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Recommend a turkey vest

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megalomaniac

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I've always been a run and gun hunter, never carried much gear in order to hunt all day and cover 5 to 10 miles each day....

That being said, I noticed last year that as I've gotten older, I'm getting stiffer and having more trouble sitting for more than 30 minutes when working a bird that is coming slowly (or not at all :) ).

Since I've ditched the 10g for the 20g, I can carry a few more lbs.

I don't really need a bazillion pockets. Just carry 2 mouth calls and 1 pot call with 2 strikers, a rangefinder, and binocs on my neck....

But I think I really need some kind of seat or cushion at this point in life.

Not sure if I want a vest with cushion seat or just carry one of the low folding seats like the gobbler lounger.

I've got to be able to crawl, get thru thick brush/ briers, etc with it.

Anyone have a light vest or seat without a bazillion gizmo pockets they would recommend? If it's a vest, it's got to have excellent ventilation in the back area. Can't stand having my back covered and sweating.

Would I be better off just getting a light stadium seat and slinging it over my shoulder?

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megalomaniac":270vi90t said:
Not sure if I want a vest with cushion seat or just carry one of the low folding seats like the gobbler lounger.
Click to expand...
This is an ongoing dilemma for me personally.
I do both, often just the opposite one day to the next.

You will not beat the absolute comfort of the gobbler lounger.
You can truly sit for very long periods, without moving, comfortably.
If only they would make those in aluminum instead of steel!

Although the gobbler lounger is a bit heavier and slower to deploy than a cushion,
it can be worth putting up with this.
It does eliminate the need for a cushion.

The lounger's comfort factor has to be experienced to be appreciated.
 
I got one of those Tom teasers turkey satchels or whatever. Could be called a purse I guess haha. It's got plenty of pockets for a runner and gunner.

I also carry one of those turkey chairs or gobbler loungers to sit on.

This isn't much weight, the chair is way more comfortable than just a padded cushion, and the satchel pack is a lot cooler than a vest.

That is what I would recommend.


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I also can vouch for lbl man. The gobbler loungers allow you to sit for as long as you want. I've sat in the same spot on a bird from day light until 11 when I shot him.
Also good for those quiet lazy afternoons when the best thing you can do is sit quiet in a good spot and listen for a long time until or if one gobbles then you can adjust.


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I went with the run-n-gun vest last year. Extremely adjustable and lightweight. It has the cushion that folds down but you can also tighten it down to your butt where you can walk with it in the down position and can't even tell it's there


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The turkey lounger provides exceptional comfort but is severely lacking in shootability in my opinion. You are leaning back and it's hard for me to get down in the scope or adjust if he comes in the "wrong" way.

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For run-n-gun, you can't beat the Ol' Tom Easy-Rider. This vest is much more durable than their previous vest, very lightweight and streamlined. The cushion is serviceable but doesn't sound like it's sufficient for your needs.


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I've gone to using a fanny pack and carrying a Helinox Chair Zero in it. The chair is a backpack chair that sits low to the ground and only weighs a pound. I did have to spray paint it to be more neutral. It's much better than wearing a heavy/hot vest.

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I went with the Nomad vest last year and love it.

I have my Ol Tom vest listed in the classifieds $75, it's a real light, small vest with quite a few pockets, (gotta have somewhere to stash the TP)
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As PH said, I'm going with the Long Spur this season as I sweat so bad and the open back should help.
Buzzard mentioned the Helinox and they are really lightweight! I'm a larger guy so mine sinks in the ground real easy because of the lack of feet, but you can add your own with something like tennis balls. I have this one in multicam...... https://www.amazon.com/Big-Agnes-Helino ... B00CZL5JIK
Personally I like to sit as low as possible and my go to cushion is the Hunt Comfort Fat Boy, really helps my hips on a long sit.
 
megalomaniac":1pfaov8h said:
I've decided to go with the ALPS lounger
Click to expand...
All these low-to-the-ground "lounger" seats seem to have the same manufacturer.
The comfort of these EXCEEDS the "Fat Boy" Cushion.

I have but two complaints for the "loungers":

1) Weight ---- at around 7 lbs, they are very heavy for something so small.
------ That weight could be easily reduced to under 4 lbs if the metal were changed from steel to aluminum.

2) Quickness to deploy and/or put up quickly to move to a different location.
------- I typically need both hands, and it's not as quick as say a "Fat Boy" cushion.

Speaking of those full-sized "Fat Boy" cushions, they are also relatively heavy in weight.
Perhaps twice the weight of the cushion that comes with the Cabela's Tactical Tatr?
(Albeit twice as comfortable as well.)

For me, the best thing for when "Running & Gunning" covering lots of ground, expecting to have lots of "sits" in numerous places,
the Cabela's Tactical Tatr turkey vest with the "kick-stand" seat back (cushion included) works best.
That Cabela's cushion is one of the more comfortable ones, but not nearly as comfortable (nor as heavy in weight) as the "Fat Boy".

When I plan to sit for longer periods, cover less ground, and may or may not change sitting locations,
the "Turkey Lounger" trumps all.

Somewhere in between the circumstances of using either the kick-stand vest or the turkey lounger,
I opt for a Fat Boy cushion, which I sometimes carry with a turkey vest, sometimes just a fanny pack.
 
Ditto on the fanny pack and separate seat. Can find better seats when they are stand alone.


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One more thing about those "kick-stand" vests,
cannot use the vest with a turkey lounger ---- pick one or the other

The kick-stand is removable,
but can be a bit of a pain to put back.
Still an option to remove & leave in truck when using lounger.
 

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