15 to 16, what gear are you changing?!

[Daniel Bybee]

I'm going to do a complete overhaul on my bow, possible a spot hogg sight, trophy taker rest and 3 arrow tightspot quiver. Also debating on dropping down from my 15x bino and going to a 10x or 12x.

 

[Rockhammer]

This year I plan to upgrade game processing equipment.
Going from a .3 hp meat grinder to a 1 hp.
Changing to a larger capacity sausage stuffer.
Getting a higher quality food dehydrator.
Getting a better vacuum sealer.

 

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Since I have mule packing and backpacking I worked on both. Picked up razor HD spotter, new packable cot recommended by Robbie, new Luci solar lantern x2 very cool, new feed bags, new 6 gallon collapsible water bucket, several compression sacks, tire chains, cabelas magnum 44 sleeping bag, Davis tent cowboy bed roll, vortex bino tripod mount, now looking at binos and camera upgrades, oh and if az finally gives me an elk tag I'm going so tipi and tigoat stove. That's going to keep bald tires on my truck for a while. Lol

 

[gelton]

My kit is pretty much dialed in so now its replacing or updating the smalls. Replaced my Wyoming Saw with a Bahco Laplander saving a few ounces. Replaced my Gerber multitool with a leatherman skeletool to save a few more ounces. Ripped my OR Croc Gaiters so they will need replacing. Plan on maybe picking up a vest and perhaps a pair of pants but other than that I am done with gear for a while. Also going to try out some Black Eagle Carnivores to see how they shoot.

 

[PathFinder]

Swapped out my HS Precision PLR 300 WM for a Christensen Arms Classic 6.5 Creedmoor. Giving up a bit of range, but cutting 3 lbs of gun. If I find enough bone to pay for my tags and have 800$ left over I'll suppress it too. Going to a Paratarp to cut another 20 oz from my sleep system. Adding some kind of tripod mount for my rifle, haven't decided which one yet. Getting a pair of Lowa Tech Lite Hunters, but boots are a yearly thing anyway. Maybe changing up my 15x binos for something slightly different, but I haven't figured that one out yet. Going to have to get an angle compensating rangefinder for the archery hunts because Leica made an 800$ rangefinder with an inclinometer that won't feed me a true horizontal range. The rest of my pack, sleep system, clothing, and optics are good to go.

 

[alecvg]

Only a new Vortex scope for my .30/06. Not needed, but I have been wanting an upgrade, and have a .22/250 needs a scope, so I'll move the Leopold to that.

 

[TEmbry]

I'll likely pick up a WM Badger sleeping bag and a Hilleberg tent (leaning towards the Nallo as of now).

I have all the gear I could possibly need (a 2 person bomb proof packable tent is the only "need" for this upcoming season given the late fall Kodiak trip planned). I WANT a nice spotter, not sure if it's in the cards this summer or not.

 

[strand]

I'm actually trying to unload some gear from the cache to keep things a little simpler. It's no joke, the gear grab really can turn in to a disease. My gear room is also in the same unfinished basement room as my furnace/water heater, and gym. My gym is pretty simple, just a TDS power rack, barbell and plates, and a flat bench that I move around as needed. So not much stuff, but I'm running out of room in there. On the flip side, I added some 15's to my glass collection and committed to the switch to recurve hunting this year. I'll still be toting a .270 Win during rifle season, but I'll be with the stickbow on my archery hunts.

 

[1hoda]

FHF bino harness

 

[r7s]

I added a 10'x10' sil nylon tarp and a SOL escape bivy for the purposes of a throwdown camp if things are interesting toward the end of the day and I don't want to head back to camp.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

Moving towards a lighter setup for most backpacking trips.

Kifaru Markhor pack (no extras)
TarpTent Protrail
Sea-to-Summit sleeping mat
Enlightened Equipment 20 degree quilt
MSR Micro Rocket stove
MSR Titan Titanium pot
Aquamira drops instead of Katadyn Hiker filter
Vasque trail shoes instead of all leather boots

At some point in late September I'll probably break out heavier gear. Of course, there will also be trips with my kids where I'm loaded up like the Beverly Hillbillies.

 

[Matt21418]

-first pack - Kifaru bikini with AMR along with accessories
Just got a new spotter vortex razor 11-33x50
Just got a paratipi
Looking to get a smith cylinder stove
A first lite clothing setup
Just re did my bow with a 3 pin slider and tight spot and new drop away rest
Then gotta get some general gear water purifier, Garmin foretrex 401, rain gear top to match my kryptec koldo bottoms I got on sale, some better mountaineering style boots...and the list goes on.

This is my first trip out west to go hunting for elk, I am a gear lover and man this is a lot of fun hopefully my wife puts up with it all!!!

Matt

 

[westrnwild]

I actually sold more gear then I'll pick up this year..trying to find that sweet spot. However I did pick up a new EXO pack..going back country trout fishing for a few days next week to give it's first run..should be cold and slow but beats the couch...other then that I'm eyeing new binos and the fhf bino harness. Still sold more then I spent...first year ever..wife smiled alot

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Well this thread sure turned into a strangely unnecessary debate.

I am changing quite a bit. Swapping my old duplex for the new hunter frame with an emr2 and guide lid. Swapping my gen 1 kryptek dalibor for first lite corrugates. New boots yet to be determined by Lathrop and sons. Swapping first lite merino top for minus 33. Getting and AGC harness. Making another megatarp and a sheep tarp and bivy. New trekking poles yet be determined. Debating whether to get a new bow or just heavier limbs for mine. Running blackhawk serpa holster instead of my old one, no idea what it is but it sucks. Got the Swazi tahr that I am gonna try this year I think. Think that about does it.

These threads are pretty useful in researching new gear, as are the what worked and what didn't threads.

 

[justinspicher]

I picked a vortex tripod for my binos and a luxury lite cot. Swapped out my Kifaru HC 4800/7000 for a BT1.

My hunting partner and I are working on making more of our gear into team gear so we don't carry redundancy, it's a work in progress.

 

[twall13]

Swapping first lite merino top for minus 33.

It's interesting to hear you say that. I have a minus 33 top that I actually like the feel of better than my first lite llano. The fit is better on the llano and I absolutely love the thumb holes, but for the actual feel of the merino against my skin I prefer the cheaper minus 33. I'm still sticking with the llano for most stuff as the fit and thumb holes outweigh the slight difference in feel for me. Still, I think minus 33 is under rated merino.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

It's interesting to hear you say that. I have a minus 33 top that I actually like the feel of better than my first lite llano. The fit is better on the llano and I absolutely love the thumb holes, but for the actual feel of the merino against my skin I prefer the cheaper minus 33. I'm still sticking with the llano for most stuff as the fit and thumb holes outweigh the slight difference in feel for me. Still, I think minus 33 is under rated merino.

I fully agree the minus 33 is way more comfortable against the skin and stinks less.

 

[novaman64]

Have any of you guys tried the minus 33 boxer briefs? I have always worn underarmour, but my body seems to do way better with odor using merino base layers... Was looking at the minus 33, first lite and sitka merino boxers for hunting this year...

 

[Rockhammer]

I wear Minus33 Boxer Briefs and t-shirts every day. I threw away all of my cotton underwear a couple of years ago and have not looked back.

 

[Ben]

I picked up a WM high lite display model and some kuiu gaiters. I would like some new rain gear but will probably spend the dough on gas, tags, and maybe a truck canopy.