Wingworks Upland Vests Home Blog
December 10, 2024Still bird hunting in the mountains and high desert in your 60’s and beyond?
Sore knees on long, steep descents sent me looking for a pair of Z style trekking poles that would knock down small enough to fit in my gamebag and strong enough to take a beating. Lots of articles out there describing the benefits of trekking poles like fall prevention and taking some load off the legs. To big game hunters this is old news but many to bird hunters the solution is to simply hunt flatter ground for different birds.
Now I needed a way to carry my shotgun securely while my hands were busy with the poles navigating a long descent. A friend showed me a rubber sling for not just a typical shoulder carry but a second strand over my head to lock the gun in position. No adjustment needed, the rubber gives enough to handle most (an extension for XXL is available). Unlike the poles used only for descents, I planned to use the sling most of the time until walking into a pointed bird or covey. What surprised me was how much gun carry fatigue was affecting my shooting and how much better and faster I was when using the sling. A day hunting without the sling really proved the point.
So far so good with PEAX Sissy Stix Z Trekking Poles and the Ultimate Gun Sling. We’ve also adapted the sling to leather and hardware attachments for our O/U and S/S guns in addition to semi-auto chukar guns. See links below,
Shooting Sportsman Magazine “Best of the Vests” by Dave Draper, Fall 2012
March 12, 2013WingWorks Ballistic Upland Vest Link to full article
Of all the great vests featured here, the WingWorks is my new favorite. Seemingly bombproof in construction, this strap-style vest/pack is sure to stand up to the wear and tear I put on my gear. Born of the hardscrabble chukar mountains and the high, dry prairies known to sharptail and Hungarian partridge hunters, the WingWorks vest features tough Ballistic nylon and cotton webbing with durable hypalon (a type of rubber) accents and heavy-grade hardware. (A Cordura model is available for $20 less.) The full, four-inch-wide waistbelt—similar to those found on backpacks—rides on the hips to take the weight of shells, birds, water and whatever else you’re carrying off of your back for less physical stress and more comfort. Hunters running multiple or big-running dogs in the early season will appreciate the amount of water this vest can pack, thanks to two pockets on the belt that hold 32-ounce bottles (included) and a third mesh pocket in the bloodproof rear pouch that accommodates a 54-ounce bottle (sold separately). Each front pocket is extra deep and has a hook-and-loop-secured flap that can be tucked inside the pocket for easier access to shells or other necessities. Additional pockets include one large and two small zippered pockets on the exterior of the game bag, and pockets for incidentals or a transmitter on the outsides of the shell pockets. There is a rear tie-down for extra clothing, fleece lining on the shoulder yolk and belt interior for added comfort, and plastic buckles that won’t scratch gunstocks. WingWorks vests are infinitely adjustable and adaptable to just about any bird hunting situation, and the company does offer customizable options. (The Website also has excellent tips regarding what items to carry afield and how.) Available in plain khaki and khaki with hunter orange. Price: $199 (Current Price $220)
WingWorks, 208-788-0729; www.wingworks.biz.
David Draper is Shooting Sportsman’s Field Gear Editor.
Customer Reviews
October 8, 2010WingWorks welcomes your comments and reviews. Our previous site had generated some great vest reviews, but we decided to start over and keep them fresh. If you’d like to see more discussion and reviews, do a search for “WingWorks” on your favorite upland hunting forum.
