Best Turkey Vests of 2023

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Let’s start with the most basic question.

“What Makes The Best Turkey Vest?”

Simply a turkey vest is a wearable hunting vest that allows you to carry all your turkey hunting accessories within quick and simple reach.

Additionally, it is a piece of equipment that will keep you comfortable during your turkey hunt with built-in seat cushions and backrests.

This review of the 7 Turkey Hunting Vests will provide the right solution for you.

Each of the turkey vests are discussed in detail including current pricing. There is a comprehensive buyers guide towards the end of this article for you.

What are the Best Turkey Vests

What are the Best Turkey Vests

1. The Alps OutdoorZ Grand Slam Vest

The Alps OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest has everything you need in a turkey vest.

It comes with a huge range of pockets and storage options for all your turkey hunting equipment.

Comfort is not compromised at all with cushioned seats, adjustable kickstands and swivel feet. This means you can set up comfortably anywhere for your long day turkey hunts.

Plenty of extras such as compartments for water bladder, game bag and safety flags included.

Manufactured by Alps OutdoorZ a world leader in hunting equipment, you know you are getting a premium turkey vest that will last you many seasons.

Pros

  • Seat and removable kickstand for ultimate sitting comfort
  • Adjustable legs and swivel feet for quick easy set up
  • Large range of pocket sizes for all your turkey hunting vest equipment
  • Safety flag and game bag conveniently included in the vest
  • Dedicated cell phone pouch

Cons

  • Can be bulky and heavy on long walks if you fill up every pocket
  • As a premium turkey hunting vest it is more expensive

2. ALPS OutdoorZ NWTF Super Elite 4.0 Turkey Vest

One step down from the Grand Slam version, the Alps OutdoorZ Super Elite 4.0 Turkey Vest is another very comprehensive turkey hunting vest.

With a huge range of storage options you can carry everything you need for your turkey hunt in this quality turkey vest.

A well cushioned seat will keep you comfortable. As it does not have the legs and frames of the Grand Slam version it is much lighter.

Pros

  • 22 large easy to use pockets to store your turkey vest equipment
  • Lightweight at 3lbs is excellent for those longer walks
  • Very comfortable 2.5 inch cushion seat for those long sits
  • Quiet cotton liner and mesh material allows you to stay as soundless as possible
  • Game bag included that is blood proof meaning no mess

Cons

  • No kickstand which may or may not be an issue depending on your hunt set up

3. Hunters Specialties H.S. Strut Turkey Vest

For the more budget conscious turkey hunter the Hunters Specialties H.S. Strut Turkey Vest is the pick of the budget options.

Perfect for hunters who do not require or wish to carry as many turkey hunting accessories. Suits the hunter who is on shorter hunting days without compromising seating comfort.

Pros

  • Great budget option turkey hunting vest to save you money
  • Reasonable range of storage pockets and pouches
  • Large comfortable seat for those long sit and wait periods

Cons

  • Lacks blood proof game bag and blaze safety flag

4. Knight & Hale Run N Gun Turkey Hunting Vest

The Knight & Hale Run N Gun Turkey Hunting Vest is the clear winner in Best Lightweight Turkey Vest option.

At only 1.5lbs this turkey vest can be carried easily on long hunts.

With 10 point adjustment settings it is very easy to fit this turkey vest comfortably. No matter what your shape and size. And despite the light weight there is a great range of pockets and pouches as well as a very comfortable padded seat.

Pros

  • Plenty of adjustment options to fit a wide range of hunter shapes and sizes
  • Very light at 1.5lbs for those not wishing to carry heavy loads
  • Well cushioned seat for keeping you comfortable during long sits
  • Large range of pockets for your turkey hunting vest equipment

Cons

  • Not as large as some of the other options. Less carrying capacity

5. The Primos Gobbler Turkey Vest

Primos are well known for producing quality turkey hunting equipment and this turkey vest is no exception.

The Primos Gobbler vest is a perfect midpoint choice between the premium and budget models.

It includes everything you need for a full days turkey hunt in a well designed vest but at a mid way price point. Great Value for money.

Pros

  • Good range of pocket styles for all your hunting equipment
  • Flip down cushion seat to keep you comfortable all day
  • Comes with hydration bladder pocket
  • Excellent value for money

Cons

  • Not the best sizing and adjustment options meaning it is not as easy to get it to fit a wide range of hunter shapes and sizes

6. Beard Buster Deluxe Turkey Vest

The Beard Buster Deluxe Turkey Vest is another fantastic budget and lightweight option.

Whilst not having some of the extras that the premium turkey vest models include such as kickstands and water bladder compartments, this model will save you weight and money.

The basics are all still included such as plenty of storage pockets and waterproof cushion seat. Perfect for shorter day hunts.

Pros

  • Well priced making it a good budget option
  • Range of pockets and sizes
  • Pull out safety flag from the rear pocket
  • Well cushioned waterproof seat for long sits

Cons

  • No game bag

7. Tenzing TR18 Turkey Recliner

The Tenzing TR18 Turkey Recliner Turkey Vest is another premium turkey hunting vest for the serious turkey hunter.

It includes all of the storage options a quality turkey vest should. The spring loaded adjustable legs and comfortable foam seat allow you to set up for a long hunt quickly and easily.

Superb back support and reclining feature means you get super comfortable with a minimum of noise and fuss. This premium turkey hunting vest is also lighter than its main competitor the Alps OutdoorZ Grand Slam.

Pros

  • Has everything you need in a turkey hunting vest for long hunts
  • Magnetic fasted cushion seat and backrest
  • Kickstand legs so you can set up easily and comfortably
  • Huge range of pockets at varying sizes and shapes so you can stay well organized
  • Dedicated game bag included in this premium turkey vest

Cons

  • More expensive as this is a premium designed turkey vest
Why Wear A Turkey Vest

Why Wear A Turkey Vest?

When selecting what is going to be the best turkey vest for you it is important to understand what type of turkey hunting will you be engaged in.

For example, are you hiking long distances? Will you be sitting in a hunting blind?  Will you be moving shorter distances and sitting for long periods?

Do you Run n Gun when turkey hunting? Do I need to carry a full range of turkey hunting accessories such as a large variety of calls and decoys?

Can I get away with less to save on weight? All of the above?

This video provides a great overview of why wearing a turkey vest makes a lot of sense.

What Is The Price Of Turkey Vests?

The price of a turkey hunting vest, like all hunting equipment, will vary depending on the range of features you require. Prices can be found from around $35 up to $200.

Knowing what type of hunting you will be doing, short days, long days, Run n Gun etc helps you decide if you need a fully featured turkey vest or one with less capacity but at a lighter weight.

Your budget will also be a determining factor in selecting a turkey vest for your needs.

For the Best Budget Turkey Hunting Vest I recommend the  Hunters Specialties H.S. Strut Turkey Vest.

This offers great value for money without compromising too much on the best turkey vest features.

What Is The Price Of Turkey Vests

Comfort Factors To Consider

For those hunters who like to be comfortable out on their hunts then the overall comfort factor of your turkey vest is a very important consideration.

This covers both the wearing comfort and during the sitting and waiting game that is turkey hunting.

For the first consideration, the wearing of your turkey vest, the key point is that it fits well and can be adjustable to suit your body size and shape.

The Knight & Hale Run N’ Gun 200-Turkey Vest with a 10 point adjustment system is the best turkey hunting vest in this area.

Having a well padded seat, ideally a backrest and adjustable feet will increase your comfort rating significantly during those longer turkey hunting periods.

This is even a more important factor if you are not setting up a seperate hunting blind with a separate chair.

The ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest scores the highest when it comes to sitting comfort which is one of the reasons it is my preferred turkey hunting vest.

Related Article: Best Shooting Vests

What Is The Weight?

For many turkey hunters, particularly those engaging in the Run n Gun style, having a lightweight turkey vest is a top consideration.

Some compromise with storage options and capacity as well as backrests and adjustable legs is fine if it keeps the weight down.

Fully featured turkey hunting vests can weigh up to 6lbs BEFORE adding your equipment.

The clear winner in the lightweight division is the Knight & Hale Run N’ Gun 200-Turkey Vest. At a meagre 1.5lbs, you won’t even know you are wearing it when out on your turkey hunt.

 best turkey hunting vest

What Are The Storage Options?

For those hunters who like to be prepared for all turkey hunting situations, having a significant storage capacity is a high priority.

Similarly, hunters who are out all day on their turkey hunt require the capacity to carry all the equipment they will need for a full day.

Most hunters will wish to carry a variety of turkey calls that come in different weights and sizes. Cell phone, GPS, gloves, face mask, insect repellent, decoys, licences, a drink and some snacks at a minimum.

The best turkey hunting vest will have sufficient pockets and pouches in a range of shapes and sizes to meet these needs.

Offering the most comprehensive storage solution for the serious, long term turkey hunter is the ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest.

Camouflage

Camouflage is a very important factor when hunting turkeys as most hunters will find out very quickly if they get it wrong.

Turkey hunters using a hunting blind do not need to be quite as concerned about having the perfect camouflage patterns on their turkey vest.

The good news is most of turkey vests come in varying styles of camouflage including Mossy Oak varieties and Realtree varieties.

Try and pick your turkey vest to match the environmental colors and patterns you will be hunting in the most.

Also remember the environment will change depending on the season as well as your hunting location. I know many serious hunters who have different turkey vests for the different seasons.

Built In Safety

It goes without saying that safety is a prime consideration when out doing any sort of hunting.

Placing your harvested gobbler hanging out the back pocket of your vest without some sort of safety flag is putting you and your hunting party at potential risk of being shot at!

Many of the best turkey vests come with a built in safety flag just for these reasons. If your turkey vest does not come with a built in blaze flag then make sure you carry one separately.

For example the recommended turkey hunting vest – ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest has this built in.

Game Bags

If you bag gobbler or two the last thing you want is blood seeping through your turkey vest.

Again most turkey hunting vests come with a built in game bag for your harvest.

Both the ALPS OutdoorZ NWTF Super Elite 4.0 Turkey Vest and the ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest come with blood proof game bags as part of the turkey vest.

Conclusion

Hunting with a good quality and comfortable turkey vest will make your day out hunting much more enjoyable and successful.

Unlike a standard backpack the best turkey vest will mean your equipment is readily at hand and reduces noise as you are not constantly taking your backpack off to access the favourite call or that beef jerky snack.

As turkey hunting (like a lot of hunting) requires plenty of sitting and waiting, being comfortable for long periods is a must.

Having a good cushioned seat and backrest is all part of the best turkey hunting vest.

Depending on where you hunt turkeys, the length of time you are out in the woods and the style of turkey hunting you engage in then one of these turkey vests will be your next best friend.

And finally to recap for you.

The Best Turkey Vest overall is the ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest. Everything you need in storage, style, safety and comfort.

Watch this turkey vest in action below.

The best turkey hunting vest in the lightweight division is the Knight & Hale Run N’ Gun 200-Turkey Vest.

Combines lightweight benefits at only 1.5lbs without too much sacrifice in the storage and comfort factors.

The best turkey vest in the budget division is the Hunters Specialties H.S. Strut Turkey Vest. This vest will suit the occasional turkey hunter or those on shorter day hunts who do not require the full range of turkey hunting accessories.

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