Best Turkey Hunting Vest: 5 Awesome Contenders
One of the most iconic symbols of turkey hunting is the turkey vest, hands-down. Deer hunters have their tree climbers and deer stands, duck hunters have their waders and duck blinds, and we have our turkey vests.
The best turkey hunting vest is one of the most important parts of any turkey hunter’s gear, outside of their boots, calls, and shotgun. Choosing the right equipment plays a major role in your success in any type of hunting, and especially when it comes to chasing longbeards. It may sound dramatic, especially if you’re newer to hunting gobblers, but picking the best turkey vest should not be taken lightly.
There’s nothing worse than finally finding that one lone gobbler and having him respond to your calls, only to get busted because you’re not able to sit still due to having an uncomfortable turkey vest and/or seat.
Even worse, you hear a midday gobble from the bachelor tom you’ve been trying to strike all morning on the other side of the property, and you second-guess going after him because your vest is too heavy to comfortably cover the distance.
A high-quality, comfortable turkey vest with the right features for you can truly make or break a hunt. Here’s everything you should know about shopping for the best turkey hunting vest, plus my personal picks.
Choosing the Best Turkey Hunting Vest
When shopping for the best turkey vest, there’s a lot to consider in finding the right fit for your style of hunting — both literally and figuratively.
If you do a lot of running and gunning, you might prefer a super light vest over a heavier full-bodied vest, and maybe even one with a smaller chest pack. If you prefer more of a sit-and-wait style approach and you’re not too worried about added weight, you may prefer a full-bodied vest with more back cushioning and a really good padded seat.
Or, perhaps you’re more like me and prefer a little of both styles of hunting, some sit-and-wait and some running and gunning. In that case, you’ll probably want more of a hybrid style vest that falls in the mid- to lightweight category with a removable seat pad and cushions to elevate some extra weight when necessary.
No matter which route you decide to take, the most important thing to look for in the best turkey hunting vest is quality. Vests have all sorts of bells and whistles these days, but if you aren’t going to use half of them, who cares?
A turkey vest can be a pricey investment, and picking one of better quality can prevent you from having to buy a new one every season or two. If properly taken care of, a solid turkey vest can last years, even decades.
It’s not at all uncommon to find a turkey hunter who’s been using the same vest for the past 10+ years. In fact, the right vest often actually becomes a very sentimental part of a hunter’s gear.
Every spring when I pull my best turkey vest out, I’m flooded with the memories of my past hunting experiences and travels while wearing it. In my 30 years of chasing longbeards, I’ve tried A LOT of different vests in searching for what best suited my personal hunting style.
I’ve seen trends in hunting vests come and go, but the basics of the turkey vest have withstood the test of time.
5 Options for the Best Turkey Hunting Vest
Regardless of what type of hunting you prefer or which features are most important to you, this guide may help in the important decision of picking the best turkey vest.
ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest
Weight: 7 lbs, 20 oz with frame; 4 lbs, 10 oz without frame
Price: $139.99
The ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam turkey vest has been my personal go-to hunting vest for years. In my opinion, what makes it the best turkey hunting vest is its unique “sit anywhere” kickstand frame and integrated, fold-away seat that allows you to quickly set up without having to find the perfect tree to rest against.
This feature is especially handy when hunting more open landscape areas, where thick, low cover is the only option you have for being concealed and big trees are few and far between. It’s hard not to love the “Grand Slam” name, too!
Other awesome features that make this a top choice for the best turkey vest include:
- Removable, fold-away memory foam seat cushion
- Compatible with hydration packs, plus has dedicated water bottle pockets
- Two pockets for holding slate calls and strikers
- Removable pocket for mouth calls
- Built-in shot shell loops in the pockets
- Large game bag holds even the largest longbeards
- Adjustable side straps for a custom fit
- Several large zippered pockets on the interior for accessories like gloves, a mask, or snacks
SITKA Equinox Turkey Hunting Vest
Weight: 2.7 lbs
Price: $249
The SITKA Equinox turkey hunting vest is a great choice for someone looking for the best lightweight turkey vest. It’s one of the lightest full-bodied vests on the market, yet still has all the best features of a traditional turkey hunting vest.
The Equinox comes loaded with things like magnetic closing pockets to keep gear safe and readily available, and fully adjustable, ergonomic straps to ensure the perfect fit. Its ergonomic design is built specifically for the running and gunning style of hunting, so keep in mind it may not be the best turkey hunting vest if you do a lot of sitting and stalking.
- Removable foam seat
- Individual pockets for calls and strikers
- Water resistant exterior pockets with magnetic closure
- Internal zippered mesh pockets for smaller accessories
- Rear zipper pocket for a hydration bladder
- Ergonomic adjustable strap system accommodates sizes XS-XXL
- Removable slip noose for carrying out trophy longbeards
- Open top pocket for storing rain gear
Knight & Hale Run-N-Gun 200 Turkey Vest
Weight: 1.5 lbs (the main feature that makes this one of the best turkey vest options out there!)
Price: $99.99
The Run-N-Gun 200 turkey hunting vest from Knight & Hale is exactly what it sounds like, designed with serious run-and-gun hunters in mind. It’s the lightest turkey vest on the market and impressively, also extremely affordable. When most people hear “best turkey hunting vest,” they certainly aren’t thinking of a sub-$100 price tag.
Even with the ultra lightweight and convertible design, the guys at Knight & Hale still manage to incorporate all the important features of a traditional style turkey vest. Here are some of the highlights:
- Removable six-layer cushioned seat with cinch system to keep it out of the way
- Individual pockets designed specially for strikers and pot, box, and mouth calls
- Adjustable 10-point system ensures a perfect fit for all sizes
- Open-air construction to help keep you cool
- 198 cubic-inch backpack that accommodates a hydration bladder
- Close-fitting midsection eliminates bagginess and keeps vest close to the body
ALPS OutdoorZ Long Spur Turkey Hunting Vest
Weight: 4.25 lbs
Price: $79.99 for the standard vest, $99.99 for the Deluxe (with a removable seat cushion)
The Long Spur turkey vest from ALPS OutdoorZ offers the best of both worlds with its convertible, highly versatile style. Lightweight, open-air construction ensures you’ll stay cool on hot days while trying to locate and strike up a longbeard tom, while the large removable lumbar pack and optional cushion are ready for all-day sit-and-stalk hunts.
Strategically designed with a TON of pockets and storage compartments in all different sizes, the Long Spur is definitely a top choice for the best turkey hunting vest. Not only does the vest allow for safekeeping of all your calls and accessories, but it has oversized pockets for carrying GPS, a ThermaCell, water, snacks, etc. Almost all the pockets are also removable.
Note: if you want the removable memory foam fold-away seat, get the Long Spur Deluxe for an extra $20.
- Removable rear waist lumbar pack
- Removable front chest pockets designed for specific types of calls (box, slate, and locator)
- Removable mouth call pockets near the shoulders for easy access
- Padded waist belt with oversized zippered pockets
- Adjustable webbing straps for full customization
- Removable shoulder harness with game bag and orange blaze
Bone Collector Quick Call Chest Pack
Weight: 1 lb
Price: $59.99
If a fuller bodied or traditional style turkey vest isn’t necessarily your style, perhaps you’ll like the BC Quick Call Chest Pack. It’s designed to hold all your most essential hunting gear in a small, lightweight pack that’s no bigger than a typical bino case. The Quick Call Chest Pack is built with the serious turkey hunter in mind, who’s looking for the lightest, most compact option available.
- Chest pack design for quick access
- 3 individual pockets for mouth calls
- Holds up to 2 pot calls and 3 strikers
- Built-in sleeve snugly holds a box call to protect it
- Built-in straps for easy access to locator calls
- Zippered pockets to ensure safekeeping of calls and any other essentials
- Adjustable straps to get a comfortable fit
