I’ll be honest. When ground blinds became popular some 20-plus years ago, I wasn’t a big fan. The first blinds were heavy, awkward to set up, and didn’t rank high on the user-friendliness scale. I tried them, sure, but I always had the feeling that not only was I tremendously conspicuous and out-of-place, but was attempting to hunt turkeys or whitetail deer from inside a miniature echo chamber. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t move without feeling as though I was stuck inside a box. A very small box. And let’s not even talk about the first zippers, especially those used to raise or lower the windows from the inside, and many of which weren’t zippers at all, but rather hook-and-loop style closures. Loud? That’s not the word.
But the hunting world changed. Hunting equipment got markedly better, and along with those positive modifications, per se, were improvements to ground blinds. Units got lighter, easier to carry afield, and much simpler, not to mention quicker to erect once in position. A wide variety of camouflage patterns became standard operating procedure, along with the inclusion of grassing strips, also known as stubble straps, meant for the addition of native vegetation, thus allowing these 21 st Century blinds to blend into the natural environment. More interior room, black-out walls, stronger hubs and supports, less awkward access and egress, see-thru designs, and silent track window adjustment systems. Silent!
Thanks to these and many other advancements in design, the popularity of ground blinds grew nationwide and around the global hunting community until today, it’s estimated that well more than half of the country’s whitetail and wild turkey hunters own at least one ground blind. Today, we’re going to take a look at one of the latest ground blinds to come to market, the Flip Guard 270 from TideWe. Constructed in what might best be described as a traditional style in terms of ground blind design, the Flip Guard incorporates several innovative features meant to enhance and improve the whole of the ground-hunting experience.
For purposes of this review, let’s take a look at the Flip Guard 270 categorically from the outside, as well as the inside, before discussing functionality and accessories.
The Outside
After getting the Flip Guard (FG) set, a process we’ll discuss momentarily, and doing a 360 degree size up, I feel as though the unit might best be described as visually traditional. She’s a central hub-style blind, using fiberglass support rods on each of the four walls and what I’ll call the domed “roof.” A simple yet effective Fall camouflage pattern and adjustable windows on three of four walls round out my initial inspection.
Looking closer, however, I noticed several elements that separate the FG from other ground blinds. First, the door. Measuring 5’ high by 6’ wide, the window-less back wall is zippered on both corners, allowing the entire side to be raised for ease of access / egress. BINGO! TideWe’s innovative design here eliminates the biggest complaint I’ve always had with ground blinds; that is, how to easily get in and get out while wearing a loaded turkey vest or carrying a firearm and pack. It's a problem of the past now. This, what I’ll call “full-lift door,” can either be flipped onto the roof and held steady or, using TideWe’s included adjustable telescoping pole (4’ to 7’ adjustment), propped into an OPEN position. Excellent touch, TideWe!
Over the years, my wife and I have hosted many whitetail and turkey hunters with limited mobility, with a goodly portion of those folks confined to wheelchairs or other devices. In the past, we’ve had to physically lift the ground blind, get our hunter into position, and then lower the blind overtop them. No, it’s not a huge problem and well worth the effort; however, the FG’s full-lift door system takes 100 percent of the issues out of getting those with limited mobility situated quickly and easily. As a note, the corner zippers on the full-lift door are strong, sturdy, and relatively quiet, and should last for many seasons with no problems. I would suggest periodic lubrication of these so-called corner zippers, either with a zipper-specific lubricant or unscented Chapstick.
TideWe hasn’t forgotten about how to blend the FG into the surrounding environment, thanks to integral stubble straps above and below each window, as well as a single strap near the bottom of the full-lift door.
The Inside
Moving inside the FG, I was immediately impressed with the size, with the blind posting a 36 square foot footprint and measuring just shy of 6’ in height. Each of the windows is roughly 2’ high and 5’ wide (fully retracted), providing an ample view throughout the FG’s 270 degrees. The full-lift door is windowless and fully covered with a rugged plasticized mesh, as are the other three walls and windows, thus creating what I’ll call a “Total Black Out Interior” atmosphere, quite conducive to complete concealment should hunters dress appropriately, i.e. black hoodie or warm weather t-shirt, black balaclava, and black gloves. With the FG, invisibility can be attained!
Each of the windows features upper and lower shades, per se, each of which can be adjusted independently. A most notable improvement in this particular blind is the zipper-less or silent window adjustment system. Each window adjusts via clips that slide vertically on tracks at the sides. Not only 100 percent silent, the track design allows for an infinite degree of closure, depending on the hunters’ needs. Big opening? Not a problem. Narrow field of view? It’s quick and easy, and can be done even with game in sight and up close.
But, and unlike other ground blinds, the FG isn’t only about the windows when it comes to visibility. The unique material used in the construction of the FG allows inside-to-outside viewing; however, the opposite isn’t true, thus keeping hunters hidden while permitting the blind’s advertised 270 degrees of relatively unobstructed visibility.
I do like the fact TideWe went the extra step and wrapped each of the fiberglass support rods – four per hub, per usual – in a strip of matching camouflage materials. This eliminates the possibility of glare off the rods, particularly in cases where the notoriously shiny fiberglass is wet. Another nice touch!
Functionality
I’m not exaggerating when I say I set the FG 270 straight from the carry bag in under 30 seconds. There was some noise involved in the set up, but it’s noise that in my opinion is impossible to avoid, regardless of the make, model, or manufacturer. Top, sides, corner zippers, full-lift door, access, placement of gear / chair, window adjustment, and corner zipper closure, all in less time than it takes to toast and butter a blueberry bagel. Takedown is just as quick and easy.
Accessories
Like many TideWe hunting products, e.g. the QuestWade chest waders I’m currently wearing afield, the FG 270 package features plenty of necessities and accessories, including –
Durable Cordura nylon zippered carry bag – Which is large enough that stowing the blind doesn’t present the struggle common with other models.
Metal ground stakes (8) and easily adjustable tie-down ropes (4).
Reversable camouflage / blaze orange cover – Some states require those hunting from ground blinds, especially during modern rifle deer seasons, to incorporate some type of blaze orange element to the blind itself. TideWe took the hassle out of this by including a full camo/blaze orange cover with the package. What’s more, it’s easy ON/OFF, and stows right in the carry bag with the blind.
Twist-Lock support pole – As mentioned, this twist-lock support pole adjusts from 4’ to 7’ and includes a removeable 3” base plate (foot) for added stability.
Final Thoughts
The older I get (61) and the more years I have in the field (53), the more I’m looking for outdoor equipment that’s simple, without all of today’s bells and whistles, that ranks high on the user-friendliness scale, and, most of all, works for my purposes, whatever that might be. The Flip Guard 270 ground blind from TideWe puts checks in all of these boxes and then some, without being a struggle or complicated to the point of rivaling the Space Shuttle, while providing incredible visibility, unmatched concealment, and top-notch comfort. And you can’t ask for more from a ground blind than that.
Author
M.D. Johnson
M.D. Johnson’s full-time outdoor writing career began in 1992. Prior to that, he worked with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife in their Outdoor Skills Unit, helping to coordinate hunter education courses and resources across the state.
