Your gear upgrades/changes/additions for *2025*

Changes 2024
Sleep system - Katabatic Quilt - Gossamer Gear the One Tent - Nemo Pillow - 5 stars for all of them, but especially the quilt!
Boots - Crispi Lapponia 2 - Wearing out fast but that is to be expected
Kifaru ARK frame - Love it, saves me some weight and the adjustment is way easier then the old frame.
Born Primitive Frontier Light - Like them, don't know if I like them more then my Kebs but they do breath better. Probably use my Kebs for late season and these for early season. The zipper less pockets are great for a button release.
5 pin Black Gold Pro - Great sight, super bright, fantastic pins, don't really like the micro adjust system but is way better then my triple stack spot hogg, I do not like the vertical pin system.
GoHunt Approach hoodie - for $45 on sale, its great, I actually have a couple now
Black Ovis Puffy pants - these will be used this Nov.
 
Tikka 1:8 243
Maven C:1 10x42's
Marsupial Bino Harness
Spartan Ascent Tripod
And back to QAD Exodus Broadheads for my bow.
 
Last edited:
SLIK 634 and a Tricer head, we liked it so much in MT this spring, hunting partner got the same set up, being able to stand to glass was a game changer for me, tall grass and brush as well as just a break from sitting.

Currently re working a super heavy .223 700 I built about 12 years ago, hoping to go carbon and suppressed and it will turn into my do everything gun up to White tails and Black bears.

Exo K4!!!!!!!!!!! Feels like a Kifaru for alot less price, fit and function is PERFECT, FOR ME.

Honorable mentions, Goat knives so I can use allen/torx for my scope and bow repairs, Smaller lighter steripen, and a the SG 32 degree quilt for september seasons.
 
Last edited:
I made the upgrade from Vortex optics to Swarovski.
10X42 vortex vipers to 8.5X42 EL. I got a good deal on a used pair, I can't wait to get them in the field.
 
Optics,
Upgraded Razor HD binos from Bushnell’s
Athlon Ares on order(first spotter for me)
Sirui tripod

Did buy some FL pants. The hand me downs I’ve been wearing are about 4 inches too big in the waist, and finally figured it was time.

The price of meat jumped up this year…
 
I added a backcountry setup this year

Gossamer Gear The Two
Thermarest XTherm NXT
Katabatic 22* Flex Quilt
Sea to Summit Pillow
Jetboil
Katadyn BeFree filter and 3L dirty bag
Cascade Mtn trekking poles
Fenix headlamp

and a bunch of other small things. Totally setup for a week in the woods with the elk with my Exo K3 4800.
 
New rifle (Christensen Arms Modern Carbon Rifle) in 7PRC
Zeiss Gavia spotter
Alpyn Triple threat tripod
Kuiu Super Down Ultra pants
How do you like that rifle? I’m looking for a new one and I’m between the mcr and bergara crest carbon.
 
How do you like that rifle? I’m looking for a new one and I’m between the mcr and bergara crest carbon.
Honestly, to this point I love it. I’m closing in on 100 rounds through it, so not a ton but so far it is shooting great and I have no complaints. I really like the stock and I’m pretty darn impressed with the muzzle break that comes with it. I have it in a 7 PRC and recoil is minimal. I through together a random low velocity load just for break in purposes, no load dev or anything and it’s shooting MOA.
 
All of it!

Exo K4 from a Badlands 2200
Vortex Vipers from Crossfires
Added 15s
Adding an Athlon spotting scope
Firstlite merino base layers
Kuiu pants over Kings, love the switch

And the biggest thing, more time in the field than years past. Can't wait to do even more in 2025.
 
Did the Unaweep not carry well or were the loads simply too heavy for it?
I had it for 6 or 7 years.

It carried great for me many times. But for the life of me I could not get the suspension on that pack to stay in one place. It was a never ending battle of adjusting it.

It was more or less fine with 30 or 40 lbs in it, but put half a mule deer or an elk quarter in it and if it was slightly out of adjustment it was a nightmare.

I carried half a cow on it in one trip once. Front and rear quarters, straps and loins. Over 100lbs. I adjusted it to perfection the night before and that was one of the most comfortable pack outs a guy could ask for. But again, it never stayed put.

I had an older model and the way the bag attached to the frame didn't use a tri glide like the new ones do. That might have something to do with it.

I also hated the one big bag that I could only access from the roll top.

I know it sounds like I'm really dogging on the pack but it served me well. For a long while. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one of the new ones if you like what you see.



Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk
 
I had it for 6 or 7 years.

It carried great for me many times. But for the life of me I could not get the suspension on that pack to stay in one place. It was a never ending battle of adjusting it.

It was more or less fine with 30 or 40 lbs in it, but put half a mule deer or an elk quarter in it and if it was slightly out of adjustment it was a nightmare.

I carried half a cow on it in one trip once. Front and rear quarters, straps and loins. Over 100lbs. I adjusted it to perfection the night before and that was one of the most comfortable pack outs a guy could ask for. But again, it never stayed put.

I had an older model and the way the bag attached to the frame didn't use a tri glide like the new ones do. That might have something to do with it.

I also hated the one big bag that I could only access from the roll top.

I know it sounds like I'm really dogging on the pack but it served me well. For a long while. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one of the new ones if you like what you see.



Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

Thanks for elaborating. My guess is that the curvature of the frame didn't sufficiently match the curvature of your spine, causing slippage. This is the main issue with rigid frame packs as you can't bend them into a more fitting shape.
 
Back
Top