Before you go shopping for a new camo hunting vest, read this first.

When you decide to go hunting for game, camo is your new best friend. Getting closer to prey is much likelier if you can blend into your surroundings. We all know that hunting is one part finding animal tracks and 9 parts patience. However, if you smell too strongly or if your clothing stands out, you could find all that patience goes to waste.

The camo hunting vest is your base layer for success. Whether you are hunting in high summer and want to keep cool or are layering it up with merino wool and long sleeves in winter; a camo vest helps regulate your core temperature while you are out in the brush. So, here’s how you choose a good one.

Choosing the Best Camo Hunting Vest for You
If you want to get up close and personal with game animals, here are the best ways to pick out a hunting vest.

1 – Think about Arm Mobility
If you can’t move your arms fully in your new camo hunting vest, then what’s the point in wearing it? Hunting vests are useful for keeping up your body temperature while you are out in the field, and they don’t have the same restrictions to your movement that a full jacket does. This is of real use to bow hunters, since it means you can draw back without being impeded.

2 – Can you Layer it?
A good camo hunting vest should be layer-proof. It should be big enough to go over your clothing, yet small enough to go under it if it has to. In summer, you will likely wear it with short sleeves and little else, but in the winter your camo hunting vest ought to be as easy to slip on over your base layers as it is to go on solo. Keep this in mind when choosing a size.

3 – Softshell or Hard-shell?
Is the material softshell or hard-shell? Ultimately, there are pros and cons to both. Hard-shell can impede movement and can be heavy for summer. Softshell can be light for winter and could be noisy if you buy anything too cheap. Go with a well-made softshell for layering purposes unless you are off on a winter hunt.

4 – zippers, pockets, and bungees
You need places to put stuff. Be it ammo, fishhooks, or your compass. Look for a camo vest with plenty of pockets with zipper closures for peace of mind. Bungee cording can also be useful as it secures your vest close to your skin at the bottom. In winter, that can really help keep the heat in.

5 – Type of Camo
Think about the colors of your camo vest. If you are going hunting in the mountains in winter, whites and greys will work better. If you are going to the wetlands in summer, browns and greens will work best. In general, there are five types of camouflage. You can blend in with the background, counter shade, patterns, and mimicry. Learning about each of them can help you both pick a better camo vest and be a better hunter.

6 – Is it Breathable?
The last thing you want is a new camo hunting vest that makes you sweaty and damp. Nobody wants to be hiking 5 miles and be damp and cold when they finally reach their bluff. Choosing a breathable material is always best for this. Look for venting and consider softshell over hard-shell.

Camo Hunting Vests are Evolving
Hunting vests have changed hugely in the last fifty years. In the 70’s we weren’t even wearing camouflage . Take advantage of our new knowledge and use it to bolster your own expertise. That’s what makes us better hunters than those that have gone before.

1 https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/sports/othersports/22outdoors.html