Post by: Ajj828 on December 31, 2018, 08:16:46 PM
Important gear I know I need:
Tent/ tarp
Sleeping bag (used a $15 Walmart bag for elk hunting this year with 3 other blankets so I learned my lesson :bdid: )
Sleeping pad
Trekking poles
Pillow
Water filtration device
Stove
Portable charger
If anyone can recommend any brands to me that would be great. Not looking to buy a $600 tent or sleeping bag. Looking at about $200 max for a bag and $200-$300 for a tent. Would like to keep costs low but I do really hate buying low quality and wasting money.
Post by: jackelope on December 31, 2018, 08:34:23 PM
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on December 31, 2018, 08:38:56 PM
Tent - Nemo Hornet II (yes, you want a rated 2P tent for one person).
Bag - Consider a quilt (VIAM Outdoors make a quality product).
Trekking Poles - Black Diamond are very good but honestly, they are not needed.
Pillow - U can just sleep on a jacket but lightweight pillows are cheap, look at Klymit.
Pad - Klymit Static V Insulated pads are light, reasonably priced, and work fine.
Filtration - Look at Katadyn Pro Hiker (bombproof) or even their Base Camp Bag filter. They use the same replaceable filter.
Phone charger? No idea, no phone service most remote places I hunt so phone stays at truck.
Just a few quick thoughts. Happy shopping ;)
Post by: Crunchy on December 31, 2018, 08:49:09 PM
Post by: Jason on December 31, 2018, 08:51:01 PM
Trekking poles I have had good luck with the cascade techs from Costco, these work great and are very inexpensive and will allow you to spend more on the sleeping bag.
Sleeping pads, there are light weight ones but are generally noisy and expensive, I have the Nemo Astro lite and is very comfortable and is 3.5 inches thick and has a good insulation rating for lower temps.
Water filtration I switched over to the Sawyer gravity feed and it worked awesome and is light weight.
Tents, there are many options in you price range if you look at used ones. Go two man or you’ll regret it.
Post by: swanny on January 01, 2019, 08:30:13 AM
I'm personally a fan of EXPED sleeping mats, full disclosure I'm the US Sales Manager for them. The SynMat XP 7 is a great, almost, all season choice for about $130. Gives you 3" of comfort, weighs less than 2lbs, and packs to about the size of a Nalgene bottle. The other mat that is a sleeper in our product line is the DownMat Lite 5 at around $115 for size medium. If you were to ever have a problem with your sleeping mat, repair and warranty is handled in house in Tacoma, WA as well.
All of us here understand having a budget for gear, especially when you are acquiring all of it. That said, spend the extra $100 where it's necessary and buy once, instead of two or three times.
Post by: JeffRaines on January 01, 2019, 09:15:49 AM
So I plan on trying a high hunt in 2019 or 2020 and I’m slowly buying gear I may need. I’m a new hunter and have only been hunting 3 years so I am slowly building my gear list up. I want to do a 4 day high hunt.
Important gear I know I need:
Tent/ tarp
Sleeping bag (used a $15 Walmart bag for elk hunting this year with 3 other blankets so I learned my lesson :bdid: )
Sleeping pad
Trekking poles
Pillow
Water filtration device
Stove
Portable charger
If anyone can recommend any brands to me that would be great. Not looking to buy a $600 tent or sleeping bag. Looking at about $200 max for a bag and $200-$300 for a tent. Would like to keep costs low but I do really hate buying low quality and wasting money.
I'm fairly new to hunting like yourself, but I was into hiking/backpacking before I got into hunting.
I am going to assume you're also new to backpacking in general... with that said, I'm going to mirror what a few others have said - buy once, cry once. This gear ain't cheap, and the cheap stuff is rarely good. Not to say cheap stuff won't last, but when you're talking about hiking miles in up a couple thousand feet of elevation every pound matters, and buying cheap heavy gear will do one of two things - either you're gonna end up with a bunch of gear you don't use anymore because its miserable lugging in 60 pounds of stuff, or you're gonna end up double buying everything because you decided you liked it and to hell with lugging 60 pounds up the trail when you can slowly buy new everything and be headed up with 35-40 instead. Not to mention the resale value on the cheap stuff isn't there. Ask me how I know - because I've been there and done it. Luckily when I got into hunting I already had UL backpacking stuff, it was just a matter of getting a solid hunting pack.
I'd take this year, and maybe next, and turn into a granola cruncher and hike your tail off. Well, maybe not literally turn into one, but before you start dumping cash why not see if its something you enjoy at all? If you don't enjoy hiking in and spending the night out in the wilderness, you're probably not going to enjoy hunting in it either. You can spend a little renting gear or borrowing some stuff to see how you like it. If its something you like, you're gonna feel better about buying the good stuff to begin with... which is what you should do. Not only that, but you can get your feet wet in figuring out whats comfortable for you before you go crazy buying stuff you think you need. Not to mention the benefit of doing all that hiking - it'll get you in shape.
Post by: jackelope on January 01, 2019, 09:54:25 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on January 03, 2019, 12:46:18 PM
Post by: highside74 on January 03, 2019, 12:54:15 PM
Post by: brandon.b.sanders on January 03, 2019, 06:18:56 PM
Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
Post by: jackelope on January 03, 2019, 07:01:08 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 03, 2019, 07:42:41 PM
Post by: jackelope on January 03, 2019, 08:27:07 PM
Post by: Ajj828 on January 03, 2019, 10:30:57 PM
So I plan on trying a high hunt in 2019 or 2020 and I’m slowly buying gear I may need. I’m a new hunter and have only been hunting 3 years so I am slowly building my gear list up. I want to do a 4 day high hunt.
Important gear I know I need:
Tent/ tarp
Sleeping bag (used a $15 Walmart bag for elk hunting this year with 3 other blankets so I learned my lesson :bdid: )
Sleeping pad
Trekking poles
Pillow
Water filtration device
Stove
Portable charger
If anyone can recommend any brands to me that would be great. Not looking to buy a $600 tent or sleeping bag. Looking at about $200 max for a bag and $200-$300 for a tent. Would like to keep costs low but I do really hate buying low quality and wasting money.
I'm fairly new to hunting like yourself, but I was into hiking/backpacking before I got into hunting.
I am going to assume you're also new to backpacking in general... with that said, I'm going to mirror what a few others have said - buy once, cry once. This gear ain't cheap, and the cheap stuff is rarely good. Not to say cheap stuff won't last, but when you're talking about hiking miles in up a couple thousand feet of elevation every pound matters, and buying cheap heavy gear will do one of two things - either you're gonna end up with a bunch of gear you don't use anymore because its miserable lugging in 60 pounds of stuff, or you're gonna end up double buying everything because you decided you liked it and to hell with lugging 60 pounds up the trail when you can slowly buy new everything and be headed up with 35-40 instead. Not to mention the resale value on the cheap stuff isn't there. Ask me how I know - because I've been there and done it. Luckily when I got into hunting I already had UL backpacking stuff, it was just a matter of getting a solid hunting pack.
I'd take this year, and maybe next, and turn into a granola cruncher and hike your tail off. Well, maybe not literally turn into one, but before you start dumping cash why not see if its something you enjoy at all? If you don't enjoy hiking in and spending the night out in the wilderness, you're probably not going to enjoy hunting in it either. You can spend a little renting gear or borrowing some stuff to see how you like it. If its something you like, you're gonna feel better about buying the good stuff to begin with... which is what you should do. Not only that, but you can get your feet wet in figuring out whats comfortable for you before you go crazy buying stuff you think you need. Not to mention the benefit of doing all that hiking - it'll get you in shape.
I’m one of those guys who will not buy cheap gear if possible. I hate wasting my money and I know there is a huge difference in gear. I’ve bit the bullet and got some Sitka cloudburst rain gear this month and I’m slowly purchasing one to two items a month. I think I will really enjoy back country hunting. I love to hike into the nasty terrain during deer season and go where other hunters won’t go. I don’t like hunting southwest Washington because of all the logging roads and clearcuts it’s just not my style of hunting because it feels like I’m not really in the wilderness. I’ve always loved camping and the outdoors so this should be a good experience for me. I think I’ll start small and try 1 night in the woods hunts and work my way up to 4 day hunts so I will get a feel for it before buying more gear. I’m not too worried about buying camping gear and nice quality gear because I need it anyways because I go camping a lot
Post by: Ajj828 on January 03, 2019, 10:32:17 PM
Are you short or tall? Are you a mummy bag person or do you need room to sleep?
I’m a average height guy 5’8 150 pounds. Usually I like sleeping on my side. Not sure if a mummy bag is for me.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on January 04, 2019, 07:46:16 AM
Post by: bracer40 on January 04, 2019, 08:32:10 AM
I'm also a side sleeper and found I wasn't crazy about sleeping in my 30 yr old down mummy bag (don't recall it bothering me 25 yrs ago when using it summer-winter).Are you short or tall? Are you a mummy bag person or do you need room to sleep?
I’m a average height guy 5’8 150 pounds. Usually I like sleeping on my side. Not sure if a mummy bag is for me.
After doing some backpack trips this past summer I started looking for a "side sleeper" bag.
I definitely found it in the Nemo Disco. I went with the 15° version. At 2lbs 11oz, it's not the lightest, but for me, I'm happy to carry a little more weight for a good night's sleep. It also compresses down pretty well.
Haven't used it for winter camping but it performed well at 5000' during late season elk over Thanksgiving week.
I waited for one of REI's holiday sales to get it @25% off. Extremely happy with it.
Post by: swanny on January 04, 2019, 09:47:49 AM
Are you short or tall? Are you a mummy bag person or do you need room to sleep?
I’m a average height guy 5’8 150 pounds. Usually I like sleeping on my side. Not sure if a mummy bag is for me.
At 5'8" and 150lbs you should have no problem with a mummy bag. Most mummy bags today are cut a fair amount wider than those of old, weigh less, pack smaller, and are truly rated to their stated temperature. Do keep in mind that the temperature of any good sleeping bag will have an EN rating, which also takes in to account that you will be on an insulated sleeping mat, wearing medium weight socks, medium weight long underwear top and bottom, plus a beanie. Materials and manufacturing have improved vastly in the last 10yrs.
Post by: jackelope on January 04, 2019, 09:50:33 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 04, 2019, 10:21:37 AM
Post by: ian_padron on January 09, 2019, 11:38:58 PM
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
Post by: ian_padron on January 09, 2019, 11:40:55 PM
Quilts are amazing if you learn how to use them. Very versatile piece but they are gonna be drafty so if it's real cold, you gotta strap em down to eliminate the issue. Also need a beanie if its cold as they dont have hood. I also recommend bumping up the temp rating on a quilt. Instead of a 30 go 15. Instead of a 20 run a 0. I went with a zero degree quilt from EE. I've used it to single digits. Zero seems excessive but the beauty of a quilt is if its warm out you can throw it back, kick a leg out, etc to regulate temp. Mine weighs 20oz so even if it only got me down to 20-25 degrees it's still much lighter and compact than most any 20 degree mummy bag and is mine thousand times more enjoyable to sleep in.
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Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 10, 2019, 07:24:22 AM
Post by: rl206 on January 10, 2019, 08:55:56 PM
I'll echo the REI halfdome, I tried the hammock in the backcountry and couldn't sleep worth a damn at night hearing everything running around, call me a wuss but am packing a tent next year, helps , me sleep. That was solo though being alone your mind wanders.
I'd spend the money on a quality pad that packs small doesn't weigh a ton
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 10, 2019, 08:58:52 PM
I'm new here but I'll chime inno hammocks for me either. Everyone knows that tents are bear proof :chuckle:
I'll echo the REI halfdome, I tried the hammock in the backcountry and couldn't sleep worth a damn at night hearing everything running around, call me a wuss but am packing a tent next year, helps , me sleep. That was solo though being alone your mind wanders.
I'd spend the money on a quality pad that packs small doesn't weigh a ton
Post by: Mtnwalker on January 10, 2019, 09:13:17 PM
I'm new here but I'll chime in
I'll echo the REI halfdome, I tried the hammock in the backcountry and couldn't sleep worth a damn at night hearing everything running around, call me a wuss but am packing a tent next year, helps , me sleep. That was solo though being alone your mind wanders.
I'd spend the money on a quality pad that packs small doesn't weigh a ton
I sleep with ear plugs when I’m on solo trips. I figure if somethins gonna get me then so be it but otherwise it helps me sleep through all the rodent noise
Post by: ian_padron on January 10, 2019, 11:18:48 PM
Positive. 950 fill regular/regular. Anything that goes in my bag has at some point been weighed on a scale.Dude that's friggin nuts.
I have a long wide with 950 and its almost 12 extra ounces!!!
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Post by: Smossy on January 10, 2019, 11:20:28 PM
So I plan on trying a high hunt in 2019 or 2020 and I’m slowly buying gear I may need. I’m a new hunter and have only been hunting 3 years so I am slowly building my gear list up. I want to do a 4 day high hunt.Whats your weight/height?
Important gear I know I need:
Tent/ tarp
Sleeping bag (used a $15 Walmart bag for elk hunting this year with 3 other blankets so I learned my lesson :bdid: )
Sleeping pad
Trekking poles
Pillow
Water filtration device
Stove
Portable charger
If anyone can recommend any brands to me that would be great. Not looking to buy a $600 tent or sleeping bag. Looking at about $200 max for a bag and $200-$300 for a tent. Would like to keep costs low but I do really hate buying low quality and wasting money.
Post by: TRD1911 on January 11, 2019, 12:17:20 AM
Tent/ tarp - Seek Outside Cimmaron
Sleeping bag - Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20*
Sleeping pad - Klymit V2
Trekking poles - Black Diamond Carbon Cork
Pillow - Used a rolled up puffy jacket
Water filtration device - Sawyer inline filter
Stove - Titanium Goat Medium Wifi
Portable charger - Dark Energy Poseiden
I know you said that you dont want to spend the amount of money that some of these items require but it doesn't save you any money to buy an inferior item just to replace it next year. Just my opinion. I buy 90% of my gear used. Keep checking the classifieds on here, archery talk, Rokslide and LRH. Put wanted ads out and put what you're willing to pay in them. Sometimes you get lucky.
Post by: Smossy on January 11, 2019, 03:06:17 AM
Post by: Smossy on January 11, 2019, 03:10:05 AM
Ive got a brand new eureka below freezing mummy bag Im never gonna use, I bought it and realisticly never used it, then when I did, it was slightly claustrophobic but man it kept me warm by myself.
https://www.amazon.com/Hyke-Byke-Down-Sleeping-Backpacking/dp/B01HNPJWFI/ref=pd_aw_sbs_468_3/144-3157993-6854637?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01HNPJWFI&pd_rd_r=2622b2bd-1591-11e9-ba73-3f18b729ac20&pd_rd_w=Myk82&pd_rd_wg=dITV4&pf_rd_p=926ebe02-3236-40c6-ac63-01ad178f498a&pf_rd_r=KQ5PVXYKRRCXCV84ZN41&refRID=KQ5PVXYKRRCXCV84ZN41&th=1&psc=1
Seems solid.
I dont buy anything without checking reviews tbh.
Post by: ridgefire on January 11, 2019, 05:15:56 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 11, 2019, 05:17:41 AM
Post by: Smossy on January 11, 2019, 06:42:18 AM
So...
Way faster to assemble in a rain storm, way higher resilience to wind, dryer, safer, warmer "unless your rockin a stove".
Post by: ian_padron on January 15, 2019, 06:00:44 PM
A hammock is definitely an option but they are far from the universally best option
Washington IMO is a hammock paradise, Really unless your housing your friends everyone should be rocking a duel layer hammock, bug net, and rain fly. Takes 1/3 time to assemble.
So...
Way faster to assemble in a rain storm, way higher resilience to wind, dryer, safer, warmer "unless your rockin a stove".
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Post by: Jonathan_S on January 15, 2019, 06:55:46 PM
For napping in my backyard or in a campground. Otherwise I'll take a floorless shelter 99/99 times
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on January 15, 2019, 07:00:05 PM
Post by: Stein on January 15, 2019, 08:34:27 PM
Quilts are amazing if you learn how to use them. Very versatile piece but they are gonna be drafty so if it's real cold, you gotta strap em down to eliminate the issue. Also need a beanie if its cold as they dont have hood. I also recommend bumping up the temp rating on a quilt. Instead of a 30 go 15. Instead of a 20 run a 0. I went with a zero degree quilt from EE. I've used it to single digits. Zero seems excessive but the beauty of a quilt is if its warm out you can throw it back, kick a leg out, etc to regulate temp. Mine weighs 20oz so even if it only got me down to 20-25 degrees it's still much lighter and compact than most any 20 degree mummy bag and is mine thousand times more enjoyable to sleep in.
:yeah:
I actually use my mummy as a quilt now and when it gets real cold I just zip it up and deal with it. I sleep 10 X better with a quilt but they are a bit trickier during winter. I froze my stones so many times in college with cheap bags and comforters I don't care if my bag weighs 10 pounds, I'm hauling it and staying warm. I have stayed to -20 in it but that was with three pads and a goretex bivy sack.
if you can afford it, at least two different bags/quilts is the way to go. If not, it is just another bit of weight and a bit of space to haul the winter bag with you. If you only archery hunt in September, you can get away with one. The sleeping bag/quit is probably the only area where I don't care what the weight or cost is.
Post by: HikerHunter on January 16, 2019, 08:50:14 AM
So I plan on trying a high hunt in 2019 or 2020 and I’m slowly buying gear I may need. I’m a new hunter and have only been hunting 3 years so I am slowly building my gear list up. I want to do a 4 day high hunt.
Important gear I know I need:
Tent/ tarp
Sleeping bag (used a $15 Walmart bag for elk hunting this year with 3 other blankets so I learned my lesson :bdid: )
Sleeping pad
Trekking poles
Pillow
Water filtration device
Stove
Portable charger
If anyone can recommend any brands to me that would be great. Not looking to buy a $600 tent or sleeping bag. Looking at about $200 max for a bag and $200-$300 for a tent. Would like to keep costs low but I do really hate buying low quality and wasting money.
I feel you, it can add up quick when you are looking at quality, light gear. I highly agree with the recommendation of buying quality stuff once. Make due with what you have until you can afford something of good quality. It took me years to afford getting my overnight hunting pack weight down. I was able to keep the cost down on some items by buying used, waiting for sales, or buying from discount websites.
Unless you want a four season tent, I'd budget $100 for the tent and $300-400 for the bag. I have an Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 that works great in rain and light snow and is just over 5 pounds that I got from a discount website for $100. I have a Western Mountaineering bag that is absolutely awesome and light but they are expensive. I found a used one for about $250 though.
I have a Thermarest Neoair pad that is super light and thick. I got it at REI with the 20% member coupon. I was worried about it popping and wanted a place with a good return policy. Then they quickly changed their return policy...
Don't know my brand of trekking poles off the top my head, but they are a must-have when carrying a heavy load down the mountain.
I've never used a pillow, but if I did, I would get one that could also be used to sit on when glassing.
The Sawyer filter is the best I've used. Its light and pretty cheap too.
Jetboils are great, small efficient stoves, no secret there. But I used a little cheap Brunton Raptor for a long time. It just took longer to boil and used more fuel.
There are lots of great portable chargers out there. I'd focus on what size you need which is a factor of how many items you want to charge and how many times they will need to be charged. You might need to do a test run at home with them on or in the woods to nail that down accurately.
My biggest advice is to get out there this year. Don't wait for 2020! Good luck!
Post by: swanny on January 16, 2019, 09:24:20 AM
I was worried about it popping and wanted a place with a good return policy. Then they quickly changed their return policy...
Sorry to do this, but it really gets to me when it's assumed that mats just "pop". So I'd like to debunk the myth of "popping mats".
Mats don't just pop, just like your bike tires, or truck tires don't just randomly blow up while sitting in your drive way. A mat gets punctured from the ground it's put on, debris in the tent, etc., just like when you unfortunately drive over a nail on the freeway. A mat that leaks CAN be repaired easily either in the field (if you know where the puncture is) or when you return home by contacting the mat's manufacturer. We have a full mat repair facility at our Tacoma office for our sleeping mats and can turn them around in as little as 48-72 hours if necessary. Yes, there are sometimes factors that aren't a puncture that might cause the leak, but it's still preferred to contact the manufacturer to discuss the repair and/or warranty.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 16, 2019, 09:46:19 AM
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 :chuckle:
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 :twocents:
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 16, 2019, 09:51:52 AM
while I've never used an EXPED, ive had to warranty several pads for slow seam or valve leaks over the years. Never an issue getting them warrantied for stuff like that. Popped my fair share as well :bash: if you hunt hard and use your gear there is no such thing as the "last me a lifetime" piece of gear. Failures happen. Know how to patch your pad WHEN you pop it. Carry tenacious tape. Itll fix most pad punctures, clothing tears, or holes in your sleeping bag. Nothing worse than waking up to a tent that looks like you murdered a flock of geese in :chuckle: :bash:
I was worried about it popping and wanted a place with a good return policy. Then they quickly changed their return policy...
Sorry to do this, but it really gets to me when it's assumed that mats just "pop". So I'd like to debunk the myth of "popping mats".
Mats don't just pop, just like your bike tires, or truck tires don't just randomly blow up while sitting in your drive way. A mat gets punctured from the ground it's put on, debris in the tent, etc., just like when you unfortunately drive over a nail on the freeway. A mat that leaks CAN be repaired easily either in the field (if you know where the puncture is) or when you return home by contacting the mat's manufacturer. We have a full mat repair facility at our Tacoma office for our sleeping mats and can turn them around in as little as 48-72 hours if necessary. Yes, there are sometimes factors that aren't a puncture that might cause the leak, but it's still preferred to contact the manufacturer to discuss the repair and/or warranty.
Post by: HikerHunter on January 16, 2019, 08:52:31 PM
I was worried about it popping and wanted a place with a good return policy. Then they quickly changed their return policy...
Sorry to do this, but it really gets to me when it's assumed that mats just "pop". So I'd like to debunk the myth of "popping mats".
Mats don't just pop, just like your bike tires, or truck tires don't just randomly blow up while sitting in your drive way. A mat gets punctured from the ground it's put on, debris in the tent, etc., just like when you unfortunately drive over a nail on the freeway. A mat that leaks CAN be repaired easily either in the field (if you know where the puncture is) or when you return home by contacting the mat's manufacturer. We have a full mat repair facility at our Tacoma office for our sleeping mats and can turn them around in as little as 48-72 hours if necessary. Yes, there are sometimes factors that aren't a puncture that might cause the leak, but it's still preferred to contact the manufacturer to discuss the repair and/or warranty.
That’s funny, I didn’t like the word “popping” either when I typed it, but couldn’t think of a better one at the time. “Puncture” would be a better word, but it any case, no matter how well you try to clear your tent area, you might miss something, especially in the dark. Or even rubbing against something in your park for a few hours could do it. Lightweight materials don’t last forever, it’s a matter of time before you get a “puncture”.
Okay, back to the thread!
Post by: elkchaser54 on January 19, 2019, 02:54:14 AM
Post by: opdinkslayer on January 19, 2019, 07:35:53 AM
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 :chuckle:
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 :twocents:
:yeah:
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. :twocents:
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. :twocents: Good luck!😎
Post by: stlusn30-06 on January 22, 2019, 11:59:09 AM
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.
Post by: stlusn30-06 on January 23, 2019, 11:45:16 AM
https://www.camofire.com/
Post by: Jessec on January 28, 2019, 03:52:14 PM
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.
8) 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.
Post by: CastleRocker on January 28, 2019, 05:38:26 PM
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!
Post by: elkchaser54 on January 30, 2019, 04:26:46 PM
Post by: bowhunterty on January 31, 2019, 08:54:58 AM
Post by: milldozer on January 31, 2019, 09:07:45 AM
https://soundcloud.com/huntbackcountry
Post by: bracer40 on January 31, 2019, 09:23:12 AM
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
Post by: stlusn30-06 on January 31, 2019, 09:50:06 AM
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.
Post by: CoryTDF on January 31, 2019, 12:59:38 PM
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.
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on January 31, 2019, 01:07:28 PM
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.