The Gear I’ll Never Use Again

[223dude]

Anything Vortex
Axel Xcore pro. Junk
Allan rifle slings

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Allen game bags. Pure crap.

 

[ni7ne]

Closed cell foam sleeping pads. I can't get a good nights sleep on one. For backpacking, I now use neoair's (xlite for warmer and xtherm for colder) and never looked back

Having used both, I'm on the path to doing the opposite. There's just too much cactus and mesquite everywhere and one more night where I wake up on the ground is going to put me over the edge.

 

[deadend88]

What’s your reasoning for this?

Lower cost, better options and poor edge/bevel grind failed me in the field. The marketing hype isn’t backed by quality build IMO. You make people wait for a knife “drop” then that drop better perform on par or better than other readily available and cheaper options for a fixed blade knife.

 

[eamyrick]

Superfeet. I’ve tried them several times over the years and they always trash my feet.

This is funny because they have been a savior for me. Run 40 miles a week with them in altras and gave them in my main Crispi hunting boots.

 

[Blurry1]

This is funny because they have been a savior for me. Run 40 miles a week with them in altras and gave them in my main Crispi hunting boots.

They certainly work for many people. Last time I tried them on a spring attempt on Mt Ranier. I made it to camp Muir (base camp) and my feet were killing me. I thought maybe it was the new mountaineering boot a at first. However I pulled the superfeet for day two and suddenly my feet were fine.

 

[Mike Islander]

They certainly work for many people. Last time I tried them on a spring attempt on Mt Ranier. I made it to camp Muir (base camp) and my feet were killing me. I thought maybe it was the new mountaineering boot a at first. However I pulled the superfeet for day two and suddenly my feet were fine.

I have very strong arches (even says so in my DNA test traits analysis, which surprised me that they could predict this stuff). I walk barefoot or at most in flip flops about 85% of the year. Only wear boots in the work environment (steel toe) and in the woods. Every insert I have tried, and I've tried many of the "best", made my boots less comfortable and even painful over time. Plain old native boot soles have been great.

 

[Backyard]

They certainly work for many people. Last time I tried them on a spring attempt on Mt Ranier. I made it to camp Muir (base camp) and my feet were killing me. I thought maybe it was the new mountaineering boot a at first. However I pulled the superfeet for day two and suddenly my feet were fine.

Those insoles are designed with the arch in the optimum position for the sole in the untrimmed condition. Once you trim the insole to size, you are essentially moving the arch forward in regard to the overall length. Thus putting it in the wrong place for your foot. I have found support insoles that do not require trimming ( they are all sized to the 1/2 size like a shoe) and work great. While the Superfeet were horrible after trimming to my foot size.


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[Mike Islander]

Those insoles are designed with the arch in the optimum position for the sole in the untrimmed condition. Once you trim the insole to size, you are essentially moving the arch forward in regard to the overall length. Thus putting it in the wrong place for your foot. I have found support insoles that do not require trimming ( they are all sized to the 1/2 size like a shoe) and work great. While the Superfeet were horrible after trimming to my foot size.


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Curved or supportive orthotics are only for those with flat feet (over-pronation) or structural issues such as plantar fasciitis or posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Flat inserts work best for people with good arches.

 

[nm.otter]

I have very strong arches
...
I walk barefoot or at most in flip flops about 85% of the year.

Ditto here -- any kind of added height leaves me with rubbing and pain around the middle of the lacing.

My feet are wide in the front, with narrow heels and protruding ankle bones in the rear. Back in the day, I would take my Vasques to the cobbler and have him carve out a pocket for the bone. Probably time for some custom boots.

 

[Live_weighT34]

Anything BOG. I bought a carbon tripod in 2021 new from my local sportsman’s Warehouse, didn’t have much issue with it that season other than I wasn’t a fan of the head.

Since then it’s fallen apart and not from excessive or unintended use. I’ve contacted BOG with each issue and was told I’m SOL on a $300 tripod.

 

[Awfulhunter]

Anything from Spartan Precision Equipment. Very well marketed, particularly on Rokslide. But way, way more expensive that it should be. I've spent nearly $400 getting locked into their magnetic system and have buddies who've spent $200 that have better quality stuff. Tried to leave some bad reviews on their website. Surprise surprise... they don't let bad reviews get posted.

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

Berger bullets, great for range work, but not a hunting bullet.

Expensive clothing. Buy good stuff on sale even if it isnt meant for hunting. All the outdoor gear is the same just get what you can as cheap as you can.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Anything from Spartan Precision Equipment. Very well marketed, particularly on Rokslide. But way, way more expensive that it should be. I've spent nearly $400 getting locked into their magnetic system and have buddies who've spent $200 that have better quality stuff. Tried to leave some bad reviews on their website. Surprise surprise... they don't let bad reviews get posted.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but what is it you don’t like about the Spartan system? Apart from the price, which I agree is more than I would like to pay. And what do you like better? Not looking to argue, just curious what you don’t like about it and what you think is better.

 

[RADunfee]

Silky saws....the Bahco laplander replaced them and performed better.
Wrangler ATG pants everyone raves about. I've destroyed them so fast and stitching was terrible.
Alpaca socks....a marketing scam. Don't last.
Sawyer mini is a piece of crap.
Yeti products are a scam.

 

[RockAndSage]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but what is it you don’t like about the Spartan system? Apart from the price, which I agree is more than I would like to pay. And what do you like better? Not looking to argue, just curious what you don’t like about it and what you think is better.

I'd like to know what he means by "better quality" as well. It's expensive, yes, but I've been very happy with the quality for the intended purpose - mainly lightweight, durable options for shooting and glassing. It's a bit like getting a UL/UL rifle...and then being bothered it's not optimal for PRS?

 

[twall13]

Silky saws....the Bahco laplander replaced them and performed better.
Wrangler ATG pants everyone raves about. I've destroyed them so fast and stitching was terrible.
Alpaca socks....a marketing scam. Don't last.
Sawyer mini is a piece of crap.
Yeti products are a scam.

Interesting. I have two Silky's and a Bahco Laplander and I prefer the Silky's. I agree on the wrangler pants, the stitching blew out pretty quickly on mine. I also really like the Alpaca and Yak wool socks I have but you are right, they are not durable and for the cost of them it's hard to stomach.
I also agree on the Sawyer mini, I like the Squeeze but the Mini plugs way too fast to be worth packing.
I like a few Yeti products quite a bit but they are overpriced.

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[hoooogan]

First time hunter, but I already ditched my handheld range finder and "enough" magnification scopes (10x). 10x is enough for daytime shooting but I found myself needing more magnification for my poor low light vision. I was a little hesitant on only doing 10x and it almost bit me when I had to concentrate super hard to select and confirm a muley in brush at sunset. I could easily see the body, but I struggled to make out the antlers. Also found out I don't like the extra accessory for ranging when I'm already in my scope and binos.

Picked up an RF bino and 15x scope for next year. Two less things to worry about.

 

[MThuntrrr]

Second big Agnes pads. Developed a slow leak with less than 10 days of use. Replaced with xtherm max, much better. Sawyer mini also nearly worthless. Replaced with a befree with good results.

I’ve had great results with the super feet hiker pro max for r whatever they changed the name to from the older version. I have two pair and won’t hunt or hike without them.

I’ve had good results with the outdoor edge razor lite. Agree the blades don’t maintain the edge like a high quality fixed blade, but my experience changing the blades in the field with over 10 animals has been flawless. I broke quite a few havalon blades doing ball joints and haven’t broken a single outdoor edge blade. I still prefer a good fixed blade for day hunts, but the outdoor edge or a basic Victorinox paring knife are pretty great for the price.

 

[ni7ne]

Zebralight from an unusual failure mode. Had it fail with a resistive short that drained the cell to 0V within hours while the light was off.
I didn't get what was happening, and just assumed I forgot to charge my cells. By the time I realized what was going on, my last backup cell was permanently toast and I spent a couple nights borrowing lights.