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

[WRO]

Kuhl silncr pants, love these, probably 100 days between 2 pairs hunting, scouting, and wearing them for work. Fantastic durability, quick drying, and very comfortable.


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[SonnyDay]

ZenBivy Ultralight Mattress (plus sheet, pillow, and quilt). Slept like I was at home in bed (king size tempur-pedic). Maybe better.

 

[43.6N]

14x52 NL Pures
Successfully replaced my spotting scope. And with practice I was feeling decent handholding them.


2nd was the Dixie skinner knife.
It’s not often that a hunting knife makes its way into my daily kitchen rotation. But this one is special.

 

[N.ID7803]

This beanie/balaclava from Carhartt. I love this thing. Great when it’s snowing, sitting, stalking whatever.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

14x52 NL Pures
Successfully replaced my spotting scope. And with practice I was feeling decent handholding them.
View attachment 980132

2nd was the Dixie skinner knife.
It’s not often that a hunting knife makes its way into my daily kitchen rotation. But this one is special.
View attachment 980133

Those are both great choices!

The 14 NL Pures were finally a bino with enough of a “wow” factor to replace my 15s I’ve used forever.

And once you go CBK form factor it’s hard to go back to anything else haha.

 

[TX_Diver]

I was a fan of the MDT mountain Bipod.

Also going back to a powder throw for reloading rather than an electronic dispenser. The time saved is worth the charge weight variation to me.

Didn’t try much else new this year.

 

[ThorM465]

1. Hogue Expel Scalpel. I ate tag soup and didn't get to use it for its intended purpose, but it made a great multipurpose knife I was able to store on the side of my bino harness.

2. Milwaukee Packout Rolling Tool Chest: I bought this for storing recovery gear in my truck, but ended up using it to store my hunting gear. It turned out to be absolutely ideal.

3. MSR Evo Ascent Snow Shoes: I had to head back into town for a set of snowshoes because the trails on the north side of the mts had gotten to knee deep in snow in some places (~Nov 20th). I think there's a good chance I would have filled my tag had these been with me from day one.

4. Biltong Fat Slab

 

[Jermh]

1. Stainless T3x 223/3-9 SWFA. First new rifle for me in quite a few years. I've only used it on 4 whitetails so far but it really is a breath of fresh air from the M700 30-06. Factory 73 ELDM shoot great out of it and none of the 4 deer took a step after the shot. Only have a couple hundred rounds through it but what a fun combo and Ive been finding myself actually shooting a lot more often than I ever really have.
2. Dixie Zipper. Between me and the old man I've used it in some capacity on 6 deer so far. Very slicey and comfortable in the hand in use. It'll take over the spot in the pack previously held by a BM Steep Country even though I really liked that knife too.
3. Vortex Razor HD 10x42. I realize they're not Swaro's but I got a great deal on them and they're a giant step up from the Diamondbacks I was using.

 

[HuntHarder]

A few things that again stuck out this year so far.
1. LS wild's 2-5 rear bag. So light and easy to manipulate. I take it on every trip. Showed some buddies how much of an effect having a rear bag or rest can make when shooting LR. ( We terrorized a Pdog town for a few hours last week.)
2. Fenix headlamp provided plenty of light and kept enough charge for multi-night usage.
3.Harbor Freight hard gun case. Last year, I had an airline almost destroy my SKB bow case. So I gave the HF gun case a try this year. Came out unscathed with very little indication it went on 5 Different planes.
4. Leica Pro Ab+ geovids. I used a buddie's on a hunt in MT and fell in love. Great glass and AB ballistics. I got back in town and grabbed a pair. I'll put them thru their paces and update. The few days I used them, they were great.
5. Almost forgot about the zip off Kuiu merino bottoms. Things worked great and we're easy to get off without having to take my boots off. I hate taking my boots off and having to put them back on. I much prefer to let my dogs rest at the end of day.

 

[voltage]

Sig Zulu6

 

[Steve300xcw]

Hanawag yukons. Snagged for cheap and my feet are very happy with them!

First year hunting with b5 15's. Might be too much of a good thing for what I do, but still a game changer.

 

[Silviuswolf]

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.

Coming from a fellow Michigan hunter, I started rocking a hand muff a few years ago and it's amazing. The only upgrade I would make to it, is to invest in some electric hand warmers.