A little Marktet Research for Class - Chest Pack - I need your help!

Hi all,

I am getting my MBA and my focus is entrepreneurship. Therefore, I am currently taking a class titled "Developing Entrepreneurial Opportunities." The entire class is based around developing one idea or product. As I have been doing a lot of work in fly fishing designing bag and packs, I started to think of how one could utilize a chest pack for bow hunting.

My hope is that as many people could provide feedback today and tomorrow on this idea by answering a few simple questions:

1) Would you use it?
2) What would you want it to hold?
3) What do you like about the idea?
4) What are your concerns?

The design of this pack would be simple and functional and not designed to carry much. A range finder, grunt call, or anything else that you may need to bring up to your face. By utilizing soft, stretching material, you eliminate noise by taking out snaps, clips, or Velcro. You would also minimize movement by only needing to move your hand from your chest up to your face. This would be ideal if stalking but the idea is to keep it versatile so it could be used in various situations.

A concern would be that a pack sitting on your chest would adversely affect the way you draw your bow or could have an impact on the release. My thought was that the pack sit closer to your dominant arm. By positioning the pack this way your anchor point would be uninterrupted.

Please keep in mind that the idea of this pack is to be located on your chest. My goal is to gather some thoughts on the feasibility for this in bow hunting. It would simply be used as a tool to eliminate sound and movement but hold some essential gear in an ideal location on your body that requires less effort to remain stealthy.

Thanks,
Chris

 

If I could get a little bit of feedback today I'd appreciate it! Even if it is all negative!

Thanks!

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I need a good chestpack. Not so much for stalking, but because I hunt with a climber.
I currently use one of these, http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunt...104791680&WTz_l=SBC;cat104791680;cat104392080,
It works well because I can wear it in the front, with a climber on my back.
A smaller version would be nice.
A bottle holder is a must have, and the jacket pouch on the bottom also comes in handy for raingear.
Maybe a waterproof pocket for tags, license, etc..
You make it, I'll buy it!

 

1) Would you use it?

Probably not.

2) What would you want it to hold?

n/a (see above)

3) What do you like about the idea?

Unfortunately, not much

4) What are your concerns?

The biggest concern obviously has to be hitting your string while shooting. During much of my hunting season I'm wearing several layers of clothes, which makes me even bulkier than usual and creates potential for something to go awry. Add a chest pack to that and now the chances of problems have increased, while potentially decreasing my mobility as well.

Next, there's really nothing I can think of that I would need so close to my face/chest that would necessitate a pack of such nature. I have a bino harness that works great, and is the only thing I keep around my neck.

As for calls, I don't even wear my grunt tube on my neck any longer. I keep it in my pocket. If a deer is close enough to bust me moving while trying to get it out and call to him, he's too close for me to be calling to anyways.

And you're not really minimizing movement as you say, simply because I dont' keep my hands on my chest at all times while hunting. I'd still have to remove them from my pockets/hand muff, up to the chest pack, remove whatever item I'm looking for, use it, and then put it away. Right now I can keep my call in my pocket where my hands are already at, and in one fluid motion bring it out and up to my mouth and then back to my pocket.

Another concern would get getting it on and off. Typically most bowhunters already carry a back pack or fanny pack of some sort with them. I know in my case I rarely if ever wear my jacket to my stand. So typically once I get to my stand I'm removing my pack, putting on my jacket, and putting on my bino harness. Having a chest pack is one extra piece of gear to pack in and have to put on without very much benefit over the system most of us use now.

On a plus note, if you can come up with some sort of silent (or very quiet) fastening system to use in place of Velcro on all hunting accessories no matter the type or size you'd have a hit with me. I will not use anything that has velcro on it when I'm hunting, period.

That's all the feedback I have. :D

 

That's great feedback guys; that is the exact feedback I am looking for! Be brutally honest, if you think it isn't a worthwhile idea let me know. If you have suggestions, let me know those as well! Thanks!

 

I wear my binos on my chest and there is no room for a pack there. I don't want to add anything sles in that area for fear of my string hitting it or the pack hindering my draw.

I pretty much echo what Justin said.

However I do carry my camera and extra gear in my fanny pack. Only I have it reversed and have it in front when I have my climber on my back. Maybe this would be a better option. Improve on the fit and function of a front mounted "Fanny Pack". It's impossible to wear a fanny pack on the back side while carrying a climber.

 

Like Justin said I would be worried about my string hitting it. With late season hunting just to much bulk to deal with.

 

Justin pretty much nailed it for me as well.

That being said, I know a few people who use chest packs when going on extended hikes/camps.

Here's one that was recommended to me a while back: http://www.gofastandlight.com/Ribz-Front-Pack-Daypack/productinfo/P-RIBZPAK/

Here's another one: http://www.hazard4.com/products_ventrapack.html


Not that I would wear one. But, I like the idea of the Ventrapack being able to disconnect from the pack and become a briefcase of sorts. But, if hiking, I could see the Ribzpack being more useful and possibly even beneficial during hunting.

 

All great feed back and I share the same concerns as everyone. The more I thought about the idea a chest pack, the less feasible it became. Like everyone said, Justin hit the nail on the head. There is no way a chest pack can fit well late season. Too many layers and too often I am adding or removing layers on long cold sits. It would also be devastating to lose a deer because the pack interfered with the string in the draw or the release.

My goal was to get some honest feedback and I appreciate all responses. Thus, the chest pack idea will evolve into a way to utilize a quieter fastening and securing systems... ie eliminating Velcro which I will never use, loud clips, and even zippers in some cases. The goal hear would be to access the necessities without making a ruckus.

Do other people get frustrated with how noisy it can get trying to open pockets of packs? I sometime will leave them open to access things but have dropped items out of the stand because of it. It drives me crazy when I am working hard to be quiet and the click of a clip on the bag seems to echo through the woods.

 

Now I can't say I've ever used a climber, but I carry an Alpha Hang-On w/4 sticks on top of my fanny pack on a regular occasion without problem. I have to imagine a climber would be relatively the same size/weight and could be done.

The key for me is to have a fanny pack with shoulder straps. Keep the fanny pack about as low as it will go on your 'fanny'. Then loosen the straps on your stand enough so that the bottom can kick out and ride on top of the pack. Works like a charm.

 

Maybe this sounds a little cheesy, but what about a hunting vest similar to a bird vest that has very small pouches that are elastic type closure? meaning they don't close all the way, but have a small enough opening to retain whatever is put inside of them? For example, pockets to hold:

range finder
small binoculars
scent/bug repellant bottle (small of course)
etc..

Again, this could interfere with drawing a bow. But, might be small enough that it won't interfere.

 

Primos makes a bow vest. Im not sure about zippers vs elastic though.

 

I just saw that this morning while browsing eBay. Most seem to have either velcro, or a zip closure system. Perhaps a couple of larger tooth zippered pockets and the others being a cinchable elastic band (by this, I'm referring to what you see to hold water bottles in pouches of backpacks).

Just some thoughts.

 

X 2......I have my binocs on my chest and that's about all I'm willing carry there......sorry

 

X3 for justin's post.
Besides why not just use a turkey vest if you are gonna use a vest.
I pesonally have everything I use in a hang on bag that I made with pouches for everything to go in. It straps to the stand or the tree easy to get everything and it stays out of my way.

 

I agree with what most of the others have said. I personally can't see myself using any kind of chest pouch. I have my binos hanging there and afraid anything more would interfere with my bowstring.

 

I don't see how it could be any benefit over a butt pack or a regular old pack...

Same as a previous post, first thing I could think was that it would hit the string on release.

Wouldn't buy it so rest of the questions are moot.

Good luck with your class.

 

This was exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

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sorry to revive a 12 year old thread but Ive been looking into bino chest harnesses, and know that Justin wears one now. Amazon has tons but yikes reviews are rough or clearly fake or their pretty expensive.

Does anyone has a decent one they could recommend that isnt over $100??

 

Stone glaciers is one of the best ones I have used and I have used quite a few. It’s 120. If you are just wanting one for treestand hunting, probably anything you find at cabelas you like will do. Stone glaciers is light, water resistant, and super comfortable.


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