Kuiu Upland Field Vest Review ***Updated 11/24/24***

[Blockcaver]

Have an afternoon and a morning hunt in on mine. Comments follow:

1. Heavy, durable materials that should last very well.

2. Took a bit of adjusting to get the shoulder straps brought down in the front of the pack. Had to raise the shoulder strap harness quite a bit in the back to lower it down in the front which exposed a lot of Velcro in back. Adjusted it so an inch of Velcro attached in the back. Started with about 3” attached in back.

3. As noted above, shell loops are super tight for 16 ga ammo. Bet 12 ga would really be a problem. They’ll break in but they are a pain to fill now. But you can dump shells loose in the front pockets.

4. I cut off a D-ring on the right side of the shoulder strap to get it out of the gun mount area. Will remove the Molle webbing next as it is in the way of cleanly shouldering the stock…and very slippery. Will have my wife sew a very thin hypalon (rubberized) pad to the Right shoulder strap to maintain the wood buttplate on my AYA SxS in position. It slides off now.

5. I like the way the front pockets are covered with the simple Velcro closure. Back pockets have nice zipper closures.

6. Large game pocket poofs out and collects leaves and sticks when collapsed down as tight as possible with nothing in it. We’ll look into mods to minimize this…..Velcro, buttons, etc.

7. Only carried one California quail and one Rooster pheasant so far but has a good feel to it for me.

9. The medium size fits me fine with a lot of waist belt length left over and I wear 36” pants. Would easily fit to 38” or even 40” waist. The front pockets are nicely on the side of the pack and don’t interfere with walking or carrying the shotgun. Water bottle holsters are behind them and have a rigid enough opening that bottles go back in without using two hands.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Needed a vest so picked one up.

Has seen some dead roosters.
Carrys em fine.

Better than what I had.
But for 250 bucks.
Yeah, not sure it's worth the price tag.
Will know more by end of season.

 

[sndmn11]

But for 250 bucks.
Yeah, not sure it's worth the price tag.

If you ran across a hunter in the field without a vest because of finances, what would you suggest for a cheaper alternative?

I am ignorant having not pursued birds in 20 years, and haven't looked in the non-obvious places for alternatives.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

If you ran across a hunter in the field without a vest because of finances, what would you suggest for a cheaper alternative?

I am ignorant having not pursued birds in 20 years, and haven't looked in the non-obvious places for alternatives.

Old school. 10 bucks.


Carried out countless critters with it at this point. Never leaves the truck. Limits of ducks. Six packs of honkers. Dragging rooster tails, slinging yotes.

Admittedly not the most fun pack out at times. But it gets the job done.

The vest is nice. Mostly for the dogs sake of being able to carry additional water. Honestly think people carry to much crap the way it is.

Although if one was chasing chucker in the mountains. I could see the benefits.

 

[sndmn11]

Old school. 10 bucks.
View attachment 783728

Then shells in pockets? My first year of college in Kansas we used bailing twine...

The vest is nice. Mostly for the dogs sake of being able to carry additional water. Honestly think people carry to much crap the way it is.

I think this is the big benefit to a pseudo load bearing vest. 90% of the stuff I have been carrying this year is for my puppy. I still don't think it's excess other than the big honking cube of a first aid kit.

Forceps, groom stuff, 3Xwater, buzzer, shotgun sling, snare cutter, leash... Those are Syrax things not Kyle things.

 

[Wheels]

Then shells in pockets? My first year of college in Kansas we used bailing twine...



I think this is the big benefit to a pseudo load bearing vest. 90% of the stuff I have been carrying this year is for my puppy. I still don't think it's excess other than the big honking cube of a first aid kit.

Forceps, groom stuff, 3Xwater, buzzer, shotgun sling, snare cutter, leash... Those are Syrax things not Kyle things.

Or you can save $10 and tuck the heads under your belt!

 

[sndmn11]

Or you can save $10 and tuck the heads under your belt!

I was told to shoot those off.

 

[huntineveryday]

If you ran across a hunter in the field without a vest because of finances, what would you suggest for a cheaper alternative?

I am ignorant having not pursued birds in 20 years, and haven't looked in the non-obvious places for alternatives.

I have one of the badlands vests and used it for a couple seasons before getting a final rise. I have a friend that's using an orvis pro vest. Both of those are decent vests with some similar features, and I've seen both 30% or more off during sales. At sale price, both of those are decent vests.

Scheels and Alps Outdoors both have "technical strap vests" with similar features and lower MSRP and look like decemt build quality, but I don't have any experience with either.

*I just saw the badlands is $250 now, they were $50 cheaper at full price when I got mine

 

[sndmn11]

I have one of the badlands vests and used it for a couple seasons before getting a final rise. I have a friend that's using an orvis pro vest. Both of those are decent vests with some similar features, and I've seen both 30% or more off during sales. At sale price, both of those are decent vests.

Scheels and Alps Outdoors both have "technical strap vests" with similar features and lower MSRP and look like decemt build quality, but I don't have any experience with either.

*I just saw the badlands is $250 now, they were $50 cheaper at full price when I got mine

I've got the final rise gloves, actually they have them because some stitching was coming out, but isn't that a higher cost?

The orvis vest came to mind. I also have a Tensing one I got a few years ago and didn't use until last year once we sent a deposit in for the puppy. I couldn't get my hands in the pockets....

 

[huntineveryday]

I've got the final rise gloves, actually they have them because some stitching was coming out, but isn't that a higher cost?

The orvis vest came to mind. I also have a Tensing one I got a few years ago and didn't use until last year once we sent a deposit in for the puppy. I couldn't get my hands in the pockets....

Yeah, the final rise is more expensive. I was just saying I put a badlands vest through a couple seasons before I got the more expensive vest. I think I got that badlands vest for $100 on sale. It was definately worth that, probably even up to $150, but I wouldn't pay $250 for one. Rear pockets were harder to use with the vest on and fabric was wearing in several spots.

My friend has the Orvis vest that's $200, they have a couple versions now. His is nice, and definately worth it if you can catch it on sale. I was looking through scheels last night, it seems like they have added several strap vests at different price points now. There are a lot of choices out there now, way more than 2-3 years ago.

 

[sndmn11]

Taking a weekend break to hunt elk.

 

[Bearsears]

sndmn11 I didnt know you were an upland guy too. We need to hook up for a hunt.

 

[sndmn11]

sndmn11 I didnt know you were an upland guy too. We need to hook up for a hunt.

It's in progress, she's a few weeks from being 1

 

[sndmn11]

The brown mutt got her first wild bird; she's a week shy of a year.


I stashed the med kit on the pals webbing inside the bag, and put some extra water bottles on the opposite outside.

 

[Justin Crossley]

The full review is live on our homepage.

Kuiu Upland Field Vest Review

 

[cuttiebrownbow]

When I see all these new vests I can't help to think most people must bring a lot more shit with them when they go bird hunting than I do lol

I am away from my vehicle for 3 to 4 hours at a clip and I find the biggest concern is water capacity. I fit three 32 oz bottles and water bladder in my well used q5 and can still carry a limit of birds.

Looks like a great system but overbuilt and you are paying for how overbuilt it is. I really think the orvis vest when it goes on sale is tough to beat for pretty much all bird hunters with one or two dogs in the field at time.

I am not sure if the price point on this is enough to take customers away from Final Rise when looking for a high-end vest. They seem to be the 'king' these days, even though they are a little more expensive than others. They make this thing 200 dollars and it will never be in stock because everyone would buy it.

 

[sndmn11]

I fit three 32 oz bottles and water bladder in my well used q5 and can still carry a limit of birds.

Which Q5 vest?

 

[cuttiebrownbow]

Which Q5 vest?

I will have to take a look when I get home. I have had it for a while so I am not sure. But, looking at prices these days that kuiu is pretty much in line. I guess I better get with the times lol

 

[sndmn11]

I will have to take a look when I get home. I have had it for a while so I am not sure. But, looking at prices these days that kuiu is pretty much in line. I guess I better get with the times lol

They are close. It seems like all of the "vests" of this style are a game pouch, two shell pouches, and then water bottle pouches. I do go through quite a bit of water with the dog, probably a bottle for every 1-2 miles I walk depending on temps. I do think that if a person is dog-less, they can bring a lot less for gear, but I do enjoy having all the things for her and the lifting help from that stay to make me forget they are there.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

With big game season wrapping up. Figured I'd take the dogs out now that most of the NR bird hunters have thinned out. Dogs were starting to wonder what was taking so long.

Carries well. Don't find it gets in the way.

Only minor irritation so far is the flaps on the shell pounches. When moving quick and reloading. If you forget to put the flaps down. They tend to then snag on stuff. Just gotta take the extra second to make sure they are secure.