slings are sort of a personal thing, for a leather one i like the "Montana" sling, it has a slip knot so you can adjust it on the fly without undoing any screws etc. For a synthetic one, i've had good luck with the quake claw and uncle mike's alaskan style.
not an expert on packs, and hate hunting with one on my back, but i did just pick up an eberlestock "just one" pack and it seems fairly comfortable. I like the gun carrier and the fact that everything cinches down pretty compact on it, not too terribly bulky. I've had a badlands superday, and a lot of people seem to like them, but it kills my back.
I've owned several pairs of binoculars, and here's where I recommend spending as much as you can afford. i've owned the mid-range nikons and vortex, a couple years back i splurged and picked up a set of nikon monarch HGs. Not quite as nice as a $2500 pair of swarovskis, but probably as close as you're going to get without spending a lot more than the $1000 i shelled out. my eyes suck at distance, and they can use all the help they can get.
