I use the marsupial enclosed bino harness and have no complaints. Not has easy to grab the binos one handed compared to my buddies standard version but I like the added protection. Doesn't feel bulky or in the way at all. Added the ranger finder pouch and bow hangers which also work great...
+1 on the Nitecore NU25. I'm already bringing a battery pack to keep phone/gps charged so not worrying about AAA batteries is nice. It's so light it can still be a great back up if you end up needing something with more lumens or longer battery life.
I bought a pair of Lowa Camino boots last summer and probably have 300 miles on them. Never had any break in issues, and no issues with waterproofing so far. They are a little stiffer than the salomon quest boots I used prior to these, and worked great carrying ~40lb pack.
Lot's of good suggestions here! Using a pack liner instead of a pack cover is a change I wish I would've made sooner. Something like trash compactor bags or nylofume bags work well. Simple and cheap.