Topic: The Best Turkey Vests of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 41 times)
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Topic: The Best Turkey Vests of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 41 times)
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If you’re looking for a turkey vest that doesn’t break the bank or you’re new to the sport, the RedHead Classic II is a great option. Other than added back support, this vest has everything you need and nothing that you don’t. Two main pockets on the front allow for adequate storage and a place to store a slate call and striker, and there’s a box-specific pouch that holds most size box calls and doubles as a water bottle holder. These pockets are loose, however, and I found that most of my calls rattled against other things in the pockets as I walked—but you might remedy this by stuffing your mask, gloves, or a spare shirt in them. If you’re a hunter with a smaller stature, you might find that the shoulder straps bunch up while you’re sitting down even if they’re adjusted all the way.
Most turkey vests look like they’re designed specifically for turkey hunting for obvious reasons. However, the RedHead Classic II looks and feels like more of a traditional game vest, so you can continue using this one when your small-game season rolls around. And with a price that you won’t balk at, this vest is hard to beat.
If you’re an old-school turkey hunter that doesn’t budge once you’re on a gobbling bird, the ALPS Outdoorz Grand Slam turkey vest can get you through the long haul. The adjustable kickstand and memory foam seat is a little luxury in the turkey woods, and if you’re prone to mid-day naps this vest might be dangerous for you. While the seat and kickstand make for hours of co*fortable sitting, the overall vest feels a bit bulky, and slipping quietly through thick woods with the Grand Slam might prove challenging. However, both co*ponents are fully and easily removable, so if you have to run-n-gun or get mobile, it’s possible.
Hunters who use their game bags for storing decoys or dead birds will find plenty of room in this one, and there’s no shortage of storage space for calls either. I tested this vest with and without the kickstand and left the seat on for both. While the magnets are convenient for quickly deploying the seat, they’re not the strongest. Anytime I ducked under limbs or tried to scoot around brush the seat would co*e undone. There are clips that attach to each side of the seat to the vest, but these snap loudly, and they’re definitely not convenient if you’re quickly trying to sneak closer to a turkey. I am a huge fan of the kickstand, which provides back support when you can’t find a tree. This might not seem like a huge issue, but if you’re hunting a strut zone on the edge of a pasture where the nearest tree is behind a wall of brush, you can tuck into smaller vegetation co*fortably with your gun at the ready.
The Nomad Pursuit Convertible turkey vest changes with your desired hunting tactics and preferences. Wear it as a traditional turkey vest or detach the pack portion for a fanny pack and easily deployed seat. If you want to shed even more weight, drop the fully detachable seat for an easily accessible fanny pack. You can also just use the pack portion as a game bag or pack. This versatility not only makes it a great option for turkey hunting, but a great pack/fanny pack for other game, as well.
Like most turkey vests with magnetic seat attachments, this one co*es off easily when it’s caught on limbs, or you bump it off trying to change your position. Yes, there are clips that attach the seat to the vest, but I’ve always found these redundant, since the point of the magnets is to make it easily deployable. One thing I appreciate about the Convertible is the strategically placed pockets. The Thermacell pocket is located on the shoulder strap. And the rest of the pockets are mainly located on the sides of the fanny pack portion, which wraps around the front of the waist instead of sitting at the back like other fanny packs. If you’re on the fence about turkey vests and fanny packs, the Nomad Convertible allows you to have the best of both worlds, and if you end up preferring a fanny pack, you still have an extra pack/game bag on your hands.
The Ambush Sling Pack is a creative and convenient option for hunters who prefer not to use a vest. Stationed in front, the pack places everything at chest level, which makes it easy to access calls or even binos without making a lot of unwanted movement. The zippers are fairly quiet, especially if you open them slowly, and the front pocket stores your slate or glass calls behind two mesh pouches. If you find the front design appealing, especially if you’re a mobile hunter, keep in mind that it’s not ideal if you need to crawl. You may even have to dump the pack entirely if you have to belly crawl to get a shot at a gobbler. The Sling Pack fully adjusts but still felt front heavy with all of my gear, and I had to continue to adjust the strap occasionally while walking. Despite those drawbacks, the Ambush Sling Pack carves out a unique niche for conveniently storing gear and calls, and it shines for hunters who want extra storage without the added bulk or weight.
With a padded seat and minimal storage space, the Cabela’s Speed Seat offers the best of both run-n-gun convenience and wait-em-out co*fort. The extra padded seat makes it easy to sit for hours and doesn’t deflate as much as others. You can run the seat tucked between your back and the fanny pack or already deployed for quick set ups. The seat might feel a bit bulky for some, especially hunters who prefer minimalist setups, and the seat doesn’t fully detach, though you could easily modify this. Unlike traditional fanny packs, this one is co*mitted to your back, so access to the back main pocket isn’t the easiest. Though, there is adequate storage space, and the two cinched pockets are great for storing a Thermos or Thermacell. And if you’re just running mouth calls and have minimal gear, the Speed Seat is worth serious consideration, especially if you’re opposed to vests.
If you prefer a minimalist approach to the turkey woods, the SITKA Mountain Optics Harness is a great option. Most hunters carry a pair of binos, so the dual purpose is worth investing in anyway. The front main opening has a magnetic flap that makes it convenient to silently access your binos or turkey calls. Without my binos, I stored a Lynch’s Fool Proof box call in the main co*partment and still had room to add mouth calls, and the lens cloth holder on the inside doubles as storage for your box chalk. Even with my Leupold BX-4s in the main co*partment, I still stored a slate call in each of the side pockets with room to stow multiple mouth calls. The side pockets, which you can detach for an even more minimalist approach, co*fortably store most size glass or slate calls, and the side pouches on the main pocket work better than most turkey vests for holding strikers.
The natural position of the bino harness is way more convenient than the side pockets on most turkey vests, and you don’t have to fumble for your calls or other gear because everything is in front of you at chest level. The downsides, such as the lack of a game bag, seat, and back support are obvious, but if you’re the type of hunter who prefers minimal gear, you’re probably not worried about those anyway. You can also add other pieces like a pack or clip-on seat for a DIY vest approach.
One of the best things about the Pursuit Vest is that it isn’t designed for one specific purpose, but it excels at several things. One of those is turkey hunting. The four large pockets can hold most calls, even a box if you’re okay with part of the lid sticking out of the zipper. And the main co*partment on the back easily houses a 70-ounce reservoir. This feature and the overall minimalist design of the vest make it an excellent choice for all day run-in-guns. It doesn’t include a seat, but if you’re bent on having one, any clip-on seat would make a great, easy addition to this vest.
When it co*es to necessary gear, turkey vests don’t exactly check the box. They might make your hunts more co*fortable and hold your gear easier, but they’re not going to call-in and bag a turkey for you. Before turkey vests were designed, turkey hunters killed loads of longbeards in nothing more than army fatigues, hand-me-down camo, or old Levi’s. My grandfather killed more turkeys than I probably ever will, and I’m willing to bet the first time he saw a turkey vest was when I showed him one I picked up in high school. If it didn’t fit in his pockets, he didn’t take it. Even if you do prefer a vest or some type of pack, maybe challenge yourself to bag a turkey with only the convenience of your pockets this spring.
If you decide to go the no-vest route, wear some pants with cargo pockets and a shirt that has chest pockets. You can easily access a slate call from your cargo pockets or a box if they’re big enough. A couple mouth calls easily slip into one chest pocket and you can store extra shells in the other. If you do stash a box in your cargo pockets, make sure you wrap it with a rubber band so it doesn’t make unwanted noise while you’re walking through the woods.
Turkey vests typically have three main purposes; they have pockets specifically designed to hold turkey calls, an attached seat for added co*fort during long sits, and a large gamebag for storing extra gear or an unlucky gobbler. Essentially, a vest is made to hold your calls, keep you co*fortable while you battle it out with tom, and bag your bird. Not all turkey vests have these three co*ponents, but most of them have at least one or a co*bination of some.
The main and minimum gear you need for turkey hunting is a shotgun, a turkey call, and some camo. Some old school hunters might even argue that you only need a gun and a call. While you can successfully kill turkeys with these three pieces of gear, there are other products (like turkey vests) that can make turkey hunting more efficient. Of course, I would also add some type of insect repellent or a Thermacell to this list, too. Unlike many other game pursuits, turkey hunting requires minimal and relatively inexpensive gear to get started.
The main and minimum gear you need for turkey hunting is a shotgun, a turkey call, and some camo. Some old school hunters might even argue that you only need a gun and a call. While you can successfully kill turkeys with these three pieces of gear, there are other products (like turkey vests) that can make turkey hunting more efficient. Of course, I would also add some type of insect repellent or a Thermacell to this list, too. Unlike many other game pursuits, turkey hunting requires minimal and relatively inexpensive gear to get started.
Aside from your turkey calls and extra shells, there are other pieces of gear that you’ll want to carry in a turkey vest. Springtime ushers in those coveted morning gobbles but also mosquitos, gnats, and noseeums, so a Thermacell or another type of insect repellent is a must. The temps also rapidly change this time of year, too, and depending on what part of the country you hunt, it could be freezing before first light and 75 by midday. I either layer up or keep an extra lighter one in the gamebag to swap when temps start to rise, and the extra layer can be used for added cushion or back support. If your gamebag is large enough, you can stash decoys in it or a turkey fan for fanning (where legal). It also never hurts to keep an extra pair of gloves and a facemask in your vest. Sometimes camo works too well, and if you tend to get mobile, you’ve probably left a thing or two in the woods.
Pe