Gear you liked/disliked 2022

[Horn]

You put bibs on after you have climbed? Do I have that right?

Ok. I gotta get in on this question too. Are you putting them over your saddle then? I mean cramming upper layers into your saddle is one thing but bibs? How the...

 

[Kayl]

You put bibs on after you have climbed? Do I have that right?

Yup. All the time. Undo leg straps, unzip bibs almost all the way up to the hip, put feet in one at a time, zip up, loosen waist belt on saddle, pull front of bibs up, stand up to remove pressure from rear of saddle, pull back up, buckle bib suspenders, tighten waist belt, hook up leg straps. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is...

Ok. I gotta get in on this question too. Are you putting them over your saddle then? I mean cramming upper layers into your saddle is one thing but bibs? How the...

Nope, under the saddle. I've done it with my Aerohunter and my friend's Method 2.

 

[AttackMode]

Thanks, lol. I may end up returning the Gnargali that arrives Wed for the 44 mag. The 44mag is close to what I want, but ideally I'd trade out a side pocket for an oversized water bottle pocket and I'd add a flap in the back like the Gnargali has for bow/rifle carry without having to add a Sherman pocket. The 44 is a better sized main pack than the Gnargali, but heavier. It definitely has better access to the main bag and Multicam, 2 thumbs up.

Are you still platform climbing with the Mission? And it fits in the pack?

The 44 access and layout are about perfect for me. I thought about the 357 but I wasn't sure if my platform would fit inside. Kifaru has the 44 listed at about 11" wide, 357 says 12" but the amount of pals webbing shows the 44 is wider. I still platform climb and it does fit in the 44 but it's close. Everything is very streamlined and I don't have to worry about snags going through the thick stuff with the exception of anything overhead. But I usually stay out of that stuff unless I'm shed hunting. Multicam is also a big plus. Adding xpac pouches and sherman will give me plenty of waterproof storage for camera gear and other items. I'll upload some pics of the 44 stuffed with clothes and platform later today.

 

[neonomad]

Likes:

REI 650 down jacket (folds into its pocket, easy to pack)
new-to-me LL Bean ragg wool sweater (found on ebay for stupid cheap)
merino wool neck gaiter (meriwool)

I am looking forward to trying out my Orvis "foul weather" jacket that is a wool quarter zip lined with a wind breaker. I have high hopes; it could be the ultimate mid-layer for those windier days. I will report back when I actually get some use out of it.

I don't want to say that I dislike my muck boots, but I have had to come to terms with their limits this year. In my experience, they have been cold due to moisture build-up (as others have noted) when used over any distance over a couple hundred yards (even when changing to dry socks), and they are noisier to walk in when the leaves are dry because they are not snug on my feet/calfs and move around more than laced footwear (I'm a skinny guy, so that might be why). Great boots, just not meant to hunt in any sort of steep terrain or over appreciable distance (especially when it is cold).

I know this has been discussed at length but are you putting antiperspirant on your feet?… for me that works great, night and day difference.

 

[devildog]

Likes:

1. JX3 amazing love it more and more every time I use it. One thing I discovered this weekend doing all day sits, is with a ring of steps I can stand up and move the tether and change the side of the tree I am hanging on really easily. Many times hunting with my traditional saddle and platform I would have to climb down to the first stick and move the platform before I could change sides of the tree if needed.

2. Using truckers hitch with amsteel daisy chains. Might be a little slow but the sticks are rock solid.

3. Arctic Shield boot covers. I will never hunt in thick boots again, and sweat on the way walking in.

Dislikes.

1. Spending way too much time trying to work on my arrows, and broadheads last year trying to find the best combo. Went back to Sevr broadheads this season and had so much more time to hunt then trying to find the best flying arrow and sharpening single bevel broadheads.

2. Cell cams: So cool at first but after staying out of an area for half the season because I wasn't getting any pictures, I finally went in to check the area, and there was about 10 scraps within 50 yards behind the camera. Cell cams are useful, but don't let them keep you out of a potentially good area.

 

[Dcomer55]

Liked:

1. Iron will wide 150s. Fly great and incredibly lethal. Just devastating. Did my own testing and they'll smash through scaps. My go to whitetail broadhead from here on out
2. Fanatic jacket. Tried and was disappointed by FL Solitude. Wish I would have bought this from the start
3. FL catalyst bibs & Black Ovis Anchor Point Down pants - as mentioned above i had the FL Solitude and was disappointed in that set. Never could achieve the warmth levels they claim and I would consider myself warm natured. I also don't like the bulk of packing bibs in and overheat if I wear them in - even with the leg zips open. With the catalyst/down pants combo i will walk in wearing the catalyst bibs and can still vent, but don't overheat due to the lack of insulation. Once in setup I'll add the down pants underneath. Took a minute to figure out a good way to do this that didn't involve removing the bibs, but have it figured out now. And man are they warm. I can just alternate my baselayer and this will cover me from 40 degrees to the teens. I would think lower, but I haven't faced single digit temps yet.

Dislike:

1. Genesis 3D gear hanger. Just a PITA to get setup. I really wanted to like this. Also on drawback is your pack/bow have to be hung at the same level using this.

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

Dislike:

1. Genesis 3D gear hanger. Just a PITA to get setup. I really wanted to like this. Also on drawback is your pack/bow have to be hung at the same level using this.

It’s hard to shake a stick at the HYS Strap or some good old fashioned screw in hooks.

 

[BTaylor]

Liked:

1. Iron will wide 150s. Fly great and incredibly lethal. Just devastating. Did my own testing and they'll smash through scaps. My go to whitetail broadhead from here on out
2. Fanatic jacket. Tried and was disappointed by FL Solitude. Wish I would have bought this from the start
3. FL catalyst bibs & Black Ovis Anchor Point Down pants - as mentioned above i had the FL Solitude and was disappointed in that set. Never could achieve the warmth levels they claim and I would consider myself warm natured. I also don't like the bulk of packing bibs in and overheat if I wear them in - even with the leg zips open. With the catalyst/down pants combo i will walk in wearing the catalyst bibs and can still vent, but don't overheat due to the lack of insulation. Once in setup I'll add the down pants underneath. Took a minute to figure out a good way to do this that didn't involve removing the bibs, but have it figured out now. And man are they warm. I can just alternate my baselayer and this will cover me from 40 degrees to the teens. I would think lower, but I haven't faced single digit temps yet.

Dislike:

1. Genesis 3D gear hanger. Just a PITA to get setup. I really wanted to like this. Also on drawback is your pack/bow have to be hung at the same level using this.

I made my gear rope with some left over oplux and put a happy hands hitch on there to hang my pack. The hitch self tends so I can drop the pack down low and if I need to get in it, just pull up on the tag end of the rope to raise the pack. Bow hanger will be however high you set the rope obviously. I just use rubber gear tie to make a hook to hang my longbow. Works great. Hero clip would work well for a compound or rifle.

 

[MJH]

Yup. All the time. Undo leg straps, unzip bibs almost all the way up to the hip, put feet in one at a time, zip up, loosen waist belt on saddle, pull front of bibs up, stand up to remove pressure from rear of saddle, pull back up, buckle bib suspenders, tighten waist belt, hook up leg straps. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is...

Damn - why didn't I ever think about this. I hunt in some pretty cold weather, and packing my bibs in feels like a great plan to avoid sweating out my legs.

 

[Dcomer55]

It’s hard to shake a stick at the HYS Strap or some good old fashioned screw in hooks.

Yeah I'm going back to screw ins

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

Yeah I'm going back to screw ins

I’ve started adding two or three to my cart almost at almost every Walmart trip.

 

[Nosaj]

It has been mostly likes this year. I may not even need to buy a thing next year .

OVERWATCH OUTDOORS ORION SADDLE:
No haveing to get in saddle shape with this saddle. This saddle was incredibly comfortable weather I was leaning or sitting. In the past I was never comfortable enough to hunt with just my one stick and UP, this year with the Orion I did it often with out thinking I wish I had my platform. The ability to adjust the pleat was a huge winner.


MYSTERY RANCH TREEHOUSE 38 PACK:
After 3 years of looking for a pack I have finally found one that completely suits my needs. My platform mounts nicely with the outside straps on the back and my one stick straps to the bottom. I can remove the one stick from the bottom without removing my pack. My cold weather gear fits nicely in the pack along with plenty of odds and ends. The internal reinforcement keeps the bag open on the tree or the ground. I like the internal and external pockets that are a good use of space and accessible . I have had several smaller bags before this and putting a platform and a stick on the outside would cause them to carry the load poorly.

Super Nova 2.0 arrow shafts:
I am impressed with the durability of these shafts. I had a shaft sticking out the side of an animal where the deer rolled down a bank with the shaft sticking out perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the shaft was 100% fine and reusable.

Vortex Diamond Back 10×42 HD Binos:
Great clarity at all magnifications, good low light transmission and they replaced them after they fell out of my pack a broke.

Firstlite Sanctuary 2.0 bibs, jacket muff.
I have only used them 2x however they performed just as I had hoped still hunting and saddle hunting with my bow in cold weather. I could thermo regulate with zippers and wearing them or not wearing them (not wearing the jacket on hike in). The pockets are well placed and the sleeves are tapered and made for archery. I was able to reduce what I had to carry in my pack without having to bring all my cold weather layers.

 

[3mbcrs]

Not a big new gear season for me but...
Liked: Tactacam Reveal X...have two and both work well in spotty reception areas.

Liked: Rage Hypodermic...nice cuts

On the fence: Scentlok Alpha Elite bib and jacket. Super warm, sitting in 17 degree MI gun season. The bib leg zippers are too short.

Not a fan: Hawk Helium sticks. Great product! But sticks like these are not for me. I like the full length stick...I'm not a mobile hunter..

Full hate to love conversion: hand muff...yep, I always thought these were not cool but with a cell phone usage (OnX, Kindle, text messaging) as it is today, I need a naked finger to unlock and I hate pulling glove off ( and face recognition doesn't work with a balaclava) .... anyway, with one hothand in the muff, both hands are glove free.

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[TexaninSconny]

After years of holding off temptation I finally bought Sitka pieces this year. 30% sale helped. Fanatic hoody and the bibs/coat. They are incredible. I know that given the price one is likely to develop a stance that justifies it, but they really are nice. I've never been that not cold when hunting snowy late season Vermont. The design details are so well thought out. These will not be resold, and I hope they give me years of the same joy I've had so far. They better at that price!

Same here. First season with Sitka Fanatic hoody/jacket/bibs. Took a trip back up to WI for rifle season with buddies. Handled single digit temps with winds over 20mph really well. MUCH more comfortable than in past years. Handmuff is no longer necessary. The Fanatic neck gaiter helps tremendously when it gets really cold or the wind really picks up.

I wore the First Lite Furnace base layers for these cold temps. They are excellent! Highly recommend the boot cut zip-off option for the bottoms. Winner, winner chicken dinner!

PacSeat gets another vote from me. So light, versatile and comfortable. This thing will always be in my truck.

Arctic Shield Boot Covers - cheap way to keep those toes warmer. Just size up from their recommendation.

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

It has been mostly likes this year. I may not even need to buy a thing next year .

Vortex Diamond Back 10×42 HD Binos:
Great clarity at all magnifications, good low light transmission and they replaced them after they fell out of my pack a broke.

I agree on both counts. I’ll still buy new crap though cuz what else is there to do in western Ohio? I am always impressed by the clarity at dawn and dusk with my Diamondback HDs. I can only imagine what a truly great set of nockers looks like down the pipes in a western scenario. Maybe one day. At a couple Benny Franks per pair the Diamondbacks are hard to beat in the whitetail woods though.

 

[AttackMode]

The 44 access and layout are about perfect for me. I thought about the 357 but I wasn't sure if my platform would fit inside. Kifaru has the 44 listed at about 11" wide, 357 says 12" but the amount of pals webbing shows the 44 is wider. I still platform climb and it does fit in the 44 but it's close. Everything is very streamlined and I don't have to worry about snags going through the thick stuff with the exception of anything overhead. But I usually stay out of that stuff unless I'm shed hunting. Multicam is also a big plus. Adding xpac pouches and sherman will give me plenty of waterproof storage for camera gear and other items. I'll upload some pics of the 44 stuffed with clothes and platform later today.

 

[Timberdonkey_059]

Yup. All the time. Undo leg straps, unzip bibs almost all the way up to the hip, put feet in one at a time, zip up, loosen waist belt on saddle, pull front of bibs up, stand up to remove pressure from rear of saddle, pull back up, buckle bib suspenders, tighten waist belt, hook up leg straps. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is...



Nope, under the saddle. I've done it with my Aerohunter and my friend's Method 2.

Lol I have gotten pretty good myself at putting my bibs on under my method 2 saddle after in the tree. Especially since I have been hunting Michigans rifle season with my bow and 1-sticking still. No way i am going to climb with all those clothes on, so once I get set up and body temp has come back down a bit, i throw on my light puffy jacket, then my bibs, then my big jacket, all under my saddle. Took some time to figure out the easiest way but once I did, its not bad.

 

[GVDocHoliday]

Things I loved:
1) Tethrd one sticks gen 3. Never reached for my beast sticks this year.
2) Tactisaddle Nomad...Can't really explain it. It's very comfortable...always reached for it over my Latitude. I'm going to reach out to John this winter to see about some mods to it...as I really dislike the leg straps(I don't like leg straps in general), and for next year I'll be installing an Cruzr amsteel bridge on it. I'm also going to see if he'll sew another piece of webbing on the inside of the waist strap so I can slide in a rope to go buckleless.
3)KUIU Pro Suspension, frame, and 1850 pro bag. Second year using it, love it.
4) Steamboat sharpening block. Used the same knife to gut, skin, quarter, bone out 6 deer this year, with just a simple touchup after each deer. It never leaves my kitchen counter.

Things I hated:
1)Gumleaf rubber boots. Saxon's, fit ok, but damn do they offer no support on my top stick platform, and for some reason, whenever the sun hits them, I get whiffs of burnt rubber. If I'm smelling that, the deer must be as well. Also, my feet got substantially colder than my Lacrosse Aeroheads. Good for walking, stationary, not so good.
2)Extinguisher deer call. Froze up on me.
3) Quaker boy Brawler call...also froze up on me and made a weird high pitch hum.
4) Kong Duck....I just simply hate all mechanical ascenders. Much prefer distel hitch with a 3d printed tender. So much cleaner and much easier to use one handed, especially on the lineman's rope.

 

[Kayl]

Things I hated:
2) Extinguisher deer call. Froze up on me.
3) Quaker boy Brawler call...also froze up on me and made a weird high pitch hum.

So which call(s) do you like?

 

[shmelton]

Likes:
Fanatic Bibs, Jacket, and Vest. Some on here said the hate the Fanatic, but I love them. I wore the Bibs, and Jacket with nothing but a pair of 200g merino long John’s underneath In20deg temps last weekend. I was so warm I coulda cooked biscuits on my titties.

I wear the traverse pants with the Fanatic hoody and Celsius jacket, and a merino base layer. The Fanatic vest is perfect for keeping stepped to your pack for when you get settled in the tree and start to cool off. I’ve been very impressed with the versatility, and compactness of the lighter Sitka gear I own.

Ropeman ascender 1 is a game changer over a Prussic knot.

Shwacker 150gr broadheads. The 3” cut just produces a hell of a blood trail.

Nose Jammer, all I can say is it works.

Dislikes: Primos Buck Roar. It holds to much moisture and locks up.

SPYPOINT camera, customer service sucks! The cameras aren’t reliable. My cheap Muddy’s have never failed me.


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