Not Your Granddad’s Turkey Vest: Chief Upland Flydown Turkey System Review

Most turkey vests come one way. Pockets stitched where the manufacturer thinks they belong, whether that works for you or not.

The Chief Upland Flydown Turkey System takes a different approach. It hands you a blank slate and lets you build your own setup from the ground up. Pouches, seat, storage. You decide what makes the cut and where it rides.

That kind of freedom sounds great on paper. In reality, it means a little more work up front and a little extra cost at the end. But if you’re willing to put in the time, you end up with something most traditional vests can’t offer: a system that perfectly fits the way you hunt.

In short: With the Chief Upland Flydown Turkey System ($200), you trade simplicity for control. But you get to fully customize pockets and layout.

Chief Upland Flydown Turkey System Review

First Impressions

Out of the box, the Flydown looked more familiar than I expected. The first thing I noticed was that it reads like a classic turkey vest, complete with a large rear game bag. That rear game bag is roomy enough for a couple of collapsible decoys to ride in style. I took that as a pretty good sign. 

I was impressed with the material up front. This is thick, rugged 1000D Cordura. It’s the kind of fabric you could drag behind your truck down a gravel road, and it wouldn’t be totally beat to hell at the end of the trip. 

I also had a whole spread of modular pieces that all feel just as tough. They are all made from the same heavy-duty material and come with sturdy waterproof zippers and magnetic closures that snap shut like a whisper. 

What surprised me most was the structure of the pieces. Even empty, the pouches hold their shape without flopping around or snagging on every stray branch in the county. They also ride close to the body. That low profile is a game-changer when you’re bushwhacking your way through the thick stuff.

Field-Testing

I used this system across multiple hunts chasing spring gobblers in the Tar Heel state. Over the course of the season, this rig saw everything from all-day sits in a ground blind to sneaking in fast to catch a loudmouth gobbler before he flew down from the roost, only to have to adjust on the fly when he pitched down on the opposite side of a creek. 

I wanted to see how the modular system held up over time and how well it worked for different hunting approaches instead of trying to force it into one turkey-hunting mold. 

I adjusted modules and tweaked placement until I landed on something that felt like mine. That’s what really makes this vest a showstopper. The setup takes time and forethought, and the MOLLE attachments can be tricky if you aren’t used to the system. But once you figure out your layout, everything lands where your hands expect it to, so you aren’t digging or fumbling in the heat of the moment.

Fit and Comfort

I’m 5’4″ and weigh 135 pounds. The S/M size fit almost perfectly right out of the package. However, there are plenty of adjustable straps to help you really dial in the fit if you aren’t built like me. 

When it comes to finding the right size, you’ll need to measure your girth at the navel instead of the waist. This vest rides low, almost over the hips. If you go by waist size, you’ll end up with something that pinches and digs in uncomfortable places. 

Once you have it dialed in, the vest world to shift the weight toward your hips, giving your neck and shoulders some relief. If you’re the kind of turkey hunter who likes to pack the whole garage into the turkey woods, you’ll appreciate the way this vest helps distribute weight, especially when you’re covering miles looking for birds.

Durability

The heavy-duty 1000D Cordura lived up to its first impression. It’s tough without being noisy. It pushes through briars, brush, and bark without snagging or tearing, and it doesn’t have that stiff, noisy feel some heavy fabrics do. This vest is about as far from delicate as you can get. It’s definitely built to be used, not babied.

Pockets and Organization

This is where this turkey vest really separates itself from the crowd. It’s covered in a MOLLE system that lets you totally pimp this thing out to your heart’s desire. You have total control over exactly where all the pockets and pouches get to ride.

I landed on the following setup:

Pot Call Pouch

I think this is the best-designed piece in the whole system (but I am admittedly a lover of pot calls). It features a waterproof zipper and a stretch cord for silent access when you don’t have time to work a zipper. It has spots for up to three calls with dividers between compartments to keep them from rubbing together. There are also built-in slots for diaphragm calls and a front pocket (with a magnetic closure) that is perfect for sandpaper. 

My biggest beef is that the strikers route through small openings on the front of the carrier and are held in place by the stretch cord. It’s plenty secure as long as the cord is in place. But I did lose one striker in the woods because I forgot to latch it back.

Quick Grab Ammo Pouch

This is another one of my favorites. It has a magnetic flap that snaps shut automatically when you pull your hand out. It’s also large enough to hold a couple of boxes of shells or a Thermacell or all the snacks you’ll need to fuel an all-day hunt.

If you don’t like toting whole boxes of shells around the turkey woods, it also has five elastic loops to keep shotshells within fingers’ reach. I ended up using this one as a catch-all for everything, including gloves, a locator call, and the emergency T.P.

Run ‘N Gun Seat  

It isn’t exactly the seat of luxury, but it’s firm in a good way. It has a stiff base to keep your butt cheeks from feeling every rock, stick, and root while you’re sitting still. It sheds moisture like a pro, too.

Water Bottle Pouch

Hydration is important, and most turkey vests just don’t have a good resting spot for a water bottle. This is a simple pocket, but I love it. It works just as well for a thermos of coffee, especially since the vest can also carry a hydration bladder.

What It Does Well

This rig gives you control over your setup in a way the traditional turkey vest just can’t. You’re not stuck with a preset layout or pockets you’ll never use. You get to decide exactly where things go, and then you can ditch the rest. It also carries weight well. Even when loaded down, it doesn’t hang heavy on your shoulders the way a lot of vests do.

Where It Falls Short

If you like other people to make decisions for you, like where to carry your calls and snacks, this vest isn’t for you. It also isn’t a grab-and-go vest. Setting it up takes some initial effort and some trial and error. 

Getting everything dialed in exactly how you want it will also take some monetary investment. The base vest, which is bare-bones basic,  is just the starting point if you want to take full advantage of the system. Customizing requires purchasing all the attachable pockets separately. That can add up to big bucks pretty fast.

Final Thoughts

The Chief Upland Flydown Turkey Vest isn’t simple, but it isn’t trying to be. Adding and positioning compartments and pockets is a little complicated, but in the end, you end up with something totally personalized.  

This is a solid option if you like tinkering, dialing in your gear, and customizing a setup that fits your style of hunting. If you want something you don’t have to think about, this isn’t it. But once you have the placement tweaked, this thing pays back big dividends. You won’t ever have to fumble through poorly placed pockets to find your calls again. They’ll be riding right where you need them.