I'm in need of a new game vest and am looking for real world experience with the Badlands Upland Game Vest. Anyone here using one? I'm also open to suggestions on other vests. I'm looking for something that is comfortable and wont let my shells fall out of the holders when I reach down to pick up a bird or tie a shoe.
Looking for info on Badlands Upland Game Vest
- Thread starter husky390
- Start date
- Banned
- #4
JWP58
WKR
The badlands has pluses and minuses. The negative for me was no bottle holders, small game bag and hip pockets. The pros were light weight, super thin shoulder straps that don't interfere with your gun mount, and plenty of storage.
belly-deep
WKR
- Joined
- May 23, 2012
- Messages
- 707
I bought one this year and used it probably 15-20 days.
What I like about it:
1) Lots of pockets
2) Magnetic belt pockets (handy for shells - the sewn loops don't work very well but the magnetic pockets are really easy to open, grab a couple shells from and close)
3) Very comfortable to carry, even with several birds
4) Light weight (fabric, straps etc). We'll see how it holds up, but I do appreciate the weight for both carrying and for wearing on hot days.
What I don't like:
1) Mesh pockets are useless. I'm pretty sure they just added them for shelf appeal. They won't/can't hold anything and I wish I would have looked at it a little closer when I bought the vest. As JWP said, you can't put a water bottle in them.
2) Drain holes in the game pocket. Blood will drip out and on to your shirt tail or pants.
Overall, it is not a bad vest. But a hunting buddy of mine had a Tenzing this fall and it seemed to be built a little better in terms of organization and pockets. If I were you, I'd find a store with both and look real closely at both of them. If I had to do it over again, there is a good chance I'd get the Tenzing. But, its not enough for me to sell the Badlands now that I have it (and it doesn't take much for me to dump a product - if that tells you anything. My list of "owned and sold" BG packs is pretty long).
What I like about it:
1) Lots of pockets
2) Magnetic belt pockets (handy for shells - the sewn loops don't work very well but the magnetic pockets are really easy to open, grab a couple shells from and close)
3) Very comfortable to carry, even with several birds
4) Light weight (fabric, straps etc). We'll see how it holds up, but I do appreciate the weight for both carrying and for wearing on hot days.
What I don't like:
1) Mesh pockets are useless. I'm pretty sure they just added them for shelf appeal. They won't/can't hold anything and I wish I would have looked at it a little closer when I bought the vest. As JWP said, you can't put a water bottle in them.
2) Drain holes in the game pocket. Blood will drip out and on to your shirt tail or pants.
Overall, it is not a bad vest. But a hunting buddy of mine had a Tenzing this fall and it seemed to be built a little better in terms of organization and pockets. If I were you, I'd find a store with both and look real closely at both of them. If I had to do it over again, there is a good chance I'd get the Tenzing. But, its not enough for me to sell the Badlands now that I have it (and it doesn't take much for me to dump a product - if that tells you anything. My list of "owned and sold" BG packs is pretty long).
Thanks for the info guy's.
NEhunter, thanks for the tip off on the Wingworks. I like it a lot and apparently a lot of others do to as they are sold out and not accepting orders until sometime in November/December. I'm happy to see a small business that busy.
I still want to swing by Bass Pro and see if they have the Tenzing and Badlands. Maybe I'll get one of these and dump it once the Wingworks has more in stock.
NEhunter, thanks for the tip off on the Wingworks. I like it a lot and apparently a lot of others do to as they are sold out and not accepting orders until sometime in November/December. I'm happy to see a small business that busy.
I still want to swing by Bass Pro and see if they have the Tenzing and Badlands. Maybe I'll get one of these and dump it once the Wingworks has more in stock.
Sdbuckhunter
FNG
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2016
- Messages
- 13
I bought a badlands and it is pretty nice I do wish it had a water bottle holder for the dogs water. I run a blatter for my water you might be able to get a bottle holder for a pack to work but I just put my dog bottle in the game pouch side where I can still reach it and cinch the game pouch down tight. That is one nice feature of it. All in all I like it a heck of a lot better than a regular vest. Hope this helps.
I have heard good things about WingWorks. Another Idaho company and the one I own is from Bucks Bags. It has 8 shell holders on each pocket plus whatever loose ones you put in. I have never had any shells fall out. I was in their store about a month ago and they were closing out their old style (cosmetic change) for a discount.
Thinkingman
WKR
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,191
I bought the Buck's Bags vest and love it.
There is a local guy selling a NWT Badlands vest.
PM me if you want his info.
There is a local guy selling a NWT Badlands vest.
PM me if you want his info.
Thanks but I think I'm going to give the Wingworks a try
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1Shot1Bull
FNG
Wing works. Hands down.
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Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
Very good choice.
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