2018 has been absolutely jam packed with awesome hunts! I started off in January with archery deer season. From there, we drifted into spring bear for a few months, which then led into fall bear, deer, and elk. Through that time I not only made some incredible memories, but got to test out lots of gear! With the holidays coming on fast, I thought it might be a good time to highlight some of my favorite gear items of the year. Maybe you can convince your significant others to put some of these under the tree for you this year. These are in no particular order.
I will admit that I was a bit hesitant when I first picked this shelter up earlier in the year. Being crammed in a tight space and just being able to live out of it in general was a concern. I am happy to report that this shelter as been pretty awesome. You cannot beat this thing for the weight. It comes in at 1 pound 5 oz from my calculations. One of the ways it does that is this shelter sets up via trekking pole. So, the user doesn’t have to carry extra poles just for the shelter. I personally had this thing out in pretty gnarly winds as well as rain. It held up great! I was surprised to be honest. For the hunter looking to shed weight in the backcountry, the Nemo Spike Storm 1P shelter should definitely be on your radar! You can check out a full review I did on this shelter HERE.
When I started carrying a satellite communications device a few years back, I can’t tell you how much better I felt knowing that I could communicate with my wife back home. Not only do our loved ones worry about us when we are on our hunts, the opposite is also true. The Garmin Inreach Explorer + is a slick little device that will let you communicate via text message. You can do this by typing right on the device or you can connect your cell phone to the inreach with bluetooth and an app to type on your phone instead. On top of being able to talk to loved ones back home, you also have an SOS button that you can press should things go south on you. By doing this, you will be immediately connected with search and rescue and help will be on the way. It brings a huge peace of mind to have this handy little device on you. Check out a full review I did on this item HERE.
I’ve never been much of a soft shell jacket kind of guy, but the new First Lite Catalyst has definitely changed my views on the matter. I wore this particular jacket all throughout the early season here in Arizona and was super impressed. The Catalyst is lined with fleece on the inside, which makes it way warmer than it looks. On the outside it is covered in a DWR coating to shed water. This is no substitution for rain gear, but in a light sprinkle, it does great. What I loved the most about it though was it is quiet. As an avid bowhunter, it’s nice to know that the clothing I am wearing is as quiet as can be. Getting close to animals is hard enough. Having a loud jacket during this is only going to bite you in the end. The First Lite Catalyst Jacket is a perfect early season insulation piece and one that deserves your attention.
The first time I packed an animal out with an Exo Mountain Gear pack, I honestly started doing jumping jacks. While I don’t advise doing so, this is how great it felt with heavy weight compared to other packs I had used in the past. See an in depth review I did on the pack HERE. Each and every year Exo Mountain Gear does a little something here and a little something there to improve an already great pack and this year is no exception. That is what I love about the company. They never quit when it comes to innovation and are constantly testing new ideas. This year, they improved the waist belt, adding a bit more rigidity and more cushion. I have been loving that, especially because I usually wear a sidearm in that area. With the more rigid belt, my gun isn’t flopping every which way when I take the pack off or putting it on. As far as aesthetics go, they have introduced First Lite Fusion camo into their lineup. Really pleased with how these turned out and I had to have one when I saw them. You are getting a very refined version of what the pack started out as years ago. A version that is hard to beat. A backpack made for backcountry hunters by backcountry hunters.
I am oftentimes forced to use a pump, because of the lack of water here in Arizona. Kind of a drag having to sit there and pump water, rather than using a squeeze type of system, but I’d rather be doing that than sitting at home! The Katadyn Hiker Pro is a pump style filter that I have really grown to love over the past year. It’s super easy to use, cleans in a jiff, and stores away pretty small. Katadyn organizes components into different bags within the main one. This is great, because they separate the “dirty hose” from the clean hose to try and completely avoid cross contamination after you’ve stored the filter in your pack. The Hiker Pro pumps water about as fast as one could hope, so you can get back to hunting. After you are done pumping, there aren’t a bunch of moving parts to disassemble either, which is an added benefit. So, if you find yourself needing a pump from time to time, the Katadyn Hiker Pro definitely deserves a looksie.
For the backpack hunter that is always looking for ways to shed weight in their pack, but wants a good fixed blade knife, the Benchmade Altitude might be something to consider. I picked this knife up a few months ago and have been able to test it out on 2 coues deer so far. Check out a full review I did on the knife HERE. For some reason I have never really thought of fixed blades as SUPER sharp knives. The Altitude shoved that notion right out of my head when I used it for the first time. I couldn’t believe how easily it glided through the deer. It held its edge throughout the whole process and I didn’t feel the need to sharpen it once. This does have a skeletonized handle, so you might want to consider wrapping it up in paracord. I did this and am super happy with the results. The Altitude comes in a hard, but lightweight Kydex sheath. You can get them in either orange or black. The sheath of the orange option comes in First Lite Fusion. A portion of proceeds from this knife go towards helping out Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. A great organization that should have your ear. For a lightweight fixed blade knife check out the Benchmade Altitude. I love this thing.
Trekking poles have become an absolute must for me whether I am hunting or just backpacking for that matter. The first time I packed an animal out with them, I wished I had started using them earlier. By using trekking poles, you are adding much more support, saving your knees, and adding a bit of safety in my opinion. There have been more than a few times when my trekking poles have kept me from taking a nasty spill. The Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ trekking poles offer a ton of support for very little weight. If I am not mistaking they come in at a mere 12 ounces for the pair. These fold up very nicely and store away in your pack no problem. This is nice, because I don’t like actually hunting with my trekking poles in use. When something goes down though, having them in my pack is money in the bank. Give them a gander.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles
I have used an FHF Gear bino harness for a few years now and have been super happy with it. When I set out to buy a harness, I didn’t want something that was too big. A “frontpack” wasn’t what I wanted. The FHF is a low profile bino harness that doesn’t get in the way. You’ve got some small outer compartments to store a windicator and a call perhaps. There is also a zipper pouch where you might put your licence and tag. The 2018 version is more sleek, offered in a refined First Lite Fusion or Cipher camo patterns, and ready for whatever you want to throw at it. Another upgrade from older models is the inside. Now, you get this soft fleece like material where your binos will sit. This is a quieter design from years past. A huge plus for bowhunters needing to keep the noise down. While your at it, be sure to pick up their rangefinder pouch as well. This offers a huge leap in convenience. Having my rangefinder right there with my binoculars gives me quick and easy access for when I need it. FHF Gear also offers fishing and tactical gear as well. A very worthy contender for a gift!
So, if you don’t know what to get for the hunter in your life for the holidays, or you yourself were looking for some new goodies, I hope after reading this list that has all changed for the better! This is one of my favorite times of year. Good times with friends and family, surrounded by mountains of stellar food. The air is getting crisp, my jackets are seeing daylight, and archery deer season is on the horizon here in Arizona. I am giddy with excitement! With any luck, maybe one or two of these items will end up under your tree this year for the holidays. In light of that, I hope that you and your friends/families have the best of holiday seasons!
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