Idea: Tac vest for hiking duties?

Crayola

Crayola

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
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Ahh, you're walking along enjoying your hike when you get a little hungry. Off comes your pack, you open it , get some food, close your pack and put it on yoru back. Walk along some more and decide to snap a photo of the pretty tree. Off comes the pack, retrieve your camera, snap the photo, replace the camera, and go again. Repeat cycle!

Would a tac vest like this one from Eagle:

hte51a.jpg


Make for a good hiking vest? I was thinking you could store a bit of food, compass, map, camera, monocular, and some other often used items in a vest, and store your other gear in a pack on yoru back. That way, you don't have to take off your pack as much. And, if you combine this with a pack that is hydration system compatible, or you use a military belt with the vest and slap on a canteen, you're good to go. Anyone try this?
 
I was just recently looking at vests like this myself, for just the same reason. Except at work, I pretty much always have on a vest of one sort or another. This is not as much a fashion statement as a method of covering my daily carry handgun. I usually like hiking vests or camera vests in the summer and insulated, pocketed vests in the winter. The vest you have shown is similar to a Blackhawk Industries that I have been checking out for woodsy use also. The Blackhawk I am looking at has a spot in it for my Camelback bladder to boot. No real need for a pack at all, unless you were going out for more than the day. If I get one I will post weather or not it works well for me. Good luck, and I agree with you, it is a good idea.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only vest nut!

ArchAngel, this vest is similar to the Blackhawk vest, as you said. THis one has a pouch for a bladder as well. The whole Idea I'm kinda rolling with here is modularity. You could toss a bladder in the back and go off, ot put a pack on your back and change where your water is, or have a pack like a Becker and store stuff in ALICE pouches attached to your pack. Then if you want to ditch your pack at camp ang go exploring a bit, you can attack whatever pouches you want to the belt attached to the vest and go exploring!

I look forward to hearing about your experiences with a vest out in the wilds!
 
Crayola,

I take my vest hiking quite a bit - exactly for the reasons you mentioned. If I want to take a picture of wildlife, I don't want to take a pack off and dig out my camera. Same goes for carrying delicate or bulky items in leg cargo pockets. The vest fits the bill for all of that.

For extended hikes and camping, it really allows me to expand what I can carry and puts everything that I use a lot in ease of reach.

Of course I get the occasional odd looks from other hikers, but since the rest of my attire is civilian, I don't look too para-military while out walking around :D

Have fun!

Dan
 
I've been contemplating picking up a hiking vest for a while. I wouldn't be interested in the outright military style, viz. the vest above. I'm probably more interested in just lots of pockets, good fit, and hopefully vented or otherwise cool for summer hiking. Anyone use a more civilian-y vest they particularly like? Thanks!

Joe
 
I like the Tac vest idea but I don't think I could get away with it around here.

This is what I use when I'm out and don't need a pack:

TU1000_l.jpg


S.
 
Originally posted by Crayola
Dan,

Leg cargo pockets????? Please explain!
Click to expand...

Most of the hiking pants I have (Rail Riders, Columbia, Royal Robbins) have leg cargo pockets. Great for little stuff but personally I don't like having large items in 'em - like digital cameras and such. Too clunky and uncomfortable.

Have fun!

Dan
 
Thanks everyone for the info.

Dan: when you said leg cargo pockets, for some reason I imagined you strapping pouches on your legs, like gas mask pouches in drop leg style! :)

The reason I like the military vests is I am going to get a pack (likely Eagle, but perhaps Blackhawk) and it just makes sense to me to get the vest that will work with the pack. And, I know that the Eagle vest pictured above will last a long time. Blackhawk too. Gotta love lifetime warranties!
 
My wife just bought me a Filson Fly Fishing vest (the one with the most pockets). I intend to use it as you mentioned as I haven't taken up fly fishing yet. It is extremely well made and doesn't tip anyone off with that 'SWAT team' look. It is kind of an OD green color and made of a fairly light but strong and water repellent cotton material.
 
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