DIY Gear Mods: What’s Your Most Rewarding Upgrade and Why?

[michealtrovo]

What’s the most rewarding DIY gear modification you’ve done, and how did it improve your tool’s performance or usability?

 

[KyleR1985]

DIY bino harness I made based off of a post in the DIY section here.

Can’t find thread, but it’s 2” wide elastic webbing, doubled over, with slots sewn in for binos and rangefinder. Then a single 1” elastic band loops over back of 2” webbing behind you, up to your bino lanyard. Regular ole adjustable click buckle under armpit.

Weighs nothing, nothing sticks out past front of your binos which is great for archery.

Only downside is no dust cover, so riding atvs or some other dust creating activity while hunting leaves you cleaning glass.

I’ll see if I can hunt the thread

 

[Decker9]

I actually think the orange strings on my pack zippers are still the best lol. Pretty much every time I reach for a zipper I smile because I can see it.

 

[Davyalabama]

I hope this turns into a good thread!

The one I use the most --- I was able to get very thick 3" webbing, cut it to 3.5 feet, folded over the ends and sewed to make a loop, used an old protector sleeve, put heavy carabiners on each end, attached to my 36qt cooler, attached a key ring multi-tool to it (I will always have a knife and ... close by, the multi-tool comes in handy at the beach)-- so much easier carrying than holding onto two handles, leaves room for carrying other things.

Just to state why I did it -- To get down to our beach is 35' drop, we do have steps --- end of the day - one trip, 9' fabric umbrella, two beach chairs, wife's bag, towels, and an igloo 36qt. cooler still with ice and drinks, one 60 year-old man. Now, I could buy one of those fancy "yeti" types, but have you all lifted those things? They weigh too much before you even load anything in them.

The other diy, I bought some red film at Am$%^&, but this over my headlights for riding trails and roads to and from stands and to get me closer when turkey hunting.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

DIY fire starters. They work every time in every condition. Life is too short to hunt cold.

 

[MuleyFever]

DIY fire starters. They work every time in every condition. Life is too short to hunt cold.

All right. I am proposing a new rule. If you post an awesome DIY you need to tell us how you did it.

 

[nnmarcher]

I added hip vents to my Prana Zions and they remain my favorite pants for any hiking/hunting.

Adding hip vents to pants

I recently added some hip vents to my Prana Zions and they came out pretty well so I thought I'd share since I see many people talk about adding them to Sitka pants. There are a few comments floating around the site about this, but I didn't see a specific thread in the DIY Gear Modifications...

rokslide.com

 

[Fireflyfishing]

All right. I am proposing a new rule. If you post an awesome DIY you need to tell us how you did it.

Fair enough.

Supplies:

• Egg carton
• Drier Lint
• Wax (order perifin wax blocks from amazon)
• Stainless steel bowl and pot to make a double boiler
• Optional: Wax iron for skis or snowboards.

Instructions:

1. Collect egg cartons (paper/carboard construction, not plastic) and lint from your clothes drier.
2. When you have quite a bit of drier lint filling up the egg cartons, you’re ready to make up a batch.
3. Melt the wax in your double boiler or use the wax iron. The wax iron is slower, so I prefer the double boiler.
4. Pour the wax evenly into the carton cups over the drier lint. How full you fill the cups will determine the longevity of burn time of your fire starters. I usually go over half to 3/4 of the cup. This will get you a burn time of 10-15 minutes/fire starter.
5. Cut each cup and store where and however you like.

I keep a full bag of these (18 or so) in my camper. I then have a couple (two is one, one is none) in my outdoor backpacks, snowmobiles, truck, etc. I light them with the trusty Bic lighter with the safety device removed from the flint wheel…because who wants to deal with that with cold hands.

With the burn duration of the fire starters, you can get a fire going when it’s wet and/or snowy outside. However, you still need to know how to build a fire for these to work in those conditions. You can’t just set them under a wet log and expect great results.

Lastly, this is not my idea but I have used it extensively and they work great. I got this off a Cliff Grey YouTube vid.

Another hack I discovered for a fire starter is using a charcoal chimney. You can shove a bunch of kindling sized twigs and branches in the chimney vertically. Throw a piece of newspaper or a brown paper bag under there and light it like it was charcoal. Once the fuel is cooking well, pour it out and you have yourself a fire. I use this one at home in backyard fire pit or at base camp.

Only a fool uses gasoline to light a fire.

 

[4090Sharps]

Probably this bino harness. It's ugly, but terribly useful.

I Hate Stretchy Fabrics - New Bino Pouch

It looks like a face. The sort of "meh" face I have about this project. I wanted to build myself an enclosed binocular harness to hold both my rangefinder and pocket binoculars, and since I love my Marsupial harness, used that for a base to build off of. Materials: 6lb XPE Foam Home-dyed...

rokslide.com

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Buy a book for knot tying and learn a bunch of knots. I have like five different books on my book shelf for tying knots. DIY uses with rope and webbing galore. Knowing how to tie a proper knot in a bad situation may just save your life.

 

[MNbucknutz]

Stelth stips on all my gear. simple but amazing how quite it makes stuff.

 

[justinspicher]

I repurposed an old chest rig into a bino harness. It took some time with a seam ripper and a thread and needle, but I am happy with how it came out. I can hold as much or more than any other bino harness I’ve tried, but without the bulk. I’d like to eventually attach a cover for the binos.

 

[Macintosh]

Most rewarding? I stocked my favorite shotgun to fit me, using the perfect piece of wood. All it took was 10 years or so of teaching myself how to both fit myself and build it, and working up my ability and knowledge, deciding exactly how I wanted it to fit and handle, keeping an eye out for a piece of wood with the right characteristics, and then building it. The result is that no matter how off-guard a bird catches me, the gun hits exactly where Im focused without having to think about it at all, and the balance and handling of the gun feel just right, handy and light weight without feeling whippy.

Most-used? Probably replacing metal zipper pulls on packs with cord, to go from “jingle bells” to “ “ when creeping around in the woods.

 

[Carr5vols]

Velcro straps on pillow and pad...made sleep so much better.

Also made my own Rick Young Bino Harness...super easy and free.

 

[TaperPin]

One of the simplest sewing projects that makes life easier are basic bags sized to fit specific items. These three bags (there’s a fourth on the other side) hold a Nalgene bottle, MSR white gas bottle, and Goretex pants. The fourth that can’t be seen is another Nalgene pocket on the waist belt next to the bear spray. I’ve never used the rain pants as a rear shooting bag, but no reason it wouldn’t work - usually while hunting it’s inside the pack and not strapped on the outside. The main bag was moved down so it hangs low like a lumbar pack and the top is barely above the orange bags, and the belt and shoulder straps were retrofitted from a full size pack.

I like a baggy outer shell and just hem the arms so they don’t get in the way and the lack of constriction around the wrists makes putting it on over a number of layers much easier, not to mention it breaths better. Pants hemmed to the correct length stay cleaner, are cooler in the heat, and don’t add bulk when worn under rain shell or gaiters. The green bag is for food and has some compression straps sewn on so it’s less squishy when strapped on the pack - eventually it was replaced with a custom sized longer/skinnier bag that strapped on the side.

The gun sling is a simple piece of flat webbing sewn at the length it’s used, so no adjustment needed and it weighs nothing. The stock was shortened 1/2” for ideal length of pull.

My polypropylene 1/4 zip shirts that are almost always worn have custom sized pockets sewn at a diagonal exactly where a folded topo map goes. The binoculars have a dust/rain cover attached to the binocular straps that folds out of the way.

Essentially anything that needs to be tweaked should be customized to fit or work better. That was way back in 1990 - today my sewing machine is better, but all those modifications are still as worthwhile today as they were three decades ago.

 

[CAM_D]

I actually think the orange strings on my pack zippers are still the best lol. Pretty much every time I reach for a zipper I smile because I can see it.

I did the same on my k4.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I am all about DIY gear. I made a bag for a kifaru frame a few years back that I was really proud of, but right now my favorite is probably a DIY rick young style bino harness I made with sone 1/8" elastic cord and an ITW GTSP cordlock. It's honestly fantastic. I have always hated bino harnesses (at least when hunting here in the east) but I also don't like the pressure on my neck from a simple lanyard. The elastic harness is perfect.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I actually think the orange strings on my pack zippers are still the best lol. Pretty much every time I reach for a zipper I smile because I can see it.

I only add orange pulls on one side of my k4 so I can quickly get to my FAK and so can anyone else that needs to find it in a hurry.

 

[Oldrifle]

Man, I'm still stoked about the trigger job I did on my CZ 75! Went from 5lbs to 2.5lbs and it's like butter now! Accuracy's way up and it's just more fun to shoot. DIY win!