I ordered the best 2 weeks ago and today was the day it finally showed up. I am sure I don't have to explain the excitement and joy turkey hunting brings me and all of us. I do obsess about the sport a great deal and everything must be perfect for me before I go out. I have been running a Russell Elite III and most people know that as a vest that is the reining king but its showing a lot of fade and I think it needs to go to a backup.
I did a lot of research and I like new concepts and ideas. Tenzing as a company really stood out to me. Its made by hunters for hunters and looks very durable. They have the TP TV14 that has an internal kick stand system. That vest commands a high price and is also something that doesn't interest me. I hunt in Oregon and we have lots of trees so an extra $130 for a pair of legs isn't worth it for me.
Visually this vest is a solid 10/10 I have it in Mossy Oak Obsession and they put a lot of attention to detail into its sewing. It also feels very durable so I feel like I got a good solid vest for the price. It has 2 pouches for slates a box call pouch and plenty of little slots for mouth calls. It has a little less pockets then the Elite III also the pockets it does have are a bit smaller. That being said everything that it can hold will be held really securely, a striker, mouth call, will not fall out of its pocket if it was put back properly. The seat which is one main reason I wanted a new vest is not as solid in its magnetic clamps as the Cabelas Tatr' series and this is my biggest complaint with this vest. It doesn't snap up and hold that easily. The seat is firm and that itself is very nice just wish the magnet in the vest would be beefed up (something I think I am going to just do on my own.)
It sits comfortably on me and I can tighten it up and have it very snug which is how I like it. The straps also can be folded and held in place so they aren't hanging in front of pockets and things like that. Everything you should need while sitting on a bird is right in front of you and accessible. The back pack on it could hold a dry shirt/socks/lunch if you want it too. I don't put turkeys in the game pouch but you could do that as well.
So other than the disappointing magnet on the seat and slightly fewer pockets it is a good vest. Does it beat the Elite III? No, it does not honestly. If you carry fewer calls and like to run and gun its a great vest. If you want to carry everything and then a bit more stick with that full size vest. I find I carry too much stuff that I don't use in the woods so scaling it back for this vest may actually be a good thing for me.
This is a great vest for multiple uses Its going to replace a back pack (not a frame pack) for me in the deer woods and with the orange flap you can strap down will be a beefier bird hunting vest in the fall. It will get tested to the fullest this spring season so I will know a lot more after using it and can give a better comparison to the Elite III. It is a lot more solid and holds what gear it does hold better then the Elite III, if you are looking for something smaller, new, and innovative this is a good option.
