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Hunting blinds have long been used to conceal hunters from their targets, allowing them to blend in effortlessly with their environment and an edge over their quarry.Before hunting brands began making portable blinds, hunters would gather logs, branches, sticks, and any other brush they could find to create cover in the field. As the season changes from early to late, however, game animals tend to move to different areas, which would force hunters to leave their blinds behind. The process of building a new blind for every position was time-consuming and labor-intensive. Enter the pop-up ground blind. These packable, pre-built shelters can be set up in minutes and can be positioned in just about any location. It's effectively a tent, with a fiberglass hub and frame and soft nylon-ply sides, with windows for scouting (and shooting). A decent blind will have adequately sized windows for an unobstructed view, with the panoramic view giving the hunter the best shot opportunity. Some blinds also offer shooting ports in the corner of on the backside where the door is located. Access doors are important for easy entry and exit, especially considering the gear you will be carrying. Doors can be a triangular zipped/magnetic option, or the entire panel lifts or folds open. The nylon material can range from 150-denier that is typically found in lighter weight more economical blinds, up to a 600-denier found in premium, heavier weight blinds.The hunting blinds included here are soft-sided ground set-ups—easy to transport and quick to assemble and take down. I covered various configurations from the simple square or rectangular blinds having four to five walls and various windows for shooting access, to a bale blind which mimics a bale of hay or cut crops typically used in open fields, to a chair blind for quick set up virtually anywhere while on the stalk.More Hunting Gear: Best Hunting Jackets ● Best Hunting Pants ● Best Spotting Scopes ● Best Trail CamerasBest Hunting BlindsBest Overall: Barronett Blinds Ox 5 5-Sided Hunting BlindBest Budget: Ameristep Care Taker Run and Gun Hunting BlindBest for Cold Weather: Ameristep Pro Series Thermal BlindBest Visibility: Primos Hunting DoubleBull SurroundView Double Wide Ground BlindBest Value: TideWe 360° Hunting Blind How We Selected I’m an avid hunter, owner of Life in Camo Media, and a member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), specializing in hunting gear testing. My reviews have appeared in various print and digital outlets, including Field & Stream, Woman Hunter Magazine, and Wide Open Spaces.For nearly two decades, I have been hunting from ground blinds, and those experiences helped to inform my selections. To further my insights, I delved into product reviews, ratings, and rankings, along with gaining the perspectives of hunting guides and professional hunters.Included are a diverse range of brands and styles—hub, spring-steel, and even a chair blind. I chose not to feature any blinds with a fiberglass pole-in-pocket structure, akin to what you'd find in most camping tents. I've found that over, time, fiberglass poles can splinter under pressure and break. That isn't something you can repair in the field, and I have personally experienced ruined hunts because of it. Throughout my hunting journeys, I have used various brands and styles of blinds in different weather conditions and across multiple terrains. I have tested many options while hunting spring turkeys in the palmettos of South Florida to late-season muzzleloader hunting in Iowa, as well as hog hunting in the swamps of Alabama at night, and deer hunting in windy Northwest Kansas. Keep in mind: Each hunt is unique and each hunt may require a different type of blind depending on the game being pursued or the terrain of the hunt. Ox 5 Pop-Up 5-Sided Hunting Blind The Barronett Blinds Ox 5 is the Cadillac of ground blinds. It is a favorite among hunters looking for a spacious covert shelter. I found it was the perfect solution when I hunted with a novice hunter, a parent, and a photographer on a youth hunt. The pentagon-shaped blind offered plenty of room for several chairs, backpacks, and two tripods — one for a camera and one for a rifle.The oxhide fabric incorporates two layers of high quality, soft, quiet, no-shine 300D polyester fabric with a backwoods camo exterior pattern and a black-out interior for concealment. I also appreciated the silent slide windows which are fully adjustable to any width quickly and silently.The window configuration offers a panoramic view — the windows open from the center, allowing perfect height adjustability of the window for the hunter. The entrance is a D-shaped zippered door with plenty of clearance for walking through with a backpack and gear. The Ox 5 comes with a carry bag with backpack-style straps.For all its comforts, it is not a great option if you need something mobile. The Ox 5 is made from thick materials, making it one of the heaviest blinds in its class. I would advise placing it before a hunt, staking it down, and leaving it in the field for days or even weeks at a time. Care Taker Run and Gun Hunting Blind My first hunting blind was an Ameristep. It's a solid, affordably priced brand, which makes them ideal for hunting on public land, where there's a higher risk that your blind may get stolen when you venture away. Weighing 12 pounds, the Run and Gun is portable, true to its name, and comes with a convenient carry bag with shoulder strap. The exterior is made of long-lasting Durashell Plus material, while the interior is black ShadowGuard, which eliminates silhouettes and shadowing to keep the hunter concealed. The Spider Hub frame is quiet and easy to set up. I specifically found it was simpler to put up than many other heavy-duty hub systems. The blind has flaws, though. I also observed gaps in the seams at stress points and a few areas where the ShadowGuard finish was somewhat thin, but these are minor blemishes. That said, gaps in the seams will let water into the otherwise water-resistant shelter. Even with those minor issues, I still consider this a reasonable option for any hunter looking for a budget-friendly blind. Pro Series Thermal Blind During those low to sub-zero temperatures when it's vital to stay in the stand during peak deer movement, Ameristep has the solution. The Pro Series Thermal Blind comes in Mossy Oak Elements designed to blend in to any setting. It features a 300-denier, heavy duty quilted fabric backing that adds insulation to protect a hunter in frigid weather. The black ShadowGuard interior and extended depth footprint add superior concealment, while the blind’s 12 large windows feature a mesh covering that slides open easily and quietly. I found myself sitting in this blind on a late-season muzzleloader hunt in Iowa during a mini blizzard. Incredibly, this blind blocked the wind well, and it held up in the storm. The snow was coming down sideways, but the blind kept the wind from passing through.Another feature I loved here was a full-access walk-through door. It offers effortless entry and exit, even when you're loaded up with a backpack and an armful of gear. Double Bull SurroundView Double Wide Ground Blind The Primos Double Bull SurroundView was the first blind to feature one-way see-through panels, which give you maximum visibility while keeping yourself concealed.This double-wide version has two front view windows, giving you a 300-degree field of view, including complete frontal visibility. Throw in adjustable silent-slide window closures, and this blind ideal for gun and archery hunting for any type of game animal.I used the SurroundView on several hog hunts in Alabama and a turkey hunt in Florida, and found it worked well in both regions. The incredibly wide viewing area makes this blind my favorite for turkey hunting.The grand view offers the advantage of seeing the approaching turkey from far off—and there are no worries about getting busted by your silhouette with the customizable black-out curtain. The view allowed me to watch a tom on the roost fly down and strut into my decoy setup without any blind spots.The only drawback is that the robust hub system and thicker window material make the blind somewhat cumbersome to fold down and pack out; it took me twice as long to take down and pack away as with other similar hub-style blinds. 360° Hunting Blind The TideWe 360° see-through hunting blind, a five-panel design, stands out to me as not only a reasonably priced option, but one with the quality, features, and specifications typically found in blinds that cost two to three times more. By using the same popular see-through technology typically found in higher-end, cutting-edge blinds, this blind's perforation technique in the material allows a one-way view for the hunter to see out, but prevents game animals to see into the blind. Additionally, the quality of the durable 300-denier nylon, metal poles, and alloy hubs, as well as the materials and craftsmanship, are remarkable for the price. The see-through wall panels, from top to bottom, provided me the advantage of a panoramic 360-degree view of any approaching game, while the detachable 300-denier blackout panel could be repositioned to conceal my silhouette. With the front rectangular window and nine polygon windows, I had endless shooting possibilities.One of my favorite features is the large swing-panel door that opens 90 degrees, for easy entry and exit from the blind, and which is especially convenient while I am wearing my backpack, carrying a crossbow, and managing other gear. I didn’t have to struggle with removing my backpack or placing my gear piece by piece through the typical awkward crescent zipper door.TideWe also makes a larger version that can fit up to 4 people, for larger hunting groups. Wide Side 95 Hunting Blind The Barronett Blinds Wide Side 95 features a rectangular design that offers a generous amount of space and shared window access for two people sitting side-by-side. It's a popular pick for folks who hunt in pairs, since it can fit two chairs, backpacks, tripods, camera gear, and hunting equipment, with plenty of elbow room to spare. The width of this blind makes it ideal for parents and kids.Constructed from 150-Denier water-resistant fabric with a Crater Harvest camo exterior, the Wide Side blends effortlessly in various terrains and kept me dry and comfortable during a brief rain shower. Its black-out interior provides excellent concealment while in the blind to glass (scan terrain with binoculars) for game animals. There are five windows with the extended front shooting window delivering a panoramic view. The front window offers a silent slide system from the center which allows precise height adjustments, even for shorter hunters like me. The Wide Side 95 comes with a backpack-style carry bag, ground stakes, and tie-down ropes; everything you will need to carry the blind comfortably and stake it down in place if you plan to leave it in place for several days. Striker See-Through Hunting ChairPod One-person chair blinds have been around for over a decade, but very few hunters take advantage of their mobility and convenience. These simple blinds are effective nylon-and-metal camp chairs, with a cover that folds out and over you, accordion style. This particular chair blind, the Funhorun ChairPod, combines a blind with a foldable chair for a lightweight, mobile covering. It features one-way see-through blind material on the upper portion of the cover to keep the hunter hidden but the game visible to the hunter in all directions. (The camo pattern is specifically designed for deer and turkey hunts.)I found the ChairPod to be remarkably quick and quiet when deploying or packing down — two key features I look for with assembly. The accordion-style brackets smoothly deployed the canopy. I specifically like the ChairPod as a photographer's tool because it has large see-through panels that give you a wide 300-degree omni-directional field of view. That allows you to look for a shot while staying concealed. It has two windows on each side, plus two windows in front, giving you dynamic shooting angles when you need them.The access zipper down the front of the ChairPod made it easy for me to enter and exit the blind. I had just the right amount of leg and foot space when I placed my backpack against the bottom of the chair behind my legs. It also features a zipped insulated bag in the armrest, which kept my food and drink cold during my hunt. If you want more space, Funhorun also makes a two-person model, which may be better if you have a lot of gear. Haymaker Ground Blind While many blinds are made to conceal you among hardwoods or pines, the place where you need a blind most is in the open. I’ve had great results in turkey hunting in Kansas in the middle of a harvested corn field sitting in a bale blind. Although it is not as packable or mobile many of other recommendations, there is no substitute for this hay-bale-shaped blind if you're planning to set up in the middle of an open field.The Bog Haymaker is sheathed with Khaki-colored 600-Denier UV-Resistant fabric, with brush loops for additional branches and limbs to further camouflage yourself.The metal frame offered me an easy setup with a snap system designed with a combination of letters and numbers for quick assembly, and I made sure to stake down the corners with the included metal stakes.Like many other blinds, I found that the 4-sided StealthTrac windows can be silently adjusted without getting discovered when preparing for a shot on oncoming game. The large entry door is on one end and each side, and both ends, have shooting windows.This blind is also ideal for waterfowl as a solution for cut crop fields or pond or lake edges because it has a trap waterfowl door along the top edge of one side allowing a wider range of shot opportunity on flying waterfowl. Although this type of blind requires the right spot to be effective, and certainly doesn’t get as much use as my standard four-sided camouflage blinds, it is a unique one to have in your mix. It comes with a carry case so I can keep everything needed together in my truck bed and ready to sett up in one of these prime locations when I do need it. What to Consider Look for blinds with a silent window system, fabrics that repel water and UV light, black-out interior materials to hide silhouettes, and easy-to-use entrance/exit options. Additional features include mesh pockets, pouches, material shelves, top ventilation, and kick-outs for storage. Exterior colors range from solids to various camouflage options.The blinds featured here mainly belong to the hub style, except for the flexible spring steel styles I included. In general, when buying a hunting blind, several factors must be considered to ensure you get the most out of your purchase. The main things to consider are size, weight, and capacity.SizeThe size of the blind you require will depend on several factors, but it all comes down to a simple question: How much space do you need inside?There are a few factors that may determine the amount of space you need: For starters, bow hunters need more elbow room than gun hunters. For archers, the space needs to be deep enough for you to fully draw your bow inside the blind. With a gun, it's okay for the barrel to extend out of the window. Window configuration is also essential: Some blinds offer a 90-degree front window or a smaller one with vertical corner windows. The height of the windows needs to be considered, but an adjustable-height blind chair can make sure you’re seated at the correct height.The floor area should be roomy enough for a chair, and possibly a tripod, plus extra room to the side to stash your gear in a way that won't limit your access to all of the shooting windows. WeightThere will be times when you need to bring a blind into the woods for each hunt, especially if you're on public land or a spot that doesn't let you leave the blind overnight. Choose a blind that's light to medium weight and comes with a bag or other sound carrying system.If your situation allows you to set up blinds and leave them for an extended time, then weight may not be a factor. Remember, the thicker the material and the larger the blind, the heavier it will be. The options listed below include blinds in various weights and sizes. CapacityIf you usually hunt alone, the blind size may not be as important. However, if you plan on hunting with others, having extra space is crucial. The blind size will determine how many people can hunt comfortably inside. Each person will need space for a chair, backpack, weapon, and gear, so having enough room is essential. While blinds for one to two hunters are common, options can now accommodate up to four or five people.Color/CamouflageFor the best concealment, you will want to choose a blind that will blend into the terrain of the area you will be hunting. Most blinds come with ties or loops where you can brush in your hunting blind to help conceal it. Many manufacturers are starting to make solid color blinds in muted or earth tones. Keep in mind what time of the season you are hunting. What color will the trees and brush be? The early season will be greener, and the late season will be more bare with winter grasses and brush. I included a bale blind in this lineup for those areas where you might be hunting hay fields or corn fields. It is often not feasible to own a blind of every color, so choose wisely. Q+A with Hunting Gear Expert Nancy Jo Adams What is the most important feature you look for in a blind? Personally, I need a blind that won’t fade with long-term exposure to direct sunlight. I primarily hunt private land, which comes with a few perks, including the option to place a blind and leave it out all season. I have owned several name-brand premium blinds that generally worked well, but faded horribly after just a few weeks. Once that happened, they stuck out like a sore thumb, rendering them useless.Given that, I always look for blinds made from heavier, UV-protected brush fabric, even if it adds heft or makes the blind more expensive. I also keep a can of Atsko UV Killer spray handy to help keep my blinds from fading.Are there any blind features that I should avoid?When blinds fail, hunters most frequently complain about broken poles or hubs, bad window systems, and window configurations. Since upgrading from fiberglass and elastic bungee blinds to a collapsible “hub” blind, I’ve never broken a pole. I’d also avoid blinds that use velcro to keep their windows closed rather than some sort of “silent” zipper system.Are there any accessories I should buy to use with my blind?First, if your blind comes with tie-downs, I recommend subbing them out for tent stakes, which are easier to set up and remove, while providing more security. An adjustable blind chair, preferably with a swivel base, will help you find your aim in any condition. I also suggest picking up a hunting tripod for gun or crossbow hunting, as your blind will not provide a stable edge where you can rest your weapon.
