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Top 5 best/worst gear purchases

Best:
1) FirstLite Sanctuary bibs + Woodbury jacket
2) Spitfire expandables
3) Summit climber
4) JX3 Hybrid
5) TS Rise Quiver
6) Anything merino, special mention to cheap thin Camofire merino gloves
7) Toasty toes
8) Milkweed
9) Furry Cabelas thermal base layer shirt
10) Cuddelink
11) Stealthstrips
12) Double steps for top step
EDIT: RELEASABLE ZIPTIES!

Worst:
1) The old school “safety harnesses”
2) The permanent stands I bought and sat in twice each.
3) Two little angled rods knife sharpeners
4) Plastic bags to haul urine out of the woods on my belt
5) Cheap Black Ovis rain gear
6) Any pack without a frame
7) Goretex as boot waterproofing
8) Screw in anything (bowholders, gear holders)
9) Multi color tracking lights

This exercise made me realize that I’ve enjoyed most of my gear over the years, I should be #grateful going into the new year. #blessed
 
raisins said:
I have the same warmer, and it is the bomb. I should've put "almost any clothing made by midwayusa" on my best list. The quality to price ratio is great, especially when they run their sales.
Click to expand...

Sometimes I forget about Midway, then I scroll the site, and the clothing prices are fantastic, deserve more mentions.
 
Murph4028 said:
It's no secret that saddle hunters love gear. We buy it all. The good and the bad. What are your top 5 best and worst gear purchases and why. This is intended to help those who are new and trying to figure out what may or may not work for them while they decide where to put their hard earned money. Here are mine:

Best:

Tethrd Mantis - easy to mod, super light, comfortable, simple, and not a problem to wear while walking. In stock form it's almost perfect.

SRT climbing system - easy to climb, easy to descend, lightweight, packable, can be multi functional and it's very safe assuming you routinely check your gear.

Kifaru pack - built to last, easy to mod, functional, lots of options for saddle hunters.

Bolts (treehopper and carbon) - can be used as a climbing system, gear hanger and a ring of steps. Easy to pack and to use. Multi functional.

Muck pursuit shadow boots - best hunting boots ive ever owned. Get the benefits of wearing rubber boots but can walk all day in them. Somewhat low profile rubber/neoprene boots that can be worn in warm weather and laced up for long walks.

Worst:

Climbing spurs - easy to use but hard for me to trust. Just couldn't get it down and be comfortable while using them. Stepping on and off platform was weird for me and constantly felt like I was about to gaff out. Kind of odd to pack in as well depending on your pack and how you prefer to carry your kit.

Cheap backpacks - went through a ton of them and could've bought multiple high end packs with the money I spent over the years. My advice is buy once cry once.

Mechanical broadheads - unpredictable arrow flight in my experience. When it's showtime I'll take a fixed broadhead anyday. Keeping it simple here.

Climbing sticks - went through a bunch of different sets of these over the years and never liked the fiddle factor of 4 clanking sticks equals 4 clanking strap buckles while trying to be in ninja mode. Trying to make one trip up the tree with 3 sticks dangling from me like a wind chime didn't make sense to me. I think I'd use spurs before I went back to multiple sticks.

Pull ropes - also bought a lot of these over the years and made some from 550 cord. Again the fiddle factor of untangling 550 cord or most conventional pull ropes can be frustrating and cost you a lot of time. Nowadays I like to strap everything to my pack and it climbs up with me. Second to that would definitely be a Doyle's gear hoist. Third, use the tag end of my SRT line if that's the climbing method of the day.

List could change upon the arrival of my wild edge steps/perch. It's the only climbing method and platform I haven't tried. And yes I have more gear I could mention under both categories but let's keep it simple at 5. Don't need to go too deep on all the stuff Ive wasted money on over the years lol.
Click to expand...

Best:
Wild Edge Steps, ultimate flexibility, versatility, strong, reliable and easy to use.
Doyle’s Gear Hoist, no more balled up/knotted pull ropes, mounted to back of my saddle and I completely forget it’s there till I need it and money when I use it.
Black Diamond Storm 375 headlamp, bright, versatile, waterproof, dimmable, red/green and don’t use it but blue lamps, long life. Perfect.
OnX and DeerCast Premium. Everyone knows these are both awesome.
Hand Muff, pick your type but keeps my hands warm and ready to shoot without bulky gloves, etc. also keep my cell warm and fully charged.
Bonus round: anything from Kuiu

Worst
-Screw in hanger systems that don’t screw in easily
-Synthetic Long Johns. Going Merino was best decision I ever made
-Scent control crap, here’s a clue, know where the wind and your prey are and don’t be on the wrong side of either.
-Cell phones, love them and hate them, they have their place but not once you’re up your tree! Every time I’ve been busted it’s because I’m messing with my phone and not being present and tactical.
-That’s it, cant bitch about too much more, I’m pretty miserly, do a lot of research and put a lot of stock in forums, I’ve been lucky enough to not buy too much crap. Listening to forums just like this and listening to smart fellow hunters has saved me time and money and given me great DIY solutions to everyday hunting conundrums.
 
Best:
1) Trophyline Ambush Pro, not sure why but it just works for me and is super comfortable
2) PSE Carbon Air, lightweight, speedy, and SSSMMMOOOTTTHHH
3) Benchmade Grizzly Creek, perfect whitetail/sika kill kit knife
4) Scott Longhorn Hunter Hex, I shouldn’t love a backtension for hunting, but this just works for me
5) Ropeman 1s, we all know why...

Worst
1) Morakniv Companion knife, I seriously debate if the blade is even capable of edge retention
2) Deer Crossing arrows, were awesome prior to being sold now they are fragile
3) That one red dot bow sight, a tactical archery Sabo utter trash, I ain’t the best shot but this thing didn’t help at all.
4) Strother Archery SR71, blew it up day one with a nock that was cracked, got to scared to shoot it anymore and just gave it away, 1,200 after repairs
5) Summit Goliath, if your 150 lbs soaking wet don’t buy the biggest and best, you don’t/won’t ever need it, lesson learned.

No order to these by the way...
 
83mulligan said:
Best:

1) AGC Bino Harness. Until I hunted out west the first time my binos were always in my pack and never got used. Now I enjoy using them and having them so handy.
2) Good clothing. Too many items to list but investing in quality stuff keeps me out there
3) The internet-youtube. Can't put a price on all the info and diy guidance places like this and youtube put right in front of me
4) Good binos. I never knew what I was missing until I invested in mine
5) Jet Sled - game changer for bringing out a deer solo

Worst:
1) Baker climbing tree stand. was a long time ago, but OMG!
2) Gloves - almost all the ones I've ever bought tried
3) Alot of cheap packs, as others have mentioned.
4) All the deer rut lures I used to think may work
5) The deer view mirror! Just kidding, has anybody ever really bought that??
Click to expand...

Jet sled and bino’s!!! So right! I shoulda added these to my list! My buddy and I dragged a good sized doe across a creek, over rocks, up a very steep hill and then across two decent sized pastures before getting back to his truck. Just about killed me. Brought a similar sized doe for me out across logs, rocks, a creek, very nasty terrain in a Jet sled, I did all the pulling, he just helped get the nose over a log now and again, easy day! My Vortex Crossfire 10x42’s are simply awesome.
 
Best:
1. AeroHunter Flex:
2. OOAL Ridge Runner: Great Platform, really any manufactured platform or high-quality ROS should be a favorite piece of gear.
3. Frame Pack: Currently run a BL 2200. I will probably upgrade to an MR Pop up 38 when they come out. I like a big pack, I hunt in PA and like to pack my outer shell and layers inside my pack for the hike.
4. Decent Binos
5. Remington 260 youth model: My first gun. Short, light, accurate- does the job... super fun gun to hunt with.

Others: OnX, any hunting gear with Gore-Tex, snow camo, I have had good luck with Bushnell TCs.

Worst:
1. "Stalker" boot shoes that go over your boots. Cracking sticks still make noise, duh.
2. Headlamps: don't have great luck getting what I need from a reasonably priced lamp.
3. Arms that go under a treestand platform and stick out to hold brush in place, "brushing in" your treestand. Not a bad ideal, I just never use them.
4. Cheap glove: "Waterproof", yea...
5. Climber: rarely used
 
ThebigD said:

Facemask- I wear glasses and every one ive tried just fogs me out.
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First of my top 5: I bought 90 pairs of one day use contacts from Costco this year and wear them every day I hunt. Don't wear them any other time but great for hunting. No fog with a mask and they don't get in the way of binoculars. Less chance of dropping them from the stand or breaking them during the hunt. No light shining off them to spook the deer. And my glasses never lined up with my peep so the site was always blurry. Contacts fixed that as well.

Jx3

Treehopper/drill bolts to replace grizzly screw in steps

Baffin Impact pac boots

Saddlehunter.com membership

(do we really need to stop at 5??)

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 binos

Doyle's nylon strap gear hoist

Hopefully one of the 6 backpacks I bought

From last season, the Garmin Xero site/range finder is my #1

Fortunately, I didn't but any lemons this year because I read a thousand posts here before I bought any new equipment.

Sent from up in a tree[/b]
 
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Aeds151 said:
They are sold out so someone is buying the deer view mirror. Some moron on amazon bought two according to the reviews. What a joke


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Sportsman's guide has 16 5 star reviews for the deer view mirror!
 
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For me the JX3 Hybrid is my best purchase for hunting.
I have always said I would never own Mathews bows because I am a PSE, Hoyt guy and there advertisements get on my nerves. However I bought a HTR and HTX and they are great. I will not buy a new bow for a long time.
Also buying quality clothing for cold weather has been a great purchase as well.

As far as bad purchases, I wouldn't say they are bad but getting away from climbing stands has made hunting thick areas where deer are a breeze because I can get in almost any tree
 
GTel said:
Sportsman's guide has 16 5 star reviews for the deer view mirror!
Click to expand...

I thought to myself once "gee it would be handy to have a mirror to look behind me to see deer approaching without having to turn my head and move, but I bet it would reflect light". Well, it would only really flash the deer under certain scenarios. That one ground blind made out of mirrors has some really good reviews. So, maybe it does work.
 
Best:

-latitude method 2 saddle w backband
-beal birdie for rappel
- auto lock carabiners
-shikar fxd sticks
-backwoods mobile gear aiders
-ranger ready promethrin
-therma cell
- quality headlamp

Worst:

-Hawk helium gear hoist
-cheap backpacks
-cheap hunting clothes
-mechanical broadheads
 
raisins said:
I thought to myself once "gee it would be handy to have a mirror to look behind me to see deer approaching without having to turn my head and move, but I bet it would reflect light". Well, it would only really flash the deer under certain scenarios. That one ground blind made out of mirrors has some really good reviews. So, maybe it does work.
Click to expand...
I have a ghost blind, maybe 5 hunts so far… I’ve had deer I didn’t want to shoot walk by real close, no shooters yet. I’d give it a thumbs up overall. Like anything it will take some practice to get used to how to set up and get shots, but especially in brushy areas with no trees it’s very handy. But you can also pretty much disappear in open hardwoods.
 
I need to revise this list…

Best:
1) Catalyst ION
2)Madrock safeguard
3)miendl Comfort fit boots
4)sheepfeet insoles
5)1” squirrel steps

Worst:
1)first beast stand
2)second beast stand
3)lacrosse alpha agility
4)nock-on back strap
5)wild edge steps
 
Excuse the philosophical waxings but I don't know if I have any best or worst gear purchases. Yes, some have been great and some have sucked but they've all served a purpose. Most of the crappy gear has shown me what the better gear/tricks/techniques are. Most of the best gear is a result of trying the crappy gear.

I will say though I have largely managed to stay away from the "This one thing will change your hunting forever..." gimmicks and stayed with the basics and improved from there.
 
Best
1. Saddle equipment - still working through what I like and don't like
2. Sitka hunting clothing - never been more comfortable
3. Kenetrek boots - takes a bit to break in but once they do they fit my foot like a glove
4. OnX maps - helps me locate an area to scout. Found new areas and killed deer in those areas


Worst
1. Cheap hunting clothing - just doesn't fit me well (too baggy)
2. All the mods I did to my climber a year before jumping into a saddle
3. Cheap hunting boots - always gave me blisters
 
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