REVIEW: Pyke Gear Wingman Pro B2 Vest
The beefier, roomier, American-made Wingman boasts more payload and durability, but how did the Michigan-born design fare in the wilds of Idaho?
Gone are the days of grandpa’s bulky waxed cotton vest. The upland market is rich with quality technical gear designed for those of us who love burning boot leather each fall, and there’s never been a better time to be in the market for an upgrade. The Wingman Pro B2 from Pyke Gear ($339.95) looks to fill a niche for hunters looking for a durable, lightweight vest that maintains a svelte profile while providing enough room to comfortably tote a limit of roosters and some bonus quail. I’ve had the Wingman in my upland vest rotation since late summer, long enough to dial it in and decorate its ample game bag with a smattering of dirt and blood. Does this American-made offering from Pyke Gear stand out from the competition? Here’s my take:Design 4.5/5
Aesthetics are perhaps the most subjective parameter in choosing a vest, and by all means buy what you find pretty. I think Brent Pyke and the Michiganders behind the design of the Wingman Pro B2 have done a fairly impressive job at creating a piece of technical gear that checks many of the boxes on a western hunter’s hit list. That said, if you’re into bling or that paratrooper/ technical bird slayer look in the field, prepare to be underwhelmed. There’s nothing gaudy about its appearance, especially in the gray color mine came in, and I’m completely satisfied with that. This vest is inspired by clean lines and a function-over-flash philosophy that I find attractive. It’s the shoulder straps that really set the Wingman apart from other competitors in the field. I’m of the philosophy that straps should be lean and complementary to critical movements like shouldering the shotgun, and the Pyke crew really nailed it here. In fact, it was these thin and virtually indestructible seatbelt-esque straps that originally drew my eye to the first iteration of this design in 2020. As predicted, they sit as flush to the shoulder better than anything I’ve worn on the market. While I appreciate any scapegoat for poor shooting I can muster, I must admit that any issue with shotgun mounting has to be blamed on poor form and not the straps. In the field, however, I liked these straps less than I expected. The slick seatbelt material had a tendency to wander wide across my chest more than I’d like. Interestingly, the base of the waist belt and the shoulder harness are lined with a comfortable and slip-resistant suede-like material that I wish they would have extended across at least the upper portion of the straps to hold them in place. I think that simple tweak would secure the Wingman as a title contender for best shoulder straps in the upland space. The Wingman Pro B2’s new, more generous game bag addresses the biggest shortcoming in the 1.0 version of this vest: Space. Compared to the previous iteration, this refresh provides noticeably more storage space for gear, spent shells and harvested game. After a few months in the field with this vest, I felt comfortable holding a two-man limit of birds, extra water and a jacket shed under the weight of that load. In fact, I pushed the Wingman to the max in our last outing, stuffing two large fall turkeys with relative ease into the game bag. While the weight was noticeable, the waist belt helped keep the load manageable for the 2-mile hike back to the truck. At nearly 15 pounds each, I doubt you’d find an upland application where the Wingman wants for more cubic inches of payload. The Wingman ships with a tandem set of Camelback Reign bottles that offer multiple flow settings for watering or wetting down dogs. While minor, I found the inclusion of these bottles a nice touch, suggesting the Pyke team understands that most of their customers will have bird dogs in tow. At nearly 15 pounds each, I doubt you’d find an upland application where the Wingman wants for more cubic inches of payload.
The bottles fit (mostly) snuggly in the adjustable and moveable water bottle holsters. I appreciate the design concept that allows for a custom fit of a variety of water vessels, but I must admit the velcro attachments here are a weak spot in the design. A modest layer of dust and some heavy brush encounters later, the hook-and-loop attachment points barely maintained enough muscle to keep the bottles secure, and I unknowingly lost one of the Camelbacks in a holster failure. A reasonable remedy in the next design may include reversing the position of the velcro so they open towards the front of the pack and away from the grasp of passing branches and debris. Luckily, the vest accommodates bladders of various sizes to use in lieu of bottles. The shell pouch comfortably holds 30 or more 20 gauge shells with enough room left over to wiggle my fumbling fingers as I reach to quickly reload after yet another blown shot opportunity. The flap closure was effective at keeping out moisture and debris without getting in the way of access. The opposing zippered pouch initially seemed awkward and disruptive to the otherwise perfect symmetry of the design, but I eventually came to appreciate the utility and peace of mind of keeping my wallet and truck keys secure behind a zipper. 
30+ pounds of white meat is no problem for the ample game bag on the wingman pro B2
Durability 4.5/5
If you’re successful at wearing out this vest in the next decade you should really engage in some soul searching about how badly you abuse gear. Armored in 1000-denier nylon, the Wingman is tough and built to withstand whatever the uplands throw at you. Water bottle holster aside, every other component of this vest appears entirely unfazed by merciless run-ins with hawthorn, rose and sage. I admit I was concerned by what appears to be a single stitch layer attachment point affixing the shoulder straps to the game bag, but the design appears to provide more than enough security, even under extreme loads. I pretty much did everything to this pack short of enlisting its services as a recovery board for my truck. Aside from a few stains, it looks as rugged and durable as the day it arrived. 
The velcro adjustment for the water bottle holster is a good idea that didn’t hold up to heavy use.
‘Merica 4.0/5
The Wingman Pro B2 is sewn in America using imported materials. A modest "Made in USA" badge above the yoke gives a nod to Uncle Sam and the company’s commitment to the American worker without too much patriotic fanfare. While I’d like to see the material sourced domestically as well, a big nod to the Pyke team for keeping the construction dollars in our economy. Conclusion:
While one of the pricier options on the market, the quality and durability of Wingman Pro B2 seems commiserate with its high end price tag. I applaud the Pyke crew for thinking outside the box in their design, particularly with respect to the thin and indestructible shoulder straps. While I would appreciate a little more friction to secure them in place, the straps definitely raise the bar for a vest that offers unencumbered movement and shotgun mounting. Now equipped with the bigger game bag that can haul in a limit along with some extra gear, this vest definitely checks many of the essential boxes on the upland hunter’s list. If you’re in the market, the Pyke Gear Wingman Pro B2 should definitely be on your short list. 