Share Your “Gear of the Year” Winners For 2025!

[hunthikecamp]

Cheap Timberland Mount Maddsen waterproof boots. $109. They last me about 3 years of gentle sea island hunting and scouting. Comfortable out of the box. Lightweight and keep my feet dry.

Not a boot I'd use when packing heavy loads on rocky terrain. I have Crispis for that. But heading to Hellhole Swamp trails or Edisto coastal forest to scout or stand hunt, I always grab these.

My Lowas finally bit the bullet after last season and a combination of procrastination and being a cheapskate led me to pull these out of the back of the closet. They worked great and I'd put these on my list also. I used them from summer scouting through archery and the CO rifle seasons. Sitting in temps below 15 or 20 and I noticed their limitations, but otherwise I was impressed.

-Sitka Ambient 100 hoody - I'm sure there are cheaper options out there but this has been a great layer, very capable over just a base layer, and if you layer up on top of it it was comfortable on a few single digit morning hikes and sits.

-OnGlass - I don't digiscope a ton but for a minimal intrusion setup that you can quickly get on the glass to snap a pic, this is great. Paired with the zulu6 and its

 

[ThorM465]

Which biltong fat slabs are you getting? Seen some with fat on but none straight fat

These are the ones with the fat slab on the edge kind of like a strip.

 

[Davyalabama]

They’re great for certain applications. I use them for uphill skiing and active use in wet snowy situations. They’re not the warmest but great at that the same time.

If I’m stationary or inactive my fingers get cold quick.


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Well, crap, that's not going to help me. Oh well, try them once, send them back if they don't live up to my expectations. I need them for stand hunting. I'm stationary for hours.

 

[Mike Islander]

Well, crap, that's not going to help me. Oh well, try them once, send them back if they don't live up to my expectations. I need them for stand hunting. I'm stationary for hours.

For really cold weather I use cheap wool gloves. Work fantastic. I put cheap leather mittens over them between uses if necessary. Worked for -13 degrees in WY on an antelope hunt.

Fox River Men's Mid Weight Ragg Glove​

NORTH STAR Men's Tan Deerskin Chopper Mitten (Unlined) 025T​

If it's not terrible outside, I use these wool mittens that fold back to expose your fingers as necessary. A thin wool glove underneath makes a great combination.

HOT SHOT Men’s The Sentry Wool Fingerless Pop-Top Mittens​

 

[roosiebull]

I didn’t get much new gear this year, pretty much same stuff as last year besides a few small things. The only couple things that are new and stood out this year were the origin GTFO mountain pants, they are my new favorite early season pants… also the new outdoor vitals pursuit hybrid fleece became an every day item as long as it wasn’t dumping rain, pretty worthless wet, but great fit and very versatile everywhere else.

Another small but useful item was the sofrin HS22 headlamp, I have been using a couple Fenix headlamps, but the flood setting on the sofrin is the best I’ve used, and like it for covering ground in the dark, you can see what you need to really well, but it doesn’t cast a beam that will get anything’s attention unless you walk into a herd of elk or something (only scenario I bumped critters wearing it) since it showed promise, I decided to just use it and see if it survives, and so far has… I have used it in dumping rain quite a bit, and put it away wet, and it’s sat in a wet pack a lot, and still going… time will tell, but it’s impressive for the money.., going to try to find a better headband for it, that’s the only downfall, it’s a crappy headband

Sig Zulu 6 12x, they are a cool optic. I didn’t use them a lot, because my wife claimed them pretty quickly, but I used them a few days during archery season. I still have a hard time taking my NL out of my harness to use them, but I did a few times when I was not going to be glassing far for sure. If I don’t pack a tripod, the Zulu 6 are probably a better choice, and they are light

Besides that, I shot a different bow this year, arrows, bugle tube, and killed my first elk with a mechanical (2 different heads just because) but none of that will stand out, they all work fine, i just like trying stuff

Next year will be a little more of a gear year, I’m going to get my daughter a suppressed AR in 6arc, have a new swfa 3-9 waiting for it, going to get the new exo and buy the longest stays for my current k4 and turn it into a dedicated hauler when helping others, I won’t get my hunting pack nasty during season, and it’s not bad to have a good backup

I’m sure I’ll buy some other stuff too, because that’s what I do

 

[ThorM465]

Well, crap, that's not going to help me. Oh well, try them once, send them back if they don't live up to my expectations. I need them for stand hunting. I'm stationary for hours.

Merino Wool Fingerless Gloves
+
Northstar Glomitt

I used this combination in WY glassing in the 20s and hiking in the teens. It'll handle any AL tree stand sit.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Merino Wool Fingerless Gloves
+
Northstar Glomitt

I used this combination in WY glassing in the 20s and hiking in the teens. It'll handle any AL tree stand sit.

I’ve been a merino fingerless glove under a leather mitten style glove for several years now. Works fantastic.

 

[Drenalin]

The Give’r lined leather gloves are also fantastic once they’ve been treated with the included wax.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Spicy Shin Black Ramen. Oh so yummy.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

I’ve been a merino fingerless glove under a leather mitten style glove for several years now. Works fantastic.

Something like a kinco mitten?

 

[NDGuy]

Sig Zulu 6HDX is a game changer. I don't see a reason to get anything else on the market over them besides alpha glass. Especially now that Sig changed their electronics warranty to lifetime.

The versatility and impact the stabilization has had on hunts was incredible. My brother spotted his buck 3/4 mile down a drainage from the road while my buddy was driving using the stabilizing mode. The glass quality drop off is well worth the seconds it can buy you trying to gauge a buck before it goes over the ridge/into cover.

 

[lynnk1007]

Best new thing i added was my new sleeping bag. Cumulus tenequa rated down to 0 degrees comfort. Got it oversized, making switching between side and back sleeping easy. Super warm and packs down small. Highly recommend for those doing a mid to late season hunt.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Something like a kinco mitten?

Oyuki.

 

[S.Clancy]

I only changed my gun and some nutrition stuff this year.

Thoroughly enjoyed carrying my 6 lb 2oz Kimber vs my 10lb Winchester M70. Killed 2 mule deer bucks, one good, one great, and I'm loving the gun. Prob gonna change bullets for next yr, but the gun prevails.

I only ate homemade dehydrated meals this year, primarily rice and beans supplemented with some pepperjack and a couple tortillas. Just so much better on my digestive system than House or similar. Plus, they cost about $1 - $1.25 a pop.

Mike and Ikes/Hot tamales and Gatorade. Munching on these while climbing the steeps makes a huge difference.

 

[ljalberta]

My favorite piece of gear would have to be one of the most simple. A naked Alpha Direct hoody from Farpointe in 60 GSM weight, the lightest offered.

It’s almost magic how it keeps you warm, even when worn on its own, all while breathing extremely well. You can feel cold wind coming right though, but you’re still warm. Throw a light wind shell over the top and it becomes the perfect active layer for even temps in the 20’s.

To top it off, it’s amazing to sleep in as well.

Sub $100

I find myself using these pieces more than an alpha direct lined shell like the Dynafit that I’ve recommended before or even the new Outdoor Vitals hybrid alpha pullover, which is also very good, but too warm for me on anything but late season/winter.


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Dang. These look good. Will have to order a couple.

 

[absurdgoose2]

FANUE Binocular stud mount for binos. $20 on Amazon and a solid piece of gear.

I would second this one. Bought it on a whim and wasn’t expecting much but it’s very solid. Heavier than I was anticipating but for 20 bucks I can’t complain

 

[il_cop]

K4 - game changer for me. I had resigned myself for the last 30+ years that something about me and heavy packs meant back pain. Used to grin and bear it. Now I just grin

Lowa Camino Leather Lined- my first fall in leather lined boots, ended this foot-sweater's cycle of sweating then freezing feet, even in September I didn't have to dry out my dogs at every possible chance to avoid trench foot blisters.

OV ventus active hoody - just right for me in terms of fit, warmth to weight and function.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Nothing too crazy, especially on a short season this year… I will say big fan of the 340 eldx muzzy bullets from Hornady, they shot well and did a number on the bull I killed. Also snagged a K4 and I really like it. It carries weight wonderfully. Looking forward to 2026 when I get a touch more time in the field to run some stuff through its paces! Although next week Kirkland, Az coyotes better watch out, I’ll be armed with an open sight 30 carbine from 1942 and a winning attitude haha

 

[rclouse79]

I’ll play.

1. Stone glacier Grumman. This thing is WARM. Punches way above its cost when on sale. I used it in a white out blizzard and was impressed. Picture right before the blizzard rolled in at 12000 feet.

2. Exo k4. Man this thing fit me like a glove. I packed out an elk hind quarter and 2 front shoulders in a lightning storm (I wasn’t going back) and was amazed at how well it balanced the weight. 2 shoulder fit in the bag and the hind quarter on the meat shelf. Only issue I’ve had so far is a mouse/rat/wolverine chewing a hole in the lid to get to my jerky.

3. Outdoor edge swing blade. I’ve had this for a couple of years and didn’t bring it on an elk hunt this year to save weight. I’ll never leave it out of my kill kit again. It’s amazing for zipping hide on deer, elk, moose, etc.


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Exo must be attractive to hunters and vermin alike. I hang mine in a tree at night after having something chew through one of my straps.

 

[Shraggs]

For really cold weather I use cheap wool gloves. Work fantastic. I put cheap leather mittens over them between uses if necessary. Worked for -13 degrees in WY on an antelope hunt.

Fox River Men's Mid Weight Ragg Glove​

NORTH STAR Men's Tan Deerskin Chopper Mitten (Unlined) 025T​

If it's not terrible outside, I use these wool mittens that fold back to expose your fingers as necessary. A thin wool glove underneath makes a great combination.

HOT SHOT Men’s The Sentry Wool Fingerless Pop-Top Mittens​

REI also makes a very light weight gortex shell I put over my rag wool glives