New Gear Review 2016

[Ucsdryder]

I know we all buy new gear every year and sometimes we hit a home run and sometimes it\'s a dud! Would love to hear some reviews about your new gear. I\'ll start...

Black diamond walking sticks -

I bought a pair after hearing my dad rave about them. They stayed in the truck until the heavy lifting started. In one word...indispensable. I carried 2 loads that were right at 100 each and one that was 85, according to the drop off at the butcher. The sticks saved me from a sure fall a half dozen times. Going down hill they helped my balance tremendously and going up hill I was able to use my upper body to power my way up. At 65 dollars for the pair I give them 2 huge thumbs up!!!

Merino wool-

I added to my collection. I wore the same pair of underwear for 3 days and same tshirt for 2 days. I sweated...and sweated...and you get the idea. It was warm and I was climbing from 8200 to 10000 feet at least 2 times 3 days in a row. I\'m not the smelliest person out there but after 3 days I should have smelled like the south end of a north bound skunk, but I didn\'t. Awesome stuff.

I\'ll also give 2 thumbs up to last years purchases...

Outdoor research crocodile gaiters -

I wore them every day of the season and they are life savers. The morning dew was out everyday and I had no issues with wetness. Shoes never came untied...no dirt or sticks in my socks. I wore them last year in 18\" of snow and they were dynamite.

Inreach

I\'ve talked about this quite a bit but hunting alone the first thing I did when I released my arrow was send a message to my wife and dad to tell them what just happened. We texted back and forth and the experience wouldn\'t have been the same without being able to share it. The safety features speak for themselves!

 

[Ol' Arky]

I\'m a ol\' non tech savvy fart but I think the InReach is something all back country hunter\'s should take serious a look at... Even if it doesn\'t save your life it may save someone else and also gives you a direct link to someone back at home... :upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb:

I do love my smartwool also...

 

[Ucsdryder]

Phil you\'re spot on. The truth is I wouldn\'t be a back country hunter without one. The wife wouldn\'t allow it. Last trip I didn\'t send her a message in the morning until around noon. She was ready to call search and rescue. I got an ass chewing. She sits at home and thinks about all the bad things that could happen to me.

 

[cnelk]

Love my InReach!

I went to the unlimited plan for a couple of months.
Absolutely a great asset for the outdoor person

 

[Ol' Arky]

It does require another phone plan and number doesn\'t it????? Or can you add a line to your existing phone plan???

 

[cnelk]

Phil
Its a stand alone subscription via DeLorme.
I have found the area code changes when you send a text, must be a satellite thing

 

[elkmtngear]

I\'ve had the Inreach for going on 3 Seasons now. I activate it for the month of September...and the charges I incur on a ten day Wilderness hunt for texts run me around 50 bucks.

Sometimes, it takes up to 15 minutes for me to get a text out (if I\'m in a real craphole someplace)...but they always manage to send.

 

[Ol' Arky]

I would imagine it would cost quite a bit to text a picture doesn\'t it???? Or is that the reason for the unlimited plan, Brad???

 

[cnelk]

There isnt a photo capability on an InReach - text communication only.

The unlimited plan lets me send/receive any amount of text messages, while the other plans have restrictions

See link

<!-- m --><a class=\"postlink\" href=\"http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/subscription-plans.php\" onclick=\"window.open(this.href);return false;\">http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-i ... -plans.php</a><!-- m -->

 

[huntography]

Love the piece of mind my inreach gives my family and myself. A must for any DIY backcountry hunter.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ucsdryder]

Another new one that I bought last year but used for the first time this year.

4 blade Magnus Buzzcuts

Shot was only 22 yards but they flew true and went through my bull like butter. I never did find the arrow so I don\'t know how far the arrow went after exiting the bull but it went a fair distance. 80 yards later the bull was down. Decent hole going in, big hole coming out and blood the entire way. Best part is they aren\'t 60 dollars a pack like some of the newer ones...and the warranty! I can\'t think of a single reason to ever try a different head.

 

[Don K]

Great thread, just got back from MT and will add my thoughts.

My Inreach, as stated above is a incredible tool. Not only is it great to keep the wife happy, communicate to your hunting partner that\'s 3 miles away its a great tool for hunting. I downloaded the topo maps and aerial maps of the area I was hunting through the Earthmate app. (you must do this with Internet service) So when i was 3 hours from the truck I was able to start my earthmate app and see exactly where I was on the map. The map was a Hybrid topo/aerial so it had all the topo lines on it and the aerials like google earth. I could find the small meadows and other things I was looking for by doing this. I found this very valuable in a area I have never been as it was like having google earth with you in the field.

First Lite Pants - I bit the bullet and bought a set of first lite pants and I must say they where incredible. I will be adding to the collection as finances allows.

Alaskan Guide Creations Bino Harness - Another GREAT thing I bought this year as it protects your bino\'s with full enclosure. When I first put it on I was a bit skeptical on if I would like it. After some practice shots and walking around I began to love it right away.

Kenetreck Gators - First time I have ever bought gators and I really, really like them. They helped keep my feet dry and I didn\'t even notice I was wearing them.

Vortex Binos - Picked up a new pair of 10X42 Vortex to replace my old Nikon Monarchs and these binos where great.

Now the other side of the list.

Danner Gila Boots - I have been a fan of Danners for many years and the last two pair of Radicals served me well and I really liked them. This year I picked up a pair of Gilas and I hate them. The soles on these things are like wearing skis. If its muddy, or your walking over rock your going to end up on your ass in a hurry and my right boot leaked right away. Not sure that they made these out of but they stayed in truck after I almost skied down the first hill and I pulled out the old radicals for the hunt.

Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad - I really like this pad for sleeping as its comfortable. But this is the second hunt I have been on with it and it developed a leak somewhere. Now in all fairness this may be partly my fault as who knows I may have caused it. They have a small repair kit in with it but how the heck do you find a leak when your 3 hours from the truck in your tent? I looked, and looked and could not find it. Will drop it in the tub here at home to see where its at. This really sucked as every two hours I woke up and had to blow the thing back up so I could sleep.


Looking forward to others reviews

 

[Deertick]

Icon Pro pack -- I haven\'t hauled meat with it yet, but did haul camp a distance of 5 miles. Weighed 65-70 with a spring scale before putting my bow and a few more pounds of extras on ... and it was great. Totally kept the weight on my hips and off my shoulders. Switching out the 5500 and 1650 bags was a breeze. The load lifters work great. First \"good\" pack I\'ve had and I\'m impressed.

 

[cnelk]

Don K

I have 2 Big Agnes insulated core pads and they both had leaks.
You will find the leak near or around the plastic valve.
The fabric separates from that.

Use the repair kit and double over that area on each side of the valve.
Worked for me

But I agree, BA should be told of this flaw.

 

[Deertick]

Don K

I have 2 Big Agnes insulated core pads and they both had leaks.

You, too?

My second one went flat about two days into our week-long hunt this year.

 

[elky McElkerson]

my Q-core SL has been pretty reliable. so the down-filled ones are prone to leaks?>

 

[Don K]

Thanks for the info on my pad I will take a look here soon.

One other thing I would mention is cell service.

I have Sprint for my personal phone and it did not have service over 80% of my trip out west.

I have Verizon for my work phone and that thing had service over 85% of my trip.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Verizon and att are king for reception from what I\'ve seen. Dropped sprint a while ago and couldn\'t be happier.

 

[Ol' Arky]

InReach---- Don\'t own one but I would if I was still elk hunting.... I enjoyed hearing from Brad when he text me with his updates on his Alaskan moose hunt.... I knew where he was in relation to his camp and when he was in camp or out and about... The one on the receiving end gets good location information... Don\'t know what the one holding the unit gets but sounds like they get a lot too...

DISCLAIMER: I\'m in no way affiliated with Garmin or any of their other companies... :lol: :lol:

 

[bowhunter]

Icon Pro pack -- I haven\'t hauled meat with it yet, but did haul camp a distance of 5 miles. Weighed 65-70 with a spring scale before putting my bow and a few more pounds of extras on ... and it was great. Totally kept the weight on my hips and off my shoulders. Switching out the 5500 and 1650 bags was a breeze. The load lifters work great. First \"good\" pack I\'ve had and I\'m impressed.

How did the Icon Pro Pack handle your bull John? I am looking into getting the 3200. I don\'t think I will get a bigger bag. I plan on strapping extras in a dry sack when I spike in then just the pack for the day. I like to have the capability of hauling a quarter out with me. I currently use a Badlands 2200. It works just fine and is comfortable. The dang thing just doesn\'t breath and my back is hot.