New Year, New Gear. What's been Good, Bad...Ugly?

[Jonathan_S]

So here we are about halfway through the big game seasons for 2015.  What'd you add that's been good, bad or ugly?

I'll go first... 

GOOD: 
KUIU Yukon Gaiters -  (once I finally got them) they are incredibly comfortable and tough

Sitka Jetstream Gloves - very warm on cold windy days, comfortable and perfect fit so I'm not clumsy in them

LOWA Renegade GTX - bought a pair with a defect but second pair has been flawlessly waterprroof and comfortable 

Big Agnes Q-Core Sleep Pad - perfect, comfortable, warm... big upgrade from a .5 R Value 

Big Agnes Tumble2 Mtn Glo tent - yeah it's a yuppie backpacking tent but it's awesome   

SAVORA LPS 100 VanDyke's - solid construction, sharp as frick and quiet. 

Lorpen "Extreme Hunting Merino Knee Length"   


BAD and/or UGLY

Chuck Adams Bushnell Rangefinder.  I got a steal on this and got what I paid for 

Primos Mellow Yellow reeds (elk).  They fell apart after a few days of use.

Cabela's Merino baselayer.  Bad stitching...fell apart

Lorpen "Hunting Sock" smells horrible even after a good wash 

[WAnoob]

So here we are about halfway through the big game seasons for 2015.  What'd you add that's been good, bad or ugly?

I'll go first... 

GOOD: 
KUIU Yukon Gaiters -  (once I finally got them) they are incredibly comfortable and tough

Sitka Jetstream Gloves - very warm on cold windy days, comfortable and perfect fit so I'm not clumsy in them

LOWA Renegade GTX - bought a pair with a defect but second pair has been flawlessly waterprroof and comfortable 

Big Agnes Q-Core Sleep Pad - perfect, comfortable, warm... big upgrade from a .5 R Value 

Big Agnes Tumble2 Mtn Glo tent - yeah it's a yuppie backpacking tent but it's awesome   

SAVORA LPS 100 VanDyke's - solid construction, sharp as frick and quiet. 

Lorpen "Extreme Hunting Merino Knee Length"   


BAD and/or UGLY

Chuck Adams Bushnell Rangefinder.  I got a steal on this and got what I paid for 

Primos Mellow Yellow reeds (elk).  They fell apart after a few days of use.

Cabela's Merino baselayer.  Bad stitching...fell apart

Lorpen "Hunting Sock" smells horrible even after a good wash 

I was looking at those tents, I have a two man north face big fat frog(which is bombproof) but weighs about 6lbs, too much for a hike in.  How does the lighting work and how is the durability on the tent?

[Machias]

Good:
Lone Wolf Alpha II hang on stand--(Awesome!!) No squeak no matter where you step or lean.
Lone Wolf Climbing sticks--Solid, easy and quick to put up
Hunter Safety System Life-Line System--Should have been using this for a while
Arizona EZ Fletch Mini--Works great!!

[Jonathan_S]

Good stuff Fred! 

WAnoob... The lighting is woven in (LED strip).  You install the 3 AAA Batteries and there is a clicky button on the roof of the tent.  Very simple.  I got a deal on the tent but it's right in there for a competitive pricepoint at MSRP.  Also it's way lighter than 6 lbs!

Durability wise...it's Big Agnes which is no stranger to good quality tents IMHO.  It's withstood wind, rain and several trips so far.  Time will ultimately tell.  As always, a footprint will keep the tent in better shape.

[huntnnw]

nothing I added nothing this year as I have pretty much everything I needed for this years hunts.

[Karl Blanchard]

Tagging so I can write something up later.  As some of you may know, I have a slight gear "problem".  Personally I don't think it's a problem!  I could quit anytime I wanted!  I swear I could!  Anyways, I'm hunting right now, so I'll check back in.

[Jonathan_S]

nothing I added nothing this year as I have pretty much everything I needed for this years hunts.

What a quitter 

[Machias]

Another "good" I just purchased:  Wicked tough pole saw!  Very sturdy, very sharp and should last for years!!

[Karl Blanchard]

nothing I added nothing this year as I have pretty much everything I needed for this years hunts.

What a quitter 

[Karl Blanchard]

Trying to think about all the crap I have picked up this year.  First one that comes to mind is my quilt.

OK,  So I wouldn't call it good, I would call it "to be expected".  EE 0* quilt.  This is pretty much as I expected it would be.  Great early to mid fall bag.  Very comfortable, with lots of room to roam (I move a lot in my sleep).   A bit drafty along the sides but if its a cooler night you can buckle the little straps underneath and it seals it right up.  Even buckled down it was still more spacious than a traditional mummy and only ways 22oz!!!  I used it for a total of 4 days in Washington and then another 16 days in Idaho.  All in all, it replaces my traditional 15* mummy bag but comes in MUCH lighter for an affordable price.

[Jonathan_S]

I've been considering a quilt for a while now.    You are going to be responsible for me being $300 poorer 

Another good from me...I think I picked it up last year but I'll throw it up.  The Badlands Reactor.  A very affordable, small but spacious little daypack.  Enough for a kill kit, rain gear, first aid, calls, and food/water.  I've always got enough room for layering up and down with it.

[Karl Blanchard]

I've been considering a quilt for a while now.    You are going to be responsible for me being $300 poorer 

Another good from me...I think I picked it up last year but I'll throw it up.  The Badlands Reactor.  A very affordable, small but spacious little daypack.  Enough for a kill kit, rain gear, first aid, calls, and food/water.  I've always got enough room for layering up and down with it.

  Just another note here on the quilt.  I would say I sleep medium/cold.  I get hot easy when trying to fall asleep but once asleep I HATE getting cold.  If you are remotely the same I would go 0* NOT 15*!  I figure with the quilt I can always kick a leg out or throw it back to be cooler but a couple nights in Idaho I wouldn't have wanted any less insulation.  I did the 800 fill with the sewn foot box.  Packs to the size of a 32oz nalgene!  Craziness

[CoryTDF]

Here is a list of some of the gear I added this year that I have grown to love.

The Good:

BA Zirkel UL 20 and Q-Core SL

Therm-A-Rest Antares sleeping bag and Neoair all season pad

Klymit Motion 60 pack

Granite Gear Blaze A.C. pack

EXO Mountain Gear 3500 Pack

Sawyer 2L gravity water filter system

Platypus Gravity Works System

SlumberJack Sightline 2 tent- car or base camping

SoloStove and 900 pot

GSI Micro Dualist

Opticron MM3 spotting scope

[Jonathan_S]

Great stuff Cory!

Yes, the Q-Core SL is about as warm and comfortable as I could ask for too.  I also have the Platypus Gravity Works System but forgot to throw it up in the "Good".

Karl...I might be on EE's sight right now 

[7mag.]

The new good for this year:

1) Seek Outside Cimarron. Great tipi style shelter for 2-3 guys and gear. It's now the goto shelter for backpacking with a partner. Works fantastic with 2 guys and a stove.

2) Kifaru Smith Cylinder Stove. Just under 2 pounds with a 7 foot pipe. What a great addition to a backcountry camp.

3) Exped Downmat UL7. I got the long/wide version. It's a massive upgrade from my Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. Coupled with my EE quilt, I'm sleeping better than ever in the backcountry.