Battle of the Vests: Chief Upland
In a male-dominated sport (whether hunting or scuba diving) I know firsthand just how difficult it can be to find gear that's either made specifically for women, or at the very least is unisex but actually fits me well.
It's like most companies' philosophy is: "Fits a man? Great! Size it down and make it pink!" 🙄 Because proportions and curves don't exist, right?!
I put 3 brands of upland vests head to head to see which worked best for me.
Chief Upland, Final Rise, and Prois.
image from ChiefUpland.com
Up first: Chief Upland Over Under Vest System
Before we start, two things: I want to be transparent: I was gifted this vest system in return for a review. Secondly, I’m 5’3 on a good day and a size 2-4 dress, and according to my ‘wiki-how’ measurements, I have a 17” torso.
While not specifically made for women, Chief Upland vests are unisex and can be adjusted in many ways. They size-fit based on your navel and say you can order the perfect size vest based on just your t-shirt size.
Pros:
MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment,) system allows for total customization of pockets and accessories. If you’ve never used a MOLLE system, follow the included instructions. It’s pretty easy to get the hang of and installing your accessories can go quickly after you know what you’re doing.
An extra hydration system area allows for integrating an Osprey/Camelback system for extra water. (More on this in the neutral category)
Gusseted storage in the back keeps the birds (and blood) away from anything else you’d like to store, like extra layers and snacks.
Lightweight at 2.53 lbs, and very durable!
It wraps around your whole torso providing an added layer of warmth on cooler days. I literally feel like I’m wrapped in a hug. If you’re a scuba diver also, you’ll understand this: This vest system is like a jacket-style BCD. If you love that, you’ll love this.
The gunstock rest is easy to use and convenient.
Built for weather, the ammo and electronics pouches are waterproof.
Neutral:
Even with the smallest size available and cinched down as far as it will go, the shoulder straps were still too big for me. I think if I was just 2 more inches taller this wouldn't be an issue. . . my friend Erika is 5’6, owns this vest, and loves the fit.
I love how the waist belt/straps are adjustable based on height and can be routed either high or low. On the flip-side, being removable means they aren’t anchored down to the belt and sometimes getting them tight enough to sit on my hips was challenging as they would keep sliding around.
The snaps to hold your hydration system in place were too big to fit through the openings on my Osprey system. Not a huge deal; the problem was solved with 3 zip ties.
The game bag is front-loading and can be adjusted to customize how tight you want it.
image from Chief Upland
Cons: Magnets
Now I debated putting this in the Neutral instead of the Con category, but ultimately it’s what’s causing me to keep this vest in the closet when I’m running Cedar, especially on public land.
When Cedar and I are out hunting, she always wears her GPS collar. I have the Garmin Alpha TT25 paired with the Garmin 550 Pro Plus handheld device. With the 550, I’m able to see how far out Cedar is and in what direction.
I started noticing that while wearing the vest the compass would always be off. Sometimes it would be a 45º, other times a full 180º; other times it would just spin erratically. I would give it to my husband or friend and it would go back to acting right, only to start acting up again when I took it back.
The only explanation I could think of? The magnets in the pockets.
Now, the vest itself is free of magnets, it’s only some of their pockets and accessories (like the ammo case.) I can’t hunt without carrying ammo, and unless I want to load up Rambo style, I’ve got to use the Chief Upland ammo pockets. . . all of which have a magnetic flap closure.
Now just because this is happening to me, doesn’t mean it will happen to you. Erika has the same collar & remote and hasn’t complained about the magnets interfering with the compass. (So this could just be a ‘me’ problem.
And if you don’t run GPS on your pup, it probably won't ever be an issue. For more information on magnet concerns, please check out their FAQ here.
FAQ from ChiefUpland.com
Final thoughts:
This is a great vest and I love the customization aspect, (even though I do wish I was about 2 inches taller to have the perfect fit.) The integrated waterproof pouch is also fantastic for extra layers and the hydration pouch is great for carrying extra hydration. This is the vest I’ll reach for when I’m heading out to a preserve or some wide-open land where I don’t have to rely on the compass to find Cedar.
But to be honest, when we head out to the thick Virginia woodcock woods, I’ll have to leave this vest in the closet. Now, if Chief Upland came out with an ammo case without a magnetic flap, this would be a different story.
But the magnet & GPS issue is a dealbreaker for me. Call me an overprotective dog mom, but having a GPS compass that works fairly accurately is a high priority for me.
Do you run GPS on your pup? Have you had any issues with this vest affecting your GPS unit?
