Does anybody wear ?

VictGerbSogCamill

VictGerbSogCamill

Joined
Feb 19, 2010
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I was wondering if anyone has ever worn or thought about getting a photographers vest for the outdoors. It seems like it might be very useful as a gear carrier, close to your body, weight evenly distributed, comfortable.
I cant seem to find the right combination. When I take my back pack, it just seems a bit much. When I leave it and bring belt packs instead, they seem to be in my way, or getting snagged on a branch or something. plus they don't hold a lot (mine). And I don't want multiple ones on, looking like Batman's utility belt as I hike through the woods.
The photographers vest seems like a good way to carry some of your gear maybe in conjunction with a water bottle bag or similar.
Anyone had any experience with one or thought about getting one yourself ?

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I have considered one several times do to the practical nature of it. However it seems like a shoot me first vest. Usually people I notice wearing them are either photog guys or people carrying a pistol under them. Not saying this is always the case. I am still debating picking up some sort of vest however. Perhaps something a little more toned down.
 
I actually went through the trouble of buying one. After some trials, I found that is was easier to always have a small-to-med backpack with me than to be wearing a vest all the time. The backpacks could hold more and be better balanced if packed correctly. A vest gets in the way, and as posted already, the only time I see a vest is when somebody is trying to hide a gun.
 
Not a photo vest as I don't like how they fit, but I tried the true north aero vest and am putting together a vest from spare pouches I have in my gear bin. I want it to be a 10 essentials vest for use by itself for day hikes and worn with a pack on longer trips.
 
I used to wear a Kakadu fishing vest, now I wear a Duluth Trading working man's vest.
 
I have an EOTAC Operators vest, bought for me by a friend, and its nice. I see it more for day hikes, and short outings where a Backpack, might be overkill. I wear mine when we hit some of the more scenic areas of the Smokies.

Kinda funny, I see alot of folks with these on say, around Cades Cove, and on the short hike trails, but, they are actually carrying cameras.

I just use mine cover up my knife and gun, LOL:D

Moose
 
I like a small backpack / camelback for dayhikes.

I am not a big man purse fan. I like vests as a layering approach, but not to carry EDC items. Most of the time ends up having weird weight distribution and is too hot.
 
I actually have a couple of these. Eagle/Blackhawk and a couple from across the sea in aussie land. They do work for carrying essentials around, I've used mine for hunting sometimes BUT its always on private land or lease. They do tend to draw some "unfreindly" long looks if you cruise about in public areas.
 
I have two of the excellent Stormy Seas EXP100 Expedition Vest's which have three large pockets and two 'D' rings on the front, and a very large (slim) pocket on the back. They're short and made from a very strong and light Taslan material, both of mine are navy blue.

I got these for Packrafting, to hold all my personal emergency gear in the event that I got separated from, or otherwise lost my 'raft and pack.

Where they really excel, is that they are actually Life Vests, which inflate automatically on contact with water, manually, by pulling the top left 'pocket' tab, or by an oral inflation tube. I spec'd mine with manual and 'tube inflation as I prefer to wear uninflated. I got two so that my passenger/s have the same level 'Vest as I do.

This model is short so that it fits better when you have a seat backrest, and/or a spray deck enclosure on your boat (one of my 'rafts have both, the other, just a seat backrest).

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I was wondering if anyone has ever worn or thought about getting a photographers vest for the outdoors.
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I have a Domke PhoTOGS Vest that I use occasionally on the trail. It works well for carrying gear but gets a bit hot in the summer. The Domke vests are well designed and the quality is better than most of the other tactical/safari/ photographers vests I've seen.
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Oh, and photographers don't use them anymore either as modern photography gear is much more compact and you no longer need to carry film.
 
Looks like you are onto it. Multiple pockets are as god-send as hiking with rattles is an extreme nuisance. I had a hunt ruined once by an 'older' fella I was buddied up to who had keys, his pills all rattling.
Re the packs; depend; what you are doing. A few days you need a backpack. over night you can get away with a monster butt pack.
In the jacket pockets as you have shown you keep the life support things. I always avoid having anything in my pants pockets except a handkerchief giving full freedom of movement without 'lumps' and things digging in.
Hope that is a help.
 
1066vik said:
I used to wear a Kakadu fishing vest, now I wear a Duluth Trading working man's vest.
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I just picked up a lightweight Duluth vest. I've also been wearing a Tilley vest which I liked so much I got a backup, and rotate them. They aren't as outdoors as the Duluth, more like tourist wear.

Vests may seem warm, but nothing is worse for me than a backpack in summer, sweat pouring down my back. Just leave the vest open, get one with mesh lining.
 
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I use this on some of my security jobs; it holds a lot of gear. And the quality is very good.
 
I'm a photographer, and I don't even wear one. Unless you're carrying a big camera around your neck, they just scream "I'm packing heat..."
 
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