Gear hits and misses

[jzs0040]

Hits:
-Argali Carbon Knife
-Peax Headlamp
-Anything from Wiser Precision
-Sig Image Stabilized Binos, 16x42

Misses:
- bargain basement spotter ($300-400ish range), wish i would have listened to advice and waited to dump as much money as i could into a spotter. I don't even pack it around anymore, not worth the weight.
-Steripen ultralight (emphasis on the ultralight model, I have the adventurer battery powered one, works great and i'd consider that a hit) but i even read reviews about poor quality on the ultralights, bought one and it failed out of the box, wouldn't even run 1L before not holding a charge. not confidence inspiring enough for the backcountry.

+1 for the Steripen Ultralight sucking. I had the same exact issue. full charge, wouldn't even treat a liter of water before needing a recharge.

I had the classic model and had no issues but I wanted a rechargeable one. I'll be going back to the fat battery powered one.

 

[thomas3705]

Hit: Quality hiking boots (central Idaho). I used to spend money every year replacing cheaper boots (ex. Danner) that would split or start falling apart. - runner up is my Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter that has been rock solid for years.

Miss: Cheap packs. I did several backpack hunts with a SJK Bounty 2.0 pack, Horn Hunter, and even Badlands - all of which got the job done but was uncomfortable at best. I'm still frugal, but picked up a Metcalf on sale and it's been going strong for several years now. It has made a huge difference during pack outs.

 

[Sinistram]

Hits: Kenetrek Mountain Extremes - an absolute, unqualified game-changer; fleece handwarmer muff - bought on clearance somewhere for $20 and feel like an idiot I didn't buy one 20 years ago; Coast dual color headlamp - bought at Home Depot and has worked perfectly for many seasons; the hunting knife I made by myself from a kit - way cheaper than factory options, fun to do, and works well.

Misses: All the pairs of boots I bought before the Kenetreks - bunch of low/mid priced crap that got sent down the road; rangefinder - I've never actually used it to range a game animal, only to play the "guess how far away" game with myself and others. I finally resolved to stop carrying it about halfway through this hunting season.

 

[TetonRecon]

Hits: Sig 8K Ballistic Rangefinder, RRS SC-ARC, Leofoto Tripods, Suppressors, MDT HNT26, Atlas PSR Bipod, Kifaru Puffy jacket. OR Croc Gaiters

Misses: Cheap Pack and boots, Magview, anything Manfrotto, Vortex optics, Gunwerks Bipod, MDT GRND Pod.

 

[mtwarden]

Hits—Alpha Direct (or Evolve) insulated active mid-layers and vest; I'm sure something will come along eventually and replace it as king of the hill, but not right now. Spartan Precision adaptive system- quick change bipods, swapping binos/spotting scopes/rifle on a tripod—love it. Nalgene bottles- the old school, lightweight ones. The wide lid doesn't freeze shut like narrow mouth bottles; no danger of them splitting if you drop one, unlike many other bottles; the only bottle I trust to hold hot water and put in my sleeping bag on especially cold nights.

Misses—cold weather quilts (warm weather quilts are fine), I've gone back to sleeping bags for any temps sub 20's—way too many nights fighting drafts.

 

[turbo406]

Hits: Sig 8K Ballistic Rangefinder, RRS SC-ARC, Leofoto Tripods, Suppressors, MDT HNT26, Atlas PSR Bipod, Kifaru Puffy jacket. OR Croc Gaiters

Misses: Cheap Pack and boots, Magview, anything Manfrotto, Vortex optics, Gunwerks Bipod, MDT GRND Pod.

What did you not like about the grnd pod and the gunwerks bipod? Also how does that 8k perform in the snow?

 

[SodakJay]

Hits: darn tough socks, Kuiu super down pro puffy jacket and pants

Miss: the Klymit seating pad. Lasted about half a hunt and wouldn’t hold air anymore. It’s about as durable as cotton candy.

 

[Billdoe]

Hit my mystery ranch pop up pack

Miss was my klymit sleeping pad. Less than a week into a 2 week hunt and sleeping on a pad that held no air.

 

[TetonRecon]

What did you not like about the grnd pod and the gunwerks bipod? Also how does that 8k perform in the snow?

The grnd pod is just kind of heavy for a hunting bipod, and had wobbly joints. I guess I was just expecting a rock solid platform like the Atlas. The Gunwerks bipod had some wobble in it as well, and I never felt I could get the cant adjustment tight enough. I loved the legs and how they deployed. It has serious potential but needs refined. The SIG 8K has never had any issues in any weather conditions for me.

 

[turbo406]

The grnd pod is just kind of heavy for a hunting bipod, and had wobbly joints. I guess I was just expecting a rock solid platform like the Atlas. The Gunwerks bipod had some wobble in it as well, and I never felt I could get the cant adjustment tight enough. I loved the legs and how they deployed. It has serious potential but needs refined. The SIG 8K has never had any issues in any weather conditions for me.

Yeah my kilo 2800 about got flying lessons last weekend in the snow I couldn't range anything

 

[TetonRecon]

Yeah my kilo 2800 about got flying lessons last weekend in the snow I couldn't range anything

Well, better sell it on Rokslide! The new 8k handheld and 10k binos are MASSIVE upgrades. They’re not even in the same ballpark.

 

[turbo406]

Well, better aell it on Rokslide! The new 8k handheld and 10k binos are MASSIVE upgrades. They’re not even in the same ballpark.

How's the glads on the 10k gen 2? I wanted to go that route but my razor hds are soooo nice to look through, I spend a ridiculous amount of time in them coyote hunting. Might have to look at the 8k, almost bought a impact 4000 after the last derby that my 2800s failed me

 

[jmh9801]

Hit : definitely suppressor

Miss : Danner Pronghorns

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Hits: All my Browning rifles
Misses: Everything Vortex

 

[jmh9801]

Pulsar Helion XP38. It's been absolutely amazing. Found deer in places I NEVER would have thought to look. Especially in the dead of night.

-Stooxie

Just bought a AGM Taipan V2 15 for coyote hunting but I had thought about using it for finding deer if needed. Have heard about guys using thermal scanners to find Morels too.

 

[rcb2000]

Hit: a thermal camera for finding down deer. Best money I've ever spent.

Miss: the Butt Out... I just can't.... and it's really not necessary at all.

-Stooxie

Which model of thermal?

 

[handwerk]

Hits:
My 10 year old Leica Geovid HD-R's, still an impressive image and the RF hasn't missed a beat.
FL 308 pants, my new fav.
Miss: Swaro EL Range TA, certainly a nice optic but since I don't need the onboard ballistics and the RF is only so-so, I prefer my old Geovids.

 

[stooxie]

Which model of thermal?

I have a Pulsar Telos XP50. Had a Helion XP38 before that. Seriously a game changer for finding down deer. Or up deer, for that matter, i.e. when you're freezing your butt off, wondering if you should just call it a night. A good, sensitive, thermal will show you even the faintest heat signature through the smallest openings in the woods.

To me, it's the best feeling, when you shoot a deer, it runs into the woods, you pull out the thermal from your stand/blind to take a look, and, yep, there it is, bright yellow hot spot, coming from inside the tree line.

Of course, if they are deep in the woods, you gotta get in there, but the thermal makes short work of finding them.

-Stooxie

 

[Davyalabama]

I have a Pulsar Telos XP50. Had a Helion XP38 before that. Seriously a game changer for finding down deer. Or up deer, for that matter, i.e. when you're freezing your butt off, wondering if you should just call it a night. A good, sensitive, thermal will show you even the faintest heat signature through the smallest openings in the woods.

To me, it's the best feeling, when you shoot a deer, it runs into the woods, you pull out the thermal from your stand/blind to take a look, and, yep, there it is, bright yellow hot spot, coming from inside the tree line.

Of course, if they are deep in the woods, you gotta get in there, but the thermal makes short work of finding them.

-Stooxie

Part of that first paragraph will get you lit up in our state. I can see the second paragraph, but I wouldn't want it with me on stand, maybe back at the truck, while hunting during deer season.

Now this time of year, hunting hogs, I would love it with me. I wish I could afford a drone that had one, thermal, on it, that would be near for hog hunting.

 

[jmh9801]

Idk who mentioned it on here before But the Denali pants from Sam's are nice cool stretch and fit like pants should not like some of these new ones that look like they stole them from their girlfriend. When on Sam's club website I seen they had a pair of weather proof pants. They fit sam way as the other. I like them alot. They're thicker but very breathable and stretchy! Think they're my favorite of the 2. Cant speak as for actual durability yet but will soon be taking them out to pull trail cameras from last deer season and do some shed hunting. Also picked up some US B powered "Boot Dryers" and they fit perfectly in my boots they are 80 mm in size. Just got them today and already in a pair of boots I went out for hike / walk breaking in some new boots. They seem pretty legit. Can feel air blowing back out of the boot. Will see about how battrty consumption goes with it.