Gear investments, what do you regret?

[jt4]

Stone glacier pack. Bought it for sheep hunting but now it’s only used for day hikes. Not day hunts. Day hikes only.

Which one? Can you explain some of the downfalls and disappointments.


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[NUGGET]

Which one? Can you explain some of the downfalls and disappointments.


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I’ll post some pics and a write up tomorrow.

 

[prm]

Some Italian made leather boots circa 2005-ish. Don’t even recall the brand. They were terrible in every possible regard.
Tried a few brands before settling on Salomons. Bliss. Even tried a couple Crispi on a few hunts, but the Salomons are the one boot that leaves me completely comfortable start to finish on a backcountry hunt.

 

[Kevin Dill]

I saw this thread when it opened and really couldn't think of too much outdoor gear I regretted buying. Sure...small things maybe. Nothing big. Okay....the Swaro spotter setup was a mistake. Not because it was bad gear, but I just didn't see enough benefit from it to justify the price tag.

In 2011 I special-ordered a 2012 model GMC HD truck with the Duramax engine. Very deluxe truck and I loved it for all of a couple hours. Electrical issues. Water leaks. Sensor malfunctions. Glow plug failures left and right. DEF system MAJOR failures. If I ever owned a piece of equipment I'd classify as junk, it was that truck. I have never owned any one thing that caused me as much grief and nickle-dimed me to death. I don't tend to make rash decisions, but that truck (and a couple others) likely cost GM my business going forward.

 

[canyonhunter47]

1. Danner and Asolo boots
2. Vortex Summit SS-P tripod (the High Country Tripod surprisingly isn’t all that bad once you loc-tite all the screws)

 

[Ram94]

1. Danner and Asolo boots
2. Vortex Summit SS-P tripod (the High Country Tripod surprisingly isn’t all that bad once you loc-tite all the screws)

You’re saying you like the high country better than the summit SS-P? Any reasons in particular?


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[KineKilla]

Paid a ridiculous amount ($175ish) for some Sitka Coldfront GTX gloves when they first came out. Those gloves are the coldest POS's I've ever stuck my hands into.

 

[canyonhunter47]

You’re saying you like the high country better than the summit SS-P? Any reasons in particular?


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Several knobs and screws worked themselves off and disappeared into the forest and then I’m not crazy about the twist-lock legs. IMO it feels gimmicky. At least with the high country tripod you can loctite the screws without freezing up the adjustments

 

[rcdinaz]

Original Kuiu wool. I have a drawer full of 1-2 time used stuff. I just can't do the wool directly on skin. Kuiu is great stuff but I fell for how different this wool would be and just can't wear it.

Under Armor gloves, both the shooter finger and the fold back mits. Both have been terrible, not warm and the snaps, magnets etc, have all failed.

 

[NUGGET]

Which one? Can you explain some of the downfalls and disappointments.


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Ok I attached a few pics. Pic one is where the “frame” which is two poles keeps coming out. The white cloth is what one of them is wrapped in. The stitching has came apart that hold them in. This happened on the 2nd trip with about 30 lbs in it.

Next pic is other side that the stitching is still holding up for comparison:


And here’s a picture of what happened to my buckle when I snapped it in when it was -15 out. It broke off, it may have been colder out with wind chill:


I really really wanted to like the Stone Glacier. I bought my pack at the same time two other buddies bought theirs. None of use take them on hunts anymore. All had some type of failure the first fall out. For the weight savings it’s not worth it if it’s not going to last. This was 3 years ago and since then I honestly don’t know anyone that has the pack. I’ve went back to my tried and true and my hunting buddies have their favorite. Like I said though I still take it for day hikes every so often. I trust it enough for my puffy coat, snacks and water. But that’s about it honestly. And only on short 7 to 10 mile day hikes.

 

[ShortMountain91]

A 30 deg sleeping bag. If it's 30 degrees I want to be super warm in a 10 deg. If it's 40 or above just sleep with my 10 deg bag open.

A Savage rifle that wouldn't shoot worth a piss.

Sawyer mini filter. Flow drops to nothing in a day and I don't want to fight the filter for my water

Probably more that I can't think of right now. Helpful post though to help folks not make the same mistakes

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[ShortMountain91]

And an eggshell sleeping pad. Might as well sleep on the bare ground. Get an inflatable. Only good thing is you can cut it up into multiple sitting pads

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[YBPS]

6.5mm Creedmoor

 

[LightFoot]

6.5mm Creedmoor

Hahahahahahaha

>>>----JAKE----->

 

[Uncle Awesome]

I bought some trekking poles that were branded by a local outfitter. They repeatedly collapsed while I was using them. Bought some nice Black Diamond three piece poles for this year. They were a little more $$ but they weigh about half as much and won’t collapse.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Ok I attached a few pics. Pic one is where the “frame” which is two poles keeps coming out. The white cloth is what one of them is wrapped in. The stitching has came apart that hold them in. This happened on the 2nd trip with about 30 lbs in it.View attachment 174008

Next pic is other side that the stitching is still holding up for comparison:
View attachment 174009

And here’s a picture of what happened to my buckle when I snapped it in when it was -15 out. It broke off, it may have been colder out with wind chill:
View attachment 174010

I really really wanted to like the Stone Glacier. I bought my pack at the same time two other buddies bought theirs. None of use take them on hunts anymore. All had some type of failure the first fall out. For the weight savings it’s not worth it if it’s not going to last. This was 3 years ago and since then I honestly don’t know anyone that has the pack. I’ve went back to my tried and true and my hunting buddies have their favorite. Like I said though I still take it for day hikes every so often. I trust it enough for my puffy coat, snacks and water. But that’s about it honestly. And only on short 7 to 10 mile day hikes.

Damn, that’s a real bummer. You should contact SG and see if they’ll take care of things for you. Been using SG packs exclusively, for all my hunts now, going on 6 years and zero issues. Give Kirt a call, I’m sure he’ll make things right.


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[FHT_365]

I bought 2 things that I regretted a lot. First thing was a badlands 4500 backpack. Next thing was a pair of Irish setters elk trackers. Pack was too heavy and boots gave me blisters. Used once and stored away in the garage. To be honest, I have no clue where the Irish setters are.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

You're really missing out on the full value of buying a Stone Glacier in my opinion. The Customer Service is second to none. That frame would have been warrantied for sure. And that buckle, they have others available such as the auto lockers, that are a bit beefier as well. I know thats your own personal experience and regret with that piece of gear, but had to say something that might help you.


I really really wanted to like the Stone Glacier. I bought my pack at the same time two other buddies bought theirs. None of use take them on hunts anymore. All had some type of failure the first fall out. For the weight savings it’s not worth it if it’s not going to last. This was 3 years ago and since then I honestly don’t know anyone that has the pack. I’ve went back to my tried and true and my hunting buddies have their favorite. Like I said though I still take it for day hikes every so often. I trust it enough for my puffy coat, snacks and water. But that’s about it honestly. And only on short 7 to 10 mile day hikes.
[/QUOTE]

 

[Roksliding]

Solomon Quest 4DX or whatever they call those turds.... worthless, 1st hunt they leaked just walking through post rain vegetation, they leaked so bad it reminded me of wading in the creek with tennis shoes as a kid. Then the sole started to peel off which eventually got caught on something on the way back to pick up causing me to take a digger, but don’t worry my bow sight broke my fall......All in the first morning of hunting I ever wore them. they pi$$ed me off so bad I had to fight the temptation of throwing them out the window on the highway... got to camp and apologized to my crispis for ever considering another boot..

Someone told me I could get ahold of Soloman and they would exchange them.... ha yeah like I wanna experience that again, no I put them in the trash where they belong

 

[bsnedeker]

You're really missing out on the full value of buying a Stone Glacier in my opinion. The Customer Service is second to none. That frame would have been warrantied for sure. And that buckle, they have others available such as the auto lockers, that are a bit beefier as well. I know thats your own personal experience and regret with that piece of gear, but had to say something that might help you.


I really really wanted to like the Stone Glacier. I bought my pack at the same time two other buddies bought theirs. None of use take them on hunts anymore. All had some type of failure the first fall out. For the weight savings it’s not worth it if it’s not going to last. This was 3 years ago and since then I honestly don’t know anyone that has the pack. I’ve went back to my tried and true and my hunting buddies have their favorite. Like I said though I still take it for day hikes every so often. I trust it enough for my puffy coat, snacks and water. But that’s about it honestly. And only on short 7 to 10 mile day hikes.

[/QUOTE]

My 2 cents: I appreciate great customer service, but if I have to keep contacting a company to fix stuff it's not worth it to me, especially on something as critical as a backpack. I have a buddy who had the same experience with his SG, had one season with it and it's falling apart. He just saw the light and ordered a Kifaru.