Field Armor V2 Waterfowl Vest Review
Posted 06/29/2025
As waterfowlers and gun dog enthusiasts, we all want what is best for our faithful companions. Our dogs face the severe conditions of freezing cold, sharp debris, and long swims in cold water, all without hesitation. Because of this, we owe it to them to get them the best gear available. At least this was my philosophy when I purchased a vest for my Labrador, Libby, from Field Armor.
Field Armor is a small business located in Southern Michigan. They manufacture quality dog vests with the safety of your companion in mind. After seeing several dogs suffer devastating injuries while hunting, the owners of Field Armor decided to make a product that would help keep their dogs from further injury. Their vests feature adjustable straps, which allow for a snug and comfortable fit on your dog, and they boast a leather skid plate in the chest area of the vest, which is intended to help protect the vitals from harmful debris and obstructions while in the field. The vest comes in two models, one designed for upland bird hunting and the other for waterfowling.
Being afflicted with the duck hunting virus, which is a lifelong addiction, it is only natural that I picked up the waterfowl version of the vest for Libby. After two years of rigors in the field and 70-80 hunts, it has seen its fair share of usage. From chasing wood ducks in sun-drenched beaver ponds of Northern Michigan to the snow-clad prairie-pothole region of North Dakota, the Field Armor V2 waterfowl vest has been put to the test.
First impressions are always important for anything in life, so that is where we will begin. After a conversation with one of the staff, we decided that a medium would be the best fit for my dog, and after a week or so, it arrived at my door. Immediately out of the box, it was obvious that the vest was well-made. I put it on Libby and adjusted the straps on the shoulders, chest, and belly area to ensure a snug fit. I was pleased to see that the chest area was tight, but not too tight. If it was too loose, sticks could get lodged in the space, causing her discomfort. Beneath the mesh exterior, there is a layer of neoprene that helps with insulation and provides additional flotation as a bonus. She ran around with it for quite some time, and it did not seem to cause her any discomfort or limit her movement range.
Here in Michigan, most of our water bodies are surrounded by trees, which results in most shorelines being contaminated with sticks and logs that can be concealed by mud or dirty water. It is not unheard of for hard-driving dogs to encounter these obstacles and injure themselves, or worse. In the late season, chunks of ice can be abrasive and sometimes, dangerous for a retriever. Having the extra protection of the leather keeps my mind at ease when she plows into the water after downed ducks. While it may not be a 100% perfect solution to the issue, it doesn’t hurt to have the insurance.
While hunting in frigid temperatures, the neoprene liner seemed to keep her warm enough to prevent her from shivering. I sometimes even tuck my hands beneath the vest to warm them when they get cold. She wore the vest when we hunted in North Dakota in a prairie storm that brought several feet of snow and temperatures in the 20s, and during the late season in Michigan, when the rivers are choked with ice and most lakes are frozen over. Even in these freezing temperatures, the vest seemed to keep her comfortable.
Another, less important feature that is worth mentioning is how the vest looks on a dog. It doesn’t look like a ragtag piece of fabric, but a well put-together piece of equipment fit for the task of the retriever.
One of the few issues that I have noticed with the vest is that the ends of the straps can occasionally catch decoy cords while the dog is swimming through the spread. While this truly isn’t a major issue, it can sometimes be difficult for a dog in their geriatric years to swim with a handful of decoys trailing behind them. The second issue lies in the handles on the back of the vest, they are quite sturdy and useful for lifting Libby out of the water and back into the blind. However, I could see them not holding up so well on larger dogs – but this is just conjecture.
Overall, if you are planning on purchasing a new vest for your hunting dog this upcoming season, I would recommend checking out Field Armor for a quality piece of gear to keep your dog safe and comfortable.
Field Armor is a small business located in Southern Michigan. They manufacture quality dog vests with the safety of your companion in mind. After seeing several dogs suffer devastating injuries while hunting, the owners of Field Armor decided to make a product that would help keep their dogs from further injury. Their vests feature adjustable straps, which allow for a snug and comfortable fit on your dog, and they boast a leather skid plate in the chest area of the vest, which is intended to help protect the vitals from harmful debris and obstructions while in the field. The vest comes in two models, one designed for upland bird hunting and the other for waterfowling.
Being afflicted with the duck hunting virus, which is a lifelong addiction, it is only natural that I picked up the waterfowl version of the vest for Libby. After two years of rigors in the field and 70-80 hunts, it has seen its fair share of usage. From chasing wood ducks in sun-drenched beaver ponds of Northern Michigan to the snow-clad prairie-pothole region of North Dakota, the Field Armor V2 waterfowl vest has been put to the test.
First impressions are always important for anything in life, so that is where we will begin. After a conversation with one of the staff, we decided that a medium would be the best fit for my dog, and after a week or so, it arrived at my door. Immediately out of the box, it was obvious that the vest was well-made. I put it on Libby and adjusted the straps on the shoulders, chest, and belly area to ensure a snug fit. I was pleased to see that the chest area was tight, but not too tight. If it was too loose, sticks could get lodged in the space, causing her discomfort. Beneath the mesh exterior, there is a layer of neoprene that helps with insulation and provides additional flotation as a bonus. She ran around with it for quite some time, and it did not seem to cause her any discomfort or limit her movement range.
Here in Michigan, most of our water bodies are surrounded by trees, which results in most shorelines being contaminated with sticks and logs that can be concealed by mud or dirty water. It is not unheard of for hard-driving dogs to encounter these obstacles and injure themselves, or worse. In the late season, chunks of ice can be abrasive and sometimes, dangerous for a retriever. Having the extra protection of the leather keeps my mind at ease when she plows into the water after downed ducks. While it may not be a 100% perfect solution to the issue, it doesn’t hurt to have the insurance.
While hunting in frigid temperatures, the neoprene liner seemed to keep her warm enough to prevent her from shivering. I sometimes even tuck my hands beneath the vest to warm them when they get cold. She wore the vest when we hunted in North Dakota in a prairie storm that brought several feet of snow and temperatures in the 20s, and during the late season in Michigan, when the rivers are choked with ice and most lakes are frozen over. Even in these freezing temperatures, the vest seemed to keep her comfortable.
Another, less important feature that is worth mentioning is how the vest looks on a dog. It doesn’t look like a ragtag piece of fabric, but a well put-together piece of equipment fit for the task of the retriever.
One of the few issues that I have noticed with the vest is that the ends of the straps can occasionally catch decoy cords while the dog is swimming through the spread. While this truly isn’t a major issue, it can sometimes be difficult for a dog in their geriatric years to swim with a handful of decoys trailing behind them. The second issue lies in the handles on the back of the vest, they are quite sturdy and useful for lifting Libby out of the water and back into the blind. However, I could see them not holding up so well on larger dogs – but this is just conjecture.
Overall, if you are planning on purchasing a new vest for your hunting dog this upcoming season, I would recommend checking out Field Armor for a quality piece of gear to keep your dog safe and comfortable.
About the Author : Cole Sousa
Visit authors website | View more articlesCole Sousa is a young freelance writer from Northern Michigan, where he lives with his wife and Black Labrador, Libby.
He spends much of his time hunting waterfowl and fishing for trout in the vastness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and occasionally, he writes about his experiences in the field.
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Retriever Safety
With a heave, I pulled my foot free of the thick muck, I wondered if another half mile of this was worth the trouble. The edge of this particular beaver pond seemed solid enough, but I had slogged far enough to find out that wasn’t the case. The previous day, a group of mallards were feeding on the far end of the hellish mire, and the decision was made to return with a couple dozen decoys. Behind me, my black lab was having a harder time than I was, the mud was clutching at her belly and legs, and the sharp ends of gnawed-off sticks protruded through the loamy sludge. Up ahead the mallards quacked and whistled tauntingly. Despite the temptation, I decided to turn back. To me, no duck is worth potentially injuring my dog.
