I had the opportunity to test a wide range of gear in various settings and conditions this fall. Some gear was great. Some was the opposite of great. Here’s a look at the great stuff!
Leupold Pro Guide Glass
The best Leupold binoculars I’ve used are the BX-4 Pro Guide HD Gen 2 10x42MM. They’re incredibly lightweight, the eye cups stay where you set them, and they are highly comfortable. The clarity of this glass places it among the elite. I spent countless hours looking through the 10x42s, and put in a bit of time with the 12x42s of the same model, which are just as impressive.
Leupold’s best spotting scope I’ve gotten behind is the SX-4 Pro Guide HD. I have the 15-45×65, but also used an 85mm model on a week-long deer hunt. The 65mm is my top pick based on the functionality and clarity it offers on full zoom. I used the binocular and spotter combination on many big game hunts this fall. Several times, I spent six hours a day looking through them. When they say HD, they mean it. No eye fatigue, excellent clarity, and both performed flawlessly in a range of conditions and situations.
Sitka Dew Point Rain Gear
Sitka’s new Dew Point Pro Jacket and Pant is their toughest rain gear yet. What I found was a much-needed set of quality rain gear that performs well when still-hunting and sitting in driving rain for hours, day after day, in the Pacific Northwest.
The Dew Point Pro Pant offers ample legroom for layering. The reinforced knees are great for breaking down game and crawling on the ground. The bellowed pockets are a nice feature. The Dew Point Pro Jacket features a long tail to maximize rain shedding, and its large hood is perfect for layering. Uniquely designed pockets and zippers maximize space and temperature control. It’s easy to add too many layers under the Pro Series, so go light if planning on hiking all day.
Meindl Comfort Fit Boa Speed Hunter Boots
Last spring, I underwent an emergency back surgery. The surgeon said I’d be lucky to do any big game hunting in the fall. Four months after surgery, I got the green light to start walking on uneven ground. In addition, I also need foot surgery to rid a big toe joint of bone spurs, arthritis, and calcium buildup.
I needed a shoe that offered room in the toe while allowing my body to be in a position that wouldn’t pinch the new hardware in my back. Three brands later, I found Meindl’s Comfort Fit Power Walker 3.5. This shoe design naturally put my body in an upright position and instantly offered 100 percent pain relief with each step. The heel and midsole gave ample support, while the toe had plenty of room for my swollen joints. I hiked less than 10 miles in them before my next Meindl investment, their Comfort Fit Boa Speed Hunter.
These were my go-to boots this fall. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in them from Alaska through multiple Western states. I’ve been a fan of Meindl boots for decades and have worn them on numerous big game hunts around the world. The Boa Speed Hunters puts my body in a comfortable position, offers ideal heel and arch support, and there’s plenty of room in the toe box. The boots are light, not a weight burden on my back. The BOA lacing system is top-notch. Their support, stability, and comfort have impressed me. Gore-Tex lined, 100 percent waterproof, and featuring a precise and easy-to-adjust lacing system, these boots are a must-have.
Nosler’s Whitetail Country Bullet & Suppressor
Nosler’s Whitetail Country 100-grain Solid Base bullet is what I used on a hunt for Columbia whitetails this fall. With this load, a buddy shot a buck that was quartering away. It performed flawlessly, mushrooming classically on the opposite side, and the buck didn’t go far. My buck was standing broadside at 154 yards, and I intentionally shot it high on the shoulder. The bullet passed through the near shoulder blade, exited the far one, and dropped the buck on the spot; mission accomplished. There was less than a quarter pound of total meat loss.
The rifle was a Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT chambered in .243 with a 20-inch barrel. It was fitted with a Nosler SR-30KH suppressor. I’ve been an advocate of suppressors since first using them in Africa over 30 years ago. This one rounded out a compact build while delivering noticeable noise reduction and reduced recoil, even on a small bore. I’ll be investing in more of Nosler’s suppressors.
Benchmade Meatcrafter, Mini Claymore OTF, and 3-Piece Set
Benchmade’s high-quality steel and its ability to hold and retain an edge make it very appealing. Enter their Meatcrafter. I broke down multiple deer at home and an entire bear in the field with this knife. I butchered several animals with it, too. The fine trailing point made the blade easy to use for precise cuts, whether separating quarters, filleting backstraps and neck meat, or disarticulating muscle groups, including shanks. It’s sharp and smooth enough to cut perfect steaks. The Meatcrafter comes in three handle and three blade finish options.
Benchmade’s Mini Claymore OTF (Out The Front) quickly became my personal carry knife of choice. This double-action, low-profile knife is easy to operate with one hand and durable enough to perform countless tasks. It’s lightweight, holds firmly in any pocket, and the Grivory handle makes for easy gripping in the rain or when your hands are bloody. I used this knife on multiple hunts last fall, including two trips to Alaska. It achieved numerous jobs, including field dressing and caping big game.
For over 20 years, knives have been a big part of how my wife has made a living. From processing big game to chopping vegetables, and from creating hundreds of recipes for magazines to more than a dozen cookbooks, she has always appreciated quality knives.
Enter Benchmade’s 3-Piece Set, which includes an 8″ Chef, 6″ Utility, and 4″ Paring knife. Each has a polished stainless steel blade that features extra-smooth edges, which not only increases their sharpness but also their ease of regaining an edge. The handle designs are comfortable, regardless of how long or demanding your tasks may be.
Worksharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener
The advancements in sharpening systems that Worksharp continues to roll out never cease to amaze me. And their new Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener is no exception. This system offers more control and precision than any home sharpener I’ve used. From field knives to butchering knives and even my wife’s high-end Shun kitchen knives, this sharpener handles them all. Gone are the days of sending knives back to the factory for sharpening once a year.
An array of features sets this sharpening system apart, but for me, the clamp-stabilizing platform, precisely constructed metal frame, and comprehensive line of abrasive options stand out. I also love the small knife table, as it’s easy to insert and makes for accurate handling of small blades. The digital angle indicator is ingenious. I’m not going to lie, the foam-molded carrying case is an added luxury, both for transport and storage. This sharpener makes me feel like a pro, though I’m far from it.
LifeStraw Go Series Stainless Steel
I got the LifeStraw Go Series Stainless Steel 24 OZ Water Filter Bottle for a two-week trip to Alaska. I ended up using it on multiple big game hunts, as well as bird hunts, throughout the West. The double-wall, insulated stainless steel bottle keeps water cold all day, and the integrated 2-stage filter removes bacteria, parasites, microplastics, silt, sand, chlorine, and odors. The water always tasted good. My wife used it on biking and camping trips, and loved it.
Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil System
It’s been over 15 years since I got my first Jetboil. When I saw the new Flash 1.0, I had to try it. The ultra-fast boil time is for real, which made everyone happy in deer camp when the coffee was ready in a couple of minutes, before they even rolled out of their sleeping bags. The turn-and-click igniter is a simple yet much-appreciated luxury, as are the colored grip zones that make handling easy in low-light conditions.
The drink-through lid and heat indicator made it convenient for making hot drinks in the duck blind, as did the fitting, which featured a limited-edition Mossy Oak Bottomland camo pattern. The three locking points enhanced the pot-to-burner connection, making it both safe and easy to handle. Next, the Flash 1.0 will be heading to elk camp with me.
YETI Food Jar & French Press
Hot soup never tastes so good as when you’re on the hunt and it’s cold and wet. I used both sizes of YETI’s new Insulate Food Jars—8 and 16 oz.—and loved
them. They kept soups and stews hot and let me hunt all day, in comfort, rather than going back to camp for a snack. The double-walled, vacuum insulation kept food hot all morning, and the two-piece lids are easy to clean. No leaks or drips inside the backpack, either.
I never drank coffee until one fall, 11 years ago, when I was stranded in brown bear camp and we ran out of food. It was cold and miserable, and all we had was coffee. Now, I’m a wannabe coffee snob. Enter YETI’s new French Press. I got the 34-ounce version and love it. It’s tough, features a DuraSip ceramic lining, double-wall vacuum insulation, and made great coffee for a buddy and me on a recent fishing trip.
Thermacell E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
Twenty years have passed since I first used a Thermacell repellent unit. I was one of two outdoor writers who got to test and help in the development of these products, and I did so for two years before they hit the market. Since then, I’ve used them from Alaska to California and across the country. I’m still using them, and the new E65 has me excited.
The new E65 is a rechargeable repeller that’s ideal for early-season hunting camps out West. It takes only two hours to charge fully and runs continuously for 6.5 hours, offering a 20-foot zone of protection. The repellent cartridge burns for 36 hours. The entire unit is airline travel-safe, as it does not contain a butane cartridge, unlike previous models. It works great for mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and other small insects.
Duracell 3,000 Lumen Lantern
There’s no such thing as too much light when in hunting camp. I’ve used a lot of lanterns over the years, and the Duracell 3,000 Lumen Rechargeable Lantern is impressive, both in performance and price point. Shockingly bright, it makes many jobs more efficient, even safer, and camps are more comfortable. It works great outdoors as well as inside—think power outages in a dark house during winter—and it’s tough, weather-resistant, and has an impressively long runtime. It features multiple power options, including solar, rechargeable battery, and Qi wireless charging, and it’s compatible with D batteries.
DemerBox DB1
Last summer, my wife was tired of working in the garden and at camps with earbuds that prevented her from hearing others talk or properly keeping track of our dogs. She sought a sound system that met her needs and found it in the DemerBox DB1. This single speaker model offers ample volume for personal entertainment, and she loves the fact that it’s built into a Pelican case, which is both durable and waterproof. In camp, being able to store her phone and truck keys inside the DB1 made keeping track of them easy and worry-free. The DB1 features a built-in USB port to charge phones and other accessories, which is a great bonus. Each charge equates to an impressive run time, and these speakers are made in the U.S.A.
Quality gear is not cheap. But it’s built to last and perform, day in and day out, year after year. Happy holidays, and good hunting.
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