The Best Upland Hunting Vests of 2024

On morning of pheasant searching, I’ll depart my truck with a pocket filled with shotgun shells, two water bottles, a few granola bars, my canine, and my gun. I gained’t return till it’s time for a late lunch. Or, if it’s a very good morning of pheasant searching, I’ll be restricted out earlier than then. In different phrases, I wish to hunt effectively. With the intention to hunt laborious and hunt effectively, you’ve received to have your shit collectively, and sporting among the finest upland searching vests will assist. 

A fowl searching vest is one among our easiest items of drugs. It’s, in any case, only a vest with a pair pockets on the aspect and one huge pocket within the again (the sport bag). However in the case of searching gear, innovation has no bounds, and trendy searching vests embrace a complete new collection of changes, customizations, and hidden options. They will additionally price upwards of $350. 

With the intention to make it easier to discover the very best fowl searching vest in your pursuits, I discipline examined the highest fashions over the course of a season. These are my favorites.   

How We Examined the Greatest Upland Looking Vests

I referred to as in vests from all the foremost producers I might get ahold of, after which, very merely, I began searching in them. I hunted grouse and woodcock in Wisconsin. Pheasants in my dwelling state of Minnesota and on the prairies of South Dakota. And for good measure, I additionally hunted perdiz in Argentina. (If you happen to don’t know what perdiz are, think about if a bobwhite and a hen pheasant had a love youngster). Government editor Natalie Krebs additionally examined the Alps Outdoorz vest over the course of a number of seasons of fowl searching throughout the nation. 

Whereas searching laborious in every vest, we regarded for the next qualities.

Consolation

A vest wants to suit properly and be comfy over a full day of searching. One of the best upland searching vests have loads of adjustment factors so you will get weight distributed correctly, similar to a hunting backpack. This may not appear to be a giant deal when your vest has a lightweight load, however when it’s packed full with two water bottles, three hefty roosters, and a field of 12 gauge shells, you’ll need your vest to suit you correctly. There must also be ample padding and venting, and the shoulder straps shouldn’t dig in or rub.

Performance

Your fowl searching vest ought to make it easier to keep organized. You need to have the ability to entry your shells rapidly and with out taking your eyes off your canine. It’s best to be capable of entry your water and snacks one-handed and be capable of stuff a fowl within the recreation bag with out taking the vest off. You additionally need skinny and broad shoulder straps in order that they don’t intrude along with your gun mount. Personally, I need at the least one inside zipper pocket for holding my license, pockets, and keys. 

Sturdiness

A fowl searching vest ought to final for a few years. Since I might solely hunt with most of this discipline for one season, I evaluated sturdiness primarily based on the standard of the fabric and energy of the construct. If any vests began exhibiting early put on and tear, they misplaced factors in sturdiness. 

Design

There are lots of intelligent design options on this discipline of upland vests. Just a few of the vests have designs which you can add or take away pockets or transfer pockets to totally different positions, customizing the vest to your liking. Moreover, a lot of them are coated in Molle, they usually’re appropriate with hydration bladders. 

Worth 

Worth boils right down to how a lot vest you’re getting in your buck. Many of the vests have been priced within the $200 to $300 vary. Vests which might be made in America (Remaining Rise and Hunt Redi) get further credit score on this class. 

I scored every of those classes on a 1 to five scale, with 5 being the very best rating. You’ll see the scores for every vest mirrored within the “Report Card” part of the write-up. 

• 1 = Poor
• 2 = Honest
• 3 = Good
• 4 = Very Good
• 5 = Glorious

Greatest Upland Looking Vests: Critiques and Suggestions

Greatest General: Final Rise Summit Vest

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Report Card

• Consolation: Glorious
• Performance: Glorious
• Sturdiness: Very Good
• Design: Glorious
• Worth: Good

Key Options

• 2 massive shell pouches
• 2 water bottle holsters (with bottles included)
• Customizable pouch placement
• Constructed of 1000D and 500D Cordura 
• Sourced and Sewn within the USA
• Value: $315 – $325

Execs

• Very comfy and adjustable
• Modern shoulder straps
• High quality building

Cons

Remaining Rise is a Utah-based firm and a relative newcomer to the upland fowl searching market. Their vest’s identify, the Summit, hints on the firm’s spirit. Their gear was designed for searching high-country chukars and mountain grouse. However this vest works equally properly whereas tromping by cattail sloughs in South Dakota or busting by popple stands for grouse in Minnesota. The Summit is my editor’s alternative winner as a result of it has a minimalist type and match whereas additionally providing all of the house and help required to load up heavy for a full day of searching. 

The Summit is available in 5 waist dimension choices and two torso dimension choices, so irrespective of your bodily construct, you’ll be capable of discover one that matches you properly. It’s extremely adjustable, so that you’ll be capable of get it good and cushty earlier than searching. Like a number of different high vest corporations, Remaining Rise gives quite a lot of accent luggage, pockets, and webbings (this contains sidearm holsters and bear spray pouches). As you order your vest on-line, you may choose which options you need (and your most popular colours, too). I stored my Summit vest configuration quite simple, with just one shell pouch (it comes normal with two shell pouches) and two water bottle holsters. I didn’t need to take an inherently streamlined piece of equipment and bulk it up unnecessarily. 

The extra I hunted on this vest, the extra I got here to understand all of its intelligent design options. For instance, the shell pouches Velcro shut but additionally zipper closed as properly. This appears redundant, but it surely’s not. I’ll Velcro the pouches closed whereas searching so I can rapidly entry shells, however then I zipper the pouches shut once I’m performed searching, and it’s time to throw the vest in my truck. That method, shells don’t tumble out of the pocket in transit. 

One other instance of good design: the vest can be utilized to move an injured and immobilized canine out of the sphere. I didn’t check this characteristic, however you may see the way it’s performed within the video under.

I appreciated the slim profile of the vest, however this yr I’ll most likely add a pouch on my left shoulder for my canine’s e-collar unit and an additional rear bag for my canine first-aid equipment. That’s the great thing about this technique, you may scale it up or down relying in your searching wants. 

Nice Purchase: Alps Outdoorz Extreme Upland Vest

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Report Card

• Consolation: Very Good
• Worth: Glorious
• Performance: Very Good
• Sturdiness: Glorious
• Design: Good

Key Options

• Skinny, shooter-friendly shoulder straps
• Massive recreation pocket (unzips for simple cleansing)
• Two shell pockets (every suits a full field)
• Two water bottle pockets
• Two flip-down magnetic gun rests (dimension L solely)
• Out there in two sizes: L and XL
• Made in Vietnam
• Value: $150

Execs

• Loads of storage for recreation and kit
• Devoted water reservoir pouch
• Comfy hip belt
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Heavier, cumbersome when full
• Shell pockets don’t totally safe shells

Even after 4 seasons of laborious fowl searching with this Alps Outdoorz vest, I’m not planning on swapping it out anytime quickly. This sturdy, over-built vest is ideal for the best way I hunt, which is that I don’t thoughts carrying a little bit further weight to have every thing I want for a protracted day of mountaineering. The devoted hydration pocket carries my water provide, whereas the 2 water bottle pockets are excellent for canine water. The sport vest is sufficiently big for a restrict of roosters, a first-aid equipment, and the outer layer I inevitably shed as soon as I get transferring. Additional pouches and a zippered pocket are excellent for stashing gloves, a spare beanie, snacks, cable cutters (for rescuing dogs), and my searching license.

That’s numerous stuff, which is the place the padded and vented hip belt turns out to be useful. It takes the load off my again throughout lengthy hours of laborious searching. The shoulder straps are supportive but skinny sufficient to not get in the best way of my gun mount. Additionally they have straps and pockets for clipping an e-collar distant and hydration hose. The vest is overkill for thick cowl or carrying smaller birds like grouse, but it surely’s ultimate for lengthy days on the prairie.

I solely have two gripes about this vest. The primary is that when you don’t fastidiously Velcro the shell pocket every time you reload, you’ll lose shells everytime you jog. I’ve misplaced handfuls of them whereas operating into place for the flush, which is each wasteful and a giant bummer if you go to reload and understand you’re out of shells. (The shell pockets in the newer version of this vest characteristic magnetic closures and larger aspect flaps to higher safe shells.) The second grievance is my buddy’s: There may be not sufficient blaze orange on the entrance and aspect of the vest. Aside from the shell-pocket closures, the one noticeable orange is on the again of the vest. It’s an issue simply solved with a 100% blaze orange hat, shirt, or jacket, however it’s one thing to remember. Contemplating that that is essentially the most reasonably priced trendy vest within the discipline, these are small quibbles. —Natalie Krebs

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Greatest for Heavy Hundreds and All-Day Hunts: Kuiu Upland Field Vest

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Report Card

• Consolation: Glorious
• Performance: Very Good
• Sturdiness: Very Good
• Design: Glorious
• Worth: Good

Key Options

• Backpanel keep system
• Weight-bearing hip belt
• Backpack-type storage on fowl bag
• Constructed of 500D Cordura 
• Expandable fowl bag
• Adjustable yoke system
• Consists of 2, 32-ounce squeeze bottles 
• Suitable with a water bladder 
• Value: $249

Execs

• Able to carrying a heavy load comfortably
• Backpack-style bag retains objects organized and clear
• Can successfully maintain numerous birds

Cons

If you happen to intend to hold numerous water in your canine, a bunch of useless roosters, a field of shells, meals, and a primary assist equipment throughout an all-day fowl hunt, then the product you want is Kuiu’s Upland Field Vest. 

This fowl searching vest is designed across the idea of an internal-frame backpack. It has a detachable keep that runs by the again and lets you shift and steadiness weight between your shoulders and hips. Not like most fowl searching vests, the hip belt on this vest is substantial and able to bearing weight. So if you need to load the vest up heavy, you may tighten the hip belt and barely loosen the shoulder straps as a way to put extra weight in your hips — and take weight off your shoulders and again. Chicken hunters who’ve skilled again ache beneath a heavy vest ought to severely think about Kuiu’s providing.     

I’ve hunted with the vest a number of occasions for pheasants in Wisconsin, and I discovered it to be fairly comfy. That’s largely as a result of it has a number of adjustment factors so you will get it to suit exactly. I haven’t had the possibility to load the vest as much as full capability but (the WI restrict is 2 roosters, and Kuiu claims the vest can maintain as much as seven), however whereas searching, I might instantly see how the design is optimized for comfortably carrying weight. 

The Kuiu vest has a bunch of different intelligent options, too. The fowl field is adjustable for dimension. The shell pockets have a number of inside pockets for holding miscellaneous objects. The shoulder straps are good and skinny and gained’t hinder your gun mount. The backpack-style bag on the again of the fowl field is nice for storing belongings you don’t need to get muddy or bloody. It’s clear that Kuiu put numerous thought and care into this design they usually delivered on a vest that’s distinctive available in the market. Critical fowl hunters who run canine and carry heavy hundreds ought to give it critical consideration.

Greatest Extremely-Gentle: Orvis Pro LT

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Report Card

• Consolation: Glorious
• Performance: Good
• Sturdiness: Honest
• Design: Very Good
• Worth: Glorious

Key Options

• 2 massive shell pouches
• Very mild (1 pound, 15 ounces)
• Massive rear pocket
• Value: $195 

Execs

• Gentle and minimalist design
• Comfy and skinny shoulder straps and waist belt
• Quite simple to make use of
• Inexpensive

Cons

• No customization
• Much less sturdy than others within the discipline
• Not designed for heavy hundreds

As Leonardo Da Vinci as soon as stated, “simplicity is the last word sophistication.” The Orvis vest is straightforward. It’s basically a hip belt with a recreation bag, adjustable yoke and shoulder straps. However when you’re prepared to slim down your gear—which a complicated fowl hunter shouldn’t have any drawback with—it’s the proper vest. Weighing 1 pound, 15 ounces, it’s virtually 2-pounds lighter than the heaviest vest on this check (the Filson). 

The sport bag is sufficiently big to hold three roosters when you stuff them in and cinch it down tight. The pockets on both hip are massive sufficient for loads of shells, snacks, and miscellaneous gear. The again pocket is sufficiently big for a first-aid equipment, and the 2 water bottle pockets will maintain Nalgenes with out subject. What else do you actually need (until you wish to hunt like Natalie Krebs, that uncivilized govt editor of ours)? 

After I needed to choose one vest out of this check discipline to deliver with me to Argentina, I chosen Orvis Professional LT. It packed into my baggage simply sufficient however was loads of vest for 2 days of upland searching. 

At $195, that is the second most reasonably priced trendy fowl vest within the check. 

The draw back of this vest is that it’s not meant to hold a ton of drugs, and it doesn’t have the plain sturdiness of among the others within the discipline. The fabric and straps are a bit thinner. I did discover some early put on and tear alongside some seams and edges. However that’s the trade-off of going ultra-light. Even so, I nonetheless anticipate this vest to final a number of extra seasons of laborious searching. If you happen to just like the type of this vest however need one fabricated from extra sturdy materials, go together with the Orvis Pro vest, which you’ll nonetheless discover on Amazon. Nonetheless, when you want a minimalist, reasonably priced fowl vest that’s comfy and tremendous mild, then look no additional. The Orvis Professional LT was made for you.

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Greatest Heavy Responsibility: Filson Upland Guide Strap Vest

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Report Card

• Consolation: Very Good
• Performance: Very Good 
• Sturdiness: Glorious
• Design: Good
• Worth: Good

Key Options

• 4 separate pockets
• Thicker supplies and stable design
• Water bladder appropriate
• Made in Vietnam
• Value: $295 

Execs

• A ton of cupboard space
• Restricted lifetime assure
• Overbuilt

Cons

Chicken searching guides should carry all their very own gear, plus some further objects for his or her shoppers (further shells, snacks, water, and so on.). They usually have to hold their shoppers’ birds, too. So it is sensible that Filson has named this heavy hauler the Information Strap Vest. It has a hefty recreation bag, massive hip pockets, a water bladder compartment, and a generously sized again pocket. It additionally has a bit extra padding and thicker straps than different vests within the check. It’s clear that this vest was made for the calls for of guiding and it has the sturdiest construct of all of the vests within the check. The draw back is that the vest is a bit heavier and bulkier. However hey, if you wish to hunt like a information, you’ve received to be powerful like a information. 

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Greatest Customization: Chief Upland

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Report Card

• Consolation: Very Good
• Performance: Very Good 
• Sturdiness: Very Good
• Design: Glorious
• Worth: Good

Key Options

• Absolutely customizable design
• Briarproof 1000D CORDURA
• Gusseted, blood-resistant recreation bag
• Made in Vietnam
• Value: $197 (for simply the vest) 

Execs

• Combine and match equipment as wanted
• Glorious shell pouch
• Comfy padding within the again
• A lot of straps for adjusting match

Cons

• Restricted availability
• Water bottle pouch is just too small
• Including equipment will get costly

Chief Upland gives a really cool build-your-own vest system. The perimeters of the vest are constructed with Molle-like webbing that every accent attaches to with easy straps. When deciding on equipment, you may go together with a starter bundle, which features a shell pouch, water bottle holder, and water bottle, or you should purchase every accent one after the other.  

Chief Upland doesn’t have fairly as many equipment as different corporations on this check, but it surely wins the award for finest shell pouch. Theirs is a waterproof pouch when you zipper it closed. However there’s additionally a magnetized cowl that flips closed (the magnets are robust sufficient to maintain it closed even whereas operating by the sphere). After I’m searching, I depart the zipper open and depend on the magnetized high, so I can entry shells rapidly. The shell pouch additionally has outer shell loops for even sooner reloads. 

It’s enjoyable including equipment and customizing your vest. Simply bear in mind equipment jack up the value—a shell pouch prices about $35.

I’ve really hunted with this vest for a number of seasons now, and it has held up admirably. It has a restricted storage capability, but it surely does carry weight fairly properly. I’ve had no drawback hauling round three huge roosters in it. I really like that the sport bag has a blood-resistant lining. After a profitable hunt, I’ll wipe it clear with a paper towel and keep away from that blood-stained recreation bag look. 

Just a few small quibbles: I want the water bottle holders have been larger (to suit Nalgene-sized bottles), and whereas the e-collar unit holder on the shoulder strap is nice for right-handed shooters (like me), it’d get in the best way for lefties making a quick gun mount. 

Greatest Sport Bag: Hunt Redi Deviate Ambush 2.0

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Report Card

• Consolation: Very Good
• Performance: Very Good 
• Sturdiness: Good
• Design: Glorious
• Worth: Honest

Key Options

• Absolutely customizable design
• Bundle contains: fashioned flap shell pouch, pocket, 2 water bottle holsters (plus bottles), 2 lashing straps
• 500 denier Cordura 
• The massive, agency recreation bag contains an inside pocket
• Sourced and made within the USA
• Value: $395 (for vest and bundle of equipment) 

Execs

• Combine and match equipment as wanted
• The bundle comes with an awesome number of equipment
• A number of yoke/shoulder strap choices for proper sizing
• Lined in Molle-type webbing

Cons

• Restricted availability
• Expensive

This can be a dear vest with a ton of choices and obtainable customization. The sport bag has agency sides, so it stays in an oblong form even when empty. It has a pleasant inside mesh pocket for securing objects you don’t need sliding round as you hike. The vest is actually constructed for hauling heavier hundreds. If you happen to plan to hunt all day and need to retailer further layers and lunch in your vest, The Hunt Redi could be a stable alternative. 

Just like the Chief Upland vest, it’s coated in webbing and totally customizable. Hunt Redi has an excellent wider choice of pouches and water bottle holsters. The vest is ideal for hunters who wish to tinker and aren’t afraid to look at a number of Youtube movies as a way to determine all of the options on their vest. On the draw back, it’s a bit cumbersome. I might not select this vest for searching grouse in heavy cowl or for busting by cattail sloughs.  

The opposite notable characteristic of this vest is its premium value level. Together with the bundle of equipment, it’s about $70 dearer than the subsequent priciest vest. However it’s American sourced and American made, and it has a ton of options {that a} diehard fowl hunter will love. If you happen to determine to spend money on a Hunt Redi vest, you’ll be capable of put on it with delight. On the time of publication, the blaze orange model of the vest was bought out, however the “inexperienced ranger” coloration was obtainable. 

Easy and Low cost: Cabela’s Upland Cool Mesh

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Report Card

• Consolation: Honest
• Performance: Honest
• Sturdiness: Good
• Design: Honest
• Worth: Very Good

Key Options

• Sport bag with blood-resistant lining 
• 60% cotton and 40% woven polyester twill
• Gentle mesh round chest and again
• Made in Bangladesh 
• Value: $60

Execs

• Low cost
• Mesh is designed to maintain you cool

Cons

• Restricted cupboard space
• No adjustability for match
• No help for weight

Perhaps you simply want a conventional, easy upland searching vest? This Cabela’s mannequin will go well with you simply positive. Probably the most fascinating factor about this vest is that it has mesh across the chest and again. On early-season hunts, this venting ought to maintain you cool. On late-season hunts, all of your different layers maintain you heat, so it’s not just like the mesh is a detriment. 

This easy orange was constructed for fowl hunters—it’s not only a big-game searching vest with a recreation bag added on. It has shell loop holders on both aspect pocket that maintain 12-gauge hundreds firmly. The sport bag has a blood-resistant liner. The shoulder padding is minimal, so the vest shouldn’t hamper gun mount. The sizing runs a bit massive. I’m 6 toes 2 inches, weigh 180 kilos, and am swimming within the dimension massive, even whereas sporting mid-temp layers. 

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FAQs

Remaining Ideas on the Greatest Upland Looking Vests

As soon as you discover the proper upland searching vest, it’ll develop into a part of your bird-hunting ritual. You’ll maintain your shells in the identical pocket each hunt. You’ll have a system for securing and accessing your water bottles rapidly. You’ll be capable of attain again and seize a granola bar with out having to take the vest off. You’ll know that the canine’s first-aid equipment is stashed away in a again pocket (and hopefully, it’ll keep stashed away). Your automobile keys, license, and pockets might be safe in the identical zippered pocket if you return out of your hunt. 

You’ll be capable of merely throw your vest within the truck and go searching. So, select your personal finest upland searching vest fastidiously. If you happen to want further house for further gear, go together with the Filson, Alps, or Hunt Redi vests. If you wish to keep mild and modern, go together with the Remaining Rise, Orvis, or Chief Upland vests. 

 

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