When determining the best hunting vest, the first trait I wanted to address was the encumbrance of the vest. While this criterion is is easy to overlook, it is an essential trait to consider in hunting vests. Even the lightest vest can seem burdensome if it is positioned incorrectly or has a pocket in an odd area. When taking that long trek out to your hunting site, you don't want to be weighed down by a ten-pound hunting vest. The extra weight of the vest can also make climbing into a tree blind difficult. With this in mind, I selected hunting vests that were all three pounds or less in overall weight.

The first aspect of encumbrance I decided to take was the vests effect on maneuverability. I’ll never forget my first hunting experience. I remember how important it was to be able to move around and be able to reach and bend over for various tasks. Having a vest that can meet those needs could make all the difference between a successful hunt and a hunting failure. To ensure maneuverability wouldn't be hindered, I selected vests that were capable of being large enough to fit over an existing jacket or ones that are made from a forgiving material that could stretch if needed. Many times, I would wear my hunting vest over my coat, so I also sought to ensure some of these vests would accommodate that need.

Every good hunter knows that being as silent as possible is critical to your success. Some noises can go unnoticed by your game. However, sounds that aren't common in nature will stand out severely to the wildlife in the area. Things are as small as whether or not the birds in the a are active and whistling can startle your game of choice. Being able to quietly and seamlessly immerse yourself in the environment is a critical task. While not specific to hunting, it also can become rather bothersome to hear every one of your movements. Knowing this, I made sure to pick hunting vests that won’t generate too much noise when you move or something rubs against your vest.

Movement as seemingly innocuous as your chest expanding and contracting as you inhale and exhale can affect the trajectory of your shot. Another seemingly irrelevant factor that can cause just as much of a difference is the positioning of your pockets. The slightest variance in how the weight is distributed on your vest could be your undoing. The positioning of your pockets can also make the vest feel more or less comfortable. I made sure only to include vests that were symmetrically designed or were capable of spreading the weight of anything you happen to be carrying over the vest.

With various seasons starting and ending throughout the year, it's essential to have a vest that can endure cold weather while being comfortable in the spring and summer seasons. Furthermore, with frequent walking through tall grass and brush areas, getting a jacket that can withstand the abrasion of vegetation without getting snagged was crucial. Each of these vests can be used regardless of season, game, or region.

Whether it be the trials of the outdoors or the sport, hunting vests tend to get a little dirty. While hunting, it’s essential to be as scent-neutral as possible. A vast number of game types have a perfect sense of smell and can detect any change in their environment that seems artificial. This makes cleaning a hunting vest more of a chore than an easy task. To help reduce the washing process, I included stain-resistant options.

On the coldest of days, the wind can end up being the worst part of your outing. It drastically intensifies the frigid air and streamlines it directly in your direction as if it were intentional. With some game living in treacherous terrain with different weather types that can combine with the wind, it’s essential to have a layer between you and the environment. Some of the hunting vests on this list are windproof while others are just wind resistant. To test whether or not a fabric is windproof, you can blow on the product and see if you can feel the wind caused on the other side of the fabric. You can potentially generate up to a 20 mph wind by just using your lungs. If the material prevents you from feeling it, chances are it will withstand quite well outdoors.

The most common and necessary essential can ironically become your worst enemy when in the wilderness — getting wet while outdoors can quickly lead to disaster if it cannot be remedy immediately, particularly in cold weather. Being waterproof was another trait that I tried to include with the vests on this list. Waterproof jackets use three layers of fabric that are treated with a deep water repellent spray and are generally also windproof due to this process.

This important topic always looms whenever hunting seasons approach. Can the game see the bright blazing orange vests? For me, the answer has always been simple and the answer it for me has always been that it was never about being seen by the game. I’d rather scare the game off than fall victim to a hunting accident due to not wearing a bright blazing orange vest. While this works for me, some hunters prefer to blend in with their surrounding seamlessly. In order to provide both options, I included both the blazing bright orange hunting vests and some mono-colored vests.

Camouflage works by breaking up your silhouette and making your movements less noticeable. Most game notice movement very well so having a camouflage pattern on your vest can be very beneficial when hunting. A few of the vests on this list can assist you with keeping your silhouette as broken as possible. It is important to note that camouflage works better if the camouflage can match the colors in the surrounding area.

While the bright blazing orange vests are a good safety precaution style is another concern when looking for the right hunting vest. The mono-colored vest is useful and has a good ability to match most camouflage schemes. With the bright blazing orange vests that are made to stick out, I tried to include options which broke up the orange patches into separate areas making it easier to add to a hunting outfit.

The style you choose says a lot about you and is one of a small number of things in your control. One of the most common phrases you will ever hear is the long-lasting effect of a first impression. It is an easy way to show who you are and what your interests are. With such an important moment possibly occurring while you're in your hunting vest, I made sure to choose vests that not only function well but also have a stylish appearance to their design.

While you can most likely find a jacket that is all-inclusive and has everything you could ever want and more, chances are you will also pay everything the seller could always want, and more. While writing this hunting vest best list I tried to average out the value of each vest and the cost and keep the most cost-effective vests higher on the list. Finding good options was a challenge but I feel I’ve found the best valued hunting vests available.

Each of the vests that I listed was intended to fulfill the most basic of needs you could want in any hunting vest as well as offering something unique or that fulfilled another requirement. This selection method allowed me to ensure I chose only vests that offer good value compared to their cost. In order to assist in the process, I listed the most cost-effective towards the top of the list.

The last thing you want is to buy a hunting vest and having it get snagged or ripped during your first use. Having this happen could mean missing an entire day of hunting. From durable cotton canvas to mixed materials, these fabrics do an excellent job of preventing even the peskiest of branches from getting caught in your vest. In order to contest the ruggedness of the outdoors the vests that were chosen feature those which use the more durable material.

Much like any product, there are companies that specialize in making the most resounding product possible to ensure your satisfaction. There are also up and comers that are helping to set new boundaries of what a vest is capable of. To keep a good balance in this list I sought to feature both brand names and new but popular vests.

When planning a hunting trip there are about a thousand things you need to consider and you must have a plan in order to have a good trip. Everything from where and when you can get food to where you will sleep while you're not sitting in the woods silently for hours. In an attempt to consider this task I chose vests that require little to no maintenance or upkeep giving you more time to focus on the other aspects of your hunt.

From compasses and lights, to license tag holders and water bottle holders, having multiple accessories adds some value to these hunting vests. A number of the vests on this list include small additional items for convenience and comfort. These little amenities can make a good vest your favorite tool in your hunting gear. The number of accessories that can be added to these vests was another trait I tried to include in this list.

No matter what your choice of game, every hunter needs an ample supply of ready ammunition. When you’re in the moment and prepared to start your hunt the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you have spare ammunition should you miss your target. A couple of these hunting vests include a shell holder, elastic stitching or a pouch, made to hold your ammunition. So when the time comes, you won't have to worry about fumbling around looking for more ammunition.

With the weather being as unpredictable as it is, having a safe and dry spot on your vest in which you can store electronics like your cell phone or rangefinder safely nestled is a necessity. A variety of these vests include interior pockets to keep these belongings intact. A few of the vests included a waterproof lining on the interior of the pocket to further increase the resistance from damage potential.

Some of the vests on this list utilize multiple pockets, some very large, and some super small to ensure you have ample storage for anything you could need while on your hunt. Anything from knives, gloves, and even baits can be stored in a convenient position that works for you. While pockets are a nice feature, I also added a few options that use no pockets but still are good hunting vests.

This may seem like an obvious choice as a feature, but I made sure to include some options that offer multiple color varieties. Customization is an essential trait for many hunters. You are making a statement with your style. To adhere to this desire, some of these vests offer different colors and styles so every hunter could choose one that fits their needs and preferences.