I seriously cannot believe that we’re closing in on another year. 2024 was filled with lots of adventures and there was no shortage of nights spent beneath the stars paired with days hiking through the mountains. In light of all of that, I wanted to lay out some of my top 10 favorite hunting gear items I used throughout the year. This is the gear that I was most stoked on in 2024 and will for sure be bringing into the 2025 season. Let’s get into it! These are in no particular order.
I’ve got a few discount options for you before diving in here to save you some money:
Hinges were never practical for bowhunting in my opinion. The Evolution Outdoors Ibex Hinge Release crushes my opinion of old. It is without a doubt the most practical hinge release for bowhunting ever created. The simple feature of clipping the release on the d-loop and letting it hang is reason enough to love it. Along with that though, it also has an inaudible click as well as the ability to reset the click at full draw. That is something no other hinge release possesses.
The Evolution Outdoors Ibex comes in either a brass version or cerakote options. There are two standard cerakote color options, but you can also order custom colors for an additional cost. Two sizes of Small/Medium and Medium/Large are offered. Each release has a snazzy carrying case, which not only carries the release but several optional attachments like a safety bar and lanyard loop.
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When it comes to riflescopes, I’m a big believer in versatility. You never know what scenario you’ll be put into when in the field. The Vortex Viper HD FFP 5-25×50 hits the nail on the head here and I put it through the wringer in 2024. From long days at the range to trekking deep into the rugged backcountry the scope has held up and still performed. I love the wide range of magnification and ultimate clarity the scope provides. I’m also a big fan of the illuminated reticle for low-light situations, especially with black bears.
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Backpack hunting is one of my ultimate passions so I spend a good amount of nights eating out of a bag and boiling water to do so via stove. Jetboil has been a trusted name in this regard for as long as I can remember and their Stash stove caught my attention immediately. It’s the most lightweight option that Jetboil offers but boils water just as fast as any of the other stoves they have. The Stash is noticeably shorter in terms of height, but slightly larger in diameter when compared to the standard Jetboil offerings.
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My experience with using 1p shelters has been mixed, to say the least. In general, they’re usually too small width-wise and give a coffin-like feel. The Argali Owyhee 1p on the other hand is in a league of its own and has completely changed my perspective on 1p shelters. I’ve run this shelter from the deserts to the alpine and it’s always performed. On both sides of you inside the shelter, you’ve got adequate room for extra clothing/gear. And the vestibule is big enough to hold my pack and bow. It’s also a side entry tent, which is much appreciated. Side entry is so much easier to get in and out of. For a backcountry hunter looking to get more lightweight without giving up in the functionality department, this Argali Owyhee is a must-have.
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I’ve been a long-time user of Exo Mountain Gear backpacks, which is a fair mention here, but recently they came out with their K4 Quick Release Rifle Carrier. It’s a strap/buckle system that attaches to your backpack. There is a strap and buckle for the barrel end of your rifle and a small bucket for the butt of your rifle stock. As simple as it is, this is a genius little setup for toting a rifle around on the side of your pack. My favorite part is that it doesn’t affect the real estate of your side compression strap. It acts as its own, so you’ll still have plenty of room to cinch things down with the compression strap of your pack. This especially comes in handy when packing out game. The Rifle Carrier is not affected by putting meat in between the bag and the frame.
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Battery life is precious in the backcountry. Having a reliable means of charging something like your phone is huge. Dark Energy has mastered charging your electronics in the field and the Poseidon Pro is at the top of the food chain in that category. I’ve used Dark Energy charging blocks for quite some time now and the Poseidon Pro is without a doubt the most efficient system yet. It offers USB-C charging and has saved my butt in the field multiple times. These are built bombproof as well. They’re shockproof, waterproof, and weatherproof.
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What do you get when you combine a single-pin with a multi-pin bow sight? You get the Canyon Pounder from Option Archery. Offered in 3, 4, and 5-pin configurations, there is no bow sight on the market as versatile as this one. With a simple swing-out design, you can essentially go from a multi-pin sight to a single. Whether you’re shooting 3D at the range or making an extremely technical shot in the field and need exact yardage, the Canyon Pounder can do it. With that, this sight also gives you two different sight tapes. One is associated with your fixed middle pin and the other with your bottom pin. The bottom pin sight tape will allow you to dial out further than the middle pin sight tape will. It’s also built like a tank. The Canyon Pounder from Option Archery is one sight that does it all.
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I’m a guy who loves to film his hunts. So, I’ve spent my fair share of time filming wildlife via smartphone through a spotting scope. Listen to me when I say this. There is no better system in existence to do this than what Ollin offers. The phone case is extremely low profile and basically the same size as any phone case you’d buy. Aside from that a small ring attaches to your spotting scope. From there, no matter portrait or landscape, the phone will land perfectly lined up in the scope every single time. You will not be fiddling trying to get the phone lined up AT ALL. It’s a genius system.
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When the temps dip down having an insulated pair of boots will make life much easier and your feet further from the point of numb. The Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX has 800g of ultralight Primaloft insulation for the task at hand. They also come equipped with the ABSS(ankle bone support system) that Crispi is known for. This is a full leather boot with rubber rand built with not only warmth in mind but durability. On the bottom side you’ll find a trust Vibram sole and a dual-density midsole. The dual-density midsole adds just a bit of give on the bottom side of the boot providing more comfort and less foot fatigue. I used this on a treestand whitetail hunt where the temps were 16 degrees in the morning. With just one pair of midweight socks, I was fine.
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You’ve gotta love a good pair of hunting pants. Black Ovis recently came out with a mid-season pant called the Terrace that I have been putting through the wringer for a good chunk of Fall. The Terrace comes in two different sizes being a gray color as well as a brown color. This is a little bit thicker of a pant, which not only provides a little bit more insulation but also increases durability. I’ve done some serious brush-busting with these and don’t have a tear to show for it. One of my favorite features is the heat vents. Having the ability to shed heat from the pant is money for long hikes. I also really like the pockets on these. They’re a generous size and easy to get in and out of.
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Last, but certainly not least is a jacket I love more and more with each passing day. The Sitka Kelvin Aerolite has been one of the most impressive clothing items I’ve tested this year. It may be small in size and loft, but don’t let that fool you. It certainly fooled me in the beginning and I doubted its capabilities. That was until I used it. This wizardry is made up of Primaloft Gold, Cross Core, and Aerogel Technology. I’m not going to go into the nerdism behind this, just know with this combination you basically get the packability and warmth of down, with the warm-when-wet benefit of synthetics. Plain and simple, the stuff works, and I’ve used the jacket from hunting coues deer during the month of January, to spring bear in Idaho, to the high country of Colorado.
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There ya have it folks. My top 11 gear picks for 2024. These are all items that I’ve built an immense amount of trust in and wouldn’t recommend them to you if I didn’t believe in them. I hope your season has been filled with adventure, laughs, and memories to last a lifetime. Mine sure was and I can’t wait for 2025. The planning has already begun. But first, good eats and quality family time.
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