The Gear I’ll Never Use Again

my quick list is: (1) no more Solar Battery Chargers, (2) No more synthetic base layers, nothing other than wool base layers, (3) No other socks that are not Darn Tough 2012's, (4) No more 1st focal plane rifle scopes for me
 
Interesting. I have done several elk entirely with one blade. I haven't used it lately though since I went back to a fixed blade.

Like I said, I’ve done entire elk with a single havalon blade- at least 15 of them. The OE blades dulled significantly faster - definitely not true surgical blades. Although, the bull I used them on was the biggest bull I have taken and I caped him up to the ears. Maybe that had something to do with it. The hide on the neck, not including the hair was almost 2” thick. Either way, I’ll never use OE again when the havalon is so much better.
 
I will guess I'll be flamed for this, but I have had horrible luck with Remingtons. I own 2, one of them was given to me. Both are junk. I don't want to sell them as I would not do that to someone. I will never own another, even if it's free.
 
Old ass Johnson/Evinrude boat engines.
I had an old vintage 5 hp evinrude or something, can't remember, that we used on a canoe in AK. That stupid motor would run like a champ in my garage in a bucket of water. But, you get it halfway out on a lake and it would quit, everytime! I threatened a couple times to release it to it's death in the lake. I finally set it out for someone to take at a dumpster station in Fairbanks, AK.
 
Vivo barefoot boots for work or hunting. I love them normally. They are my everyday boot around the property. After a couple of toe-crushing accidents while working, they no longer are used for work boots. After taking them on multiple hunting trips as “secondary” boots, I’ll never wear them any time there are cactus (the soles and leather will absolutely not stop a cactus) or rocks. I tried wearing them with a moderate pack size and rocks on the trail and it was murder. This is coming from someone who only wears barefoot shoes for the last year. Not having any sole support when walking on medium size rocks means your foot just gets hammered. Otherwise, they are great boots for general hiking, scouting, everyday wear.

I just finished a pretty rough elk hunt; my first mountain hunt in barefoot boots 100% of the time and was afraid of this happening to me. I am using resoled Jim green troopers which I’d look at if you really like barefoot boots. More solid construction than vivo trackers for sure and to my surprise, even the pack out, zero issues, not even sore feet like I would get in my kenetreks.

Now it was also wet or snowy for 5 of 6 days. Waterproof socks worked decently, but after 4 days my boots were just wet, but so were my buddies kenetreks.

The biggest downside of the barefoot boot imo now having used it from bouldering to snow and most in between; steep snowy terrain. My buddies could easily grab going up, down and side hilling, I think because of the rigid edge of the boot. I was swearing in my Jim greens and wishing I had my micro spikes, which imo in a scales with for barefoot boots in steep slick conditions. I resorted to supporting my foot on a planted trekking pole asa fall would have resulted in serious injury.

Anyways all that to say don’t give up. I’d explore some different boots. Jim green or those new nicks look to be a more appropriate boot for rough terrain.
 
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