Arizona Wanderings

Rambling Review: WingWorks Upland Vest

August 26th, 2013

13 Comments

Rambling Review – WingWorks Upland Vest

Why:

Since moving to Arizona, I spend many weekends from October to February hunting Gambel’s quail. At present, I don’t have a bird dog, so that means that on any given morning I am hiking many miles after running birds. It is imperative that I carry enough water to keep me hydrated through the heat of the day and a vest that does not break my back or wear on my shoulders is equally important. I had my eye on the Wingworks Upland Vest for quite a while, and my amazing wife surprised me with one last Christmas. I broke it in at the end of last season and was able to put some birds in the bag and I am looking forward to putting more miles on the vest this upcoming season.

First impressions:

The weight – The Wing Works Vest is surprisingly heavy. Holding an unloaded vest, it definitely feels a bit on the hefty side. I think most of this has to do with the durable material that the pack is made from as well as the beefy waist belt. I will say that the weight disappears once you put the vest on and cinch up the waist belt.

The fit – Once that waist belt fastened, all the weight from the pack rode right on my hips and was barely noticeable. Right off the bat, I filled the waterbottles, loaded up the pockets with shells and other hunting odds and ends, and still the vest distributed the load extremely well.

The material – The WingWorks Upland Vests come in two different material options. The 1000 denier Cordora material is standard on their vests, while in the past few years, they have started to make some of their vests with a 1050 denier Balistic cloth that is 100% nylon. Although the Balistic cloth boasts a higher price point and perhaps a bit more thickness, in the long run, both cloth options are extremely durable. The WingWorks vest come in a couple different color combinations too. Shell bags, shoulder straps, and gamebags come in khaki, coyote tan, and blaze orange and can be mixed and matched to the owner’s preference.

Customized fit – During the ordering process, the folks at WingWorks ask for some body measurements so they can ensure that you get the best possible fit.

Made in the USA – In this day in age, it becomes tougher to find quality USA products. WingWorks vests are designed and manufactured here in the US.

Field Use:

WingWorks Upland Vests were designed for chukar hunters who are used to hunting with dogs in extreme conditions. In all honesty, I feel like this vest was made for someone who is going to chase Gambel’s.

This vest is rugged. WingWorks made a vest that can stand up to some serious abuse in the field. My vest is made from the 1000 denier Cordora fabric and is very hearty material. Like most bird vests, the bulk of the nastiness ends up in the bird bag. All the WingWorks gamebags are coated with Aqualon which is actually used in boat covers. This minimizes stains on the fabric and helps with cleanup at the end of the season. The game bag is easy to access one-handed when putting birds in the back.

This vests is comfortable. I can’t say enough about the waist belt and suspension system. The way this vests sits on your hips makes it seem much lighter than it actually is and makes for a very comfortable ride. On a hard morning hunt, I may be carrying 64 oz of water, 2 boxes of shells, a GPS, a light jacket, camera, and a small first aid kit and I can walk all day without the shoulder strain. There is a sternum buckle which keeps the shoulder straps centered and from slipping off as you are working in uneven conditions. I really cannot say enough about the overall comfort of this vest.

This vest carries plenty of water. These vests were built with the bird dog in mind so water is a must. There are two easy access 32 oz. water bottles on the backside of the vest. Without a dog, these serve me well for a morning hunt. There is also a pocket in the lumbar area of the game bag that is perfect for a hydration bladder.

This vest is well organized and thought out. The deep front pockets are excellent and the way they are positioned on the side of the belt as opposed to the front, keeps them banging into the hunter’s quads as you walk uphill (which is pretty common in Gambel’s hunting). These big deep pockets have a long flap that can velcro on the outside and keep those shells from falling out, or you can slide them inside the pocket where they can be secured by velcro, so that you can access shells quickly and easily. There is a big zippered pocket on the backside of the game bag, perfect for an extra box of shells, first aid kit, tp, etc. Another thoughtful touch is the loop on the back of the vest where you can secure a shirt or jacket once the day heats up. Here in Arizona, it can easily be in the 40s at the start of the day and by noon be in the 60s or 70s. It is nice to have someplace to cinch that jacket.

This vest is adaptable and there are many accessories that you can add to it. The WingWorks site is loaded with accessories that you can buy and add to your vest. One of the attachments that I’ve been eyeing is a pistol holster that fits right on one of the front pockets. Although there are a couple of options that WingWorks sells on their site, I found that a Maxpedition CP-L Radio Holder was the best option for my Motorola 2-way radio that I use when hunting with a buddy.

This vest is expensive, no doubt about it. I daresay it is the most expensive on the market, but, as many WingWorks owners will tell you, it’s a worthwhile investment for the serious bird hunter.

Pros:

Made in the U.S.A

Rugged design

Capable of carrying tons of water

Extremely comfortable

Very well designed

Customizable

Cons:

Vests are sturdy but heavy

Due to popularity, inventory can be a problem.

Price

Prognosis: If you are a hunter who puts on some miles on in the field, the WingWorks Upland Vest certainly deserves your consideration.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

Giveaway Results

August 25th, 2013

6 Comments

A big thanks to everyone who left a comment and best of luck on all those fishing and hunting trips. Also a big thanks to Dick’s Sporting Goods for the $25 gift card to giveaway. Without further ado, the winners are:

Grand Prize – $25 to Dick’s Sporting Goods, an AZW hat, and one of my hand tied furled leaders – Alex Whiten
Runners Up – AZW T-shirt of your choice along with one of my hand tied furled leaders – David Knapp and Brian Larson

Thanks to everyone who participated. Don’t forget to head on over to the Arizona Wanderings Shop to pick up a furled leader or pack of flies.

The Fall Season Giveaway

August 22nd, 2013

82 Comments

It’s getting to be that time of the year here in Arizona. Hunters have been scouting, dusting off gear, and preparing for the upcoming seasons. Once the high country gets a bit cooler, the fishing should really turn on as fish start to fatten up for winter. In light of all the excitement, how about a giveaway. I try to keep things simple here on AZW, so here are the rules.

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me what hunts or fishing trips you have coming up this fall and/or winter.

2. Leave a second comment on this post if you like Arizona Wanderings on Facebook.

3. Leave a third comment on this post if you follow on Twitter.

4. Leave a fourth comment on this post if you follow Arizona Wanderings on Instagram.

* Contest closes on Sunday morning and I’ll use the Random Number generator to pick three winners.

PRIZES

– First number gets $25 to Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the new AZW hats, and one of my hand tied furled leaders.

– The second and third numbers gets their choice of shirt from the AZW shop along with one of my hand tied furled leaders.

A big thank you to Dick’s Sporting Goods for sponsoring this fall giveaway. I do want to say a few words about Dick’s Sporting Goods since they sponsored this review (how am I going to say no to giving one of my readers $25). I think Dick’s Sporting goods provides a needed middle ground for many people who are just getting into hunting and fishing. Let’s be honest, some of those big outdoor box stores can be a bit intimidating when you first walk in, but Dick’s Sporting Goods provides a well rounded approach to “sporting goods” and is an excellent segue for many new and beginning outdoorsmen. If you are looking for an online, brick-and-mortar, and catalog retailer of off-price merchandise, including offers such as the best place to purchase SARMs, fitness and adventure gear, and apparel, along with footwear, clothing, and home decor. Check out SierraTradingPost.com for more information.

If a girl’s not giving you the time of day, it’s easy to assume she’s just not that interested. Do not worry, there are many signs a woman is attracted to you.

If you’ve never been in to one of their stores before, check out their Hunting and Fishing collections

Fly Fishing Pennsylvania: Family Time

August 19th, 2013

3 Comments

My wife and I took our annual pilgrimage to the East Coast to see my family. The week was spent at my Grandma’s cottage in Bradford County where swimming, fishing, and card games are standard for a 4th of July week. I brought my 5 wt. Stowaway rod and a small box of flies so that I could chase the bass and bluegill that call the lake home, but surprisingly my wife, asked if she could have a turn. Once I gave her the fly rod, I never saw it again. She fished more than I did and by the end of the week, was delivering casts with some serious accuracy. My cousins also spent some time casting around and did pretty good as well.

There is something special about this lake. I spent a good chunk of my childhood fishing and jumping off the end of that dock. As the years go on, I look forward to sharing that place with my own kids.

Rambling Review – Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Pack Travel Fly Rod

August 12th, 2013

4 Comments

Rambling Review – Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Pack Travel Fly Rod

Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Travel Fly Rod

Why:

So last year, my wife and I were planning our first trip to Europe. As is usually the case when we are planning a vacation, I started researching fishing opportunities and I found a great place in Ireland that we were going to stay at and fish. After researching quite a bit on internet, we find out about the impressive cliffs; the Cliffs of Moher. So of course, I made to plans as well to visit Ireland’s most impressive cliffs and to visit all of Ireland. Because of this, packing right was important. The difficult thing was that we were only going to be taking backpacks with no big luggage to carry around so whatever fishing gear I was going to take had to fit in my Gregory Z55 and I was literally going to have to carry it all over Ireland. So, small was key.

I looked at many “travel” and “pack” fly rods and there are some really nice options out there, but if you are looking for one of the smallest pack fly rods, the Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Pack Travel Fly Rod is worth your time.

First impressions:

8 pieces – You read that right. This fly rod breaks down into eight 11″ pieces which when all fitted together gives you a 6’6″ fiberglass fly rod.

Overall appearance – For $100, the rod is pretty sweet. Nice components and the cigar handle is pretty clean. The rod does come with a rod sock, but no tube.

Manufacturing and warranty – The Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Travel Fly Rod is produced over in Korea and sold by the folks over at Black Bear Fly Fishing. The rod does not come with a warranty.

Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Pack Travel Fly Rod

Field Use:

As soon as the Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Travel Fly Rod came in the mail, I was itching to fish it. I knew just the stream I wanted to try it out on and the anticipation built as I thought about the small pools and bushy creek. Pairing the rod with a Cortland 3 weight line that I had, I did a bit of lawn casting to familiarize myself with the rod’s action. First impressions were that this rod was a noodle. Talking with a few others who had cast the rod, it could be described as full flexing. With so many sections, the rod does not have a ton of backbone. Having said that, rods with this much flex are able to protect tippet extremely well and are a ton of fun on small streams.

After getting onto the creek, I really began to appreciate the short length of this small pack fly rod. With a low overhead canopy and brush encroaching from every side, the shorter length was ideal when trying to fit a cast into the different pools and pockets.

On the small Arizona pocket water, I really enjoyed casting with the slow full flex action of this fiberglass rod. I always thought I knew what “slow” felt like, but this rod gave it a whole new meaning. It took a bit of time to get the casting stroke dialed in for that small stream, but by the middle of the morning I was placing the fly where I wanted to.

On the France leg of our Europe trip, we spent two nights at the Manor de Malvoisine which is situated on the Andelle and the Heronchelles. This little gem located near Normandy, France had some beautiful native brown trout swimming in it’s waters. these chunky 8-12 inch fish put a solid bend in the rod and were a ton of fun. The rod excelled at casting light dry flies and was respectable when I added a dropper. The cast definitely falls apart when trying to throw something with a bit of weight, like a #12 weighted wooley bugger. The second day we were there a small storm rolled in and it was a bit windy. As the wind increased, I eventually had to take a break and let the front pass and the wind die down before I could get back out and get some fishing in.

Since then, I usually reach for the Black Bear Fly Fishing 2/3 wt Fiberglass Travel Fly Rod when I’m going to be fishing a small stream with plenty of small pocket water. The 8-12 inch fish are so much fun on this fly rod, but I would be sweating if I tied into anything much larger than that.

I had a bit of trouble trying to find a travel case that would work for our trip to Europe. I could have easily made a tube out of pvc, but that would add some serious weight to my pack and I didn’t know how TSA would feel about a PVC pipe being checked as a carry-on. After a bit of searching I found a Helix Document Tube that was going to fit my needs. At 17″ it was a bit longer than I needed, but that provided me some extra room for padding, a few fishing odds and ends, as well as a place to keep a couple of paintings that we picked up while traveling in Europe.

Pros:

Extremely packable

Reasonably priced

Excellent small stream rod

Short length is idea on small bushy streams

Full flex action

Cons:

No case

Made in China

No warranty

Prognosis: For the small stream connoisseur who is looking for a travel fly rod, consider picking up one of these 2/3 wt Fiberglass Pack Travel Fly Rod from Black Bear Fly Fishing for your next trip.

* Disclaimer:

Arizona Fly Fishing: White Mountain Small Stream

August 5th, 2013

2 Comments

A few weeks back, I found myself on a solo trek into the more remote reaches of a White Mountain creek. Brown trout were active and looking up for terrestrials and a #10 Hopper Juan brought multiple fish to the surface. The serenity of backcountry solitude is not easily duplicated, and I relished the opportunity to sit by the stream and take a few notes from the day. With the new job started and a baby on the way, I know my opportunities to fish those backcountry streams will be fewer and farther between. Regardless, this day, will not be soon forgotten.

Mid-day break to take some notes` — Mid-day break to take some notes

The Hats Are In!

July 31st, 2013

6 Comments

The new AZWanderings fish hats are in and they look awesome. Embroidered fish logo on the front with an Arizona flag on the side. Pick yours up in the online Arizona Wanderings Shop.

Rambling Review: Duluth Trading Company Armachillo Gear

July 29th, 2013

4 Comments

Rambling Review – Duluth Trading Company Armachillo Gear

Duluth Trading Co. Armachillo Clothing — Duluth Trading Co. Armachillo Shirt

Why:

It’s wicked hot here in Arizona. From late spring to early fall, Phoenix temps skyrocket into the triple digets, and 110° and higher is not uncommon. During this time, I am pointing the truck northward to try and find some willing trout to take a fly. Even in the mountains, mid-day temperaturs reach the mid 90s and staying cool and hydrated is extremely important. I have had the opportunity to check out a new line of Armachillo clothing from Duluth Trading Company and was able to put their Armachillo cargo pants and Armachillo long-sleeve patterned shirt through the paces.

First impressions:

Made-in-the-Jade Technology – The Armachillo line is made with their “made-in-the-jade” technology which refers to the microscopic jade embedded into the fabric, creating a cooling effect on the skin.

Lightweight – I was very excited about the how lightweight the Armachillo fabric was. I’m always looking for gear that cuts down on weight when hiking and camping, and the Armachillo line is the ticket for a lightweight option.

Fit – Sizing was a bit different. Typically, I wear a large in shirts and 34 waist. I ended up needing a medium in the Armachillo patterned shirt, and even then, I still had a quite a bit of room. The 34 waist pants fit, but I’m not a huge fan of the elastic band on the waist. The pants are extremely comfortable, but I would like to see a version without the elastic waist.

Field Use:

After a couple months of hard hiking and fishing, I can safely say that the Duluth Trading Company Armachillo line stands up to the abuse of a small stream fly fisherman. I crawled and bushwhacked my way through some new country and found this clothing line is the real deal.

Pants – The Armachillo Cargo Pants are made from quick-drying, rip-stop nylon. Add in a gusseted crotch and the fact that they are antimicrobial and have UPF 40 sun protection and you can crawl, crouch, and sneak your way along the creek in search of small wild trout. The cargo pockets are a bit unique as well with several different pockets instead of just one, and the cargo flap has the option of tucking inside as well for easier access.
Shirt – The Armachillo Long-sleeve Pattern Shirt was very nice too. The long-sleeve shirt adds more protection by fighting off the morning chill and keeping you cool in the heat of the day. I really felt the cooling effects of the made-in-the-jade technology as well as the vented back as the sun rose throughout the day.

Duluth Trading Co. Armachillo Cargo Pants

Pros:

Breathable clothing

Made-in-the-Jade Technology

Durable

Functional

Cons:

Elastic waistband on pants

Prognosis: If you find yourself in the sweltering heat of the Southwest, the Duluth Trading Company Armachillo clothing line is definitely worth a look.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. The Armachillo Cargo Pants and Long-sleeve Patterned Shirt were provided for the purpose of this review. My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.