Depending on who you ask about the most important aspects of your hunting gear, you will get varied answers ranging from: “camo and scent blocking are the most important factors” to “there is no substitute for comfort and convenience.”
While the best Upland hunting vest might not be all about camouflage, it’s definitely all about comfort, convenience, and practicality.
In this review, we will look at some of the best Upland hunting vest options there are on the market and look at several reasons why these vests might be the next best thing since high-powered hunting rifles.
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Comparison of the Best Upland Hunting Vests
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What Purpose Does an Upland Hunting Vest Serve?
The biggest difference between Upland hunting vests and other hunting vests is that Upland hunting vests don’t put much effort into camouflaging you as the hunter. At first, this might sound like a disadvantage; after all, no hunter wants to be alerting the prey of their presence, but it actually serves a purpose.
Here are the main reasons why you should get yourself an Upland hunting vest:
Safety
The best Upland hunting vests come in a bright orange color, which goes toward alerting other hunters of your presence. This is crucial to your safety; it’s not unheard for hunters to be accidentally shot by other hunters because they didn’t see them.
Convenience
This is one of the best selling points for Upland hunting vests – their convenience. The best hunting vests are equipped with deep pockets that allow you to carry almost everything you need on the hunt – from your ammo to duck call and even your hunting knife.
Blood Proof Game Bags
While you do have a host of other options when it comes to carrying your dead birds, Upland hunting vests take this attribute to a whole new level of convenience. They have a blood proof game bag in the back, which keeps the blood from your hunt away from the rest of your gear
Of course, there are customized vests that come with a host of other features, but these happen to be the three most important ones for every hunter level.
Are All Upland Hunting Vests the Same?
All Upland vests (the best ones at least) look to serve the same purpose: provide you with a convenient hunting vest equipped with extra storage and the much-needed security feature of being bright orange in color. That, however, doesn’t mean that all Upland hunting vests are the same.
Depending on the manufacturer, you will find vests that are:
- Waterproof
- More durable than others
- Better outfitted for specialized upland hunting
- Some are more breathable than others
- Some have better insulation
It all comes down to what you really want in your Upland vest. This review covers the best Upland hunting vests designed to help make you as comfortable as possible the next time you go hunting.
Key Terms to Know
To help compare products in this review, we have included a few key specifications for each. Here is a quick summary of what they mean.
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Number of Pockets: The number of pockets the vest includes.
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Materials: The materials the coveralls are made of including any insulating material.
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Color(s): The main color(s) of the vest.
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Closure Type: The manner in which the vest fastens. This can be with a zipper, snap enclosure, velcro, strap, etc.
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Special Features: Whether the vest has any comfort or convenience features such as added insulation, seat attachment, special gun pocket, game bag, etc.
Review of the Best Upland Hunting Vests
Given that not all Upland hunting vests are created equal, and there are so many options on the market today, it’s only practical that you go through the following reviews to get a clearer picture of what’s out there. Any one of these options would suit your needs perfectly; you just need to find out which one.
Best Overall: Gamehide Switchgrass Upland Field Bird Hunting Vest
[amazon fields=”B01C4EWZ9S” image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
PROS
- Front shell holders
- Fabric gun protector
- Blood proof game bag
- Quality stitching and durable cotton canvas
- Quilted shoulders for comfort when shooting
CONS
- Game bag doesn’t unzip for cleaning
- Might feel a bit oversized if you don’t wear a jacket or sweater underneath
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers have reported that this vest does much more to tread the thin line between camouflage and visibility than most other types of Upland hunting vests. Furthermore, it does a very good job of combining tan and small patches of the iconic bright orange color that makes these Upland hunting vests stand out.
It’s the heavy inclusion of the tan color camouflage that helps you track and stay stealthy. The hints of orange ensure that you remain visible to other hunters even as you stealthily stalk your prey.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There are several very good reasons why we love this product. For starters, it’s oversized fit ensures that it works well even for the larger hunter. While that might sound like a disadvantage to the average-sized hunter, the simple solution to that is to wear a sweater or jacket underneath the vest. It also comes with quilted shoulders that are an absolute benefit for your comfort while shooting.
Couple all this with the fact that it has a host of pockets, including front shell holders and extra-large slash pockets (zippered), which allow for extra shells as well as a blood proof game bag for your kills.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for something designed to be worn over a jacket, has a host of pockets, including a blood proof game bag, and does more to walk the fine “visibility and camouflage” line, then this is the Upland hunting vest for you.
Product Specs
Number of Pockets:
2
Materials:
Cotton canvas
Color(s):
Marsh Brown/Orange
Closure Type:
Zipper
Special Features:
Front shell holders with fabric gun protector, and quilted shoulder
Runner-up: Mountain Pass Extreme Big Game Blaze Orange Camo Hunting Vest
[amazon fields=”B00V6ZF8TG” image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
PROS
- Easy to wear
- Lined kangaroo pocket
- External pouch that acts as a shotgun shell holder
- Vertical chest pockets that act as rifle shell holders
- Safety strap slots that can act as a license holder or shoulder grips for slings
CONS
- Isn’t comfortable over a hunting coat
- Back pocket isn’t large enough for big bird hunting
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyer’s report that this is a rather comfortable hunting jacket with pockets large enough to hold most of what you need to go hunting comfortably. The fact that it comes with a side zip entry makes it even more convenient for people who want to keep their hands warm when out in the woods.
Buyers have also noticed that the vest is largely bright orange in color and has camouflage lines that ensure that you remain hidden to your prey but visible to other hunters for safety purposes.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The simple truth as to why this hunting vest stands out for us is that it has an almost infinite number of pockets. It has two large chest pockets to the left cartridge loops that can be found under a Velcro flap, as well as the small pocket on the Velcro flap. There is also the main kangaroo pouch, which is excellent for your flashlight, some snacks, and your gloves.
There is also the hand warmer pouch, which allows you to warm your hands together. Then there are the side pockets as well as the back pockets…the list is seemingly endless.
Bottom Line
The thing about this hunting vest is that it’s kind of loud under UV light, which turns some hunters off it. Other than that, if you are looking for something that has lots of pockets, is ideally designed for hunters who appreciate warm hands, and is easy to wear and clean, then this Upland hunting vest is for you.
Product Specs
Number of Pockets:
10
Materials:
Windproof fabric
Color(s):
Orange Camo
Closure Type:
Zipper
Special Features:
Mini Mag flashlight pocket, rifle shell loops with cover flap, side zipper entry for easy access, GPS/cell phone pocket on each side, fleece lined front kangaroo pouch, large front cargo pocket with shotgun shell holders and can also hold you binoculars while around your neck, sling gripping shoulder patches, safety strap slot on rear neck, license holder tab, two rear water bottle slots, built in backpack style straps, and huge rear cargo pouch
Best for the Money: Gamehide Upland Vest
[amazon fields=”B003SMU1QU” image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
PROS
- Quite durable
- Quite comfortable
- Easy to access pockets
- Made using high-quality materials
- Blend between camouflage and visibility for safety purposes
CONS
- Doesn’t come with very many pockets
- The blood proof game bag isn’t entirely leak-proof
What Recent Buyers Report
According to most buyers, the biggest issue is that this hunting vest doesn’t come with shell loops. While that isn’t a deal-breaker for most, it’s a real problem for some.
However, if you don’t mind having a box of shells in your front pockets, this hunting vest might just be the affordable hunting gear you want.
This is a vest that was designed for diehard Upland hunters. It features that classic Upland hunting vest looks with patches of bright orange combined with a lot of tans, which makes this vest both camouflaged and visible.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Apart from the classic Upland hunting vest design that gives you a distinguished look, what stands out the most about this vest is a simple fact that it has two very large and deep front pockets. Even even though the vest doesn’t come with shell loops, these front pockets are large enough to hold a host of accessories plus a box of shells. It’s a lightweight vest that is both comfortable and affordable.
Bottom Line
This is an extremely affordable Upland hunting vest that has that regal hunter look that most hunters admire. Although it might be too snug to wear over a hunting coat, you can go one size bigger if this is what you want to do. Other than that, this is an excellent buy by most standards.
Product Specs
Number of Pockets:
4
Materials:
Polyester
Color(s):
Marsh Brown/Orange
Closure Type:
Zipper
Special Features:
Reinforced stitching, has two blood-proof game bags, and quilted shoulder patches
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Editor’s Pick: Tenzing 962207 BV16
[amazon fields=”B01B66YLPG” image=”1″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_link=”none”]
PROS
- Lightweight
- Compact design
- Has lots of pockets
- Bright orange color for enhanced visibility
- Comes with an integrated bag for all your hunting essentials
CONS
- It might feel too small to some hunters
- The bag can prove a little bulky and cumbersome depending on your packing skills
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers report that this is the ideal bag for hunters looking for something of a “tool box” when hunting. It features an integrated bag which greatly increases your ability to carry most, if not all, of your hunting essentials in one convenient place. The flip side is that this bag can be a little bulky, depending on how you pack it.
The bag and vest have numerous pockets (13 to be exact), which ensures that you will never need to carry an extra bag whenever you go camping. You can fit your shells, wallet, pocketknife, and even a walkie talkie in any one of these spacious pockets. Furthermore, it has exterior mesh pockets designed to help you carry your water bottle for hydration.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There is a lot to love about this bag. It comes with easy to adjust straps for starters, which makes fitting it to your body a complete breeze. It also comes in a bright orange color, which all but ensures your safety from other hunters when you are out in the deep forest. You also get 14 shell loops that make this vest extremely convenient for hunters who value efficiency above all else.
Bottom Line
If you don’t mind the snug fit and the integrated bag’s bulky feel when it’s full, you will love this Upland hunting vest. It puts everything you need to hunt comfortably (and hopefully successfully) within easy reach.
Product Specs
Number of Pockets:
13
Color(s):
Blaze Orange
Closure Type:
Zipper
Special Features:
H20 compatible with Robic rip-stop fabric, and 14 shot shell loops
Best Women’s Upland Hunting Vest: Orvis Men’s/Women’s Upland Vest
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PROS
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Breathable mesh back
- Magnetic pocket flaps
- Made using high-quality materials
CONS
- The recoil shoulder pad is quite thin
- The magnetic pocket flaps aren’t as secure as they can be
What Recent Buyers Report
This is a beautifully designed and manufactured vest that is perfect for hunting in all kinds of weather. It comes with a mesh back, which makes it breathable enough for hot weather hunting. Secondly, you can easily wear it over a hunting coat to ensure that you are warm when hunting in cold weather.
Furthermore, the large, coated-nylon blood proof game bag is a bit more leak-proof than most, which makes it perfect for hunters who have a bit of an issue with blood dripping down their pants (most hunters). That blood proof game bag is also easier to clean than in most hunting vests.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The simple fact that this vest is comfortable to wear is what makes it stand out. The small matter of magnetic pocket flaps is a brilliant idea on any hunting vest thanks to their convenience.
This is because you can easily access your pockets, and once they get closed, they remain closed even when you bend over to pick up your kill, ensuring that your shells remain in place.
Unfortunately, the magnetic pockets on this vest aren’t as sturdy as possible, although they still get the job done. You might have to ensure that they are still closed when you pick that bird up.
Bottom Line
This is a good Upland hunting vest by most accounts. It features a nice trim that flatters the female form while offering convenient practicality, allowing for all-weather hunting.
Product Specs
Number of Pockets:
2
Materials:
Polyester fabric liner with an easy-clean PU coating
Color(s):
Marsh Brown/Orange
Closure Type:
Zipper
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How to Choose an Upland Hunting Vest
While it’s true that you can go hunting without an Upland hunting vest, having one on will greatly increase your comfort, convenience, and maybe even your chances of success.
With all the options facing you, here are some factors to consider when choosing the best upland hunting vest for you:
Sizing
If you go hunting in all kinds of weather, then you want to choose the size of your Upland hunting vest very carefully. While the general rule of thumb is to choose one with a snug fit, you might want to consider going a size higher if you intend to wear a hunting coat or something else underneath it.
Gamehide Switchgrass Upland Hunting Vest Size Guide
The Pockets
This is probably why Upland hunting vests were invented and why some are more popular than others. The kind of pockets, the convenience with which you can reach those pockets, and the kind of fastening options they offer play a big role in ensuring that you have a functional hunting vest. If you pick one with a back pouch, make sure that there are straps that you can use to make that pouch snug.
Material
Your hunting vest is designed to be used in the rough outdoors. It needs to be made using material that can withstand that environment.
Safety Considerations for Upland Hunting Vests
There are several safety considerations that you should have in mind when buying an Upland hunting vest:
The Color
It needs to be bright orange or a visible color to other hunters.
Easy to Wear
You need something that you can easily wear and remove as needed depending on the weather.
Convenience
Can you easily reach all of your hunting gear? Are the knife and your gun safely squared away? These are the things you need to consider when it comes to safety.
If you find the best Upland hunting vest, you will have added a highly effective tool to your hunting gear chest. Not only do they allow you to conveniently bring all your gear with you, but they also keep you visible and safe when hunting in a highly populated (other hunters) area. The vests listed in this review are designed to help you hunt comfortably, conveniently, and in style.
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People Also Ask
Here are some things that you might need to know about using an Upland hunting vest. These answers come in handy for both experienced as well as new hunters alike.
What Are the Little Velcro Straps On My Upland Vest for?
These are designed to help keep the vest snag or to hold small hunting essentials if you need them to.
Does an Upland Vest Have to Be Orange?
Not necessarily, but orange is a good color when it comes to visibility and safety.
How Much Equipment Can an Upland Hunting Vest Hold?
This will depend on the particular vest you choose. Some can carry everything you need while others will require you to bring an extra bag.
Should My Dog Wear an Upland Hunting Vest?
Ideally, yes. It helps keep your dog just as visible and as safe as you and gives you some extra space for more hunting essentials and game bags.