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

[mxgsfmdpx]

2025 is winding down and I always like to see what new gear folks have implemented.

Whether it be a new rifle/scope, a new jacket, new sleeping system component, maybe a new bullet you tried, you name it…

What is something you used on your hunts/scouting trips, and field days in 2025 that you’ll be continuing to use for the foreseeable future?

What did it replace and why will you continue to use it?

I’ll start with mine for this year… I have my mountain gear pretty dialed in as I use it year round. One major change this year for me was switching from Stone Glacier X Curve for the last 4 years to the EXO K4. I think both frames are excellent with great bag choices.

I trained and hunted with the EXO over the late summer and early fall and really fell in love with how it carried weight. I used it with the Teratorn bag which I’ve played with a couple different configurations.

While heavy, that bag is very versatile with the wing pockets, separate sleeping bag compartment, and large capacity. It works great as a day trip bag, but can also be used to haul a TON of gear and meat.

I’ll be continuing to use it moving forward over the Stone Glacier as I like how it handles the very heavy loads a bit better, particularly how the waist belt and lumbar pad don’t make my back as sore after long hauls.

 

[River Reaper]

My favorite new piece of gear was the Epoch Outdoors Mountain Mag digiscope attachment. Used it on both my binos and spotter, and it let me quickly and easily capture a lot of photos I couldn’t capture before.

I could get it on my binos in seconds and be filming a shot or taking a photo of a deer or elk. My only fear is that I’m going to lose one of the eye pieces or the adapter, as they are kind of expensive.

 

[bricketts]

I got into muzzleloader hunting this year, specifically targeting Roosie elk in western Wa and picked up a CVA Optima V2, topped it with a Traditions 1x scope, and am slinging Federal BoreLOK 270gr copper bullets out of it propelled by Hodgons Triple7 pellets, shooting 1” groups at 100 yards.
To say I love this gun is an understatement! It’s lightweight, easy to carry, great overall length, and the recoil is negligible even with 150gr of powder in it. And did I mention it’s a TACK. DRIVER.
I’ve still got some time left in late season to whack an elk and have next week off to hopefully accomplish just that.
I know the quality is lower than the higher end competition, and you can feel it but man does the fun shoot good and do its job. I don’t really see myself switching set ups until I find a REM 700 U.M. at a price I can’t say no to!
Highly recommend this for anyone wanting to get their toes wet in the smoke pole realm

 

[Ucsdryder]

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.

 

[waspocrew]

A few things I've enjoyed using this season:

1. Revic Gen 2 RF Binos
The glass is much better in these over the Gen 1s. I usually carry NL Pures, but didn't feel I was leaving much on the table while using the Revics. Easy to load a profile and go (was switching from my 300 PRC to 6.5 CM, etc in seconds depending on which rifle I felt like carrying that day). Super fast ranging and so nice to not fumble for my rangefinder after spotting game.

2. DNT Zulus V2
I enjoy thermal hunting. Problem is, those devices are $$$. I picked up a Zulus V2 for less than $700 as a back up optic for hunting with friends. It's a great daytime scope, has built in rangefinder and ballistic calculator. Range and it will adjust your reticle. I used it on my 223 all summer with hits out to 500 yards during the day and 300 (on clear nights) on skunks and jack rabbits. The night vision on it is actually pretty good. 200 yards is pretty doable without adding any additional IR lights. Overall, just a lot of fun. I slapped it on my 300 BLK and used it over the weekend to take a doe. One quick hit of the record button and it gets everything on film.



3. McMillan Mountain Tracker LR
Excellent stock. Bought my first for my Tikka and then snagged one for my Kelbly Nanook. Ergos are great, super comfortable to shoot behind and made spotting shots very easy. I put nearly 1000 rounds downrange this summer with it on my Tikka 223. If they weren’t so expensive, I’d have them on all my rifles haha.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

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.


View attachment 979915View attachment 979916

I brought the Grumman in for 2024 and used it on every hunt in 2025 as well. It’s fantastic!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

A few things I've enjoyed using this season:

1. Revic Gen 2 RF Binos
The glass is much better in these over the Gen 1s. I usually carry NL Pures, but didn't feel I was leaving much on the table while using the Revics. Easy to load a profile and go (was switching from my 300 PRC to 6.5 CM, etc in seconds depending on which rifle I felt like carrying that day). Super fast ranging and so nice to not fumble for my rangefinder after spotting game.

2. DNT Zulus V2
I enjoy thermal hunting. Problem is, those devices are $$$. I picked up a Zulus V2 for less than $700 as a back up optic for hunting with friends. It's a great daytime scope, has built in rangefinder and ballistic calculator. Range and it will adjust your reticle. I used it on my 223 all summer with hits out to 500 yards during the day and 300 (on clear nights) on skunks and jack rabbits. The night vision on it is actually pretty good. 200 yards is pretty doable without adding any additional IR lights. Overall, just a lot of fun. I slapped it on my 300 BLK and used it over the weekend to take a doe. One quick hit of the record button and it gets everything on film.

View attachment 979961View attachment 979962View attachment 979963

3. McMillan Mountain Tracker LR
Excellent stock. Bought my first for my Tikka and then snagged one for my Kelbly Nanook. Ergos are great, super comfortable to shoot behind and made spotting shots very easy. I put nearly 1000 rounds downrange this summer with it on my Tikka 223. If they weren’t so expensive, I’d have them on all my rifles haha.

View attachment 979960View attachment 979959

I was actually impressed with how much game I was able to find with the revics on a tripod. I actually would start with them on the tripod after shotgun glassing freehand, and then move to the 14 NL Pures for more information and detailed looking.

The onboard instant ballistics sure is a game changer for killing.

 

[spike camp]

The New Helinox Chair Zero- High Back.
Wow, is all I can say.
F sitting on a little pad when in backcountry camp!
I also just used it in MI. for Whitetail ground hunting.
I’m not someone that can sit still for extended periods of time but it’s pretty easy in the High back zero.

I also ditched my Helinox cot this year and replaced it with a Therm-a-rest Neoloft.
I don’t sleep for crap when in a tent, but that pad is so damn comfortable.
Mid-day naps in the rain, backcountry elk camp, on that pad…just perfect.

 

[waspocrew]

I was actually impressed with how much game I was able to find with the revics on a tripod. I actually would start with them on the tripod after shotgun glassing freehand, and then move to the 14 NL Pures for more information and detailed looking.

The onboard instant ballistics sure is a game changer for killing.

It's funny - after buying the NL Pures, I thought I'd be done purchasing new binos. Once I was able to spend time with the Revics, I realized they would be a very valuable addition to my hunting gear. No regrets at all and looking forward to putting them to even more use next season.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I don’t upgrade gear very often. Most of the stuff I use I have been using for a long time but here’s a couple new ones and one I have used for awhile that I don’t see a lot of hunters mention …

New this year - Deadnuts life size and elk target. Expensive but very helpful for practice, especially for archery hunters. Shot it at home for a week or two preceding my hunts and then shot it every day in elk camp to stay sharp. There’s a lot to be said for having a realistic sight picture vs shooting dots.

Sig Sawtooth - I haven’t found anything I don’t like about this rifle other than how loud it is without a suppressor ( Airlock can arriving soon)


Kahtoola Microspikes - these things are worth every penny for the later hunts

 

[rogerdoger]

I was a huge fan of the Wiser Precision Sparrow. Fit nicely in bino harness, went into tripod easy, and the best feature of all was the spot you could place your inverted trekking pole. Super quick to get binoculars stable, the best was when I had been hiking and breathing heavy I could get on one knee flip pole and glass, can’t afford image stabilizing binoculars but pretty much have them now for $40. Now I will keep saving for a set of binoculars with stabilizing feature when they add range finding to the mix and have better glass.

 

[waspocrew]

I don’t upgrade gear very often. Most of the stuff I use I have been using for a long time but here’s a couple new ones and one I have used for awhile that I don’t see a lot of hunters mention …

New this year - Deadnuts life size and elk target. Expensive but very helpful for practice, especially for archery hunters. Shot it at home for a week or two preceding my hunts and then shot it every day in elk camp to stay sharp. There’s a lot to be said for having a realistic sight picture vs shooting dots. View attachment 980021

Sig Sawtooth - I haven’t found anything I don’t like about this rifle other than how loud it is without a suppressor ( Airlock can arriving soon)
View attachment 980024

Kahtoola Microspikes - these things are worth every penny for the later hunts
View attachment 980025

The Sawtooth is a fantastic rifle. I went 6.5 Creed on mine and it’s been awesome. Haven’t loaded for it yet since it’s been shooting factory ammo so well.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Cheap rechargable LED light bar to hang if in basecamp. Saves on headlamp.

A good book. Had some long nights. Good way to lift the spirits and wind down.

One underrated I'm glad I had. Hot hands warmers. Spent one long cold night till I remembered my emergency stash. Was pretty miserable before that.

Upgraded from an old army cot to the Davis big boy. Finally was able to get a decent sleep. For sure the biggest upgrade of the year.

Bagel sandwiches for lunch with cured salami. Can smash and are still great. With a side of original fritos. Always hit the spot.

Cheap folding saw to skull cap, done with paying a taxi at this point in life.

K4 crib panel on its third season but I wouldn't travel/haul meat without it.

Finally one no flash/frills, but I can't belive how often I pull out. A good compass.

 

[MuleyFever]

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.

 

[kswaterfowl]

1. Eddie bauer astro air hybrid jacket. This has to be my favorite jacket that Ive owned. Really warm for its weight, and blocks the wind pretty good as well. It saved me in Wyoming when my rain jacket failed. But this jacket kept me dry, even though its not advertised as waterproof. It only weighs around 12 oz, and it cost me $100 on black friday last year.
Everything else that stands out is stuff I have been using for years, but continues to impress me. Pbb prefits, darn tough socks, wiggys sleeping bag, and asolo fugitive gtx boots.

 

[Rifleman86]

I don’t know if you would qualify it as “gear” but I pack mass gainer powder in a ziploc for my breakfast meal this year.

I hate taking valuable time to eat a mountain house in the morning and energy bars are hard to eat (too dry.) Sometimes I would skip breakfast until I’m in my glassing spot but hiking on an empty stomach blows… Pouring some water in a bag, shaking it up and downing it in like 2 min and having a full belly was awesome.

Also, buying the tins of Starbucks via and portioning it out in tiny ziplock baggies vs their individual packets saved me some $$$.

Actual gear wise my only change was a firstlite white cloud down jacket for my puffy. I previously used their chamberlain and the old uncompagre. The chamberlain was too much unless it was really cold, and the uncompagre was not nearly warm enough. The white cloud is just right.

 

[Jon Boy]

EE quilt, I love my WM badger but damn once getting the quilt figured out it was just as warm and comfy and weighed about half and took up way less room

Downsized to k3 3200 bag from 6400 bag after moving to quilt. Love it

Amazon micro spikes. Worked just as good as my others and I don’t feel bad if I lose one

Duckworth powder hoody. Fav clothing piece

 

[Gseith]

Tyto finisher. For years I have been using a havalon and hated cleaning it afterwards. It would get filled with all the junk.
The Tyto was easy to clean and never felt like it was going to slip out of my hands like the havalon. It’s awesome if you like the havalon styled knives.

 

[wyogoat]

The SG De Haviland Lite pants worked really well for September archery. Held up well and were the perfect weight.

 

[mcfd45]

I am a MI hunter. Not out west. I fell in love with using a hand muff. I have one from cabelas. I throw 2-6 hand warmers in there and it’s like shoving my hands in an oven. I will wear a thin liner glove while hunting.