Need some gear suggestions for 2019

[opdinkslayer]

Few things  I wanted to mention earlier and forgot:

If income allows it, get high end gear.  You'll be more comfortable and your pack will weigh less.  If budget is tight for gear then dont sweat it.  A cheap eureka 15° bag, a blue tarp, and a $50 pad will get you by just fine.  Shop around and NEVER pay full retail 

Backpack hunting looks sexy and is the hot thing right now but for most new comers, perception. Is not reality.  More guys spend thousands on gear, use it once, and hate every second, than guys who stick with it.  Nothing wrong with starting cheap and testing the waters. 

Start in your back yard.  Learn to use your gear at home before you get on the mountain.  Better to learn that you hate mummy bags spending the night in the back yard, rather than 7 miles up a mountain.  Use the spring to expand.  Use your backpacking gear on an overnighter truck camping trip.  Or weekend fishing excursion with some solid day hikes.  Test the waters before you dive in so to speak.  Then when you feel you can pitch your shelter, sleep well with your system, food plan is adequate for energy output, etc., then dive into the hills. 

Did a whole hell of a lot of backpacking with garbage gear and survived just fine. I love the suck though.  Best gear in the world wont make you love backpack hunting.  Testing your mind and body will.  The gear can be squared as you go and could save you thousands of dollars in the process

 

We did a Wyoming high country backpack hunt this past season and have done quite a bit of backpacking over the years. For me the most important thing to spend your money on first is the pack itself. $5000 with of state of the art light weight gear & clothing in a piece of crap uncomfortable pack still spells doom the minute you leave the truck.

The 2nd most important piece imo is the sleeping bag & pad. Get the warmest,lightest & most comfortable you can afford. There’s no adjustment for cold & uncomfortable on the mountain. A lw inflatable pillow is a nice add on imo.

Tent would be 3rd on my list & it depends on what style & how big your willing to pack. I still pack my mountain hardware that I bought in the 90’s but it’s a bit heavy & doesn’t pack down in size very well. The boy bought a lux for the trip at a really nice price point & it worked really well for him. My Wyoming buddy had some ultra lw space age material thing that cost him dearly but it didn’t look like It would be fun in bad weather?🤷‍♂️

Everything else is learn as you go. Jet boils are nice but any pocket rocket for a 1/4 the price boils water just fine. A camp light is handy and we have used luci lights but my buddy had a collapsible solar lantern/flashlight the size of a hockey puck that also charges your phone. It worked awesome & Santa brought us one for our kit this Xmas. Everything else is just luxury & weight.

The lightweight expensive hunting clothing (kuiu,first light,Sitka etc) proves it’s worth in backpack hunts imo. I’ve added pieces the last few years as I can afford it, and it makes for a much more enjoyable experience. All my stuff is kuiu & first light & it’s been outstanding & worth the investment.

As was said above, do some trials & know you aren’t gonna absolutely hate it before you invest thousands of dollars into a kit. Backpack hunting is just as much about will & mental toughness as it is how light & expensive your camp is.   Good luck!😎

[stlusn30-06]

1. Buy the absolute best boots you can afford. And/or sacrifice on other things to get better boots than you think you can afford. Wear them as many times as you can before heading out. Make sure they are fully broke in.

2. Buy the best bino's you can afford. If you don't have much money the Nikon Monarch's are solid. If you have a few more $ go with Vortex Viper or Razor HD's. You're going to be staring into a lot of dark hidey holes.

[stlusn30-06]

Also, if you have time and are building up your supplies over the next year or two; watch the site below. They have Klymit gear (can get a pillow for $9.99 today), trekking poles, stoves etc... relatively frequently. If you aren't familiar it is a "deal of the day site", meaning everyday there is something new. So check back regularly.

https://www.camofire.com/

[Jessec]

Sierra Trading Post is your best friend. Especially right now in the winter. There should be a lot of great gear for sale.

1) Make sure you go get fitted for a pack! I am 6'4 and 240. Any logic would assume I'd have an XL pack right? But, all of my packs are size Medium. Weird right? Maybe i'm deformed or something, but the length of your torso and the location in which you want to *carry the weight* makes a huge difference. I would suggest going to REI on a weekday, when they aren't super busy. Despite the birkenstock vibe, they're very knowledgeable and helpful people. They'll weigh the packs down with bags of grain, and will figure out which pack works the best for YOU. Don't get attached to a brand, or a color scheme, or any of that horse*censored*. JUST find a pack that's comfortable for you.

2) Good advice above on the boots. Make sure that you get something that works for your foot. If you run narrow or wide, it's important. Again - REI is a good place to try them all out to figure out which one works best for you. Again - resist the urge to buy based on brand or looks. I've personally found that I like a short hiking shoe as opposed to the big high tops. My ankles are strong, and I like the agility of low cut shoes, even with a 70lb pack.

3) Think light.... the lighter your kit - the more comfortable you'll be and the longer you'll hike. There's practically a religion on lightweight backpacking - a good primer book is Ray Jardine's book. But, bottom line - be crazy about cutting weight. I don't take it to extremes. I'm strong and would rather work out and carry a little extra weight for comfort.

4) Use REI to find the stuff that works for you - but then search sierra trading post and other sites for the best deal. Give REI a shot to earn your business by matching the price if you'd like - or buy direct from them if you think the price was fair.

5) Brush up on your first aid and navigation skills. If you can't read a map with a compass - then you really shouldn't be out there. Using the phone is fine.... but don't count on it. It might get wet, it might get broken, it's not a device you should rely on to find your way back. I pack mine - and use it a lot - but you need to have a paper map and compass.

6) Brush up on first aid and have a good kit. I know I'm getting all boy scout here - but just be prepared for what might happen. At least then you won't be "that dumb guy" who ends up in a horrible situation you could have handled. You should know what to do if you burn yourself with boiling water, fall off a rock and get a compound fracture, accidentally cut your arm open while adrenaline gutting a massive animal.

7) Bring back-up water puri tablets. Sawyer works great, but if you lose it, have a couple iodine tablets as backup.

I'm surprised by how many people are recommending down bags. I agree, nothing beats their weight and comfort. I guess my personal problem is that they are useless when they're wet. I view the sleeping bag as a key piece of survival equipment. If I break my leg and need to stay warm, I don't want to be relying on pitching a tent to stay out of the rain. Also, things just tend to get wet somehow.... Maybe they've come a long way in recent years with water resistant exteriors or something.

9) Look into getting a lightweight tarp for moderate weather - it'll save you a ton in terms of weight. Check out some bivy sacks for harsher weather - again, awesome weight savings.

10) Get trekking poles - I used to be a big hater, because I'm prideful and strong But, it'll save your legs. It'll help you put more miles on. It'll decrease your chances of falling or slipping. They're great in terms of backup if you need to make a splint. They make good bino stabilizers. etc etc.

11) Don't just eat mountain houses. You'll sh*t your brains out and feel disgusting after three days of that russian space food rejects. They're good once a day, but bring other stuff you actually enjoy; cured salami, hard cheeses, wine in a water bottle, Scotch, The Devils Lettuce, candy bars. Pack more food than you think you'll need. You'll be burning some serious calories up there if you're doin' it right.

12) Work out. Don't let the start of your backcountry season be your peak exertion. It should be a walk in the park if you're in the right shape. Work out your whole body; arms, core, and legs. The stronger you get, the more fun you'll have.

13) Get an insulated cup - any of em will do - but man, some warm coffee for longer than 30 seconds is sure nice when you're cold and wet.

[CastleRocker]

Jump on Rokslide and score yourself some used gear.

Lots of used once/like new gear at great prices this time of year.

Boots, pack, tent, bag, optics...those are the items that will make or break a high hunt. Don't skimp on any of them, trust me.

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

I don't have a lot of money and so that's what I've been doing for several years, and it's CRAZY some of the deals I've stumbled into!  My son, my son in law, my Dad, and myself, have some amazing gear for 1/4 or less of the new prices.  A lot was BNWT! 

[elkchaser54]

How do you guys feel about Klymit pads Can get a static V for 65 bucks on Amazon right now.  Is the 6 ounces worth getting the Lite version ?? Or tougher material worth those 6 ounces .

[bowhunterty]

Check out Camofire.com They have great deals on named gear for great prices.

[milldozer]

You might give this a listen: Episode 160

https://soundcloud.com/huntbackcountry

[bracer40]

How do you guys feel about Klymit pads Can get a static V for 65 bucks on Amazon right now.  Is the 6 ounces worth getting the Lite version ?? Or tougher material worth those 6 ounces .

I've used my klymit for several seasons. For the money I think it's a great value. . it's about 8 or 9 Oz's heavier than my neoair extherm and its a little bulkier. I find it more comfortable than my thermarest thanks to it's wider overall profile. For shorter trips where weight's not so critical, I go w the klymit. Been very comfortable into the 20s w a Nemo Disco 15 bag

[stlusn30-06]

How do you guys feel about Klymit pads Can get a static V for 65 bucks on Amazon right now.  Is the 6 ounces worth getting the Lite version ?? Or tougher material worth those 6 ounces .

Can get  a Static V on Camofire for $60 today.

[CoryTDF]

Here are a few recommendations.

 
Sleeping pad- Kelty Cosmic Down 0- $219

Trekking poles- https://www.amazon.com/Montem-Ultralight-Carbon-Walking-Trekking/dp/B01JGZ4GHM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1548968326&sr=8-4&keywords=montem+ultra+strong+trekking+poles

Pillow- Klymit Pillow X
 
Water filtration device- Platypus Gravity Works 2L

Stove- MSR Windburner or JetBoil

Portable charger- Tested a bunch of them. They all seem to be about the same. 

[WapitiTalk1]

How do you guys feel about Klymit pads Can get a static V for 65 bucks on Amazon right now.  Is the 6 ounces worth getting the Lite version ?? Or tougher material worth those 6 ounces .

I used one on a couple of backcountry Idaho jaunts last year.  It worked fine for what it's designed for.  "Ensure" you get an insulated pad, that is very important.