your top pick of 2015..... gear addition?

[handwerk]

reflecting back on some of the new items bought this year that I have enjoyed using , I think trading into a set of swaro EL range binos might have to be my top pick....how about you, for that one standout item that improved your back country hunts?

 

[Mad Mountain Mike]

For me it was the Hornady Classic Reloaders kit. After years of buying factory ammo I finally decided to start hand loading. I'm in the process of building my bench now and look forward to loading for my .243 through to my .375's.

 

[BackcountryMT]

Other than buying a bunch of Kuiu (which was a lateral movement from my old Sitka) I didn't get much for gear this year. If I had to pick something I would go with my Thermarest Z-seat. That thing is awesome for glassing!
http://www.rei.com/product/781090/therm-a-rest-z-seat

 

[airlocksniffer]

Thermarest NeoAir XLite. Warmer, more comfortable, lighter and packs down super small. It weighs 15 oz on my scale for the long/wide (with the stuff sack and patch kit). It replaced a Thermarest Lite Foam Standard from the late 90's that weighed 2lb, 3 oz and was 3 times the packed size.

EDIT: Almost forgot to add my Stone Glacier Solo. Awesome pack. The mental aspect of not having to hike back to the truck to retrieve a meat hauler is huge.

 

[MuleyFever]

Knight Ultra-Lite muzzleloader and the New Kifaru frame for me. Both made my hunting more enjoyable.

 

[ElkNut1]

100% Exo Pack 3500 for us! 100+# never felt & rode so good, absolutely awesome & the best pack we've owned! Packed 5 bulls with them so far & they have the Wow factor!

ElkNut1

 

[luke moffat]

The seek outside cimarron. Having my SL-5 blow up in Kodiak last year was a blessing in disguise. The Cimarron is better in nearly every way.

 

[Cripler]

Small item I added to my pack was a Luci inflatable LED solar light. Used it every night and morning in the tent. Worked great and never killed it on 3 hunts I used it on. Defently bring it again next season

 

[handwerk]

Yep Luke,
I too am very impressed with my cimarron, it was a close 2nd for my list.

 

[Dos Perros]

Bear Paw Wilderness Designs La Garita 1 tarp. A year ago I would have never even considered sleeping under a tarp, but I am a convert. I even cowboy camped a couple nights under the stars. I was using a MSR Fury 2 person from 2004, so I went from ~7 pounds to under ~2 pounds.

 

[ezmorningrebel]

i experiment with a lot of gear out over the course of a year but overhauling my base layers this season was the best move i made. was previously using ecwcs grid base with a cheap fleece midlayer and a fleece vest. went to sitka core and traverse with a primaloft vest.

 

[Ironman8]

Easy. EE Revelation 20* Treated Down Quilt. Always been a synthetic guy and didn't know what I was missing with down. This will be in my pack for a LONG time.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

swaro slc 10X42 and stone glacier sky5100. Very impressed with both.

 

[Carlin59]

Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Pants. Ended up buying three pairs, and they have become my go-to pants for all my backpacking, hunting, casual wear, and can even sneak the khaki-colored ones into the office as business-casual

 

[durangobrad]

EXO Mountain 3500 - SOOOO comfortable.

 

[Felix40]

Prana zion pants and kifaru pack for me. You couldn't pay me enough to go on another trip without them.

 

[mikkel318]

Maven B2 Binos in 9x45. They are my first and last set of nice binos.

 

[Brightwhite]

Sitka 90% pants. Bought them late season in a pinch before I left for a cold weekend of hunting and they have now been on deer, elk, goose, and pheasant hunts. Super light weight, but are very warm and comfortable.

 

[Graindrain]

I will second Mikkel318. I love my Maven B2 9x45 upgraded from Bushnell 12x50

I bought a Kifaru AMR but it has not come in yet upgrading from an Eberlestock J107.

New Xcentric 6 bow with Tight Spot quiver, upgraded from a very old PSE Thunderflight.

First Lite Wool system upgraded from Under Armour. Still getting use to not having the bring multiple sets of clothes-the merino really doesn't carry odor.

Primus ETA express- easily cook two mountain house's worth of water fast! I like it better than a jetboil because the pot comes off and you can use multiple pots and pans.

Primus Micro Lantern- Its very bright, not sure if I want to trust this thing in a tent due to carbon monoxide poisoning and it burning the tent to the ground but I think it has its place at camp

Black Diamond Spot headlamp- love the adjustability and the white and red bulb

Bought both the FHF and AGC bino harness-Stuck with the AGC due to size of the bino, but I actually like the FHF more. I don't feel like I have Dora the explorers backpack on my chest. (only those with kids will get this reference)

Leupold RXI1000(?) Rangefinder upgraded from a friends Leupold golf range finder that he gave me. I like the TBR and the size of the new one.

Solid 100 grain broad head upgraded from Muzzy 4 blade- The Muzzy do fine, just figured with a new bow I would try a new broad head. Have not killed anything, but testing them they fly very true.

Let's hope it all comes together next week on my mule deer hunt or my wife will kill me, or worse keep calling me a "bad hunter". She doesn't realize when I am scouting I am not hunting and can't understand why I haven't brought home any meat. Seasons and laws don't make sense to her.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

New UL Hunter pack w/ CP, pouches, Guide Lid and drysack for sure!