load bearing vest for hunting?

zedex

zedex

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When i hunt a carry all my stuff like knife,sharpener,firestarter,lighter,compass,flashl ight,multitool,gps,walkie talkie,spare ammo all on my belt. It gets heavy and uncomfortable having that weight on your hips all day. I dont want to carry all that stuff in my back pack because sometimes i dont carry a pack.
Anyone use a vest of some type to carry all the stuff you want with you at all times? I was looking through the new SIR/Cabelas catalog and i see a few vests for airsoft" GASP" "SHUDDER"!!!!. Something along these lines might work well for hunting.
Anyone use something similar for hunting?

Thanks
 
Personally, No.

Your right about the whole belt thing. Does get uncomfortable.

Back pack. Lot's a brands that are comfortable, and compartmentalized for GPS & ammo and the like. Quick and easy to adjust when you add / loose layers.
 
I bought a fanny pack in crappy tire last year, and I love it. It was 14 dollars, and is a perfect fit for my range finder, ammo, keys, phone, and small knife.
I don"t think a vest would be that useful, as it won"t hold any heat, so will have to be inside a coat, making it less accessable.
I have a rucksack that I use as a shooting rest for zeroing and I carry all kinds of stuff in it. When I need to shoot in the feild I have the same rest as I zeroed off, and I have lots of space for load carrying. The fanny pack holds the stuff I need to get at quickly.
 
Ever thought about a Turkey Vest. I love mine, and I also use it for crossbow hunting for deer in Ontario. It has a padded seat that can be lifted up and out of the way when you are walking, lots of pockets, with different compartments. I would like to get one in all Blaze Orange for our deer rifle hunt in the fall, as the Orange is a requirement here.

Something like this:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044372932776a&type=product&cmCat=SEAR CHFEAT&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=turkey+vest&N=4887&Ntk=Prod ucts&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=turkey+vest&noIma ge=0
 
Trouble with a lot of that surplus type load bearing stuff is that it's made out of cordura, and its noisy as hell. But Cabelas has some decent fanny pack type things with shoulder straps that are quiet and might work ok.
 
I've thought about a turkey vest - seems like a good idea. My dad uses a fanny pack, loves it. I use a small daypack right now - nice and quiet and has a hydro-pack, and is thin enough it doesn't catch on anything.
 
I sometimes use ALICE webbing with a couple of small packs attached , you can also carry a canteen , hook on your knife and hatchet if desired
 
I use a load bearing vest most of the time when I'm out. All my crap fits in it, and it's quite confortable. I used to use a day pack, but a properly set up load bearing vest carries at least as much and is way more comfortable. I won't go back to a day pack...
 
The turkey vest I have carries more stuff than I want to carry. Has a built in camelback carrier, flip down seat, pockets, pockets, pockets... Holds all kinds of ammo. I wear it for all my hunting.
 
Blackhawk Blackoak fanny, love mine.
Blackhawkblackoakfannypack.jpg
 
what's the point of a fanny if he doesn't like the feel of the weight around his waist? Personally I would use a load bearing vest. Buy the modular vest so you can buy the proper sized pouches that fit your stuff so you aren't stuck with pockets you don't use because they are too small or big and you feel the need to fill them; or you put stuff in that certain pouch but you don't really want that item there but the pockets there so you use it. Sometimes having a pouch 3" to the left makes a huge difference. You can fit everything on it and if used properly it will distribute the weight evenly across your body which in turns allows you not to get a sore back.
You may want to get a small back pack to carry around as well to put some bulky items in which can be used as a back rest, pillow or seat.
Look at the army. These guys carry around a ton of stuff but still mobile when needed. They have put huge amounts of money into learning how to carry stuff around and still be agile and quiet. What do they use? Modular vests and a back pack system. A little more money but makes sense and lasts.
 
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I've been using a blaze Cabela's vest for a few years now. Lots of pockets, carries everything I used to have in a daypack, nicely distributed weight and quiet fabric. I forget what they called it...Ultimate Guide Vest or something like that. You couldn't miss it in their catalog...."simply the finest piece of hunting gear....blah, blah, blah".:rolleyes: It's starting to show some worn and weak spots (like most Cabela's clothing that I've tried, it's not all that durable) and I think that the new Primos vest that I saw last fall in Bass Pro may be its replacement.

A turkey vest is great if you don't need blaze orange. One thing to keep in mind is that if you like to use your pack as a rifle rest, the vests are pretty useless for that.
 
I use an old signalman's bag for most of that sort o stuff. I keep my firestarter in my pocket, knives on my belt & radio hooks into a loop on the strap of the bag, so it sits near my face (I don't always hear well, especially if there's background noise like wind, so this works particularly well for me).

I can see where a vest of many pockets would work as well though. probably a bit better.

There are always options & whatever works, works.

L
 
7.62mm said:
Ever thought about a Turkey Vest. I love mine, and I also use it for crossbow hunting for deer in Ontario. It has a padded seat that can be lifted up and out of the way when you are walking, lots of pockets, with different compartments. I would like to get one in all Blaze Orange for our deer rifle hunt in the fall, as the Orange is a requirement here.
Click to expand...

I also use similar, although mainly a bird hunter, I love these vests, pockets for your crap and a few large game pockets for birds if your out walking. I actually use a "Hawking Vest" though, suits my needs better.
 
I have to be careful when I'm in hunting stores, or I'd end up with a new back pack, vest, or batman belt every time I go to one! I have several different rigs for different types of hunting, here's what I've found has worked.

Fanny pack - when pushing the bush for deer, this is all I bring. I have extra shells, my range finder, my tags, my knife, my camera, and spare batteries in it. I also use this whenever I go to my stand, but I put an extra set of gloves in it as well.

Load bearing rig. I have 2 that I use when I want to bring more gear than I can fit in my fanny pack. I've looked at a lot of vests & different systems, but can't bring myself to buy one, because the 2 that I have work great. I use the old CF 82 pattern webbing, and the CF olive drab load bearing vest. If I'm out scouting during the summer, I'll wear the webbing, with several utility pouches and it carries everything I need. During the spring or fall, I use the vest if I need to carry more stuff.
If I'm wearing either of these, I have my backpack too, so I don't put anything in the rear pocket of the LBV, or use the butt-pack on the webbing.

Back pack - Any time I'm stand hunting, or going for a "long walk" type hunt, I bring a back pack. In it I carry; Extra jacket & vest for while in the stand, 12' of 1/2" rope, for making a drag if I shoot something. 50' of 550 cord, this is a small, strong rope that has more uses than duct tape. Gerber pocket saw. Small bottle of scent killer. Binoculars, if they're not around my neck. Extra gloves. Toque, I like to wear a light hat while walking, & switch when I get to the stand & start to freeze. Rattle bag. Seat cushion, tree stands get uncomfortable! Soft canteen, carries a lot of water, and you collapse it as you drink so it stays quiet. A snickers, couple Sweet & Salty bars, and if I'm going to be out all day, a couple sandwiches. A small pelican case, with matches, super glue, about 10' of duct tape wrapped around a small pencil, a back up compass, and if I'm in an area with cell coverage, my cell phone (call it a survival kit if you want). I also put a space-blanket in the back pack, but not in the pelican case.
During the rut, I'll carry scents with me, a bottle of doe in heat urine, and scent wicks, triple bagged in ziplocs.
If I'm planning to set up on the ground, I also bring a small folding turkey blind that stands about 3' high, and a folding camping stool.
In the spring & fall, I throw a rain-jacket in too.

MOST IMPORTANT - about a half roll of toilet paper, in another ziploc bag. When you need it, you want it, and you don't want it to be wet! :D

In a survival situation, the TP & scent wicks can be burned, and the ziplocs (except for the first one with deer pee in it :puke:) can be used for water.

If I'm going anywhere with my backpack, I'll be wearing either webbing, LBV, or fanny pack as well. It all depends on the hunt. If I'm hunting coyotes, or deer hunting, any calls I have are around my neck or in chest pockets of my jacket/coat

If I'm hunting geese or ducks, I pack everything I need in my backpack, and leave it on the floor of the blind, or on the shore, and just wear a cheapo-elstic shell belt.
 
That what I use for deer hunting -- CF 82 pattern webbing.

I had to turn in my set when I left the reserves in 1995 but
managed to find all the pieces at a (now defunct) paintball
store in Ottawa.

Been using it for about 10 years or more now.
- My hunting knife and shealth (sp) fit nicely into the bayonet scabbard.
-- I fill up the water bottle
-- ammo goes into one of the mag pouches
-- candy bars and compass in the other
-- butt pack gets everything else
 
I've used lots of different rigs, but not all for hunting, US webbing, the old Alice packs, Canadian webing 82 and 86 patterns, small packs, NBC bag, first type Canadian army load bearing vest.

Right now I go with the CF NBC bag, good size and shape, but it mostly sits on the quad anyways. For the stuff you need hunting I have a small set of saddlebags on the Quad. When I go for a walk I jsut throw the saddlebags over my sholder.

But if your doing a lot of walking thats not going to work well. :D
 
The cruiser vests the MNR tree painters use sould fit the bill with lots of pockets front,and back.They are very well made!They come in a variety of colours,and some even come with an optional hydration bladder.

Pacforest Supply Company,or Clear Creek Forestry.

Cruiser Vest
vest.jpg
 
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