Rambling Review – The Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest

Why:

As with fly fishing or big game hunting, every outdoorsman is on a quest for the most comfortable and convenient way to carry their gear in and out of the field. The Arizona desert is home to Gambel’s quail who are my quarry for a good part of the fall and winter. The desert is also home to more plants with spikes, thorns and bristles than anywhere else I have been. A vest not only has to carry enough water and shells for a day a field, but it also needs to be very durable.  I picked up the Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest a year or two ago and have put it through the some heavy abuse while chasing birds here in Arizona.

First impressions:

The Filson Name – Filson has been selling rugged outdoor clothing since 1897 and their name is synonymous with quality. Filson’s guarantee pretty much says it all: ”

“We guarantee every item purchased from us. No more, no less. Your satisfaction is the sole purpose of our transaction.”

-Clinton C. Filson, 1897

Oil Finished Tin Cloth – Filson Oil Finished Tin Cloth is famous for being nearly indestructible. The material is made from 12 oz. cotton duck fabric and then finished with a paraffin based wax. Oil Finished Tin Cloth is highly water and wind resistant.

Simplicity – The layout of the Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest is simple which makes it very user-friendly in the field. There are two dual compartment pockets on the front of the vest and a zippered pocket on the inside of the vest. The vest is completed with a rear loading dual side entry game bag. The inner belt of the vest helps with weight distribution when the vest is loaded down.

Field Use:

Out of the box, the Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest was stiff from the Oil Finish. Over time and with use in the field, the Tin Cloth became soft and almost has the feeling and quality of leather. The Tin Cloth material really stood up under constant bushwhacking through mesquite and other desert foliage.

The Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest rides extremely comfortably and after two seasons it is almost formed to my body. The bigger inner belt keeps the vest secure and takes some of the weight off of the shoulder straps. I typically carry two 1 liter platapus water bags along with roughly a box of shells, a gps, first aid kit, and some other odds and ends. I really like how this vest carries and how quiet it is when trying to stalk in on Arizona’s upland birds. As well as this vest fits me, the vest does not have any real adjustability for different body types.

Although one of the great things about this vest is wind and water resistant, these things can actually pose a issue when hunting in Arizona. During the first part of quail season, temperatures can be into the 80s and 90s by mid day. Tin Cloth can get very, very warm when hiking up and down hills chasing running Gambel’s quail.

Pros:

The Filson Name and Guarantee 

Made in the USA

Functional

Sturdy construction that will last many lifetimes.

Oil-Finished Tin Cloth 

Wind and Water Resistant

Cons:

Cost

Lacks adjustability

No designated space for carrying water

Oil-Finished cloth lacks breathability and can get hot in early season. 

Prognosis:  I would definitely recommend the Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest to serious upland hunters who are hunting in colder/wetter climates and looking for a classic strap vest that will last a lifetime.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. The Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest was purchased by me and used over the course of two seasons of quail hunting. 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.

The post Rambling Review – The Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

The good people over at Filson ran one of my guest posts on what to pack for an out-of-state fly fishing trip. I have had the opportunity to do a bit of traveling with my wife with the team at https://thewallmuseum.com/ and every time we are going to see someone, I see what type of fishing I can get to in the area. The article is more about the bare essentials and how to maximize my luggage space. If I missed anything, let me know. As always, I really would really appreciate it if you would give some love over on the actual guest post.

“Last summer, I had a great opportunity to head up out of the Arizona heat to the float the Deschutes River in Oregon, with my good friend, Eric. Since this was a do-it-yourself fly fishing trip, it was absolutely important that I show up with all the gear that I needed. Here is the list that I drew up that served me very well on our 4-day float down the river.

Fishing gear – I had a good idea of the type of fishing I was going to be doing, and with a little help from my contact there, I was able to pack accordingly.

• 2 Rods
• 2 Reels”

Read the Full Article over at Filson Life

The post What to Pack on an Out-of-State Fishing Trip: A Filson Guest Post appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

The folks over at Filson were kind enough to run another short article I wrote on gearing up for turkey season. Fingers crossed for a good season this year.

“With turkey season right around the corner here in Arizona, I’ve begun the process of pouring over maps, doing a bit of scouting, and organizing gear for opening weekend. As I started to gather some essentials, here are five key pieces of gear that are critical for success during turkey season.

A well-patterned shotgun:

Arguably the most important piece of equipment is your shotgun…”

Read the rest of this article over at Filson

The post Gearing Up For Turkey Season: A Filson Guest Post appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Head on over and check out my latest guest article on Filson. Anyone who knows me, knows I love tying flies. This article gives a little insight into where to begin.

“There is no substitute for standing in the middle of the creek, watching a bushy dry fly float through the current, but tying flies comes pretty close. The next best thing to actually getting to fish is spending time at the vise preparing and thinking about all those fish that are going to be fooled by a hand tied fly.

I bought my vise after about 6 months of fly fishing, and I tied some of the ugliest flies imaginable…” 

Read the rest of this article on Filson 

The post Fly Tying 101: A Filson Guest Post appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

The good folks over at Filson were kind enough to publish another one of my stories and a few quick tips on hunting Gambel’s quail.

“As I scrambled up the side of the wash, the loose rock gave way underneath of me and I slid backwards. Looking up the embankment I could see the bobbing heads of about a dozen Gambel’s quail that were quickly putting some distance between themselves and me, even though their stride was a fraction of mine. The morning sun had quickly warmed the desert, and the cool air, that had greeted me as I opened the truck door an hour earlier, was a far off memory…”

Click here to read the rest at Filson Life

The post Hunting Gambel’s Quail: A Filson Life Guest Post appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I had a pretty cool opportunity to write my first piece for Filson on their blog at Filson Life. I have never done much writing outside of Arizona Wanderings and I owe a big thanks to the kind people over at Filson.

The heavy truck tires crunch the small stones as I make the turn onto the washboard road that will take me to the trailhead. Even though I left the house at an ungodly hour and have never been beaten to the parking lot, my body still tenses at thought of someone else being the first at the pullout. To be on the water before anyone else, guarantees the angler a full day of wild small stream trout eager to take a well presented fly…

Click here to read the rest at Filson Life

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