Final Gear Review

[Indiana_headed_west]

Going out to Colorado for first time Archery Elk. We've previously tried rifle but with no luck. Would appreciate a review and any thoughts on my pack list.

 

[BDRam16]

I definitely wouldn’t rely on a Swiss Army knife as my only meat cutting tool. I personally wouldn’t take bear spray in non-griz country. I would get better rain gear based on locals on here saying it’s basically a swamp in the mountains right now. Also, why two sleeping pads? Looks like a pretty solid list though.

 

[Indiana_headed_west]

I definitely wouldn’t rely on a Swiss Army knife as my only meat cutting tool. I personally wouldn’t take bear spray in non-griz country. I would get better rain gear based on locals on here saying it’s basically a swamp in the mountains right now. Looks like a pretty solid list though.

Appreciate the review. I've got a havlon and a fixed blade ESEE. Yeah, I just read the a thread about that. Definitely have to rethink that.

 

[BDRam16]

Appreciate the review. I've got a havlon and a fixed blade ESEE. Yeah, I just read the a thread about that. Definitely have to rethink that.

Of course the second you say that I go back and see it lol.

 

[Indiana_headed_west]

I definitely wouldn’t rely on a Swiss Army knife as my only meat cutting tool. I personally wouldn’t take bear spray in non-griz country. I would get better rain gear based on locals on here saying it’s basically a swamp in the mountains right now. Also, why two sleeping pads? Looks like a pretty solid list though.

Extra Sleeping Pad:
Last year my buddy and I went during rifle. The sleeping pad I brought got a hole in it and couldn't patch it. It was in the 20s and 6 inches of snow on the ground. I've never been so cold in my life and don't plan on it again.

 

[BDRam16]

Extra Sleeping Pad:
Last year my buddy and I went during rifle. The sleeping pad I brought got a hole in it and couldn't patch it. It was in the 20s and 6 inches of snow on the ground. I've never been so cold in my life and don't plan on it again.

Gotcha. Now that you changed your name I see you’re a fellow Hoosier lol.

 

[Indiana_headed_west]

Gotcha. Now that you changed your name I see you’re a fellow Hoosier lol.

Haha yeah. Great place to be from and live but a long haul from where a lot of my interests lie.

 

[IdahoElk]

WET WIPES! I won't go into the backcountry without them.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Things I would change, didn’t really look to add. Have fun and good luck!
- Ditch bear spray
- would not want my only water filtration to be a bottle filter, at least take tabs as back up
- replace bear bag with regular dry bag and hang food
- wouldn’t bring the bag liner, they are a pain, just wear puffy layers
- carry one pad and good patch kit. Yes that sucks what happened but the likely hood of it happening again is slim and it’s earlier season, don’t pack your fears… also pine boughs, the deflated pad and anything else you can stick between you and the ground (pack) will do in a pinch
- leave the saw at truck
- doesn’t say what’s in emergency kit but 2lbs seems heavy

 

[Indiana_headed_west]

WET WIPES! I won't go into the backcountry without them.

Thanks, I've got some XL ones that some packed small and sealed. I'll add them to the list.

 

[TL406]

I’d absolutely ditch the extra pad (bring it but leave in the truck) and bag liner. 15-degree bag and your mid layers will be fine. As someone else said, don’t let one bad deal make you neurotic and over-pack. Bear sack and bear spray can stay home too. Those four things will lighten you up dramatically. I’d also have storage capacity for bare minimum of 3L of water plus the 1L filter bag, water almost for sure won’t be in short supply around you but that’s just my rule of thumb.

 

[Indiana_headed_west]

Things I would change, didn’t really look to add. Have fun and good luck!
- Ditch bear spray
- would not want my only water filtration to be a bottle filter, at least take tabs as back up
- replace bear bag with regular dry bag and hang food
- wouldn’t bring the bag liner, they are a pain, just wear puffy layers
- carry one pad and good patch kit. Yes that sucks what happened but the likely hood of it happening again is slim and it’s earlier season, don’t pack your fears… also pine boughs, the deflated pad and anything else you can stick between you and the ground (pack) will do in a pinch
- leave the saw at truck
- doesn’t say what’s in emergency kit but 2lbs seems heavy

Thanks for the review and I appreciate it.

-Tablets are part of the emergency kit
-Have considered and will explore further
-Bag liner is a play by ear and I should throw it in the weather dependent
-Oh buddy great point but very hard mentally after how cold it was
-Emergency kit weight should have been updated, killed a pouch that was pretty heavy. Tourniquet, signal mirror, Firesteel, water tablets, tinder, pen, fieldnotes, compass.

 

[Indiana_headed_west]

I’d absolutely ditch the extra pad (bring it but leave in the truck) and bag liner. 15-degree bag and your mid layers will be fine. As someone else said, don’t let one bad deal make you neurotic and over-pack. Bear sack and bear spray can stay home too. Those four things will lighten you up dramatically. I’d also have storage capacity for bare minimum of 3L of water plus the 1L filter bag, water almost for sure won’t be in short supply around you but that’s just my rule of thumb.

Thanks for the insight. I take it a lot people just hang in the backcountry?

I've been kicking around getting something else for water, just the overpacking came to mind.

 

[TL406]

Thanks for the insight. I take it a lot people just hang in the backcountry?

I've been kicking around getting something else for water, just the overpacking came to mind.

Ya, hanging is the easiest. I’m more worried about chipmunks chewing up my gear than bears, chipmunks are a pain. I usually run a 3L cnoc dirty bag threaded to my filter plus a 3L bladder/hose and a 1L smartwater bottle (for shaking up liquid IV and preworkout). Unless it’s a backcountry base camp, then I take a 10L MSR bag to leave at camp.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

I would leave the solar panel behind and just use your pre-charged power bank to top off your devices as needed. I have the 7 watt version of the Nomad panel and have been thoroughly underwhelmed by it.

You have two sets of binos listed. If you're hunting thick timber, the 8x32's would probably be a better choice. If the terrain is mixed or mostly open, I'd take the 10x42's. Either pair will work, but I definitely wouldn't take both.

 

[sndmn11]

I also would not take both pairs of binos.

 

[Dos Perros]

I'm skipping rain gear on a CO high country hunt, unless the forecast is effed. Hasn't killed me yet!

 

[Gapmaster]

Extra Sleeping Pad:
Last year my buddy and I went during rifle. The sleeping pad I brought got a hole in it and couldn't patch it. It was in the 20s and 6 inches of snow on the ground. I've never been so cold in my life and don't plan on it again.

Tenacious tape will fix just about any hole in a sleeping pad barring on a huge rip. Take an alcohol wipe from first aid kit wipe it good blow it dry and tape that mug up. Got one that’s been taped up 2 years and still isn’t leaking. Leave extra pad in truck for sure.

One thing about it. If you go again next year, you’ll leave quite a few things at home you thought you needed on this trip. Guaranteed.

 

[JDB9818]

As said already, ditch the bear spray. You shouldn't need bug spray by the time you get here. Mosquitos are pretty bad in the high country until around mid August, then they seem to be gone.

I hate the sleeping bag liners. I've tried them before and they are pain to get into and out of and they aren't worth it to me. Just sleep in your base layers if you are adding a couple of degrees of warmth and if you are trying to keep the bag clean.

I always pack a rain jacket for those afternoon Colorado storms but I don't bother with the pants. I'm actually a fan of gaiters if I know it's going to be wet, keeps my pants from getting soaked from the bottom up.

Good luck with your hunt! Nothing like the high country in September, whether you're seeing elk or not, great time to be outdoors.

 

[Indiana_headed_west]

I would leave the solar panel behind and just use your pre-charged power bank to top off your devices as needed. I have the 7 watt version of the Nomad panel and have been thoroughly underwhelmed by it.

You have two sets of binos listed. If you're hunting thick timber, the 8x32's would probably be a better choice. If the terrain is mixed or mostly open, I'd take the 10x42's. Either pair will work, but I definitely wouldn't take both.

Interesting to hear about the panel. I'm going to so some test next couple days on the power bank, but definitely will rethink the panel.

Yeah only be bringing on set. Had it on there twice b/c I'm borrowing the 10x from my brother.