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

[Firestone]

2 years now using la sportiva equilibriums. I will buy another pair for next year. I find myself using my crampons or microspikes less with them as well. They have really good traction.

I have used the hnt26 chassis for the third season now, no plan on switching anytime soon. Super slick when paired with an OBI post. Love how small it is on the pack when hiking in or out in the dark. Full length arca is sweet as well.


The only new thing I tried that really sticks out is the satellite texting through Elons starlink. Bad ass, super easy to sign up
10 bucks a month. Cancel anytime, was super reliable for me.

 

[Ucsdryder]

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.

I can confirm warranty doesn’t cover vermin damage.

 

[Shraggs]

The few new items for me,

Weather wool vest - compared to my filson, stormy Kromer and wool rich this was vastly superior in warmth, soft comfort, remarkably wide resistant and warmer than all including an older north face montball? vest. I dunked in water and it was difficult to get it wet.

Vivo barefoot tundra esc packs - Dramatic comfort, warmth and traction, per my review.

Honorable mention - Falljraven KEB fleece hoody and pants. Thin light stretchy technicall mid layer. The 20% wool content is the shitz

 

[huntnful]

Wiggy’s waders. They go over your boots for moderate river crossings. Used the shit out of them this year. Lightweight and definitely nice to have readily available.

Havalon 60A blades. These are much tougher (and better) than the 60 XT blades.

Hatch Gen 2 bipod.

156 Berger’s. Put big holes in animals and shoot excellent.

 

[OutHeavy]

Duckworth powder hoody. Kept me very comfortable in a wide variety of weather conditions and should last for years

Flextail zero pump. Awesome being able to inflate your aipad at 11k in a matter of seconds without hyperventilating.

+1 on the Flextail Zero. I kept it in the box until the day before my hunt repeatedly telling myself it wasn't a "must have" and I'd return it. Still not a legitimate must have, but the convenience far surpasses the meager weight penalty.

 

[Smokey Bear]

K4 was a winner for me too. Really happy with the 25 Creedmoor. My Trijicon Credo has been on my rifle for a few years but this year it got tested hard and I'm happy with it as well. Upgraded to the Chugach rain gear and it was great in AK. That 3D printed handle for the Silky saw blades worked great.

What 3D printed handle are you referring to? Thanks.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Oyuki.

You using the pep 3 finger?
Curious about the split finger getting cold and if the dexterity is worth it vs a full mitten.
Did you size up?

 

[MuleyFever]

What 3D printed handle are you referring to? Thanks.

Post in thread '1.5 oz Ultralight Saw'

Aug 27, 2025

brand?

They are made by a fellow over seas. Here is the thread about them and the email is included on the first post to contact him. All in they are about $50-$60 with the blade. Silky Blades are about $25 right now i believe but some of, if not the best ultralight blades you can buy. They make a fine tooth blade as well that works better for bone but ive used the wood blade to cap bulls/saw legs just fine as well.

• Svivian

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

You using the pep 3 finger?
Curious about the split finger getting cold and if the dexterity is worth it vs a full mitten.
Did you size up?

Yeah size up for sure. The pep 3 finger and mitten are both good. I do like the dexterity of the pep for carrying a rifle. They aren’t quite as quick to take on and off as the mittens though.

 

[dirtytough]

Durston X dome.
I haven’t upgraded tents in awhile. There were lots of little features I enjoyed, plus plenty big for me to sit up in @6’ 2”.


SG Grumman Jacket
Picked it up on sale. Definitely surprised at the warmth to weight ratio.

Something like a kinco mitten?

I use the Kinco when it gets cold. With a thin liner (Sitka, hotshot, etc)I’ve used them down to -33* ambient. I get the biggest they make. They come off fast when it’s time to kill. I haven’t found a better system for actual cold weather hunting yet.

 

[Smokey Bear]

Post in thread '1.5 oz Ultralight Saw'

Aug 27, 2025

brand?

They are made by a fellow over seas. Here is the thread about them and the email is included on the first post to contact him. All in they are about $50-$60 with the blade. Silky Blades are about $25 right now i believe but some of, if not the best ultralight blades you can buy. They make a fine tooth blade as well that works better for bone but ive used the wood blade to cap bulls/saw legs just fine as well.

• Svivian

Thank you.

 

[Scoon]

Have you tried the Power Lounger or just the original chair? Both look pretty promising.

Bought the Power Lounger for turkey hunting. Light weight. I have taken on a couple of deer hunts this season. I keep the extra section folded up under the seat part for extra cushion. Doesn't roll up as small as the original. Could be good extended fully under a sleeping pad for extra cushion/warmth too.

 

[TL406]

Bought a Therm-a-Rest Neoair X-Therm NXT mid-season after fighting with leaks in a Sea-to-Summit pad. Very impressed with the warmth and comfort, slept very good every night I was on the new pad.

Recurring gear standouts:

OV Ventus hoodie, had the same one for at least 4 years and it continues to be great. Generally run a light grid fleece in the early season and switch to the Ventus is late October.

SG De Havilland pants, had only one pair for at least three years and they’re still in decent shape, just the right weight for normal rifle season conditions and the full length vents are so much nicer than the small Kuiu vents, etc.

They’ve been discontinued but the Crispi Briskdal SF kinda saved my season, my feet were pretty beat up at the end of October and I switched over to Stiff Flexes from a softer boot and my feet recovered and were good for the rest of the year.

 

[satchamo]

Havalon 70A blades. It took me entirely too long to discover these. The lack of a point has cut down on accidental gut or hide punctures significantly

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Bought a Therm-a-Rest Neoair X-Therm NXT mid-season after fighting with leaks in a Sea-to-Summit pad. Very impressed with the warmth and comfort, slept very good every night I was on the new pad.

Recurring gear standouts:

OV Ventus hoodie, had the same one for at least 4 years and it continues to be great. Generally run a light grid fleece in the early season and switch to the Ventus is late October.

SG De Havilland pants, had only one pair for at least three years and they’re still in decent shape, just the right weight for normal rifle season conditions and the full length vents are so much nicer than the small Kuiu vents, etc.

They’ve been discontinued but the Crispi Briskdal SF kinda saved my season, my feet were pretty beat up at the end of October and I switched over to Stiff Flexes from a softer boot and my feet recovered and were good for the rest of the year.

I've had the X Therm Max since before it released, and it must have over 200 back country nights on it by now. Only complaint from me is that it's a noisy bastard, but it has been bomb proof.

 

[COJoe]

Bought the Power Lounger for turkey hunting. Light weight. I have taken on a couple of deer hunts this season. I keep the extra section folded up under the seat part for extra cushion. Doesn't roll up as small as the original. Could be good extended fully under a sleeping pad for extra cushion/warmth too.

I have an Alps sleeping pad that is cut in half that I sit on now. Works fairly well but kinda wish I left it the whole length to bring my boots up out of snow/mud to dry a little bit while I glass or sit. I might look into the regular chair. Thanks for the post.

 

[CaliWoodsman]

I can't recall a year in my adult life where I hunted less than this year. Looking forward to more time in the field next year. Gear highlights for me:

1. Kodiak Canvas Flexbow 10x14 - Quick and easy setup / takedown. It's a palace for one and would be extremely roomy for two. Put it through a lot of rain and extremely high winds in August this year, and it was rock solid. Bonus: This box from Home Depot fits the tent, floor liner, vestibule, rainfly, and stakes like it was custom made for it.

2. Hardside Hydration Swig Rig - I'm done with water bladders forever. Using this with an ultralight Nalgene feels like the best of both worlds.

3. Not maxxing out the air pressure in my Sea to Summit Ether Light XR. This pad was sorta comfortable and I figured that was probably just as good as a lightweight sleeping pad gets. I tried putting less air in it for a few nights and slept unbelievably well.

TBD: Exo Mtn Gear K4 3600 - Bought on Black Friday sale this year. Haven't put it to use yet, but hoping I'll be able to include it on the 2026 gear of the year thread next year!

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I bought a pair of boots from an outfit called Fitville, as they had 4E wide versions (I have very wide feet, 5-6E). I had them on for a whole week and they were as comfortable a boot as I ever have owned. OK, they were cheap and I don't know how they will last or how waterproof they might be, but they were great. Had to put on my Meindls the last few days as it was wet, and even their wides are not wide enough for my hooves.

 

[htlt_surfboards]

Crazy creek Hex chair. Replaced my 4 sections of z rest pad. One of those items that now that I’ve used it I dont know how I used to get by before. Overall comfort in the backcountry 10x multiplier for me.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

The Carbon Express arrow squaring tool. I love building arrows but LOATHE the squaring part. Take forever on those sanding disc tools.

Now I silver sharpie the ends, slap this in my drill and it takes a second or less. I squared the ends on four dozen arrows last night in under ten minutes.