Chief Upland Over/Underneath Vest Evaluation

I’m not a tactical gun bro. I feel tactical gear is over-the-top, and doesn’t match my fashion regardless of having spent over 7 years within the Military. I’m extra of the old-fashioned, basic look sort of man. Suppose tweed jacket, bamboo fly rod, and strolling the Scottish countryside with an over-under vibe. Yeah, it’s snobby, however I like what I like. You can also make enjoyable of me for it, identical to I make enjoyable of tactical stuff.

So, as you possibly can think about, I don’t find it irresistible when outside manufacturers merge “tacticool” options on on a regular basis searching and fishing gear. To me, it looks like a advertising ploy designed to capitalize on those that assume “military-grade” is a promoting level. I’m truthfully embarrassed to put on it.

Due to my proclivities, I considered the Chief Upland Over/Underneath vest as a cardinal sin in opposition to all the things I stand for. Tacticool MOLLE overlaying an upland fowl searching vest? Is nothing sacred? Upland fowl searching is likely one of the few issues that permits me to be unapologetically uppity. And now, we’re letting the gun bros in.

In brief: The gun bros could have some extent with MOLLE. The Chief Over/Underneath vest ($199) brings tactical tech to an upland bird-hunting vest with a basic upland look. That is probably the most customizable upland fowl searching vest I’ve used, and after searching two states with it, I’ve it dialed in completely for my searching. Since all the things is detachable and adjustable, there’s no query you’ll find it irresistible, and nonetheless seem like an upland hunter.

MOLLE, MOLLE In every single place

I’m choosy about my upland searching vests, and so are all of my buddies I hunt with. All of us have our personal preferences and powerful opinions on why we supply the one we do. But, every of us is at all times prowling on-line for a brand new one, despite the fact that we will not be available in the market to switch the present one.

Sadly, upland vests are a kind of merchandise you’ll at all times be sad with. You might love 95% of the one you’re presently rocking, however the 5% you don’t like drives you nuts. You’re usually left wanting this characteristic from one, and a separate characteristic from one other.

That’s the place the MOLLE bro expertise is available in to save lots of the day. The bottom Chief Over/Underneath vest appears to be like barebones and non-functional. As a result of it’s. However dang close to each sq. inch of the factor is roofed in MOLLE webbing.

Whereas I’m not in love with the look of MOLLE webbing, or its overuse within the searching and fishing house, it simply is sensible on an upland vest. I can put the precise pocket I would like, precisely the place I would like it, and get rid of any pockets that don’t work for my searching fashion. The Over/Underneath is the “Select Your Personal Journey” of upland searching vests. I need to admit, MOLLE has discovered a spot in my coronary heart, due to the Chief Upland Vest.

Equipment for the Chief Upland Over/Underneath Vest

Sure, the vest itself is barebones, however the choice of equipment obtainable on the Chief Upland web site is something however. There are a plethora of choices so that you can deck out your individual vest.

Plus, with MOLLE methods being so obnoxiously common, the buck doesn’t cease there. There are 1000’s, heck, possibly tens of 1000’s of MOLLE equipment from third events that you would be able to connect to one of many dozens of MOLLE rows on the Over/Underneath vest.

For me, one which immediately springs to thoughts is a trauma package. It’s a breeze to connect a small package to the again of the vest, at all times prepared for any two-legged or four-legged emergencies which will come up within the subject.

So far as Chief Upland equipment go, I presently use the “waterproof ammo field” and “water bottle pouch” on one hip, and the “fast seize ammo pouch” and “waterproof electronics pouch” on the opposite hip. These attachments give me all of the pockets (plus some) you’ll discover on a “commonplace” upland vest, and let me put them wherever I would like.

To prime it off, all of them are increased high quality than what you’ll discover on most vests. The lids have efficient magnet closures, the pockets have a strong construct, inner group is included, and zippers are waterproof, but straightforward to open and shut.

However It Nonetheless Appears to be like Cool

In case you take a look at the vest itself on-line, with none further equipment, you may assume it appears to be like ugly. A minimum of, in my view, it does. The factor appears to be like like a physique armor vest.

When you begin constructing it out, although, the tactical look will get lined up, and the vest transforms. The Chief Upland Vest goes from a bit in a 5.11 Tactical catalogue to one thing you’d see in a Filson or Orvis advert. It appears to be like good. It appears to be like elegant. And, it appears to be like pretentious and snobby, identical to an upland vest ought to.

The Chief Upland Over/Underneath Vest: Loads of Storage

Any time I’ve switched upland searching vests, storage is one in every of my major considerations, and it’s one of many causes the Tenzing Upland Vest was my favourite for years. The factor was virtually a searching backpack and fowl vest mixed into one.

For the kind of searching I are likely to do, that was essential. For years, I hunted chukar greater than something. I would go away the truck within the morning, hike the steep mountains of Utah’s west desert all day, and never return once more till darkish. I wanted to pack meals, K9 first-aid provides, water for myself and two canines, primary survival tools, layers, plus room to spare for birds. A regular strap vest didn’t reduce it.

Even once I chase pheasant, quail, sharptail, and huns, I nonetheless recognize the additional house. I are likely to keep away from small tracts of land and decide to stroll for hours on the most important observe of public land I can discover, identical to chukar searching, which requires a lot of room.

I used to be anticipating to be disenchanted with the Chief Upland vest from a storage standpoint, as a result of it didn’t seem to be it had practically the capability of my beloved Tenzing vest. But, regardless of its easier, streamlined, and seemingly extra minimalist construct, I’ve by no means wished for extra space.

Water Storage

Many strap vests depart you restricted to water bottles in pouches. However as I mentioned, I’ve obtained two canines, and myself, and have a tendency to cowl over 5 miles at a time. I would like a number of water. I’m a camelback man due to that.

The Chief Upland vest is camelback-compatible, and the tube exit port is within the middle of the again. You possibly can run your water line down both shoulder. With a full camelback and a water bottle within the water bottle holder, I’ve but to expire of water on a stroll.

The camelback pouch is separated from the principle storage pouch and the sport bag. It’s delicate, and if you happen to don’t search for it, it’s straightforward to overlook it’s there.

Jacket Storage

Like water, extra-layer storage tends to be an issue in strap-style vests. Once I’ve used strap vests, I’d roll jackets up and stuff them into the sport bag. That was nice till the hunt was profitable and I wanted to fill that house with birds. Then it didn’t work in any respect, and I’d have both a jacket or a fowl fall out of the edges of my vest.

One among my favourite elements of the Chief Upland vest is the ingenious jacket storage. Whereas in South Dakota, I confronted frigid temperatures at first of the day, and as such, would begin my walks with a baselayer, the Kings Camo XKG pinnacle jacket, and the Sitka Jetstream Jacket over that. However, after half an hour of post-holing via 3-foot snow drifts topped with a 3-inch crust, issues would get mighty toasty. I wanted to ditch the jacket.

I’d take it off, roll it up, and lock it into the strap system on the outside of the vest, secured by a buckle to the higher portion of the vest’s again. It securely holds the jacket with out taking on any inner space for storing. What’s extra, you should purchase further jacket straps if wanted.

That left the principle storage pouch (separate from the sport bag and the camelback slot) to carry a beanie, first-aid gear, sandwiches, a knife, and sun shades. I by no means felt like I used to be working out of room, it doesn’t matter what I requested the Chief Upland Over/Underneath Vest to hold.

Chook Storage

The sport bag on this vest is enough. In South Dakota, it held three pheasants securely. So it has as a lot room as any upland hunter may ever want.

I’ll say it’s not the roomiest sport bag I’ve ever used. To suit all three pheasants, I had to make certain I stuffed the birds in all the way in which and barely stack them. There isn’t a lot further room that the factor can eat a number of limits of birds. However once more, it’s greater than enough assuming you’re following authorized limits.

Accent Storage and Pockets

When you throw within the MOLLE webbing, storage turns into seemingly limitless. With the 2 ammo pouches, I used to be in a position to match a complete field of 2-3/4 inch shells into the vest with tons of room to spare. I additionally used the elastic exterior pouches on these pouches to carry my automotive keys, in addition to the nicotine that fuels my terrible dependancy. It was proper there, at all times on the prepared.

When issues obtained scorching on my walks, I pulled off my gloves and stuffed them within the ammo pouches as properly.

I completely love the waterproof electronics pouch. I retailer my telephone in there, and having it secured by a zipper is a big plus. One time, years in the past, my telephone dropped out of my pants pocket whereas strolling via cattails. That’s not an expertise I need to relive.

Having the electronics pouch proper subsequent to the ammo pouch retains it secured, but at all times on the able to snap a fast photograph.

And if you happen to’re happening an enormous trek, like ptarmigan within the excessive nation, you possibly can add much more pouches to the MOLLE on the again of the vest. No, it received’t be simply accessible, however you possibly can put all the things you’ll ever want on it.

There may be additionally an elastic pouch on the left shoulder, which may maintain an e-collar distant. Despite the fact that my massive Garmin unit will slot in it, I don’t use it. As a substitute, I clip my Garmin unit to one in every of two leather-based tabs simply above that pouch. For me, it retains it extra readily accessible.

Unmatched Help

Regardless of how a lot I load the Chief Upland Over/Underneath down, it nonetheless seems like I’m carrying nothing. The vest has implausible help — arguably one of the best help I’ve seen in an upland vest.

The again panel is breathable and malleable, but offers only a contact of stiffness for rock-solid help. On prime of that, the waistband is massive and rests completely between my hips and ribcage.

It distributes weight over an enormous space. Moreover, the strap might be adjusted to a number of positions, once more, providing you with the choice to customise it for your self. I run mine within the lowest place and use the second included waist buckle on the prime to maintain all the things good and tight.

Fairly than put just a few skimpy straps over the shoulders, Chief Upland made this extra of a vest within the conventional sense. Throughout the shoulders, there are massive items of fabric that get wider throughout the chest. I’ve discovered the additional floor space distributes weight extra evenly, and makes for a cushty all-day carry.

Is There Something To not Love In regards to the Chief Upland Over/Underneath Vest?

The brief reply is, not likely. Nevertheless, it did take just a few hunts for me to get the vest dialed and actually fall in love with it.

I, in addition to others I do know who obtained this vest, began by setting the accent pockets and pouches too far rearward. When wanting on the clean vest, I made a decision to push the ammo pouches not less than one row of MOLLE away from the waist belt. The position appeared proper. And I assumed I ought to put my electronics pouch and water bottle pouch on the vest with not less than one row of MOLLE separating them from the opposite equipment to maintain some spacing.

That setup left the water bottle pouch and the electronics pouch annoyingly out of attain. I may get my water bottle out of the pouch, however couldn’t get it again in. I couldn’t get to the electronics pouch in any respect. So it was again to the drafting board.

After testing just a few completely different setups, I’ve it nailed. The secret’s to maintain all the things as far ahead as attainable. Begin along with your first accent pouch on the primary row of MOLLE, and don’t depart any rows of MOLLE between equipment. It looks like that may overcrowd the accent pouches, nevertheless it doesn’t. Belief me.

It took me 4 iterations to get the vest to some extent the place I feel it’s excellent. Whereas that appears annoying, it’s truly an enormous plus. By eradicating and rearranging the equipment, any complaints you could have might be solved.

Last Ideas on the Chief Upland Over/Underneath Vest

Due to its customizability, seemingly limitless storage, and fashionable look, the Chief Upland Over/Underneath vest has taken the spot as my favourite fowl searching vest. The trusty one I relied on for the final 8 years is now amassing mud with others I’ve tried and disliked.

Is it costly? Sure. The naked vest is 200 bucks, and that’s not together with the equipment that you need to buy to make it purposeful. Realistically, it can value between $295 and $400 to have it absolutely kitted out. That actually places it within the premium product class.

However you already know what, if you happen to’re going to drop that type of coin, wouldn’t you need to have the ability to fine-tune it? The MOLLE system allows you to do this. You get a one-of-a-kind vest, arrange precisely the way you need it. I promise, after just a few hunts and a few tweaking, you’ll fall in love with it.

Chief Upland thinks so, too. In truth, this vest is backed by a 365-day risk-free assure. In keeping with the model’s website, “If for any purpose you aren’t fully happy along with your order, for one full 12 months we’ll absolutely refund the acquisition value upon receipt of returned items in new situation.”

So what do you need to lose? This can be a rattling good vest that each fowl hunter will love. Whether or not you’re chasing roosters in farm nation, chukar within the mountains, grouse within the timber, or quail within the desert, the Chief Upland Over/Underneath Vest might be personalized to your hunt.