The 7 Best Turkey Vests of 2024

When my gobbler-chasing career began in 1990, we didn’t even wear turkey vests. It was some camo, a pair of boots, and a shotgun. Eventually, vests became popular enough I had to try them out. The first few I hunted with were simple. Some straps, a handful of pockets, and, if we shopped right, a pouch large enough to actually hold a longbeard. But the common denominator among them all was that they were heavy, bulky, and clumsy. 

Modern turkey vests have come a long way since those early days. Now they have integral frames, call-specific zippered pouches, lanyards, shell loops, and padding. And some with built-in seats that may even rival your lounge chair at home. They’re nice, all right, and, given the amount of stuff we turkey hunters pack afield nowadays, worthy of the word necessity. Here are some considerations to remember, as well as a few recommendations for the best turkey vests on the market.

Best Overall: Alps Outdoorz Super Elite 4.0

Best Versatile: Sitka Equinox Turkey Vest

Best Budget: Blocker Outdoors’ Shield Series Finisher

Best Waist Pack: Mystery Ranch Full Moon Waist Pack

Best for Long Sits: Tenzing TR18 Turkey Vest

Best with Kickstand: Tidewe Turkey Vest with Seat

Best for Beginners: Cabela’s Tactical Tat’R Pro

How We Picked The Best Turkey Vests

I take my turkey hunting very seriously. I require certain elements in the turkey vest I’m going to wear every day from the middle of April to the last day of May. Your needs and requirements, of course, may differ. Perhaps you hunt only one or two days each season. Maybe all your hunting is done from a ground blind, thus effectively making a vest a moot point. There are 1,001 reasons for and against a vest, and yours are without question valid. 

But to help you decide, these are the criteria I used to differentiate good vests from so-so vests:

Simplicity of design/build: I want the vest to be relatively simple, without a ton of bells and whistles and widgets. Certainly, sometimes I’m proven wrong and a fully featured vest is great. However, I tend to select simple designs so that when that old Tom gobbles I’m not lost in my turkey vest.

Fit and comfort: Like shoes, fit and comfort are important. I want a vest that fits well, and is comfortable when fully loaded, even after I’ve worn it all day. If the shoulder straps cut off the circulation to my hands, it’s out. If the straps aren’t adjustable to the point I can get the fit really dialed in, it’s out. The vest is an integral part of my turkey hunting gear, and I’m wearing it every day.

Ergonomics: I want a vest to put the items I need, calls, strikers, head nets, gloves, and snacks, within quick and easy reach. I need to be able to grab them without having to take my eyes off a long beard waddling his way down the fence line. 

Security of personal items: I need a vest that doesn’t lose stuff. I’m fully capable of losing strikers, gloves, and other items on my own. So, the vest I’m looking for has zippered (preferable) or hook and loop (if need be) pockets that aren’t prone to spilling my gear every time I sit or bend over. In fact, I want all the fasteners, whatever that might be, to be strong and secure.

The Best Turkey Vests: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall: Alps Outdoorz Super Elite 4.0

Specs

High neck offers protection on many levels

Twenty-two pockets; many zippered

Integral silent box call holster

Divided pot call pockets

Pros

Wide shoulders distribute weight of gear and/or gobbler

Game pouch

Seat cushion is easily removable

Cons 

Can be a bit hot when the weather warms up

Lack of traditional shotshell loops

I’ll admit it. I’m awfully particular when it comes to a turkey vest. Year after year, I’d swap all my gear into a new vest, only to field it once, pull everything out, and go back to old reliable. But I’m giving serious thought to just leaving all my gear tucked away in the Alps Outdoorz’ Super Elite. Will wonders never cease?

The Super Elite offers all the criteria a good vest should have. It’s comfortable and quiet. I find myself often shedding a vest when I set up, and the quick release clips in front allow me to drop it in short order. Pocket placement nears perfection, as if the vest had truly been designed both by King and an avid turkey hunter—which it might have been. The box call holster does, as advertised, eliminate the unnerving SQUAWK of an unintentional yelp. The divided pot call pocket means an end to dropping our slates in individual cloth bags to keep them clean. The drop-down seat cushion is thick enough, wide enough, and, perhaps most importantly, sports a waterproof bottom, so you’re not packing around five extra pounds of morning dew, rain, snow, and mud. 

Best Versatile: Sitka Equinox Turkey Vest

Specs

Magnetic pocket closures

Lightweight (44 ounces)

Unique compression style box call pocket maintains silence

Integrated blaze orange flags hidden when not in use

Pros

Perfect for run ‘n gun hunting style

Fully adjustable for physical size and clothing

Plenty of pockets, but gear doesn’t get ‘lost’ inside

Back portion is hydration compatible

Cons 

Price point is right up there

Seat deployment can be awkward and/or slow

Underside of cushion is light gray; should be OD or camouflage

Sitka has come a long way from the days of their first waterfowl garments, and the Equinox Turkey Vest is a prime example of their closer-to-perfection journey. I wasn’t surprised, given the brand’s evolution, to find their new turkey vest a winner on several levels. For my tastes and style of hunting, it’s small and perhaps a bit too minimalist. However, the innovation involved, which includes a fully adjustable cam-lock system that fits the vest vertically precisely to the wearer, is just downright cool! There are plenty of pockets. For the most part, they’re located right where they need to be in terms of ergonomics. As for the magnetic closures, they’re undeniably quick, but I’m concerned about them ‘popping’ open unintentionally. I’m a zipper guy; call me Old School.

At $250, the Equinox Turkey Vest isn’t what I’d call budget priced. However, nothing says you can’t scrub the seat and use it for any other outdoor application—early season elk, spot-and-stalk deer hunting, squirrels, or even stream fishing—and pull 365 days out of it. 

Best Budget: Blocker Outdoors’ Shield Series Finisher

Specs

Plenty of pockets; zippers and button closures

Rip-stop construction; lightweight and breathable

Excellent for late season/warm weather hunts

Single strap attachment drop-down padded seat

Pros

Affordable for most, if not all hunting/outdoor budgets

Elemental design keeps things simple

Large game bag holds accessories, decoys, and harvested birds

Deep pockets; zippers and buttons keep gear secure

Cons 

Shotshell loops on the outside = lost shotshells

No ‘silenced’ box call holster

I’m not cheap, I’d rather think of myself as frugal. Budget-minded. Ah, all right … sometimes I run to the cheap side of the track, but when I can get a turkey vest like Blocker Outdoors’ Finisher that does everything I need it to do and for less than a week’s worth of gas.

Bare bones, minimalist, whatever you want to say, you’re not buying a Cadillac here. The Finisher offers pockets, both zippered and slightly quicker-to-access buttons, left and right. There’s not a ton of them, but enough to pack what you’ll need for the morning’s hunt. I’m a fan of larger game bags in a turkey vest, as I tend to overdress and pack two to four decoys. The Finisher’s bag can handle my extra hoodie and my foldable Flambeau dekes. I can’t say much about the seat cushion other than it’s small and uncomfortable, but it’s there and works if you are skinny. And score one for the built-in blaze orange safety flag, a must-have in my book.

New turkey hunter? This one’s perfect. Young turkey hunter? Again, I’m leaning toward a decent vest like this one that will get the job done, and costs less than taking the family out to eat. 

Best Waist Pack: Mystery Ranch Full Moon Waist Pack

Specs

Allows waist or over-the-shoulder (slingback) carry styles

Extraordinarily strong zippers

Compact but offers 385 cubic inches of interior space

Robust stitching

Pros

Easy access interior

Side compression straps

Ventilated/padded back side helps keep wearer cool

Plastic back ‘plate’ provides semi-rigid support

Cons 

No camouflage options

Relatively small containment space

No game bag, but it is a waist pack

Summer 2022 will mark my fifth season as a wildland firefighter in Washington state. And it was in the fire camps and on the fire lines that I was introduced to Mystery Ranch gear. It’s one of, if not the, the most popular, brand of line pack I see in the field. That said, I’m not surprised Mystery Ranch makes the Full Moon. This dandy waist pack is perfect for pulling any number of duties, certainly not to exclude serving as a good—albeit smaller and quite non-traditional—turkey ‘vest.’

Turkey gear. Whitetail gear. Fishing tackle. Even as a modified everyday carry pack for your concealed firearm, the Full Moon provides almost 400 cubic inches of interior storage, secured with a sturdy YKK zipper. Maybe it sounds silly, but I judge a lot of zippered gear by the pulls. When they break, I’m instantly aggravated. It’s simple. They shouldn’t break, and MR’s do not, despite repeated attempts by me. No, there’s no specified pot call pocket; no box call holster nor shell loops. I’m okay with those omissions because what do I find inboard the Full Moon? Gloves, head net, four shotshells, two strikers, a pot call, crow call, one extra Primos A-frame diaphragm call, a one-liter bottle of high-quality H2O, and two granola bars. That’s what I need if I have an hour to hunt before work or weasel out that last hour of shooting time. 

Side compression straps keep gear snug. And I like the option of slinging the pack over one shoulder and not having it bouncing up and down on my hip if I’m on an all-morning jaunt. If you’re looking for something tough you can abuse while it holds everything you need to chase a gobbler to the ground, the Full Moon is it.

Best for Long Sits: Tenzing TR18 Turkey Vest

Specs

Retractable spring-load reclining ‘legs’

Well-designed; ergonomically sound

Detachable foam seat cushion

Hydration compartment

Pros

Offers hunters the option of setting up anywhere comfortably

Separate pot call pockets in lower right quadrant 

Easily reached box call holster in upper left

Huge game bag

Cons 

At 5.4 pounds, it’s heavy right out of the gate

Static frame can make tight maneuvering challenging

You’ll notice how heavy the TR18 is as soon as you pick it up. The internal aluminum frame, a requirement for the two retractable/spring-loaded support legs that transform the TR18 from ‘vest’ to ‘in-the-field recliner,’ make it heavy when compared to more traditional models. Heavy, as in almost six pounds empty. However, you get past that and the comfort of the TR18 really begins to shine.

I love the extra-large game bag on the TR18, which allows me to easily stash all my stuff. There’s roughly 2,200 cubic inches of storage in that game bag to tote decoys, dead turkey, extra hydration, cast-off clothing, Hostess fruit pies, whatever I need to carry into or out of the field. I’m a big fan of specifically designed pot call pockets, of which the TR18 has two. Although I’m personally partial to packing two or three one-liter waters, the TR18 does include a hydration pocket.

The padded seat cushion is thick (2.5”) and comfortable enough for all but the longest sits. But as with other seats, it’s small at just a smidge over a foot square. No, I’m not looking for a drop-down mattress, but I’d like a little bit more.

Best with Kickstand: Tidewe Turkey Vest with Seat

Specs

Lightweight removable frame

Adjustable angled back-rest

Three-inch cushion seat and padded back

Hydration compatible

Pros

Call-specific pockets (diaphragm, pot, and box calls)

Moisture-resistant bottom

Telescoping legs with large round base pads

Quick access to both the cushion and the adjustable legs

Cons

The rear game pouch gets tight when in Frame-In mode

Upright seating adjustment could be a little more ‘vertical’

There aren’t backrest trees everywhere, and sometimes we need to pack our own into the field. This Kickstand style vest from TideWe allows you to have a stable backrest no matter where you are set up. I like the idea of an integral backrest system; however, what I like even more is that the TideWe backrest is both lightweight and removable. Don’t like the backrest? Then take it out, and use it as you would a traditional (non-frame) turkey vest.

There’s a lot to like about TideWe’s ‘Kickstand’ vest, including the $119 price point, which, while not as low as some vests, is roughly middle-of-the-road when it comes to the topic. And you get a lot for a C-note. The dedicated pot call pockets are nice; they keep calls clean and easily accessible. Same with the box call pocket—clean and quiet. As for being hydration compatible, I’m a water bottle guy, so that’s lost on me; but for some, it’s a definite selling point. The camouflage options—TrueTimber Strata and HTC Green—are good coast-to-coast multi-region season-long choices. At a full three inches, the flip-down cushion provides almost 180 square inches of seating space and is water-resistant to boot.

Best for Beginners: Cabela’s Tactical Tat’R Pro

Specs

Quick-to-use ‘Speed Seat’ padded cushion

Fully adjustable shoulder straps

Call-specific pockets

Large rear game pouch

Pros

Removable blaze orange safety flag

Integrated couch cushion back padding

TrueTimber Strata and HTC Green camouflage options

Offered in both ‘Kickstand’ and ‘Non-Kickstand’ version

Cons

Tough to fit smaller builds; DIY modifications may be necessary

In this ‘let’s make it intricate and complicated’ world, it’s sometimes tough to find something simple, especially hunting gear, that doesn’t feature 1,001 bells and whistles. Thanks to Cabela’s Tactical Tat’R Pro turkey vest, it’s possible to achieve a return to simplicity. Sure, the name is a little silly, but this vest has everything the longbeard fanatic—or the Spring veteran, for that matter—would expect in a turkey tote. 

The Tat’R Pro features wide, thus comfortable, padded shoulder straps, along with strategically designed side and lower back padding that allows for air circulation between the hunter and the fabric. Front quick-release clips are just what the physician ordered; no zippers to fool with here.

The ‘Speed Seat Technology’—again with the strange names—puts the cushion where it belongs, under your butt, in a couple of seconds. I’m not a huge fan of elastic-top pockets (two on the upper left chest), but some might be. A pair of wide vertical pockets on the lower right, a horizontal box call pocket on the lower left, an integral rear game pouch, and a removable blaze orange safety ‘flag’ round out this elemental but Have-All garment.

What to Consider When Choosing a Turkey Vest

Sure, it would be an easy thing to go online, throw a dart (figuratively), and buy the very first turkey vest you come across. But with the 16.5 million results that your Google search for “turkey vests” turned up, how would you know you were getting the right one? Using the following criteria can certainly make narrowing the field to only the best turkey vests a whole lot easier.

Price

I don’t know about you, but price just about always factors into the equation for me. Turkey vests run the gamut from a low-end of $30 or less to top-of-the-line garments costing $300 or more. My mantra always: Get the best you can afford without causing your wallet to hemorrhage violently. And remember, expensive doesn’t always translate into better. Some of the best turkey vests can be had for a very reasonable price.

Design

Do you want web-style shoulder straps, or would you prefer full (wide) shoulders, a sort of sleeveless shirt type of design? Do you want a removable game bag to carry your Tom after a successful day? No game bag? Do you plan on carrying your shotshells in your pockets, or do you like the convenience that shell loops provide? What about zippers, or would you prefer quick clips? Vests are like an ala carte buffet; they can be a little of this and a little of that. It just takes time to look over the menu.

Camouflage Pattern

In my opinion, Mossy Oak or Realtree are the two major players in the camouflage arena. However, there are others available. Some of this decision is personal preference. Some of it depends on where you’re hunting. The important thing is that the camouflage pattern you pick blend in in most of your hunting situations. Your call there.

Typical Weather Conditions

The best turkey hunting vest is often dictated by climate. Are you in southern Florida hunting Osceolas? Or in the Black Hills of South Dakota with six inches of snow on the ground for half the season? If you hunt Florida, you’ll want a lighter vest; something with ample airflow to help keep you cool. If you’re in Dakota, maybe that full-shouldered vest with back padding and room for a sweatshirt underneath is the ticket.

Seating Options

Most turkey vests today include some type of seat or seat cushion; some don’t. I personally don’t wear a cushioned vest, but pack an old school Bunsaver by Hunter’s Specialties in the game pouch and deploy it on each stand. Still, seating is an option, and often adds something to the final price tag. Can you get by without and save a little? Or is something like Tenzing’s TR18 vest, with its integrated support arms/backrest a little more your speed?

Bells and Whistles

Many vests are filled with gimmicks, meant to hook the fisherman rather than the fish if you know what I mean. So, think about the extra features that would benefit you. Do you really need 5,492 cubic inches of space? If you filled it up, the vest would weigh in at 1.32 metric tons. Magnetic closures. Horizontal this. Vertical that. Pockets inside pockets inside pockets. Retractable lanyards. Impressive, but do you really need it?

If you need help filling your new vest, check out our round up of the best turkey calls. We also sorted through the best shotguns for turkey hunting. And you can round out the rest of your kit with the best new turkey hunting gear. And don’t forget to check out the National Wild Turkey Federation for more info on gobblers in your area.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Turkey Vests

Best Overall: Alps Outdoorz Super Elite 4.0

Best Versatile: Sitka Equinox Turkey Vest

Best Budget: Blocker Outdoors’ Shield Series Finisher

Best Waist Pack: Mystery Ranch Full Moon Waist Pack

Best for Long Sits: Tenzing TR18 Turkey Vest

Best with Kickstand: Tidewe Turkey Vest with Seat

Best for Beginners: Cabela’s Tactical Tat’R Pro

Like so many of the gear items we take into the field, the purchase of a turkey vest is a personal choice. Which one? What camouflage pattern? Seat? Supports? Integrated game pouch? The variables are almost infinite. Use the above advice to ensure you get the best turkey vest for your needs. 

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