Overrated Gear

[Str8shooter]

Boots.... Meindl, Oboz, Merell, Keen, Lowa, North Face. Boots from $150-$300. They blew out, lost waterproofing, or otherwise severely degraded all within one years use (2 for the Meindl). I spent so much money on REIs high end boots it was rediculous. Finally found Crispis, on year 6 with the same pair.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

Uncompahgre. I listened to one particular hunting podcaster, who works for a pack company, a few years ago describe it as a "furnace". Ya, not even close. It was cold as shit and heavy. I realized then that most of the podcasts are ran by dudes that have relatively little hunting experience, but they can no doubt sell shit.

 

[Redneck09]

Gaiters for most backcountry use. I mean unless you have bridges or stop to change into a complete water crossing setup (ridiculous in my area) every time you cross a creek. I use them in the winter but every other time of year they just keep my legs and feet wet.

And as if I haven’t rocked the boat enough with that one I will say waterproof footwear for any trip above freezing temperatures. Unless you are on well groomed trails or never have to hike hard or cross a creek. The only time I have ever gotten trench foot is with waterproof boots.

I switched to non waterproof boots and my feet have never been happier. No trench foot, smell less, and I just walk through rivers in them so it makes life way easier. I wear goretex boots for dry cold snow only.

 

[Redneck09]

Taiga out of Vancouver Canada makes strong ones with buckles that are easily replaced.

Might be your boot but also I have broken a few straps on rocky ground (mountain slopes and faces). Most likely would be better off not wearing gaiters for the majority of your hike/hunt anyway.

I got a pair of these OR gaiters and I used them on a backpack bear hunt this year, broke both buckles in the first 3 days. Pretty disappointed

 

[KnuckleChild]

Taiga out of Vancouver Canada makes strong ones with buckles that are easily replaced.

Might be your boot but also I have broken a few straps on rocky ground (mountain slopes and faces). Most likely would be better off not wearing gaiters for the majority of your hike/hunt anyway.

It was for sure smashing buckles on rocks the whole hike in and out. I’ve been hunting in Salomon boots and I liked the gaiters just to keep from junk getting hung up in the laces. I was using some of the short kenetrek gaiters for that but the straps kept coming loose and gave me more grief than it was worth.
Got some schnee’s beartooth’s in the Memorial Day sale that are taller, should be able to avoid the gaiters if not in snow.

I’m with you on the waterproof boots, in the summer at least. No membrane breathes better than mesh.

 

[JeffRaines]

I agree with the Vortex sentiment. Thing is, they don't actually make most of the stuff they sell... and this is what I try to get through to people - if they're just rebranding an item, and they're offering a no-fault warranty on said item, they have to be making a shitload of money on each one they sell otherwise it wouldn't be in business with all the shit they warranty. With that said, I'm sure the Japanese stuff they sell isn't bad as its likely made by LOW - but still overpriced because of said warranty.

It’s very breathable, I will give it that

After you mentioned pinholes, I'm not surprised

I'll ruffle some feathers here....TOYOTA.

Agreed. If you talk to the stans every other truck falls apart as soon as it leaves the lot. What they don't realize is that most people who buy vehicles don't have much trouble with them. Add in the fact that most people don't bother writing a positive review and now you have a pretty negative picture painted.

Special bars and powders that have magical nutrients

Just like hunting clothing. A couple brands came along, took something another industry has been doing for decades, slapped their name on it, made it a hunting brand, and upped the price significantly. Now every hunting yuppie has gotta have their "MTNOPS" suppositories. Do you even shit, bro?

Gaiters for most backcountry use. I mean unless you have bridges or stop to change into a complete water crossing setup (ridiculous in my area) every time you cross a creek. I use them in the winter but every other time of year they just keep my legs and feet wet.

The area where I go for early bear season(August) is filled with hitchhikers. The first year I didn't bother with gaiters and that was a mistake. Otherwise, I agree with you.

I will say I bit the bullet and bought two pairs of Kuiu pants for this season - not because they said Kuiu on them, but because of the hip vents. I looked my ass off for a non-hunting brand that offered the same thing and came up empty handed.

 

[trevvamos]

6.5 Creedmoor

 

[roosiebull]

6.5 Creedmoor

yeah, it is overkill for most hunting

 

[Brent21]

Completely agree with you. Anything anointed by the names Kuiu, Sitka, Eberlestok, Mystery Ranch, Swarovski, Browning, Kimber, Blazer, Weatherby, Tikka (etc, etc, etc) are totally overrated and certainly notworth the exaggerated cost.

What does Tikka have that has an exaggerated cost? There are some Olin your list that I would certainly agree with but I don’t think Tikka belongs in your list. JMO

 

[Thinkingman]

Just wondering how one of the best scopes in the Leupold line sucks? Curious to see the reasoning here.

All the stories about how Leupold replaced their failed scopes with a new one is enough to turn me into a Burris and Nikon (I know they're discontinued but I sure do like their 'nocs and scopes) consumer.
I try to buy stuff that doesn't have the replacement under warranty built into the cost.

 

[Thinkingman]

Many companies do that. I’ve read the old Leupold stories and I can confidently say they’re one of the best options because I personally use them (showing my bias, I know). I used to work for a pretty good size Outdoor goods retailer. We carried Leupold and Vortex primarily, and sold a lot of both. I am 100% honest when I say I never had a Leupold walk back into the store. Can’t say the same for Vortex, at all. Leupold is also made in the USA as far as their scopes are concerned. Glass quality certainly beats Vortex, Burris, Nikon, etc. across the same price point and matches the high end stuff like Nightforce. NF does have slightly better turrets imo but the Leupold ones are still completely reliable in my experience.

Leupold glass quality most definitely does not beat Burris and Nikon at the same price point.
My first 'good' riflescope was a comparison between a Burris Fullfield II and a Leupy VX-1 and it wasn't even close.
Same for binoculars....Leupold isn't even in the conversation when it comes to Beta and Alpha glass.
This is exactly how most Leupold conversations go....
Good luck with that stuff.

 

[Thinkingman]

Go pick up a VX3-HD and tell me it matches whatever Burris and Nikon are selling for around $6-700. Hell, even a VX-Freedom will lap whatever you put in front of it for under $400. Also, let me know if it’s made in the US by a staple company in the industry. I used to have Nikon everything. I switched to Leupold and will never look back.

I just bought a Burris Veracity FFP 3-15 after doing the research.
I just bought Sig Zulu 7 'nocs after doing the research.
The Leupold KoolAid is as strong as the Toyota Koolaid.
Have fun with your new replacement scope after your Leupy fails at a critical moment.

 

[Formidilosus]

If you mean the Mark 5 series, it's one of the best scope lines on the market.

Based on what?

 

[Formidilosus]

Build quality,

Based on what metrics? What use?

glass quality,

Based on what metrics?

reticle options. Made in the USA.

How does “made in USA” translate to “one of the best scope lines on the market”?

 

[amassi]

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[Formidilosus]

It’s made with high grade aerospace aluminum sourced from within the US. All the Leupold scopes are quite durable and reliable.

All 20 or so that I’ve used, not one made it more than a couple hundred rounds before losing zero. Nothing about them has been durable or reliable. No doubt the best Leupold varibles ever made, however…

It is also lightweight compared to other similar scopes. Turret construction is strong and reliable, zero stops work well. That has been proven by professional and recreational users.

How many Mark 5’s have you personally used for more than a few hundred rounds hard? Hard, as in scraped up, scratched.. used.

Glass has good clarity, allows in high amounts of light. Limited chromatic abberation, and most importantly it doesn’t get shitty to look through at higher magnifications.

And about every other $800+ scope does the same.

If you don’t think US manufacturing is better than overseas, I don’t know how to help you there. Of course it’s not always the case, but I’m spending my money here before I give it to a company who builds optics for pennies on the dollar then peddles them via marketing but touts themselves as a U.S. based company.

There’s nothing about US manufacturing that in and of itself is better than overseas manufacturing in lots of lines. Clothing, optics, rifles, vehicles, etc.

 

[amassi]

No one here is upset that you trust leupold products- because they don't have an emotional investment in them.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[Bump79]

Gaiters for most backcountry use. I mean unless you have bridges or stop to change into a complete water crossing setup (ridiculous in my area) every time you cross a creek. I use them in the winter but every other time of year they just keep my legs and feet wet.

And as if I haven’t rocked the boat enough with that one I will say waterproof footwear for any trip above freezing temperatures. Unless you are on well groomed trails or never have to hike hard or cross a creek. The only time I have ever gotten trench foot is with waterproof boots.

I switched to non waterproof boots and my feet have never been happier. No trench foot, smell less, and I just walk through rivers in them so it makes life way easier. I wear goretex boots for dry cold snow only.

Great point! I have been beating this drum for awhile. Everyone is convinced they need GTX boots. If it's dry (like the west is a majority of the time) then why are we making ourselves miserable. I'd love to see some of these light mountaineering boots without the liner and use a polypropylene (doesn't absorb water) construction with a wicking interior. That would be the bomb.

 

[Bump79]

My biggest disappointment was the Canis Chamois fleece top and bottom. Pretty disappointed in the quality, durability is atrocious and the zip off bottoms have a big seam right on the waist that just digs in. The material does breathe well but it is a very small % merino and offers little warmth at all. Less durable, less breathable, less warm than a Kuiu Peloton 97 for more weight. Add in a very very slow dry time (all nylon and merino) makes it a less than ideal active peice. I got it because I expected it to be durable (nylon) and I could beat it up more but that is not the case.

They clearly didn't do enough testing and rushed it to market then advertised it like crazy on social media. To top it off, they wouldn't post my review stating the issue. Pretty unethical for a direct to customer model. It's not a terrible peice but it's definitely not worth the money. I've heard good things about their other gear but I won't be supporting them.

 

[isItFallYet]

If you’ve used 20 plus of any optic and none of them have last more than a couple hundred rounds for you- either you’re mounting them to a horse drawn cannon or you can’t properly mount and maintain a scope. I don’t care if it’s a Vortex Crossfire.

As for my personal use of a Mark 5, I’ve used maybe one that fits the description you’re looking for. It was mounted on a friend’s Bergara HMR that he is financially able to use as a truck gun. It still runs great.

I personally have two VX5s that have seen some heavy punishment. One is on an 18” AR I built that is my main varminting rifle. Rides around in the truck uncased. It’s seen the dust, rocks, dirt, and plants of the SW NM desert many times and has 500 rounds or so on it. Runs fine.

My second VX5 sits on a Proof Research Elevation 6.5 CM. Only 200 rounds on it or so. It’s been bushwhacked with on three hunts now. One fall sticks out in my mind where I had my rifle in my left hand going down a slope. My feet slid out, sending my rifle into the dirt and a few rocks. All my weight landed on my left hand which was just forward of the action. So the side focus turret, elevation turret and left side of the gun took the brunt of it. Scratched and marred my action, barrel, and scope a bit. Shot 1000 yards with it later that afternoon in a quick zero check. It’s perfectly fine.

So I guess it’s going to upset you even more when I say I believe in all of Leupold’s products, so long as we’re comparing them to what you should expect at that price point.

Do yourself a favor and google “formidulosus + scope + test”. Pretty sure you won’t upset him. You may actually be quite enlightened. The dude has literally saved this community a lot of time and money by testing scopes in a way that a majority of us wouldn’t have the stones or funds to do otherwise.