Bob Allen Shooting Vest Styles

The Bob Allen Company is widely known as the one of the most prolific manufacturers of shooting sport items. Their line of products includes but is not limited to hats, vests, jackets, bags and more with several styles of each being offered.

History

The company's roots are in a parachute shop in the South Pacific, where Bob Allen began making hats for bomber pilots flying long flights to Japan. Upon returning from the war, Bob Allen branched out from making only hats to vests and other items. Today there are several types of items and styles for sale.

Function

The function of a shooting vest is to provide storage for necessary items during a shoot as well as providing a padded shoulder area to cushion the heavy recoil of shotgun fire.

Styles

Today the Bob Allen Company makes several styles and makes of shooting vests. Vests are available in a variety of colors and with options such as insulated or mesh, with single or double shoulder padding, many different pocket options and men's, women's and youth models.

Benefits

The benefit of a shooting vest is threefold, giving the shooter pockets for more shells, adding padding to the shoulder area to provide a more comfortable shooting session and adding a bit of warmth if needed when using an insulated vest. To some, vests are preferable over shooting jackets due to the range of motion that can be had when the arms are free.

Types

There are two fabric options available when purchasing a Bob Allen vest. The first of these is mesh, which constitutes most of the product line. The purpose of using this material is to give the shooter some ventilation when wearing. This is particularly important when the vest is loaded, which adds considerably to the weight.
The second type is a cotton vest with added insulation. This is offered to appeal to shooters who may live in a cooler climate and require the added warmth of an insulated vest.

References

• Bob Allen Sportswear