Bargain gear for the poor or beginners and tight asses.

[Fatcamp]

I got the biggest chuckle envisioning a true hardcore hunter walking 5 miles to his McDonalds job, flipping burgers in Kennetrek's and Sitka. Not to go halfway, a night job corraling carts at the local Walmart finishes out the day, which is really convenient because that's where he lives in his car.

LOL. I love to hunt, but it is a part of my life, not the definition of it.

I read a fantastic GoHunt article today on backcountry gear. Really great insight from truly dedicated outdoorsmen. At the end the monetary total of the backpack in question was over $17,000. LOL. My F250, camper, and boat didn't cost that.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

From your original post, it seems like you’ve already been down the “cheap gear” route and seen the shortcomings. Don’t repeat it. That doesn’t necessarily mean buy the most expensive stuff on the market, but rather look for the “90% value” range.

Stuff like Zeiss Conquest HD or Meopta Meostar binos, Mountain Smith Mountain Shelter LT, Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon trekking poles, Sawyer Squeeze filter, BRS stove, etc. You’re searching for items that are pretty dang close to the best available at a significantly lower price.

As others have said, wait for sales, take your time buying a few items per year, buy used, and work with what you’ve already got. Don’t go buying stuff that’s marginally better than complete trash only to replace it again in a year or two.

I’d spend my money on boots first, optics second, clothing third, pack fourth, and sleep system fifth, assuming you’ve already got something that will keep you alive.

To me, it just seems foolish to head out with a $700 tag in your pocket wearing a pair of work boots that will give you blisters after the third mile and carrying binos that look like blue cellophane over paper towel tubes. Two guys that went on a CO elk hunt last year did those very things.

The bull my buddy ended up killing was outlined on the ridge close to two miles away for about 5 seconds. Having Zeiss and Leica glass allowed us to see him and make the decision to go immediately.

I’m not saying don’t go hunt if you can’t afford the best gear out there, but the stories of “no binos, wearing jeans, shooting an iron sighted .30-30” are generally the guys who grew up there, have all season to fill their tag, and know the area well.

 

[bmf0713]

I have been accumulating gear over the last couple years. I just purchased some lowa bighorn boots, I have a marmot sawtooth 15 that I like but just jumped up to a big Agnes Blackburn 0. I wanted a little bit warmer of a bag. All my hunting clothes are pretty much Sitka and SKRE. A seek outside Cimarron and lite outdoors stove is going to be purchased this summer sometime. I can always upgrade my glass I currently have diamondback 8x42 and prostaff 5 16-48x60 spotting scope I’ll probably work on that next year. I have Eberlestock dragonfly and x2 packs that are kinda on the heavy side but I like them. I was just kind of hoping for some reviews and on-site on other brands or models of stuff I haven’t heard of. I’m all ways up for trying new gear not just necessarily upgrading. I’ve heard of Meopta but never handle anything from them. I’m in Iowa so the only time I hear about new or different gear is from forums like this. They don’t carry a lot of the brands I’ve seen on hear at the big box stores just the big names.

 

[Wrench]

I bought my first pair of leica binos when I made $8.00 an hour. They were $800. I bought them from this guy working at Outdoor Sportsman in spokane. He was a dedicated bow hunter making about the same money and had a nasty scar on his face.

Dude's name was Dan Evans. You may have heard of him if you shoot a bow and don't live under a rock.

You don't have to be wealthy to have a good time. You have to have a good time to be wealthy.

Dan's been having a better time than me.

 

[fngTony]

Just because you can afford the most expensive doesn’t mean that it’s the best option for you. I’ve owned several pants from Sitka and kuiu one from skre. Now I’m pretty darn happy with the wrangler hiking pants.

 

[bmf0713]

I’m gonna have to check out those wrangler hiking pants. Didn’t even know they existed until a couple days ago. I just heard about them on here.

 

[fngTony]

I’m gonna have to check out those wrangler hiking pants. Didn’t even know they existed until a couple days ago. I just heard about them on here.

All the cool kids are wearing them.

 

[colersu22]

So everything else is junk other than kenetreks and Swarovski? And I should get a part time job to buy them? You are missing the whole point of the thread. I don’t need advise on how to save money. I can go buy kenetreks or Swarovski optics if I want. I just wanted to see what was out there for gear that maybe someone came across and found out it was good gear at a good price. I’ve already seen a few brands and pieces of equipment on this thread that I’ve never heard of before that I’ll probably look into purchasing. I can find all the info on a piece of gear I want by searching for it online. But that only if I have a brand and/or model to research. It’s always nice to see what else is out there. I came across the clothing brand SKRE when everyone else is wearing Sitka and Kuiu and I love my SKRE stuff.

I think you missed his point, seems like he is saying anyone can afford those things if they make it a priority, $4 a Day is nothing when I know people that spend 5.50 on coffee everyday. It is all about priorities and they are different for everyone. I started with cheap gear and now have more money in gear than I would like to admit but I saved money and made it a priority to upgrade everything over the past couple years. If someone tries to do it in a few months it is hard but over a year or two is not bad.

There was a thread that Ryan avery’s Wife started last year that was good for budget gear that works great that has a lot of good suggestions but I couldn’t find it when I searched. Floods thread that is 9 pages is another great one for budget gear as well.

 

[Molon Labe]

So everything else is junk other than kenetreks and Swarovski? And I should get a part time job to buy them? You are missing the whole point of the thread. I don’t need advise on how to save money. I can go buy kenetreks or Swarovski optics if I want. I just wanted to see what was out there for gear that maybe someone came across and found out it was good gear at a good price. I’ve already seen a few brands and pieces of equipment on this thread that I’ve never heard of before that I’ll probably look into purchasing. I can find all the info on a piece of gear I want by searching for it online. But that only if I have a brand and/or model to research. It’s always nice to see what else is out there. I came across the clothing brand SKRE when everyone else is wearing Sitka and Kuiu and I love my SKRE stuff.

At the end of your first post (the start of the thread) you said “buy once cry once...but some of us do not have that budget”. This was after you mentioned that you bought cheap stuff to only upgrade again and you wish you didn’t do that. I thought I would post a reply to help and answer your question based off my life experiences. Which is what people do on this site...

Take a read through my post again...you missed the point completely. I was explaining that everyone has that budget and the way to create that budget. But some people choose to spend their money on other things...you mentioned drinking earlier and a boat. Well obviously you do not prioritize hunting over those two things...so I think I was spot on with my post and title suggestion.

I never said or even came close to suggesting that everything else is junk other than Swarovski and kenetreks. I also never suggested getting a part time job. I picked those two items because I feel as if glass and boots are the most important pieces of gear. I feel they are the pieces of kit most hunters would want upgraded.

I only made a very good case as to why “I don’t have a budget for it” is a poor excuse to not own high end gear. And in the long run you may actually save money and frustration by just spending extra the first time.

If you don’t actually want to spend the money then I suggested a couple ways to get cheap gear at good prices.

Please don’t jump all over me for trying to help out with a question you asked.

 

[bmf0713]

I’m sorry if it sounded like I was jumping all over you. I was being sarcastic. My first post may have been misleading for what I was looking for in this post. I wasn’t looking for advise on how to buy expensive gear I was looking for examples of not so expensive gear that people have found good results with. For example fng4life just said how he’s had Sitka, SKRE and Kuiu pants but loves his wrangler hiking pants. I didn’t know that wrangler made such a thing and they are like $40 so now I’m gonna go buy a pair and try them out.

 

[Molon Labe]

No problem. Sarcasm doesn’t transfer well on the inter web.

Do check out Sierra trading post. Also rich ski town thrift stores can be gold mines...think Aspen or Jackson hole.

 

[colersu22]

Check out the Costco travel pants, I got a few pairs now and they are great for outdoor and can’t beat the price at around $20

 

[timekiller13]

All types of decent gear out there for less money. Cabelas Getaway sleeping bag. I got the 15 degree version. Weighs 2lbs 11 oz, packs down tight. Slept in temps in the teens and stayed comfortable with base layers. Paid $76. Wrangler hiking pants from Wal-Mart. $25 and great early season option. Cascade mountain trekking poles. Omni wool base layers from Sam's Club do pretty well. Mil-surp base layers have done well for me, too. Keep an eye on Camofire and you can get merino wool stuff for 50-60% off. Classified ads are your friends. I have a complete Kuiu Pack system, 6000 bag, 1850 bag, frame, suspension, hip pouches for about $300. Outdoor Edge replaceable blade knife, best $30 I ever spent. Allen game bags. May not be TAG or Caribou bag quality, but mine have held up through several deer.

Also, check out yard sales or garage sales. I have bought all types of stuff at yard sales. Sometimes, things aren't for sale unless you ask. I bought a 17ft aluminum canoe for $100 a while back. It was one of the one's that we always used at boy scout camp when I was growing up. Things are bullet proof. Saw it hanging the garage and asked if it was for sale. Guy said "Give me a $100 and it get it out of here." Also bought a Marlin 336 30-30 for $200 last year. I bought 3 recurve bows 2 weeks ago for $50. Two were old Fred Bear's and one Hoyt. I put new strings a them and shot them. Sold one Bear for $150, sold the Hoyt for $100 and I kept the other Fred Bear to play around with. My uncle bought a Cabela's Alaska Guide Frame with tags still on it for $20 at an auction last year. Dad bought a pair on Danner Pronghorns for $30. A little leather conditioner and they looked brand new.

 

[zeroforhire]

Best deal going on packs has the mystery ranch glacier model on sierra trading Post for $150. Maybe less with discounts.

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[fngTony]

I’ll second the Allen game bags. Paradox merino blend shirts. Omniwool was ok, a little thick and short for me but a good material.

Slumber jack bounty pack. Never tried it but a staff member here did a review a couple years ago.

Speaking of Sierra trading post there brick and mortar stores have become a waist of time (except to try on boots). Website still has some good stuff.

Back to the wrangler pants. It’s one of those products for someone starting for scratch that will substantially stretch their budget for big ticket items. Layer under for colder temperatures. It might not last like Sitka but it will get through several trips.

 

[bmf0713]

The first thing I do every morning is check out camofire. I have some of the black Ovis merino wool that I like. The short sleeve shirt is itchy as hell when I start to sweat though. Not sure if it’s because it’s a “blend” or what. That’s also where I just picked up that big Agnes sleeping bag. I like Sierra trading post too. I picked up an Eberlestock dragonfly for like $220 a couple years ago. I love the pack but is super heavy. That might be an item I upgrade next year. I got some ajillis game bags on amazon for like $18 that’s I’ve had a couple years and they are holding up. Also thinking about getting an outdoor edge blade changer I have a havalon and I break blades a lot and they are a PITA to change. That outdoor edge has that stiffer spine and probably wouldn’t break blades as much.

 

[bmf0713]

I’m gonna be getting a stove for hunting this fall and was looking for fire starters and came across SOL fire cubes. They were like $10 for 6 of them and a striker. Over the weekend I came across fire cubes made by Webber. They look like the same thing as the SOL ones but you got 24 of them for $4. Haven’t had a chance to try em our yet but they have good reviews. Can screw around and make my own for that kinda of money. My time is worth more than that.

 

[Fatcamp]

https://www.gohunt.com/read/skills/the-stoveless-backcountry-hunting-food-list

We are looking at this as an option. Save weight, money, and hassle. No hot coffee, though.

Have a couple stoves, and for later in the year would probably stick with them, but for early overnight stuff I think it's a solid plan.

 

[mfllood3800]

https://www.gohunt.com/read/skills/the-stoveless-backcountry-hunting-food-list

We are looking at this as an option. Save weight, money, and hassle. No hot coffee, though.

Have a couple stoves, and for later in the year would probably stick with them, but for early overnight stuff I think it's a solid plan.

What you say is blasphemy man just blasphemy and not tolerated in these mountains. No hot coffee- somebody get a rope.

I did the stoveless hunt one time and it is doable. It wasn't that hard. Mine was only 3 1/2 days though. I feel maybe I could've done 5. I did cheat and shot a grouse, and built a fire. In the end I didn't enjoy the whole experience as much without my food stove. I quit rising hrs before day light and take my time and drink my coffee, and then head out.

But to anyone wanting to try the stoveless set up- try it, it is not that bad . At the end of the day, I am hunting and trying to get meat. Heck if I had to I could live off berries.
I will say, ya better try all the food you're gonna take before you head out. Some of them food bars are just down right disgusting. Had I not pre tested the stuff, I may have died out there.

 

[sneaky]

What you say is blasphemy man just blasphemy and not tolerated in these mountains. No hot coffee- somebody get a rope.

I did the stoveless hunt one time and it is doable. It wasn't that hard. Mine was only 3 1/2 days though. I feel maybe I could've done 5. I did cheat and shot a grouse, and built a fire. In the end I didn't enjoy the whole experience as much without my food stove. I quit rising hrs before day light and take my time and drink my coffee, and then head out.

But to anyone wanting to try the stoveless set up- try it, it is not that bad . At the end of the day, I am hunting and trying to get meat. Heck if I had to I could live off berries.
I will say, ya better try all the food you're gonna take before you head out. Some of them food bars are just down right disgusting. Had I not pre tested the stuff, I may have died out there.

Wayment.... YOU actually hit a grouse? With your side by side?

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