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

[HilltopHitman]

First year actually breaking down and buying a real sleeping bag, rather than using cheap REI bags. Went with a slightly used WM Kodiak from the classifieds… Truly what an upgrade. I was able to sleep warm and comfortable, it really helped me hunt. I think that sleep is the most overlooked thing in backcountry hunting. You cannot perform if you cannot rest.

Sleep system, pack and boots. In that order most important. The rest of gear can be thrown together.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

First year actually breaking down and buying a real sleeping bag, rather than using cheap REI bags. Went with a slightly used WM Kodiak from the classifieds… Truly what an upgrade. I was able to sleep warm and comfortable, it really helped me hunt. I think that sleep is the most overlooked thing in backcountry hunting. You cannot perform if you cannot rest.

Sleep system, pack and boots. In that order most important. The rest of gear can be thrown together.

I’ve been using WM bags since the late 90s and have no plans to deviate all these years later.

A properly rated and quality down bag is a lifeline out there and WM bags have saved my bacon more than once.

 

[vladkgb]

Crispi Lapponnia 3's wides - super comfy and light, compared to Crispi Summit GTX's which were too narrow for my right foot, stiffer, and heavier. Used super feet green insoles.

Durston Xmid 1 tent - replacing gossamer the one, way easier to set up, no need to run a bunch of guy lines that I trip on later, love the vestibules and the room inside.

Vargo BOT - replaced my nalgene and cook pot. I run it in a nalgene holder and carry mixed drinks during the day. Boil water for dinners and breakfast. The size holds enough water for my meal and a cider. Also put it in my bag for extra warmth on a cold damp night.

Tailwind hydration packets and recovery protein packets - these are delicious! And a great way to get calories and electrolytes in.

Wiser quick stix - used for glassing, and shot a cow elk in a seated position, great addition to my sticks!

Howa 1500 6.5prc with banish 30 suppressor - replacing a 7mm magnum. Much less recoil, quiet, much more accurate and confident in it. Filled 4 tags with it this year. Longest shot was 450 yards at an antelope.

Goose feet down pillow - packs down to nothing, light. I add a cheap inflatable pillow to the inside pocket, really comfy.

Keltec PMR-30 - replacing my Glock 20 in non-grizz country. Super light, 30 rounds of federal punch ammo. Didn't have to use it yet.

Costco wool socks - comparable feel and performance to my darn tough's at a fraction of the price.

Aclima woolnet top - got it off the classifieds, I'm a convert, it's amazing! Although I kept my mid layer on around my hunting buddies.

Modified EE enigma quilt to attach to zen bivy sheet using Z packs stick on loops - reduced the drafts significantly, the stick on loops seem to be durable after 5 nights of use.

Spartan javelin bipod in aspis holder under my fhf bino harness - super light bipod, aspis holster is convenient I forget they're there until i need them. Used them on a prone shot on an antelope.

Peak 44 blacktooth carbon stock - swapped the rubber one on my Howa 1500. Got it with the Spartan gunsmith adaptors for my javelin bipod. Light, looks awesome, durable, great ergonomics.

Born and raised meat bags - the zippers were awesome especially when solo. Unzip, lay the bags open and flat, put your quarter down, zip it up!

 

[Dobermann]

Rokslide staff is doing a favorite gear of the year also ...

Apologies if this was posted in the intervening pages - but is there a link to this? I didn't find it with a quick search or look on the front page. Cheers!

 

[realunlucky]

Apologies if this was posted in the intervening pages - but is there a link to this? I didn't find it with a quick search or look on the front page. Cheers!

It's not published yet, typically drops at the first of the year.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[Poser]

Haven’t even used it yet, but pretty certain the Wiser Precision sparrow bino mount will be on next year’s list.

 

[DB29]

Haven’t even used it yet, but pretty certain the Wiser Precision sparrow bino mount will be on next year’s list.

Mine has been great for the last 4 years. Put it on once and haven’t had to touch it since.

 

[sargent]

My gear of the year is:
Tikka T3X .223 with classic Spartan rifle adapter (shooting Bone Frog 77TMKs)
Leofoto Ranger 224c tripod with a Spartan to arca adapter
GPO Rangeguide 10x32 rangefinding binoculars

I used the binos on the tripod to spot my elk this year before switching to a spotting scope. They also came in handy for ranging whitetails across farm fields that my son and I shot off the tripod. The Tikka .223 with 77 grain TMKs remains deadly and cheap to practice with.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

I've got 2 stand-outs this year:

1. Vivobarefoot Desert ESC: I hope they continue offering these! I put about 50 miles in over 4 days through lots of nasty cactus and never got poked. They stayed dry and my feet have never been so comfortable on a hunt. After 10-16 miles per day I didn't even feel like taking them off in camp. They have the best of all models: Michelin outsole, hinged eyelets instead of speed hooks, awesome insole.

2. Shoot-Sit-Sleep by LS Wild. I spent a lot of time sitting on this during a December cow elk hunt and it provided better insulation from the ground than anything I've ever tried. Very comfortable for long sits and just dangles from my pack next to my molinator. Weighs very little. The increased thickness over a closed cell foam pad seemed to make it much easier to set up comfortably.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I've got 2 stand-outs this year:

1. Vivobarefoot Desert ESC: I hope they continue offering these! I put about 50 miles in over 4 days through lots of nasty cactus and never got poked. They stayed dry and my feet have never been so comfortable on a hunt. After 10-16 miles per day I didn't even feel like taking them off in camp. They have the best of all models: Michelin outsole, hinged eyelets instead of speed hooks, awesome insole.

2. Shoot-Sit-Sleep by LS Wild. I spent a lot of time sitting on this during a December cow elk hunt and it provided better insulation from the ground than anything I've ever tried. Very comfortable for long sits and just dangles from my pack next to my molinator. Weighs very little. The increased thickness over a closed cell foam pad seemed to make it much easier to set up comfortably.

I ordered a pair of the deserts to try since I live in the desert and hike in the desert nearly daily.

They never showed up and Vivo eventually cancelled my order without any communication lol.

I’ve used the forest trackers and love them and wanted to try the desert variant out.

 

[Len901]

1. Lswild triple s it’s a great shooting/ sitting pad best sitting pad I’ve used and very light perfect for backcountry hunts and can used for a pillow three tools in one
2. Gastronome meals these meals are really good filling have some great taste
3. Pinnacle meals. Another great option lots of good flavors and filling
4. Dursten x-mid 2 Light weight easy too set up and plenty of room

 

[WI-Carcosa]

1. Rokstok (my first one arrived late 2024 so it’s been really put to use in 2025). This has been a game changer and made shooting more fun and improved my shooting a material amount. 5 kills in 2025 with the Rokstok and I would imagine plenty more in 2026.
2. Canadian belt knife from Dixie: I understand why so many roksliders like the CBK style now. I can use this one little knife from gutting to caping to quartering, etc. I am much faster and more precise using this style of knife.
3. Leica geovid 10x42: I found rangefinding binos are so much better than using the little handheld rangefinders. With the solid glass quality I have been very happy using as regular binos and the ability to reliably range at the same time has made me more effective.

As always a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Rokslide community (my wife calls it my hunting nerd forum). You cost me some money but this has helped me sell half the gear that didn’t serve a true purpose and im a few strides better of a hunter/shooter than when I started the year.

 

[Jeff_74]

1. Milwaukee M18 Fuel Chainsaw. I’m anti buying firewood so this chainsaw was an awesome add for my wall tent camp this year. The batteries performed better than expected in the 20-30 degree weather.

2. Airweight X Down Hunting Jacket. Super warm and has a matte finish which I appreciate.

Airweight Down Hunting Jacket | Lightweight Warmth

Experience Warmth Without The Weight With The Airweight Down Hunting Jacket. Insulated, Lightweight, & Packable For Extreme Weather - And, Quality By Dive Bomb.

www.divebombindustries.com

3. MaxiFlex Cut Men's Gloves. Man these this are a great addition to anyone’s kit. There’re cheap, protect against cuts, and have plenty of dexterity for quartering an animal. Adds some piece of mind while cutting up an animal.

Is that the dual battery beast ?
Where’d you purchase at ?

 

[Yaremkiv]

Definetly my favorite pieces of gear this year were two Hill People Gear backpacks; the Connor V2 and the Aston 3. I've been searching for the perfect frameless pack for years now. I've gone through a Mystery Ranch Galligator, the SG Avail, the Shape Charge and a couple others but the HPG packs did it for me. Their yoke style shoulder straps carry weight comfortably. The organization, pocket/zipper location, material and design is well thought out and executed perfectly. Use it for small game hunting, trapping, general dips in the woods/up into the mountains.

 

[4090Sharps]

Definetly my favorite pieces of gear this year were two Hill People Gear backpacks; the Connor V2 and the Aston 3. I've been searching for the perfect frameless pack for years now. I've gone through a Mystery Ranch Galligator, the SG Avail, the Shape Charge and a couple others but the HPG packs did it for me. Their yoke style shoulder straps carry weight comfortably. The organization, pocket/zipper location, material and design is well thought out and executed perfectly. Use it for small game hunting, trapping, general dips in the woods/up into the mountains.
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Besides the yoke, any specific features among those you named really stick out with the HPG packs? I've been intrigued by their packs for a while now, especially the Umlindi, but have never bought one or tried to replicate.

 

[CMF]

Fizan trekking poles link - For $70 on amazon and the lightest poles out there. They are slick, so no hanging up while trying to slide them in and out of pack. Made through several falls and almost a month in the sheep mountains.

Zip on/off Rain pants - Used Kuiu chuga this year, but the win was the ability to get them off/on quickly, don't need them too often on most of my hunts, but glad I have them now.

Suppressed Ruger Ranch 6.5cm - Our first year shooting/hunting suppressed, and love it. My daugter shot an oryx at 60yds and I could clearly hear the bullet smack. Nice not to have ringing ears after a shot.

Siriu Traveler X tripod - Probably better tripods, but it's been a good value for the weight and the $115 +tax i paid. A little bit of getting used to it coming from a lever lock.

 

[Yaremkiv]

Besides the yoke, any specific features among those you named really stick out with the HPG packs? I've been intrigued by their packs for a while now, especially the Umlindi, but have never bought one or tried to replicate.

Hypalon wings on the Connor and the Hypalon compression panel on the Aston are tough as nails and abrasive items such as snowshoes, avalanche shovels and firewood dont seem to tear it up like other material.
Molle on the compression panel, wings and the back panel on the inside of the packs.
The Aston has drawcord style adjustable side waterbottle pockets that will accept the buttstock of a rifle or a legs of a tripod when expanded or grip a nalgene or a handful of shotgun rounds when compressed.
The bags both have lifter straps and hdpe sheets to act as stays in the back panels.
You can purchase waistbelts separately that should work with the stays to help lift the weight off your shoulders but thats what external frames are for.
Usually for loads over 20 pounds I'll just grab my K4 3600 or 22mag but with the Aston I hiked 2.7 miles and 1600 feet up the mountain and back down with almost 30 pounds with no real traps/shoulder pain to complain about and that is, for me, a first.
My brother picked up the Unmlindi. Its sized between the Connor and Aston and he loves it.

 

[Macintosh]

Only new item i got in 2025 that I thought was really noteworthy is a thermarest neoloft pad. As a “older middle aged” dude with high-mileage knees that function as barometers, active side and back sleeper, etc. Ive had a very hard time getting a good night’s sleep when backpacking the past several years. I only have a few nights on it but have slept really well in it. So far its a BIG improvement, and the extra weight is fine if I can sleep.

 

[bigsky_hunter]

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.

Which silky blade did you use and for wood/bone or both? I used the extra fine to try and cap a deer just to see and was less than impressed. Teeth broke, blade flimsy and bent. Seemed like bone and meat clogged up the teeth as well.

 

[BLJ]

Fizan trekking poles

Any issues with the locking mechanism?
Can you put some weight on them?