Rangefinders have changed the game in hunting. They take our accuracy and lethality in the field to a new level and have really become a standard for most hunters. Earlier this year Vortex Optics released a new line of rangefinders to their already fantastic lineup. They are the Crossfire HD 1400, Diamondback HD 2000, and Viper HD 3000. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the new Vortex Diamondback HD 2000 Rangefinder and have been putting it through the ringer this year.
A quality headlamp is 100% non-negotiable for me. When the lights go out in the backcountry, the lights go out. I don’t know about you, but last I checked, my night vision was far from that of a cat’s. Late last Fall I got my hands on the Vizz from Princeton Tec. I’ve used the same headlamp for quite a few years, but there were a few things about the Vizz that caught my attention. With big shoes to fill, time would tell if the Vizz would stay in my backpack or get left at home.
Another year has flown by. It’s crazy how fast the months end up in the rearview mirror sooner than later. You know what they say though. Time flies when you’re having fun, and I’ve had a boat load of it this year. From chasing Arizona coues in January to Idaho elk in September, this year has been jam packed with adventure. Throughout that time, I’ve been fortunate to bring along some remarkable gear. Stuff that has made life easier and some that I just flat out am psyched about. So, in light of that I’m going to run through my top 12 favorite gear items I’ve used throughout 2021. I figure, it’s December, so why not 12 items to reflect the month? Keep in mind most of these did not come out in 2021, but I did in fact use them in 2021. This is going to be a 2 PART series, so stay tuned!
Water filters! There are a ton of them on the market and I’ve used all different styles of them. From pumps and UV pens to gravity fed, they’ve been in my backpack for various hunts across the west. I’ve found that picking the best one more comes down to the individual trip itself. Here in Arizona, I prefer to use a pump, just because sometimes I’ve got to filter water out of pretty small seeps and other filters would fall short here.
On a recent Idaho spring bear hunt, I didn’t know what the water situation was going to be like, so I opted to bring my trusty Katadyn Hiker Pro. It’s a pump filter that I’ve really come to love over the years. The Hiker Pro is super easy to use, reliable, and packs away small for future use. On top of that though, there are some attachments that come with the filter that make life so much easier! In the video down below, I go through what those are and how to use them. These things make all the difference in the world and allow one to not have to juggle holding the hose, bottle/bladder, and making sure nothing spills.
Thanks so much for watching! The simple attachments talked about above have truly made things go by much more smoothly for me on my hunts. I’ve been the guy doing the juggling in the field and having to ask someone else to help with filtering. With this system, there’s no help needed. If you’ve got any questions on this filter or anything else backcountry hunting related, feel free to send me an email. I love chatting with likeminded folks.
Also, please be sure to subscribe to the Youtube and blog to stay up to date with all future posts and videos! I’ve got quite a bit of hunting content coming down the pipe later this year, so keep your eyes out for that! Until then though, best of luck in the field, and stay safe out there.
Anyone that has followed this blog for any stretch of time probably has picked up on the fact that I dig First Lite Clothing. The stuff has never done me wrong and I’ve been wearing it since they had like 3 things on their website. Since then, they’ve grown into something much bigger, with way more options. Back when there wasn’t a whole lot to choose from, picking what to buy was pretty easy. Now though? Things are different and there is a load of options.
During the 2020 hunting season, I ran a variety of different clothing items from the company First Lite in a variety of different terrain and weather. From scalding hot deserts to blizzard like conditions in the mountains, I put the stuff through its paces. Finding out what pieces to actually purchase though can be tricky. Especially, because this stuff is pricey. You absolutely get what you pay for, but let’s face it, buying the wrong thing and having to go through the whole ordeal of sending it back and waiting even longer for what you hope to work better stinks.
In light of that, I’ve decided to put together somewhat of a guide to what I used last year. With it, hopefully it will give you a better idea of what First Lite items might work best for you and what you might not want to pull the trigger on after all.
I hope that clears up any questions you may have about different options that First Lite offers. If you do have any other questions, feel free to drop them down below or email me. I’d be happy to chat with you.
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