2025 Gear victim thread

[NealMustard]

We're all breaking, replacing, and tinkering with our gear all of the time. What failed in the field for you this year? This doesn't have to be limited to the hunting season (although I break more gear in August/september than the rest of the months combined.

I'd prefer if people stuck to an answer format like the following.

Item:
Did the company warranty the item:
Would you pay MSRP for it again:
Other/Explanation:




Item: Goal Zero flip 36 battery bank
Did the company warranty the item: No, Wouldn't even consider it.
Would you pay MSRP for it again: No
Other/Explanation: This was the second goal zero battery bank that I had fail. I don't think it's water damage since I keep my battery banks in a water tight bag while in the field.

Item: Black Diamond Distance Z poles
Did the company warranty the item: No, they said it was wear and tear
Would you pay MSRP for it again: Yes
Other/Explanation: I absolutely love running poles for hunting, but at this point I think I've sworn off Black Diamond as a company. After a year of summer/fall use one of my two poles failed in multiple ways, while the other is still holding up just fine. They gave me 30% off coupon code to buy a new set of poles. I'll likely just swap to LEKI poles.

Item: Stone Glacier SQ2 Gaiters
Did the company warranty the item: Yes
Would you pay MSRP for it again: Yes
Other/Explanation: I'm not terribly picky when it comes to gaiters. I think most gaiters would've failed with what I put them through.

Item: Stone Glacier Grumman down jacket
Did the company warranty the item: Yes
Would you pay MSRP for it again: Yes
Other/Explanation: After years of abuse the down finally got to a point where it wouldnt hold loft after a couple days in the field. it outlasted my other puffys and saw significantly more abuse due to being my only good insulated jacket.

 

[bigunit]

Had a couple spypoint lm2 cell cams that quit working. They sent me upgraded replacements so I can't complain.

 

[Wheels]

Vortex Ranger 1500 rangefinder quit working on the 2nd day of my elk hunt. Had to drive 2 hours to town and buy a new rangefinder. Sent it in for warranty work when I got home.

 

[Machingeaneer]

Item: Redwing 8" Moc Toe Boots
Did the company warranty the item: They probably won't and I don't think I'll try
Would you pay MSRP for it again: Yes
Other/Explanation: I've had these for over 6 years, I've already worn the soles off them once and had them resoled/ reconditioned. I found out during a thunderstorm on opening day that they are not as waterproof as they once were. Then I walked in them a whole bunch after that in various states of dampness and tore up the insides pretty badly which gave me blisters. Lots of moleskin and duct tape got me to the end of the week.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Item: Nightforce 7-35x56 zero-stop clutch (new scope too)

Did the company warranty the item: The turnaround time wouldn't be quick enough for me to have it back before my coues hunt in 5 weeks so I will be sending it in after that's done. They said they'll fix it up.

Would you pay MSRP for it again: I didn't pay MSRP for it to start with but I'd get it again (from my limited usage of it so far)

Other/Explanation: Basically the first time I went to set the zero-stop, it bound up badly to the point it's unusable. After talking with the guys at NF (who were very helpful) they determined that it's something they will have to fix. It was nothing I did, they said it's likely the internal threads for the zero-stop clutch were galled from the start and that I couldn't have broken anything.