If you've spent any time during a call with a parrot dog, you understand how annoying it is to fumble around for your own handheld, that is specifically why getting a good garmin pro 550 plus holster should be at the top of your gear list. It doesn't matter if you're chasing chukar up a steep shape or navigating through thick flooded timber for ducks; in case your remote isn't easily accessible, you're likely to miss that will split-second window to correct a puppy or check their area.
The PRO 550 Plus is definitely a bit of an unique animal. It's that perfect center ground for people who love the particular old-school tube-style remote control but want the satisfaction that comes with GPS tracking. But because this has that distinct shape—long, slender, and topped with an antenna—it doesn't simply sit right in a standard wallet. A dedicated holster is absolutely the just way to move if you want to keep your own hands free for your shotgun or your whistle.
Leather vs. Kydex: What Actually Works?
When you start looking intended for a garmin pro 550 plus holster , you're generally going to run into 2 main camps: the traditional leather supporters and the modern Kydex crowd. Both have their merits, plus honestly, a great deal of it comes lower to how you hunt and exactly what kind of "vibe" you're going with regard to with your gear.
Leather is the particular classic choice. There's something about a well-oiled leather holster that will just looks correct next to a side-by-side or an over-under. It's peaceful, too. If you're sneaking through the woods, you don't want plastic clicking or rubbing against your brush pants. Leather also seems to mold in order to the device with time. The downside? If it gets soaking wet—and let's face it, it will—it stays wet intended for a while. You've have got to maintain it, or it'll get stiff and split.
On the particular flip side, you've got Kydex. This is the same stuff they use for high-end pistol holsters. It's rugged, waterproof, and virtually indestructible. A Kydex garmin pro 550 plus holster usually offers a "click-in" fit. You know exactly when that remote is protected because you may feel it click into place. It's ideal for high-activity looking to might become jumping over logs or scrambling by means of briars. You don't have to get worried about a buckskin strap stretching out there and your expensive handheld falling out somewhere in a 40-acre field.
Why Placement will be Everything
I've seen guys try out to just cut their 550 Plus to their belt utilizing the factory clip, and honestly, that's just asking intended for trouble. Those stock clips are great for a stroll in the park, but they aren't designed for the abuse of a real hunt. One pull the on a department and your $400 handheld is gone.
A suitable garmin pro 550 plus holster gives a person options on exactly where to mount the thing. Some people prefer it right on their hip, while others like this within the shoulder band of their bird vest. If you're putting on a chest pack or a technical hunting vest like a Wing Works or a Chief Upland, you'll probably want something that's MOLLE-compatible.
Being capable to reach straight down and feel these buttons without searching is a skill you develop over time. If your holster holds the unit at an odd angle, or if this sits too low on your own belt, you're likely to be combating your gear all day. You want this high enough that will it doesn't bump your leg when you walk, but low enough that your own elbow doesn't hit it when a person mount your weapon.
Protecting the particular Screen and Antenna
The PRO 550 Plus provides that small, round screen that gives a person the direction plus distance of your own dog. It's tough, but it's not really invincible. A common problem with universal pouches is that they leave the particular screen exposed to scratches from briars or even the steel buttons on your own own jacket.
A practical garmin pro 550 plus holster usually has several type of raised part walls. This keeps the screen recessed just enough that should you bump into a tree or the rock, the holster takes the strike, not the glass.
After that there's the antenna. That little nub is the lifeblood of your GPS NAVIGATION connection. I've noticed cheap holsters that will put way too much stress around the base of the antenna, which can eventually result in inner damage. You want a holster that supports the particular body of the particular remote without putting weird pressure upon the top. It sounds like a small detail, but when you're three mls from the vehicle and your GPS NAVIGATION signal starts flickering, it is a really big deal.
Easy In, Simple Out
We've all been right now there: your dog is definitely on point, or even maybe they're starting to break, and you need to grab the remote now . In case your garmin pro 550 plus holster is too tight, or if the retention tie is a headache to unhook along with gloves on, you're going to be discouraged.
Some associated with the best holsters use an open-top design with just sufficient friction to keep the unit. Others use a simple bungee wire loop. The "tuck and go" design is popular because it's fast. You need something you can operate by sense alone. If a person have to look down and make use of two hands to get your Garmin out, that holster is failing in its primary work.
Also, think about the "re-holstering" process. After you've made your correction or examined your dog's length, you need in order to be able to slide that remote control back into place with out looking. A holster that collapses when it's empty is a huge inconvenience. You want something that stays open so the remote slides right back home.
Working with the sun and rain
Hunting isn't the fair-weather sport. You're going to deal with mud, rain, snowfall, and dust. A nylon garmin pro 550 plus holster can become okay, but this tends to soak up gunk. If you hunt in the particular uplands where every thing is covered within burrs and "stick-tights, " a fabric holster will look like the porcupine by the end associated with the day.
This really is another region where Kydex or heavy-duty molded plastic material really shines. You can just apply it off with a hose at the end of the day. Leather is okay too, provided you've treated it with a good wax or oil to help get rid of water. Just keep in mind that moisture stuck between the holster as well as the remote can lead to some nasty grit accumulation, which acts such as sandpaper on your own handheld's casing. Whatever material you choose, make sure a person pull the remote control out and wipe everything down as soon as you're back in the truck.
Is it Well worth the Investment?
You might become thinking, "Do I actually really need to spend another forty or 50 bucks on a holster? " It's a fair question. But appear at it this particular way: you've already invested a ton of cash in the Garmin system, the collars, and most significantly, your puppy. The garmin pro 550 plus holster is usually basically insurance. This ensures that your own gear is precisely where it's expected to be at any given time most.
There's also the comfort and ease factor. Carrying the handheld in your own hand all day is exhausting, and it's the great way to accidentally drop it in a creek. Dangling it from a lanyard is better, although then it's dogging around and hitting you in the chest every time you lean more than. A dedicated holster keeps the excess weight distributed on your own belt or jacket, and after ten minutes, you'll neglect it's even right now there.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Right One
When you're shopping around, don't just purchase the first you observe on a big-box retail shelf. Take a look at what the severe bird hunters are usually using. Check out the small shops that focus in upland or even hound gear. All those are the people who actually get out in the mud and understand what works.
Whether you go with the sleek Kydex construct or perhaps a rugged natural leather classic, just create sure the garmin pro 550 plus holster fits your specific searching style. If a person hunt from a pickup truck or an ATV, you might want something different than the guy who walks ten miles a day through the particular grouse woods.
At the end of the day, the greatest holster is the particular one you don't have to think about. It should simply work. It ought to keep your Garmin safe, keep this accessible, and survive whatever thorns or weather you decide to throw from it. Once a person find that perfect suit, you'll wonder just how you ever hunted without it.