Gear is great, BUT you need to get in the field!

[Aron Snyder]

You may take things with a grain of salt, but others DO NOT and will spend money based on what others have said on the forums.

Maybe I'm not making myself very clear, but JG and others seem to understand what I'm saying. I'll go ahead and spell it out as clear as I can.

If you've used a product for 3 days, feel free to post about that product, BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU'VE ONLY USED IT 3 DAYS!

When someone asks about what's the beast fire starter is in wet conditions, but you've only built a fire in dry areas with yours, THAN POST THAT YOU'VE NEVER BUILT A FIRE IN WET CONDITIONS, BUT LIKE YOURS SO FAR!

If asked what tent is best for high wind, feel free to reply with the experience you have with your favorite model! Just make sure you add the amount of windy days that you've had the tent in the field.

Another good example would be the Hilleberg Akto. I have used the Akto a ton, but have started using the Soulo and Anjan more than the Akto. The reason for this is the amount of snow and wind that the Soulo can take when compare to the Akto and the amount of extra space I get with the Anjan when compared to the Akto.

So when asked that question, I make sure and mention the highlights of each shelter, what conditions I would suggest using each shelter in, and of course, what experience I have with each.....instead of just saying "the Akto is a bombproof shelter".

So if you ONLY had 3 days of field use with the Akto, but it was a blizzard for those three days.....than post away, as that 3 days probably told you A LOT about the shelter

So I'm not asking people to stop posting unless your a "pro" or have 100+ days in the field! I am asking for people to give a quick description of what type experience they do have with that particular piece of gear.

Pretty simple to me!

Settle down no need to get excited. I don't have a problem with you or anyone on Rokslide. I am only posting my thoughts on a topic brought up. I only said pro because that's what I am getting out of this post. Unless you spend 235 days a year in the field and all you do is hunt you can't give your opinion on something. This is a public forum and your going to get a lot of people at different levels. I like others take everything on here with a grain of salt and can make up my own decisions on the gear I spend my money on.

I mean you guys are making it sound like you have to wear an item out before you can say anything about it.

 

[Aron Snyder]

I consider greyghostnw a friend and agree with what he's saying, but he's also from the west and tougher than woodpecker lips!

A guy coming out west for his first hunt will not have the same luxuries as we do. He/she will need the most info they can possibly get from as many people as they can (trial and error sucks after a 20 hour drive).

i think this site is great and take some and leave some...... in the end personal trial and error to yourself is the best. i only use anything on the internet to lend another voice to what i may or may not think. i have found my own trial and error has made me stronger and a better person in the mountains. it is cool to see others views and opinions of items and what works for them. i still choose to learn the hard way, its costly but at least i made my own path..........

 

[Aron Snyder]

Settle down no need to get excited. I don't have a problem with you or anyone on Rokslide. I am only posting my thoughts on a topic brought up. I only said pro because that's what I am getting out of this post. Unless you spend 235 days a year in the field and all you do is hunt you can't give your opinion on something. This is a public forum and your going to get a lot of people at different levels. I like others take everything on here with a grain of salt and can make up my own decisions on the gear I spend my money on.

I mean you guys are making it sound like you have to wear an item out before you can say anything about it.

Please read my last 2 posts and that will explain things better.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Alrighty then.....

I'm stepping away from this thread now Gotta hit the gym and then green mountain for cardio....gotta keep my "pro status" up!

Just kidding, but I do hope my explanations on this subject are making some sense. We just want to get the best info out as we can and make Rokslide the best place it can be!

Thanks Everyone!

 

[crazy_davey]

Aron, I agree with what you are saying and the way you would like to see Rokslide stay, good info from guys/gals who have actually used the gear... I would like to see it continue that way as well. Far too many websites out there with thousands of teens sitting in mom's basement telling you all the best about certain gear or firearms when they don't have a clue or any real experience... It gets very tiresome.

One thing to be careful of is the experts who write for magazines, do gear reviews or have TV shows or guys/gals who get paid to hunt(directly or indirectly). I am a moderator on Canadas largest firearms website and I see it all the time. Guys promoting the gear companies that pay the bills or guys who get free gear for them to advertise and promote on TV, magazines or the web. It can be a slippery slope, some of these so called experts will promote and tell you all the great things about certain gear or products without hardly any experience with it, and even if the experience is extensive but not totally positive they still give it great reviews as they pretty much have to.

Something to think about...

 

[robby denning]

So I'm not asking people to stop posting unless your a "pro" or have 100+ days in the field! I am asking for people to give a quick description of what type experience they do have with that particular piece of gear.

Pretty simple to me!

I think that is clear as you can make it!

 

[justin davis]

Makes sense too me. I call it the "couch" hunter. Lots of talk from behind a computer screen but not alot of actual experience.

 

[Mtnboy]

Seemed pretty clear to me from the start, and I appreciate what your trying to do.

I have to say that part of this thread made me laugh, earlier this year when Aron posted a bunch of hunting pics I actually thought it was weird that the guy who is in photos in the Vortex ads was posting pics with Swaro stuff haha! I'd say all optics get a fair shake around here...

 

[idig4au]

If you read the posts on this forum long enough, you know who is a creditable source of intel and who isn't. I take the others with a grain of salt.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

This whole thread is pretty entertaining. It seems like this whole infatuation for gear has hit the hunting world harder than other aspects of the outdoor industry. I'm not sure if it's the hint that better gear equates to higher success rates or what but for the most part the general feeling is if you don't have high end optics, backpacks, sleeping bags, etc then you aren't a "respected" hunter. No amount of money can buy you general experience. Not just experience with a certain product or during a specific time of year, but days on the trail, nights under the stars in all weather conditions and seasons. Sure certain products make our time in the woods more enjoyable, but can be relied upon too much. Ever spend the night in the woods with no shelter or bag on purpose? Sure you may have plenty of nights above tree line sleeping on a rock ledge in your $800 DownTek sleeping bag and $1500 ultralight, European made tent and been absolutely comfortable in blizzard conditions, but general experience might suggest that camping on a rock ledge above tree line when the barometric pressure is dropping is overexposing yourself in the first place. Anytime I start to taste that Kool-Aid I remind myself that the Natives have killed far more animals with nothing more than a sharp rock on the end of a stick. Just my $0.02

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

This whole thread is pretty entertaining. It seems like this whole infatuation for gear has hit the hunting world harder than other aspects of the outdoor industry. I'm not sure if it's the hint that better gear equates to higher success rates or what but for the most part the general feeling is if you don't have high end optics, backpacks, sleeping bags, etc then you aren't a "respected" hunter. No amount of money can buy you general experience. Not just experience with a certain product or during a specific time of year, but days on the trail, nights under the stars in all weather conditions and seasons. Sure certain products make our time in the woods more enjoyable, but can be relied upon too much. Ever spend the night in the woods with no shelter or bag on purpose? Sure you may have plenty of nights above tree line sleeping on a rock ledge in your $800 DownTek sleeping bag and $1500 ultralight, European made tent and been absolutely comfortable in blizzard conditions, but general experience might suggest that camping on a rock ledge above tree line when the barometric pressure is dropping is overexposing yourself in the first place. Anytime I start to taste that Kool-Aid I remind myself that the Natives have killed far more animals with nothing more than a sharp rock on the end of a stick. Just my $0.02

One of the coldest nights I ever spent was next to a fire without a sleeping bag. I killed a bull that night and ended up not getting done with field care until close to midnight. Dad and I still joke about how cold that night was and how we never want to do it again.....

 

[bigeasygator]

I just wanted to chime in and say I completely agree with this thread. There are definitely some armchair quarterback that seem like they know what's best in every situation without ever being in those situations. I know it's been reiterated a ton of times, but the point is that you should qualify your statements with a bit more detail than just saying "X is the best" or "Y is the greatest." Tell us why and give some real world examples to back it up!

Does that mean you shouldn't post without spending excessive amounts of time in the field with your gear? No, I don't think that's what it means at all. I'll give you an example. I posted a thread on setting up my new Kifaru Megatarp in the yard and trying out a new Big Agnes sleeping bag in that same yard. Did I comment on how the Megatarp did in rain or wind or how easy or hard it was to set up in the field? No. I only posted it to give a feel for how much space it provides (something you don't need time in the field to comment on). With the sleeping bag, I bought it because the Western Mountaineering bag I used on a high country mule deer hunt the year before was too restrictive, especially because I like to sleep on my side. I bought the Big Agnes because the integrated sleeping pad slot and size of the bag intrigued me and I thought it would allow me to sleep on my side and stomach easier. This is what I showed in the post and this is what I commented on. I didn't say how the bag packed or how it handled the temps, only that my initial trial in the yard showed me I could toss and turn without the bag rotating or sliding and overall it was way less constrictive. These are examples of features that I thought other people would like to know about that you don't necessarily need to pack equipment into the mountains to comment on.

Anyway, it's like anything else...take any advice with a grain of salt and the important thing is to get experience with gear on your own! I've taken many recommendations (even from some of the experts on this site!) that I found didn't necessarily work best for me for one reason or another. That's part of the problem in my opinion...everyone wants to feel like they are right. At the end of the day, there is no "right" answer to a lot of this and what suits one person may not suit another, so don't feel like any bit of advice is the end-all-be-all as it relates to gear. Get experience and please share that experience with others on here!

 

[boom]

You may take things with a grain of salt, but others DO NOT and will spend money based on what others have said on the forums.

Maybe I'm not making myself very clear, but JG and others seem to understand what I'm saying. I'll go ahead and spell it out as clear as I can.

If you've used a product for 3 days, feel free to post about that product, BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU'VE ONLY USED IT 3 DAYS!

When someone asks about what's the beast fire starter is in wet conditions, but you've only built a fire in dry areas with yours, THAN POST THAT YOU'VE NEVER BUILT A FIRE IN WET CONDITIONS, BUT LIKE YOURS SO FAR!

If asked what tent is best for high wind, feel free to reply with the experience you have with your favorite model! Just make sure you add the amount of windy days that you've had the tent in the field.

Another good example would be the Hilleberg Akto. I have used the Akto a ton, but have started using the Soulo and Anjan more than the Akto. The reason for this is the amount of snow and wind that the Soulo can take when compare to the Akto and the amount of extra space I get with the Anjan when compared to the Akto.

So when asked that question, I make sure and mention the highlights of each shelter, what conditions I would suggest using each shelter in, and of course, what experience I have with each.....instead of just saying "the Akto is a bombproof shelter".

So if you ONLY had 3 days of field use with the Akto, but it was a blizzard for those three days.....than post away, as that 3 days probably told you A LOT about the shelter

So I'm not asking people to stop posting unless your a "pro" or have 100+ days in the field! I am asking for people to give a quick description of what type experience they do have with that particular piece of gear.

Pretty simple to me!

crystal clear..well written bud!!

 

[Lukem]

Pretty sure that pic is photoshopped.

 

[Rent Outdoor Gear]

Good post Aron and good perspective for all of the members (even the experts) when you consider when and where a lot of this gear gets used. I can't help but wonder, if everyone's profile had real names attached, would it help keep some folks more accountable for what they say? I think the anonymity of the internet fosters that sort of behavior...

It might be harder for some less experienced folks to ask simple questions (having their name attached), but it might help protect them from getting a stupid answer...

Thanks for speaking up Aron. I think it's important to protect the environment we have here on Rokslide - it's obviously made for a lot of loyal members.

 

[jherald]

I can see why a some people wouldn't use their real name on a public forum and maybe use a nickname or a forum moniker, be it privacy reasons, anonymity or otherwise. And for most people having their real name on here wouldn't be such a big deal at all. I would agree it would create a level of accountability on real world experience and gear use.

You can also reel back to the days of before the internet and instant search where the best, latest, greatest, tried and true and anything in between was only available for review in a outdoor magazine or newspaper column. Then you had people from all walks of life and skill who would believe what they read and go out and buy the gear reviewed in the magazine or column, or maybe they thought it would augment gear they already had or maybe they thought it would be an upgrade to their current gear or, maybe they just read through the article and said no, the gear I have works, I know what works from experience and I'll stick to what I know for myself what works and what doesn't. There were those that would read and buy into those outdoor magazines and newspaper columns and there were those that didn't. Much like the internet forums of today. And those writers of those articles in the hardcopies back in the day surely took flak when they were full of BS and everyone knew it because their name was on it so it kept "most" of them "relatively" honest about it.

This is a great forum overall. There is a lot to be learned from here. Lots of good people with great experience and knowledge. Stid, Moffats, Aron Snyder, BitterrootBulls to name a few. People like them make the forum fun and informative along with others who post experiences and use with gear they have. The forum can give you the educated options to weigh in on when you decide to upgrade your gear or try something new. There is a lot of time, effort and thought into what a lot of people are posting about on here. Especially with the video reviews, photo heavy postings and write-ups, articles.

 

[Jager]

I can't believe there are 6 pages on this topic, people need to enjoy life a bit more I think instead of concerning themselves with what everyone else is doing.

So what if someone operates under a user name that is different to their real name, it is usually done under the idea of 'FUN', anyone ever heard of that concept?

Lighten up.

 

[justin davis]

Another aspect you have is the ego driven posts. A lot of guys love pictures. Myself included. But posting a bunch of pictures doesn't make you an expert. You know what I'm saying? You could have a guy who spends the same if not more time in the woods but doesn't have any pictures to prove it. That doesn't mean he has no credibility.

I think there is a lot of that on the Internet. The drive to try and impress others and show you are a great hunter etc etc. that's the wrong stance. It should be to share and help others out. Not a di@$ off.

There are a couple types of guys.

1.) Guys that post photos/advice to help others and share

2.) Guys that post photos/advice to pat themselves on the back in an effort to make people think they are a hero.

3.) Guys who don't post much because they don't care what people think. I know a handful of guys who are amazing hunters. Kill animals and big animals year after year. Yet you would never ever see a pic of them.

I think that's where some guys go wrong. They get so caught up with trying to make a name for themselves or prove themselves.

 

[TEmbry]

I love posting pictures and sharing stories cause the memories are why I hunt.

I don't live out west so I don't spend every weekend in the back country, but I have my fair share of experience outdoors. I've come to take most gear posts with a huge grain of salt, from both newbs and vets. It cracks me up some of the stuff I take afield and find success with that others would have you believe isn't fit for a third world country savage to hunt with. I've read reviews on how junky a tent is that I've used for a 12 day stint on Kodiak which is some of the most brutal winds around. I try to get near the top in gear, but don't have the best because the return on your money from that point up isn't worth it in my opinion.

I appreciate gear reviews if nothing else for pointing me to gear/companies I may have never even heard of. But I hit the forums for the hunting stories, tips, and advice. I go afield to hunt and kill animals, not to be cozy in a camp somewhere.

 

[Dinkshooter]

I just walked down Lake Shore drive with pack ____ , with 50lbs in it, boots______, and pants____...... Never mind, I wasn't wearing pants.



Hardcore!