Great gear options to consider for this season
Photo credit: Brady Miller
We have been adding a ton of new gear to the GOHUNT Gear Shop this summer and, with some fun tags in my pocket, I have been cruising these hard! I wanted to take a few minutes to highlight a few of my favorites
Yes, it’s a water bottle. Yes, I’m still really excited about it! 32 oz of water is never quite enough for me on a day hunt, but for some reason, I can’t stand packing two bottles in my pack. They are constantly tipping over and getting in the way. This large 48 oz Nalgene bottle fits perfectly in my pack and gives me enough water for most of my day hunts. The bottles are constructed of durable Tritan plastic and can take the abuse of any adventure.
I have always been a big fan of having some sort of glassing pad with me on hunts. The new Therm-A-Rest lite seat takes it a step further by offering a packable inflatable option. Foam glassing seats will always hold a close place next to my heart; however, they tend to flatten out after glassing on them for prolonged periods of time. Having the ability to adjust my air pressure — and also know that I won’t lose it could make an all-day glassing session suck a little bit less. Even more, I’m sure I could double this inflatable pad for a mock pillow for some sweet mountain naps.
Another super simple item: the Stone Glacier Performance Belt. I’m normally not a belt person, but I do like to use them while hunting. However, I’ve often struggled to find a belt that stayscomfortable throughout an entire hunt. Generally, the buckles are the major issue for me and overly stiff materials just seem to not work well for me. This low-profile offering from Stone Glacier looks to check all of the boxes I need and I’m excited to put this one to work this fall.
I have always been a big fan of replaceable blade knives — mostly because I’m awful at sharpening knives. The new Ibex from Goat Knives combines the strength and safety of a fixed-blade knife, but comes in at an insanely light 0.6 oz! Jimping has been added to the handle in strategic places to increase grip while working with the knife and a Kydex sheath is included. This knife is going to cut some weight from my kill kit without any sacrifice of efficiency, safety or strength. Learn more about the Goat Knife Ibex here from Brady Miller.
The Hilleberg Tarp 10 UL is another item that has recently caught my eye. I love a good tarp and will have a use for one on a few hunts this year. Primarily, I drew a Wyoming deer tag and will be doing a backpack hunt up there this September with a good friend. The Tarp 10 UL has plenty of room for both of us and our gear to fit under the tarp while still providing enough protection should we encounter any freak storms.
The Crux HE Weekend Cook Kit from Optimus is another item I am pretty excited about. I really like a good stove kit and this one comes in at a respectable 12.6 oz and includes the pot, the stove and a saucepan/lid. This compact system will deploy and pack up in seconds and boils water quickly.
Synthetic mid-layer hoodies have become my absolute favorite piece of clothing. I wear these for summer scouting trips all the way through late November hunts. I have one on or in my pack for every single hunt. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Sitka Heavyweight Hoodie, but have wanted to try something new. I have been eyeballing the SG Synthetic Hoodie due to its quick-drying abilities, hood design and overall lighter weight material. I think this could be the ticket for active western hunting!
Traditionally, I’ve always been a heavy, tall all-leather boot type of person. Those boots definitely have their place, but I’ve begun to move into more technical type hikers that give me some more athletic freedom while still providing protection. The new Mountain Trainer 2 from Salewa combines all of my favorite features in a robust mountain boot with the nimbleness of a lightweight set of hiking boots. While I may go to a slightly stiffer boot for a more extreme mountain hunt, these will be perfect for the high country of Wyoming and Arizona where I will be spending most of my time this year.
