Best new piece of equipment this year
Equipment
Contributors to this thread:
As the season is winding down what new piece(s) of equipment have worked for you?
I have 2; 1. Lakewood bow case. I can't tell you how much I like it. I hunt out of my car quite a bit and this works so much better than a laydown bow case and you can keep the quiver on! 2. TRUGLO Archers Choice Range Rover Pro Green Dot Sight, I was hesitant about getting one of these. I almost pulled the trigger on one last year and finally did this summer. I really like that you can adjust the brightness to suit your needs. I've never had a problem with glare off the glass aperture or the batter running down. Still have the original battery in it and I left it on in my case for a day.
A great friend of mine gave me a Bushnell Truth range finder. Very nice product with angle compensation, which my old Nikon does not have. The case has a magnet to close, instead of a snap, which I do not trust, or loud velcro.
Carbon Spyder 34 I bought late last year and used it new as far as hunting with it goes. Tried VPA broadhead this year and it worked well.
Kifaru gun bearer for carrying my bow. I'm going to modify it a bit and post up some pics on Bowsite soon.
x2 on kifaru. Bought a new kifaru pack and thankfully got to use it. Comfortably packed the most I've ever had on my back.
A folder knife that I made from A-2 tool steel. The steel and heat treatment really makes a difference.
1) Hawk extendable bow hanger
2) Additional cheap ladder stands on properties I hunt
1). Tenzing 2220 Backpack
2). Leki Corklite Trekking Poles
Ice Breaker boot blankets they are a game changer for all day sits,
Elite Synergy. Other than that, I didn't buy much new stuff.
dduner,
I saw those yesterday at Scheel's. If you put them on directly over your boots, how well do they hold up to all of the dirt and other debris your boots will have on them? I almost pulled the trigger and bought them as we are headed for some cold weather here. I just thought this is going to be a gimmick that I will regret.
Thanks.
The Kifaru Mountain Warrior pack. Last year I picked up a duplex frame and used a modified bag until I could get the MW. Well worth the wait! In my opinion, it has just the right amount of pockets on the main bag for those of us that have OCD with respect to organizing gear...although I did pick up a couple small additional pockets for the hip belt. Overall it's a great combination of simplicity and functionality. Unfortunately, I didn't get to pack meat with the bag...but I did with the frame last year. Here's mine loaded down completely with a 3+ day spike camp, supplies, a climbing harness, steps and a Lone Wolf climber.
My only complaint is the fabric isn't very quiet. It is tough though.
Can I say a Crossbow? Or will you all hate me for it? We have a late muzzleloader season here and I can use it during that season. I can see first-hand why it's in the category that we all treat it with a bit of "rejection". It took me 10 shots to get it setup and sighted in 0-40. And it is really fast! I shoot an 80lb draw that is supposed to reach the 300fps mark. This thing is 150lb draw and the arrows bury to the knock each time I shoot. Plus I have yet to see the arrow in flight (might be due to the scope). Sure - i'ts not a longbow, or even a compound, but it will extend my season and did I mention - it's FAST!?
I'll be the first, because I had one and did not like it. Since you got it for ML season, you should of just got a muzzle loader. Less expensive than a crossbow, and they are way more fun.
I figured it might happen Stickhead - I don't want to hijack this thread with too much crossbow debate. Honestly it was an impulse buy and with the way Muzzleloaders are today, they are just as accurate as a rile. So I figured I could stay closer to archery tackle and still get more season time.
I only paid $250, it's fun to shoot and doesn't cost much to practice with it (shoot, pull arrow, repeat - just like my bow). Overall - it's my best purchase this year.
I am happy you like it, I hated mine. At least you don't have clean it, like a ML. Just lube the rail and put it away. I mentored my nephew in Michigan with mine last year, he killed his first dear, a doe, and an new hunter was born. He got his own xbow, and got a nice 8 pt buck this year. I donated my xbow to a good cause, Outdoor Buddies here in Colorado. So all is well.
Kuiu Icon Pro with 5500 and 1800 bags. That and my $6.78 backpacking stove off ebay.
I'd also have to mention a 3D printer worked well for me this year. I made quite a few pieces of equipment. Some worked well, some didn't but either way it made the time between the draw results and season go by faster.
I started out with a recurve at 7,FF ...at 51, now ..this year I bought a bad ass 2 nd hand custom recurve.my old huntin skills have returned with a vengeance!! Being on the ground,blinds,stalking,face paint,seeing a deer eyelashes again...oh !!!never with the z7 brother!! Love my z7.but that recurve has made me the old school ninja I once was ..and it's a blast...
My new Sitka gear. Have never wanted to spend so much on clothing but after trying a few pieces ended up with most of the whitetail line and couldn't be happier. Love The fanatic and stratus line. Simply awesome. Also picked up a tahr which is also awesome for packing my clothes in to stand
Not just this year, but has to be ASAT camo for me. Most camo does not do much for you......this stuff does! Elk, whitetail and mule deer have all been confused by this stuff several times over the last three years. And my NO-Cam.
Two things I changed this year was I went to an Elite Impulse 34 and a sit and climb treestand that you can change the angle on while you are climbing, both work great.
New Primaloft liner jacket made by Browning. 100 grams of insulation. Super warm, super light, and super compact. My second Primaloft coat. 200 grams of primaloft insulation in some kind of nylon type shell. Actually is very quiet, very light, and very packable. So warm it is probably cheating to wear it while stand hunting. Browning jacket weighs 16 ounces. Primaloft coat weighs 27 ounces. A bit heavier but, it has been worn in temps down to 6 degrees above zro with 30 mph winds, and I stayed TOASTY setting for 10 hours. Less than $150 in both.
God Bless
So far, the guy with the 3D printer wins!
Gotta be my kuiu bino harness and FHF rangefinder pouch and tether
I didn't buy much new stuff this year
I 3d printed my own custom rangefinder holder that worked excellent as well. Sits above my S4 bino harness. Self fixturing and minimal movement to use it and it stays well protected.
Not exactly hunting gear but my best buy for my hunts was Honda 2000 generator. My advice after using one is forget saving a few bills on a knock off and just spend the money.
Alaska Guide Creations bino case.
A bow holder for inside a blind. The $8 one that you stick in the ground. Works great for my longbow.
Merino boxers...
Well and a new bow.
My new Hoyt Defiant. Got out of the speed game and my shooting has improved a bunch!
Kenetrek Mountain Extreme Boots
My third pair of Lacross Boots , just like the ones before , of which I still have , Flawless , comfortable , fair price .
I bought two different climbers this year, both worked, but the Lone Wolf hand climber ia the absolute best! My Kifaru Cylinder stove we bought this year worked a lot better than the box stove I bought last year. Burned longer and a lot lighter, about half the weight!
Hoyt Carbon Defiant 34, Carter Evolution release Nock 2 it release Victory Vap TKO arrows 4 amazing new things I've tried and used this year.
Has to be the new Rage +P broad head for Elk, or the new Hoyt Defiant. Close call their both game changers!
Leupold 15-30x Compact spotting scope, saved me miles of walking to determine if far-off deer were does or bucks...
A tree stand accessory belt
Only items I bought this year was the gamegear clothing tala line for my Kodiak Sitka blacktail hunt.. worked awesome as it's very tough and did great in the lovely alders and goose berries. Very versatile pattern as well.
Nock 2 It Release for me.
I, too, recently bought a Nock 2 It release but haven't spent much time with it yet. Glad to hear some guys are liking it. I, also, got the Silveback!
Wool Power, Ostersund base layer, and alaska guide bino case, that was plenty!!!
I have never had a trail camera so I took the plunge. Purchased two Primos Proof 2 cameras and tried one out overlooking the bird feeder in the back yard last night. Amazing what comes through the yard after dark..
Hamskea drop tine release and Hybrid Hunter rest.
I haven't actually got it yet but I ordered a variable length stabilizer that goes from 12" to 33". Works kind of like a telescoping paint roller pole. ( Crossroad Archery makes it.) Corey Jacobson recommended it.
My Vortex spotter or my Xpedition bow, a toss up between the two!
On a whim I tried the Vortex Doubler for binos. It is NOT a spotting scope, and there is definitely a time and place for me to justify hauling the extra weight of a spotter, but I was pleasantly surprised at the Doubler.
It weighs nearly nothing, but definitely makes a difference when trying to evaluate a deer or Barbary sheep (only two critters I've used it on so far) that are far enough away that 10x42 binos on tripod can't provide give enough detail.
It's a bit like sighting through a soda straw, as the field of view is really small, but as an example my daughter and I picked out 2 mule deer that thru binos all we could tell was they were bucks. With the doubler we could easily determine one was a good 4x4 and the other was a 3x4.
For backcountry lightweight trips where I'm not expecting to spend a lot of time behind a spotting scope, the Doubler will definitely be in my pack just in case I need to put it to use.
Salomon Ultra mid boots. Waterproof/breathable (for the first year), super comfortable, good support, great traction, good ground sensitivity but go support w/ 70 lb pack. I have narrow feet - it takes years to find good uns . Quite a bit other gear that's good, but boots matter every step.
Best new piece of equipment is a removable blade knife (e.g. Havalon)?!?!? I've used Havalon for over a decade since they first came out. I guess Pat's behind the curve with new gear LOL.
And oh yeah, they rock!
Leupold 850 i rangefinder
Mine was a SItka Fanatic jacket. I wasn't crazy about the angled zipper and it took a little getting used to, but the jacket ROCKS! >>>>-------->
FYI, Bass Pro has the boot blankets for $29.99 until the 16th.
Cabelas wooltimate clothing with thinsilate
so why is that Sitka jacket crooked. gimmick?
A Milwaukee heated sweatshirt, toasty! Also has a windproof liner. It was the perfect layering garment for a 12 to 22 degree hunt I was just on in IL with 25MPH winds.
'Bou the Sitka Fanatic (and couple other Elevated pieces) have a curved/angled zipper so that the pockets can join in the middle, making a muff/tube/kangaroo pouch that you can tuck both hands in together to keep them warm. So rather than two separate pockets with zipper down the middle like other jackets, the zipper goes around the left pocket opening.