The Gear I’ll Never Use Again

[MallardSX2]

Mummy sleeping bags, vortex optics, Benelli shotguns and savage rifles have all made the top of my list.

Oh yes, and anything make by “ozark trail”.

 

[Mike Islander]

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.

I wouldn't give up on them. Zebralight failure is extremely rare. There are very few lights as tough and virtually none as reliable, lightweight, compact, and efficient. The membership on Candlepowerforums.com have this well documented. I've got 26 of them. One failed...when my buddy used a leaky Duracell in it. Friends don't let friends use alkaline batteries.

On long trips instead of a spare battery I carry a complete spare 18650 light. At 3 oz it's worth the weight to me. They last for months on low...and that's not hyperbole.

 

[ni7ne]

...They last for months on low...and that's not hyperbole.

That was why I liked it, and felt that 3 cells would cover any contingency. I think they were the first to do ultra-long runtime.
I've found other brands now which do that and I trust, and now carry two lights when I'm solo.

 

[2gunThommy]

My personal hall of shame:
– Jetboil that froze shut at 10°F.
– Cotton “performance” socks.
– A solar charger that took 9 hours to charge my phone halfway.
If it can fail in the backcountry, it will. What’s your worst offender

My personal hall of shame:
– Jetboil that froze shut at 10°F.
– Cotton “performance” socks.
– A solar charger that took 9 hours to charge my phone halfway.
If it can fail in the backcountry, it will. What’s your worst offender?

lol literally had the same thing happen with a super “deal” on a solar charger. More like Solar drainer.

 

[bigsky_hunter]

SG Chilkoot 15. One night toucking condensation on my tipi soaked it through; water resistant my ass. One size fits people over 6'3"... slept very cold in 35° when it was dry.

Jetboil. Had it tip over and become a fireball.

MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe. Didnt take much to destroy it, just one minor fall. Went back to Soto, total beast!

Leupold vx5. Lost zero after 500 rounds.

Go Hunt glassing pad. So light its useless.

Anything Vortex.

Big Agness Lost Dog 15. It good down to 45.

Dark Energy Poseidon. The waterproof door breaks within 4 months, using about twice a week. At about that same usage, it only charges my phone to about 75%. Anker 20000mah last way longer at very little weight gain and offer more than double the juice.

Almost all of Heathers Choice entrees. That chili isnt fit for dogs.

Kennetreks. Had 2 pairs, both leak.

Kuiu Kenai Jacket. Thing snags on air. Has runs all over it and pills terribly. Not warm when wet either.

Hydration bladders. Cant be trusted.

Sawyer minis. They suck.

Which Soto stove are you rocking?

 

[Jason t]

Ah, yep. Knives. For me, I'll never take an expensive hunting or skinning knife in the field again. They're usually heavier than needed, and vastly more expensive, given I just consider it a meat prep tool. Anymore I just use the Victorinox Beef Skinner and their Boning Knife. And one of these flip-scalpels for finer work. But yeah, as cool as some of the really nice knives are, I'm not a knife collector, and these cheap ones get the job done very, very well, at a fraction of the cost.

What sheath are you using for the beef skinner. Or case

 

[Jason t]

I don’t know if vehicles count as “gear”, but Chevy and Chrysler/Dodge fall in the category for me.

Turned to Toyota 15 years ago and never looked back.

Still running my 2005 tundra.

 

[bigsky_hunter]

Still running my 2005 tundra.

2006 tundra for me

 

[Brightside]

Which Soto stove are you rocking?

WIndmaster. Its not the best mpg but wind doesnt put it out like the MSR Pocket Rocket and Jetboil flash.

 

[rclouse79]

Anything kuiu. Granted my attack pants have some seasons on them now, but I find it comical over half the seams have been gone over with my gear thread injector machine. Every time I inspect them my first thought is to throw them away, but I am too cheap.

 

[Mosby]

Mummy sleeping bags, vortex optics, Benelli shotguns and savage rifles have all made the top of my list.

Oh yes, and anything make by “ozark trail”.

I'm not a fan of Savage either but I'm reading this drinking some coffee out of my Ozark Trail flamingo pink tumbler that I got on clearance at Walmart for $5. I'm guessing the color put it on the clearance rack. Works great for cold drinks too. I use the thing all day long and never leave home without it. Best $5 I've spent in a long time.

 

[RockAndSage]

What sheath are you using for the beef skinner. Or case

Had to make some of my own, with kydex.

 

[nm.otter]

Oh yes, and anything make by “ozark trail”.

I'm reading this drinking some coffee out of my Ozark Trail flamingo pink tumbler that I got on clearance at Walmart for $5. I'm guessing the color put it on the clearance rack. Works great for cold drinks too. I use the thing all day long and never leave home without it. Best $5 I've spent in a long time.

Ha!
Wife gave $2 for a double-wall stainless travel mug at the thrift store that I'd love to buy more of. It's outlasted several name-brand others and still looks good. The logo embossed on the lid looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Last week I was waiting in line for a return at Walmart and saw it on a box -- of Ozark Trail returns.

 

[Thegman]

The only thing I could come up with offhand are expensive sunglasses and expensive pocket knives. Sooner or later, I loose both in the field somewhere.

Now it's cheap safety glasses and a $20 US made Buck folder. My loosing probability seems directly proportional to the cost of the item.

 

[Banana_Horn]

Havalon Knives is one for me, got tired of breaking off blades. Switched to outdoor edge and have been much happier.

Also: Sleeping pads other than Thermarest. I’m not sure how many pads I went through to find that out, but it must’ve been getting close to 10. Not to be a brand loyalty guy, but the thermarest pads just seem to last.

 

[ID_Matt]

Any knife besides a morakniv for me... every animal I cut up this year with a mora I kept thinking "why in the heck did I ever pay more for a knife"

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Havalon Knives is one for me, got tired of breaking off blades. Switched to outdoor edge and have been much happier.

Also: Sleeping pads other than Thermarest. I’m not sure how many pads I went through to find that out, but it must’ve been getting close to 10. Not to be a brand loyalty guy, but the thermarest pads just seem to last.

All of this. My Havalon SUCKED. Broken blades and hard to replace. Outdoor Edge rules. I have a 15 year old Thermarest that is still making me comfortable.

 

[Brightside]

Any knife besides a morakniv for me... every animal I cut up this year with a mora I kept thinking "why in the heck did I ever pay more for a knife"

Which knives are you comparing it to?

 

[ID_Matt]

Which knives are you comparing it to?

I don't have a real vast line to compare to, but have used benchmade, esee, outdoor edge, dad's 50 year old buck.

 

[Jason t]

Had to make some of my own, with kydex.

How hard is that