Gear Tweeks

[kaboku68]

Every year new stuff comes out. There is a balance of keeping the stuff that works and then adding new stuff that replaces old or adopting new types of gear. I am just wondering if people have tweeks going.


I know that this year I went with the Minimo jetboil and I love it because it would simmer and cook my goat meat with teriyaki powder. I liked the performance of my 26 Nosler but I didn't like that it caused quite a bit of bloodshot meat. I will have four possible replacement rigs. 2 are in the safe, 1 on layaway and one on order.


Great deal on the older discontinued Leica geovid. Going to try that.

What are other folks up to?
with Black Friday, all kinds of stuff is possible.

Sincerely,
Thomas

 

[PathFinder]

Sleep System :Cutting weight again. Going to a Kifaru Paratarp to cut 14oz out of my sleep system.
Weapons: Selling my HS PLR and going to a CA Carbon Classic 28 Nosler, running a reticle instead of turrets. That will cut out 3+ lbs. Optics: Adding a doubler for my 15x Euros. Ditching the last of my vortex optics.
Boots: Probably going to get some Hanwag trappers or Kenetrek mountain extremes for hunting, my Hanwag Alaska are a bit on the light side for heavy loads.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've been in constant gear tweak mode for the past 35 years. But the last 5 or so I've been pretty happy with most of my gear that I use. I do need to find a good replacement for my Microtex Lite pants for early archery season. They're wearing out and Cabela's doesn't make them anymore. The biggest hassle is trying to find them long enough, otherwise it would be pretty easy.

Other than that, I'm pretty well set on gear.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

There's a point, I've found, where your pack weight is what it has to be. I'm also always thinking of practical and efficient ways to reduce pack weights with gear replacements or modifications.

What I've found, at least with my own style, is that I get my dang pack weight down to Spartan and then balance somewhere a little heavier than bare minimum for a few nice to have items.

I've got my system down to about 50-lbs (60-lbs with camera gear), plus whatever food weight adds.

For me the only way my pack will get lighter is either through innovative foodstuff or a personal injury that changes my body's tolerance for pack weight. I seem to commonly weigh in about 75-lbs with food included for most 10-day trips.

I've also found that starting weight is not as important as return weight with an animal. I try to pick foods that can be tossed safely in Nature to reduce my outbound weight. This practice requires some planning to have provisions at base camp (or vehicle), but it also is a quick way to lose 5-7 lbs (or more depending on when you tag out)...which is more practical for me as a weight reduction attempt.

Today's gear is lighter, and there will soon be a time when technology hits a wall of weight loss. We are getting there pretty quickly. I predict less than 5 years we'll have reached the maximum weight savings on gear purchases.

The things I would like to see lose weight in the industry: Food, optics and backpacks. Weapon weights would be great but we're reaching a limit with accuracy performance in spartan weights.

Just my thoughts.

 

[5MilesBack]

The things I would like to see lose weight in the industry: Food, optics and backpacks.

Food is a tough one, as the lighter it gets....the less calories it has for the most part. I always wonder why there's such a difference in calorie count for the Chicken Alfredo meal at the local restaurant at 2000cal versus the Chicken Alfredo MH meal at ~575cal, when they are about the same size of meal. Why can't they make 2k calorie dehydrated meals??

As far as packs and optics go........I think we're already about as low as we can get without getting serious performance losses. A sub-4lb pack that can haul 100+ lb loads is already pretty decent. And if you want good glass, it weighs more.

 

[charvey9]

I am always looking to cut weight, but the last few years have really started to get things refined.

This was the year of the shelter for me, but I "think" I'm good to go for awhile. Jimmy Tarps DT for short summer trips, Hilleberge Enan for mid-late season short solo trips, and Seek Outside Cimmaron for longer trips with 2 people. The only thing I may look to add this year is a 5 person Tipi in case another buddy ever wants to join.

I also experimented with a few different ultralight stove options, but settled back into a Jetboil Sol Ti cup with the Ruta Locura kit.

I continue to look for good warm weather boot/sock options. My feet sweat too much, and that is the only time I get blisters. Best system I've found so far is Lowa Uplanders and Darn Tough Coolmax socks. Altera Alpaca socks have also proved good for a slightly thicker sock option. Kennetrek non-insulated boots don't come out until the temperature dips below 40, and the insulated version are relegated to late season sits.

The one thing I am really looking for a is a quiet puffy for bow hunting. I'm pretty sure the "swoosh" sound of my SD jacket cost me a shot opportunity this past season. I may have found the ticket with the Sitka Celsius jacket, but it comes in at 33oz which is pretty heavy. I am hoping they offer it in solid colors next season, and I'll find a way to work it into my system.

 

[tttoadman]

I picked up a tarp to go over my copper spur for late season hunting. I tried a tarp nest combo from six moons, but I have never liked anything as much as the CS2 for usability.

I love my gatewood cape for spike shelter and nice weather. I got rid of my onmi-raven bivy, and will replace it with a full net top.

I am waiting for a giveaway sale on the thermarest prolite plus 1 1/2" pad. I have resorted to my old thermarest prolite 1" pad because I can't stand the noise that comes along with all of the lightweight air pads.

I finally retired my snow peak giga stove after 18 years and got the jetboil flash-lite. really liking it so far.

I picked up some Viper 10x42 binos and a AGC cub bino pack. absolutely love these. Spotters aren't for me, and this setup with my super light tripod works fine.

Picked up a Tikka-T3 .270 with a Vortex 4-16. Love this thing, even though the vortex died and and is being replaced.

The only thing I really need is insulated boots for late season. I am doing a lot of watching, but I am coming to grips that it is 4-5 bills to get what I need. I will just need to suck it up before next year.

I have a Kifaru Gen 1 duplex with a MTN Warrior bag. I will spend this coming year comparing it to my SG Solo to figure out how to best use both setups.

This reminds me of the thread from last year "what worked and what didn't" or something like that. Very helpful feedback from everyone on every type of gear imaginable.

My Brother and I are already committed to a ID deer and elk hunt next year. I keep telling my wife I "think I have everything I need". She just laughs.

 

[charvey9]

I am waiting for a giveaway sale on the thermarest prolite plus 1 1/2" pad. I have resorted to my old thermarest prolite 1" pad because I can't stand the noise that comes along with all of the lightweight air pads.

I've heard this a lot, and experienced it also, but after you break them in that crinkle noise goes away. I've got some time on my NeoAir Xlite, and it is just as quiet as my old prolite. I'm not sure the point that the noise went away, but I just remember realizing one night that it wasn't noisy any more.

 

[husky390]

I picked up a Sitka Kelvin Lite and Kryptek Vidar vest, will probably get a better pair of 8x bins this Spring along with a new BA Qcore in long/wide.

 

[jtw]

Switched from a MR Metcalf to an EXO 3500 and lost a few lbs in the process. Also I wore the FL Kanabs pretty much all season, last year I wore Eddie Bauer Guide pants, which I still like but the wool smells a lot better after a week of hunting. Over the next year I'm looking to get my sleep system on a diet.

 

[5MilesBack]

I continue to look for good warm weather boot/sock options. My feet sweat too much, and that is the only time I get blisters. I ALWAYS wear a good poly liner sock and then Merino socks under my boots. The liner socks wick the sweat to the merino socks and when I take my boots and merino sock off, the poly socks feel pretty dry. This year I went an entire week with just those two pair of socks. I'd take the merino socks off at night and they'd be dry by morning.

The one thing I am really looking for a is a quiet puffy for bow hunting.

I rarely ever wear my puffy's when I'm actually moving on a hunt, but the KUIU Kenai is considerably quieter than the SD jackets.

 

[camelcluch]

I think I'm stepping into a kifaru pack this year. The Tahr is just about as close to my dream pack (right now) and will be ordering one after Christmas. I also got a quilt for next year just tired of being all tangled in my bag.

 

[MTarrowflinger]

I think I'm stepping into a kifaru pack this year. The Tahr is just about as close to my dream pack (right now) and will be ordering one after Christmas. I also got a quilt for next year just tired of being all tangled in my bag.

What kind of quilt? I have a few and have noticed a sewn foot box isn't much better than a bag...

 

[durangobrad]

What kind of quilt? I have a few and have noticed a sewn foot box isn't much better than a bag...

I have to disagree with this. I switched from a mummy bag to an enlightened equipment quilt with a sewn in box. I am a side sleeper and frequently flip 180 during the night. I would wake up all tangled in the mummy bag and this has gone away 100% since the switch.

Loved my exo 3500 this season.

switched to one of the 25 gram ultralight cheapo stoves from china and it worked without a hitch for 50+ boils.

 

[husky390]

I have to disagree with this. I switched from a mummy bag to an enlightened equipment quilt with a sewn in box. I am a side sleeper and frequently flip 180 during the night. I would wake up all tangled in the mummy bag and this has gone away 100% since the switch.
.

I'll second this. Love my EE Revelation.

 

[IanF.]

charlie9 - You may want to try injinji liner socks to keep your feet happier with your sock of choice on top (I'm a darn tough fan).

I picked up a jimmy tarps late season and dropped 5 or 6oz and increased performance and after a season worth of trips in my western mountianeering megalite sleeping bag I'm pretty happy with it. Before my last trip I bought a MSR windburner and am blown away at the performance, my snow peak served me well, however the MSR is almost unaffected by wind, less fuel per boil and no change in boil times till the bitter end

Switched to synthetic game bags (caribou) - super impressed mother aren't going anywhere but always in my pack.

Ian

 

[badkneesbro]

I'll second this. Love my EE Revelation.

Im in for 3

 

[camelcluch]

What kind of quilt? I have a few and have noticed a sewn foot box isn't much better than a bag...

I went with the EE in a wide/ long. I use a wide pad and that should give me some extra room to move.

 

[motts]

The one thing I am really looking for a is a quiet puffy for bow hunting. I'm pretty sure the "swoosh" sound of my SD jacket cost me a shot opportunity this past season. I may have found the ticket with the Sitka Celsius jacket, but it comes in at 33oz which is pretty heavy. I am hoping they offer it in solid colors next season, and I'll find a way to work it into my system.

I have the Sitka celsius and, while it is totally silent because of the fleece facing, that sucker is heavy and bulky. I picked up the Kuiu kenai during their sale and have been impressed with it so far on the handful of hunts where I used it - not as quiet and not as wind resistant, but certainly quiet enough, far more compressible and lighter. The celsius may be relegated to treestand hunts only, or I might sell it; I haven't decided yet. I also found the fit of the celsius to be a little tight in the shoulders and across the back, whereas the kenai fits very well, dare I say almost perfectly. Both are size large.

 

[Jcberg]

Kuiu Kenai jacket became my favorite piece this year! Order a size larger though. Upgraded my spotter to the 65mm Vortex Razor and loving it so far.