[LabGuy6]

I am in the market for a neoprene vest for my 8.5mo YLM and need to buy one ASAP before my two week trip back home to NoDak. I have been looking at multiple brands (Banded, Avery, Cabelas, etc.) and can't decide which one to pick up. I was leaning towards the Banded 5mm neoprene but was reading some bad reviews on how it fits most dogs. I was also partially leaning towards the ASD boaters parka, but I don't do a lot of hunting over water so not sure if this is still a good option or not. Which ones have you guys used and liked over the years?

 

[Duckquilizer]

I am in the market for a neoprene vest for my 8.5mo YLM and need to buy one ASAP before my two week trip back home to NoDak. I have been looking at multiple brands (Banded, Avery, Cabelas, etc.) and can't decide which one to pick up. I was leaning towards the Banded 5mm neoprene but was reading some bad reviews on how it fits most dogs. I was also partially leaning towards the ASD boaters parka, but I don't do a lot of hunting over water so not sure if this is still a good option or not. Which ones have you guys used and liked over the years?

I use the ASD boaters parka on my dogs and we mostly hunt rice. They seem to be well made with heavy duty zippers(unless they changed designs). I broke the zipper handle off one, but was an easy fix with paracord. This was as much my fault.

 

[Newf]

I have the cabelas vest. But to get it to fit properly I had to have some adjustments made.

 

[Daren Galloway]

Handles on the boaters parka are hany if you hunt off of a stand or boat, see Evan's thread on that. I believe they are more expensive than the standard vest so if you don't need the handles that is the only difference I know of between the boaters and standard vest.

 

[GulfCoast]

I like the Boaters Parka because it is more tapered, and needs less cutting/trimming/reglueing. However, the zippers punk out after about 2 seasons of heavy use.

 

[KevinsKennels]

I prefer the boaters parka but my CLM likes his Camo neck life vest. This is what happens when you turn your back on them for 1 second. Haha

 

[Jim Danis]

I've used both the Cabelas Armored Vest and Avery's Boaters Vest. I did have to trim the Cabelas vest to remove some excess material. After that it fit perfectly. I didn't with the Avery vest. The Avery zipper stinks though. One thing I like about the Cabelas vest is that it has a broad band of Velcro that allows me to adjust the vest to get a good snug fit all around. Also, if my dog does happen to get caught up in something there is the chance that he can pull out of the Velcro and free himself from the vest. With the zippered Avery vest that isn't happening.

 

[RookieTrainer]

I use the ASD boaters parka on my dogs and we mostly hunt rice. They seem to be well made with heavy duty zippers(unless they changed designs). I broke the zipper handle off one, but was an easy fix with paracord. This was as much my fault.

The zippers work well unless your "steady" 11 month old YLM on his first duck hunt has to be secured and your buddy hooks the cord to only one of the D-rings and not both. When the "steady" dog decides he wants to help retrieve decoys when you start picking up to leave, the zipper will come right out of a 36-hour old ASD Boater's Parka. This was lesson #1 that he might not be as steady as I thought. And that a dog with a neoprene jacket folded over his head such that he can't see is somewhat difficult to manage.

To be fair, a lot of steadiness work later, he has NOT torn the zipper out of ASD Boater's Parka #2. Yet.

I wish I had video of some of this stuff. High-drive first dogs are a HOOT.

 

[huntinwithlabs]

View attachment 15518
I prefer the boaters parka but my CLM likes his Camo neck life vest. This is what happens when you turn your back on them for 1 second. Haha

that is classic right there

we also use the boaters parka. We are hunting on the bays about 50% of the time. Cold water and currents = boaters parka imho

 

[TCFarmer]

I like the Cabelas vest, the velcro allows for a small amount of adjustment. Fitting the vest properly is probably more important than which one you get.