A hunting dog vest is a specialized item.
Each hunting dog and each hunting dog owner has their personal preference as to what constitutes the best performing hunting vest. Sometimes you put a hunting vest on a dog, and they immediately take a dislike to it. Their ears droop, they hunch over and won’t move. In some cases, hunting vests that cause immediate discomfort can be trimmed or fitted to customize. Other times there’s nothing that can be done; the hunting dog simply doesn’t like it.
Then there are our personal preferences, the owners of our beloved canine hunting partners. Some of us require heavily insulated vests that help a dog perform in severe cold and wet conditions. Some of us want a thick vest that aids in floatation. Others want a good all-around vest that guards against thorns and sharp objects.
Following is a look at some of the hunting industry’s top dog vests for waterfowl hunting. It’s important to differentiate between upland dog hunting vests and waterfowl hunting vests for dogs and versatile gun dogs, alike. Thus, this focus is on the top waterfowl vests for hunting dogs that I’ve used or seen in action.
I have two versatile gun dogs. Both are pudelpointers that I hunt everything with, from ducks to geese, forest grouse and quail to chukar, pheasant, squirrels and deer and elk antler sheds. Pudelpointers are a deep-chested, narrow-waisted versatile gun dog breed and can be challenging to find a waterfowl hunting vest for. Their hair varies from thick to thin, and some pudelpointers have long coats while others are slick coated. Pudelpointers are very active dogs, loving to stretch their legs whenever they can. Yet, a well-trained pudelpointer will sit all day in a duck blind, watching for birds to drop into the decoys. These are all points I take into consideration when looking for the ideal hunting vest for my versatile gun dogs.
This past hunting season I started using a MOmarsh Versa-Vest with one of my pudelpointers. I liked it so much, I immediately got a Versa-Vest for my second pudelpointer. At the time of this writing both dogs had worn the Versa-Vest on over 50 duck hunts, and they still have 25+ hunts left this season. I’ve used a lot of hunting vests on pudelpointers over the past decade, and so far the Versa-Vest is my favorite. The best part is my dogs love them. The Versa-Vest is adjustable throughout the life of your dog, thanks to six strategically placed points of Velcro adjustability. It’s also easy to adjust as your dog loses and gains weight with the changing seasons. Due to the ability to custom-fit the Versa-Vest to your hunting dog, there’s no rubbing under the legs, no sagging around the leg holes or back, and it’s easy to get snug around the neck. The 5mm of rubberized neoprene keeps them warm on cold days, gives added buoyancy which is invaluable on long water retrieves or when bringing back a big goose. The chest plate protects against sticks, noxious seeds and thorns, and the back handle comes in handy. Once fitted, there’s no need to adjust any Velcro, simply use the easy-to-manage big zipper to take it off and put it on. It’s simple, fast, safe, and my dogs often spend five or more hours a day in them with no issues. You can also get blaze orange outer covers that Velcro on to each side of the Versa-Vest for upland bird and small game hunting. My pudelpointers are lean, one weighing 44 pounds, the other 72 pounds. Two buddies liked what they saw in this vest, and each got them for their labs, one of which was a lean 50 pounder, the other a big 85 pounder. The Versa-Vests fit them both perfectly.
I’m also a big fan of Browning’s Neoprene Dog Vest. Browning’s Neoprene 5mm Dog Vest is built for active hunting dogs. The dog vest is very flexible, easy to trim and simple to manage. It allows great freedom of movement for dogs on the go, and the thick neoprene is great for added warmth and protection. I used this vest for over 5 years and was very happy with it. In fact, I still carry a Browning Neoprene Dog Vest as a backup for each of my hunting dogs. With my dogs going on over 100 waterfowl hunts a year, I replaced this vest each season. But thanks to a great price point, it made the decision painless. Easy to trim, fit, put on and take off, this dog vest is just plain comfortable. I’ve seen the Browning Dog Vest on a range of Labs, and they’re great. One of the best bangs for the buck in the world of hunting dog vests.
Alps Outdoorz Top Flight Dog Vest is another affordable option that delivers consistent performance. I liked this vest on early season field hunts with my dogs, but when we started hitting the water that was laden with noxious seeds, I needed a vest that was tighter in the legs, neck and was longer in the body to fit my lanky pudelpointers. I really like the two easy lift handle options–one on each side of the vest–that make it simple to help your dog whenever needed. And the two flotation pads on each side did offer more buoyancy for my lean dogs. This is a great summertime training vest in water, be it for conditioning or retrieving. I ended up giving my Top Flight vest to a buddy with a medium sized golden lab. He trimmed it to fit and has been using it ever since.
I’ve tried a number of other hunting dog vests over the years, but with the specific build of my pudelpointers, not all served the purposes I was looking for. That said, the following is a look at some of the top-performing hunting dog vests for Labs that I’ve seen in action.
Tanglefree is a steadfast name in the waterfowl industry, and everyone I know who runs their dog vests loves them. Tanglefree has multiple options when it comes to dog vests for waterfowl hunting, and the one I’ve seen in action the most is their Flight Series Dog Vest. I’ve seen these in action from prairie potholes to flooded timber, big rivers, coastal lakes and sheetwater. These vests fit well, take a beating and hold up to the challenges they’re put through.
Dive Bomb Industries makes more than decoys, blinds and accessories. They make a top performing dog vest that immediately caught my attention on a goose hunt in Canada amid sharp, stiff stubble. Two buddies each ran Labs with the Dive Bomb Adjustable Dog Vests. At first look the Adjustable Dog Vest looks stiff and strong, but once you see a dog move in it you realize it’s flexible and resilient. I know of owners of versatile gun dogs who run this vest on their skinny waisted dogs and love them. Multiple points of adjustment allow for a custom fit, and the flexible dual-lined neoprene adds strength and buoyancy. The cordura edging and strategic Velcro areas optimize comfort. I’ve seen the Dive Bomb Adjustable Dog Vest withstand a great deal of punishment and it impressed me.
A vest that caught my attention this past season was one my hunting partner picked up. I’d never seen or heard of it, and when he insisted I come on a hunt in skinny water surrounded by massive groves of blackberry briars, just to see how the vest performed, I thought he’d lost his mind. This is a place we usually avoid hunting, or when we do hunt it, shoot selectively so ducks don’t fall in the dense tangle of sharp thorns, as there’s no way to get them, even with a dog. Enter Field Armor’s Waterfowl Dog Vest. The first wigeon my buddy, Austin Crowson, dumped in the massive tangle of thorns, made me wince when his 42-pound Lab dove in after it. “Just wait,” he smiled. I watched in disbelief as the little Lab weaved its way through the sharp thorns, disappeared into the dark tangle, and came back with the bird. This happened many times that day, and on more hunts throughout the season. Crowson said it’s the best dog vest he’s ever owned, and he lives for waterfowl hunting. The vest still looked like new at the end of the season, and the best part, his dog never incurred an injury and always seemed comfortable in it. This is one hunting dog vest I’ll be looking into next season for my hunting dogs, as the custom fit design and armor-like materials are nothing short of revolutionary. Field Armor also offers an Upland Dog Vest I’m eager to try.
While there are more dog vests out there made specifically for waterfowl hunting, these are ones I’ve personally used or seen in action, thus can speak to. Like you, I’m the owner of a hunting dog and rely on helpful information from fellow hunters to help me find the best performing gear, and that only comes with spending time afield, testing gear and making sure it works.
