
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I had a Filson basic strap vest and hated it. No extra pockets, the metal buckles scratched my gun, no front load, and no adjustments to take the weight off the shoulders. Way too basic. I put a lot of extra stuff in my vest: water bottles, shells, camera, e-collar and garmin astro, small survival pouch, etc. By the end of the day, especially if I have some birds in the bag, it does get heavy and my shoulders ache. A well built vest that adjusts to take the weight off your shoulders is crucial. I'm using a cambelback now, which Cabela's sells for $100 (I got mine for $50 because it was mis-marked), and I like it very much. I might save up and get a wingworks too.
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That wingworks looks like the chit, but that camel back also looks real nice.
However, for the $$, I'm really leaning towards this LL Bean vest... it looks like it would fit my needs nicely..and well constructed.
http://www.llbean.com/is-viewers/dhtml/images/spacer.gif (http://www.llbean.com/is-viewers/dhtml/images/spacer.gif)
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I've got the Quilomene (sp) from Uplanders.com. I ordered it before I got my first upland dog and really got back into upland hunting, figured I'd be ready. Should have waited, it works for what it is but I'm gonna have to make some mods to it. One, it doesn't have any where to hang or put the ecoller control or the gps, so some d rings and pouches are gonna get sewed onto the shoulder straps. Second, I like to have a pouch to carry a water bottle for the dog, its got a pouch to put a hydration bladder in but I like to bring gatorade for me, water for the dog. Three, I can't keep the straps on my shoulders so a sternum strap is in order. If I'd waited and figured out what I needed instead of what I thought I wanted, I'd have gotten a filson.
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I have a filson "quail vest" which is similar to the pro dog trainer strap vest. its barely adequate for release site hunting But I find anything filson makes severely lacking for highly active all day upland bird hunting with dogs.
as for all of filson's hunting vest offerings: they are not breathable so your back gets hot and sweaty. there is not enough storage for anything but shells, I want to be able to able to carry lots of water and hopefully birds. the Game bag is tight and not very roomy, one or two roosters pressed against your back on a hot day will sour even if you field dress them, let alone a full montana bag. and they are as spendy as the rest... although I really like the ubiquitous and simple strap vest for dove hunting.
I have spent a fortune on filson gear in the past, but since they were bought by Abercrombie and Fitch I think they have lost touch with their roots and quality has suffered while prices have gone up.
