GUNNER Kennels has continued to redefine what premium dog gear means for waterfowl hunters. Their latest addition, the GUNNER Vest, is a testament to GUNNER’s design philosophy—take an existing product and problem, pour in countless hours of R&D, and make something that solves all the issues. Before this duck season started, we were able to get our hands on the GUNNER Vest and take it into the field with us for the Road Dog Tour. From pre-season training to the first month of the season, we’ve put this vest through the wringer. Here’s how it stood up in the field.
Gunner Vest Specs
Dog Vest
The GUNNER Vest sought to solve common issues with traditional neoprene dog vests—the most significant issue being getting a tight vest on an angsty dog in the morning. Zippers freeze up, neoprene traps odors and encourages mildew, and most vests offer no protection for your dog. It took eight iterations to solve these issues, but the end result is a versatile vest capable of hunting water, fields, and everything in between.
To achieve this goal, the GUNNER Vest ditched neoprene altogether, opting instead for a 5-layer insulation system that sheds water, keeps your dog warm, and won’t encourage mildew growth. In addition, GUNNER opted for a G-hook buckle system rather than zippers and Velcro. All dogs are built differently, and this system allows owners to customize fit without modifying the vest. Lastly, GUNNER included a chest protector plate that keeps your dog safe from sharp sticks, thorns, and anything else they may run into on retrieves. This vest is a premium product, coming in at $250.
Field Testing
The biggest issue I’ve had with traditional waterfowl vests is finding one that fits my dog, Quinn, properly. Zippers can be unruly, and velcro vests can slip and move. The GUNNER Vest, however, avoids these issues altogether with its G-hook buckle system. G-hooks are what you find on many premium waders like Chêne and Sitka. The strap side has built-in loops that slot into the G-hook for a precise fit. In addition to the two G-hooks found on the side of the vest, four additional adjustment points offer a custom fit for medium-sized dogs. This adjustability makes for a vest that can grow with a young dog, in addition to the custom fit it offers for full-grown dogs.
Another feature that stood out in testing is the vest’s handle design. In the past, I’ve run into issues with vests having handles that were too tall to fit into dog blinds easily or not sturdy enough to pick up your dog adequately. GUNNER fixed this with two flush-mounted handles along the back of the vest. When hunting out of a boat or other raised platform, this allows me to easily reach over and securely grab and lift Quinn into the boat.
The last, and arguably the most important role of a dog vest is to protect your dog from the elements. This means keeping them warm and protecting them from hazards like sharp sticks and thorns. GUNNER’s approach to these issues is two-fold. First, the team of designers opted for a 5-layer insulation system. Rather than traditional neoprene, this system sheds water, does not trap odors, and keeps your dog warm even when temperatures drop below freezing. The only downside is that the vest can be too warm on early-season hunts or in areas like Florida, where temps rarely drop below freezing.
To clean the vest after use, all you need is a hose and some fresh water to rinse it off, a convenient feature on the road where stops with a washing machine can be few and far between. The second design feature to keep your dog safe is a reinforced chest plate. This chest plate protects your dog from anything they may run into when making a retrieve, something that most vests overlook.
Rounding out the vest are several leash points. While not every hunter may need these, it’s important to have them for training or if your dog has a habit of breaking early. The vest is currently available in two colorways, a solid marsh color and a limited edition Mossy Oak Bottomland in partnership with Ducks Unlimited.
Final Thoughts
Any serious waterfowl hunter who owns a dog knows the issue with buying dog-related gear. Most products are poorly thought out and generally don’t last more than a few seasons. It took GUNNER nearly 10 years to design this vest, and the hard work shows. While you will pay a premium price, you can rest assured you’re getting a vest that fits properly and is built to withstand hard use season after season.