I’ve owned and used my Badlands upland vest for over a half-decade (though recently I’ve been almost exclusively running a Final Rise). That said, I still think the Badlands vest is probably the best “mass-market” upland vest around. I’ve taken it on dozens of desert quail, chukar, and sage grouse hunts (with varying degrees of success), and overall, it does the job well and carries comfortably. It offers excellent build quality and materials, a good variety of features, and a price point that sits below the more “artisanal” USA-made vests that have become popular in recent years. Below is a quick rundown to give you an idea of what you can expect from the Badlands Upland Game Vest if you aren’t able to check one out in person.
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The Rundown
Despite all of today’s tariffs and inflation, the Badlands Upland Game Vest still retails at $249, and has recently been redesigned from the very first iteration that Badlands offered. This redesign came with a few changes to the layout of the vest and some of the storage pouch, and I think overall the new version could be considered an improvement on the old style (which is still a great game bag, if you can find one used).
The overall “pack-like” construction of this is very similar to the Tenzing and Alps OutdoorZ vests. I suspect that they share some DNA in one way or another, which isn’t a criticism.
The pack features a foam-padded suspension system to help this vest ride more like a backpack, and less like a traditional game bag. The straps are slightly elastic and have a bit of give, as well as ventilated padding on the straps as well as the backside of the bag. It also comes with a water-resistant zippered pouch where I usually keep my thermal layers or electronics in it. It’s also compatible with 3L hydration bladders. I know some people detest bladders, but I’ve ran the same Gregory bladder for a half-decade at this point and it’s been trouble-free.
On the adjustable hip belt, you’ll find two magnetic pouches for your shells, as well as some “quick access” shell holder loops for when you need a speedy reload. Two big zippered pockets on the back do provide ample storage for snacks and other personal items, and the vest is only available in blaze orange.
This vest is made overseas, and while that is going to be a deal breaker for some folks, it enables Badlands to offer a quality upland vest at a price more people can afford, especially in the post-COVID dystopian economy of today.
What Works
The vest is comfortable and adjustable. I’ve taken mine on some rugged chukar hunts, and even with a few birds, a bladder of water, extra shells, and a thermos of coffee, it handled all of those with relative ease. The exterior material is durable, lightweight, and weather resistant, and I have no problem fitting everything I need for a day’s worth of hunting in the various storage compartments. If you like having a bunch of pockets and zippers, this is a great vest for you to consider.
The magnetic shell holders are genuinely pleasant to use, especially if you’re wearing gloves. There’s also a safety buckle provided for extra security, but almost all of the time I find that the magnets themselves are sufficiently strong. I can fit around a box of 12-gauge shells in the pack with me, which is usually sufficient for where I hunt and somewhat unfortunate in that sense.
The design of the bird compartment is well-thought-out, with the structured base always holding the bag open so you don’t have to do a lot of fishing behind you to drop a bird in, and there’s ample space for a limit of quail or chukar plus the hydration bladder back there.
I will also say that, as someone who has the only softest suggestion of a butt, the waist strap may offer just a bit better fit for me than my Final Rise does.
Vest Storage
If you run a dog(s), you may find that the vest is a little light on storage options for extra water and all of the possibles you need to bring with you. While the lack of MOLLE webbing (or an analogous system) keeps things streamlined and tight, it also cuts down on the ability to add or expand the storage capabilities of the vest. A buddy of mine has an ancient Badlands and it treats him and his GSP just fine in the quail flats and chukar hills, so, as with most things, it just comes down to how you like to run your gear.
Final Thoughts: The Badlands Upland Vest
At this point it’s almost eligible for Historic tags — but overall, the Badlands Upland Game Vest remains a solid choice for those shopping for a new game vest, especially if you are mostly targeting smaller birds such as all quail species, huns, or chukar.
These can still be had relatively affordably if you keep your eyes out for a sale on the Badlands website, which run a few times a year. It’s where I picked mine up all those years ago.
This was my first “real” bird vest, and I used the heck out of it for quite a few years. Now, it usually sits in reserve for when I hunt with friends who travel, or if someone else wants to come with me when I run the dog out of season so they can have a place to stash their extra layers and water. If I lost my vest and couldn’t afford to replace the system I built out, this is where I’d turn.
If you’re looking for your a new bird best like I was all of those years ago, the Badlands piece is still a solid piece of gear that will serve you well for years.
