Field Review: TideWe StrutCover Low Profile Turkey Blind & StrutBack Turkey Vest with Kickstand
Brad Silet, MS
|
|
As someone who spends a significant amount of time in the field, not just hunting, but also photographing wildlife, I’ve come to appreciate gear that doesn’t just “work,” but actively improves how you interact with the landscape. Turkey hunting, in particular, is a discipline where comfort, concealment, and the ability to remain still for long stretches can make or break your success. Over the years, I’ve leaned against more trees than I can count, often trying to find just the right angle to stay comfortable while staying hidden. More often than not, that perfect tree simply doesn’t exist.
That’s where the TideWe StrutBack Turkey Vest with Kickstand and the TideWe StrutCover Low Profile Turkey Blind come into play. After putting both through their paces during turkey season and while using them in wildlife photography settings, I can confidently say these are not gimmicks—they are genuinely useful, thoughtfully designed tools that can change how you operate in the field.
First Impressions and Build Quality
Right out of the gate, both pieces of gear feel purpose-built. There’s a difference between gear that’s designed by people who understand the hunt and gear that’s simply marketed toward hunters—and these fall into the former category.
The StrutBack vest feels rugged without being overly bulky. Stitching is solid, materials are durable, and the overall layout is intuitive. It doesn’t take long to figure out where everything goes, and more importantly, it doesn’t feel like you’re fighting the vest to access your gear.
The StrutCover blind, on the other hand, borrows heavily from the design philosophy of modern deer blinds—lightweight, quick to deploy, and effective at breaking up your outline. If you’ve used hub-style or pop-up deer blinds before, the technology here will feel familiar, just scaled down and optimized for run-and-gun turkey hunting.
The Kickstand: A Legitimate Game Changer
Let’s get straight to the standout feature: the kickstand on the StrutBack vest.
If you’ve turkey hunted for any length of time, you know the routine:find a tree, sit down, shift around, try to get comfortable, realize the angle is wrong, stand up, adjust, sit back down, repeat. Sometimes you make it work. Sometimes you don’t. And sometimes that discomfort leads to unnecessary movement at the worst possible moment.
The kickstand eliminates that entire problem.
With the kickstand deployed, you’re no longer dependent on finding the perfect tree. You can sit in places you normally wouldn’t even consider, slight rises, open hardwoods, edge habitats, or even spots where the only available tree is too narrow or poorly angled. It essentially turns any location into a viable setup.
From a comfort standpoint, it’s a night-and-day difference. You can lean back at a consistent, supportive angle that reduces strain on your back and core. That translates directly into longer sits with less fidgeting. Something every turkey hunter knows is critical when birds are working in slowly.
From a practical standpoint, it also improves your shooting position. You’re more stable, more relaxed, and better able to control your movements when it matters most.
I’ve used it not just for hunting, but during photography outings as well. Sitting still for extended periods while waiting for wildlife to approach is a completely different experience when you’re actually comfortable. That alone makes the vest worth serious consideration.
Vest Functionality and Storage
Beyond the kickstand, the StrutBack vest is simply well thought out.
Storage is laid out in a way that makes sense. Calls, shells, gloves, and other essentials all have dedicated spaces that are easy to access without excessive movement. The pockets are positioned so you can reach them naturally, which matters when you’re trying to stay quiet and subtle.
The seat cushion is another highlight. It’s thick enough to provide real insulation and comfort, especially during early season hunts when the ground is still cold and damp. Combined with the kickstand, it creates a seating system that feels more like a portable chair than a traditional vest.
Weight distribution is solid as well. Even when fully loaded, the vest doesn’t feel like it’s dragging you down or pulling awkwardly on your shoulders. That’s important for covering ground when you’re trying to strike birds or reposition throughout the morning.
The TideWe StrutCover Low Profile Turkey Blind is one of those pieces of gear that proves you don’t always need something large or complicated to be effective.
At its core, this blind is about breaking up your outline and allowing for movement—two things that are absolutely critical when dealing with turkeys. Their eyesight is exceptional, and even the smallest unnatural movement can send them running.
The low-profile design keeps you tight to the ground and reduces your visual footprint. It’s quick to set up, which is key when you’re trying to capitalize on a hot gobbler without wasting time. You’re not wrestling with a full blind or making excessive noise—just deploy it, settle in, and get ready.
What stands out most is how effectively it allows for subtle movement. Whether you’re adjusting your shotgun, reaching for a call, or repositioning slightly, the blind provides just enough cover to mask those motions.
Real-World Use: Hunting and Photography
Where both of these products really shine is in real-world scenarios.
During turkey hunts, the combination of the vest and blind creates a system that maximizes both comfort and concealment. You can set up in locations that previously would have been less than ideal and stay there longer without needing to adjust.
But what surprised me most was how well they translated to wildlife photography.
Turkeys and grouse are both species that are highly sensitive to movement. Getting close without spooking them often comes down to minimizing even the smallest visual cues. Using the StrutCover blind, I was able to make minor adjustments with my camera (something that would normally risk detection) without immediately blowing the setup.
The added comfort from the vest also meant I could stay in position longer, which directly increased the number of close encounters. Instead of cutting a sit short due to discomfort or fatigue, I could wait things out and more often than not, that patience paid off.
In several instances, I had birds come in close enough that any unnecessary movement would have ended the encounter. Having both concealment and stability made a noticeable difference.
Mobility and Setup
One of the biggest concerns with adding gear is always mobility. Turkey hunting often involves covering ground, adapting to changing conditions, and making quick decisions.
Fortunately, both the vest and blind are designed with that in mind.
The vest carries well and doesn’t feel cumbersome, even over longer distances. The blind folds down compactly and can be deployed quickly when needed. Together, they strike a good balance between functionality and portability.
You’re not sacrificing mobility—you’re enhancing your ability to set up effectively once you find birds.
Durability and Long-Term Use
While I haven’t put multiple seasons on these yet, initial impressions of durability are strong. Materials feel robust, stitching is solid, and nothing about the design suggests it’s going to fall apart under normal field use.
Given the environments turkey hunters often find themselves in,wet spring conditions, brush, uneven terrain, that durability matters. So far, both pieces have held up well.
Final Thoughts
The combination of the TideWe StrutBack Turkey Vest with Kickstand and the TideWe StrutCover Low Profile Turkey Blind offers a meaningful upgrade to the traditional turkey hunting setup.
The vest’s kickstand alone is a standout feature that fundamentally changes how and where you can sit. It removes one of the most frustrating variables in turkey hunting—finding the perfect tree—and replaces it with consistency and comfort.
The blind complements that by providing effective concealment without adding unnecessary complexity or weight.
Author
Brad Silet, MS
I’m a wildlife photographer and enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians with over a decade of experience in conservation. I hold a master’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management, specializing in spatial and statistical modeling of wildlife habitat and behavior.
