Let's talk gear

[Lonnie]

Go to the gear and weapons page. I think gear is a forgotten peice of the puzzle. Butt the right gear can make a world of difference.

[chipick]

This was a trick post

[Lonnie]

We all want to talk elk because it is like talking sex. But some times the gear will make or break you. Let's keep the gear out of the sex talk. Hunting gear is something we all spend a lot of money on. And if we can use each other to find the good stuff. Than that is money saved. This was not a trick post unless you hunt with no gear.

[Indian Summer]

I love this thread!

[Lefty]

I love this thread!

I was worried about you when sex was mentioned

I was thinking, does this belong in the elk or gear section? We will see how it goes, and may eventually be moved.

Im cheap and sort of on a budget. My advise regarding clothing, from my experience as a former contractor in Minnesota and Washington. Running trap lines in a handful of northern and western states, And a hardcore waterfowler.
First no cotton ever, except in camp and the pickup and maybe Carharts on the ATV but not snow machine.
I wait for prices, to be better.
Cabelas brand has always served me well. I have a fleece hoody purchased on clearance in 93. My wife has replaced 3 zippers, Likely worn over 100 days a year the past 24 years
Cabelas poly long underwear purchased in 96. Worn about 50 days for the past 20 years.
I bought Cabelas desert camo ultra light weight pants on some sort of clearance. they are my go to pants when hiking, water repellent, and fast drying. Unfortunately I do not believe that fabric or camo is currently used.
My daughters work at Sportsman warehouse. At the price they receive the Rustic Ridge clothing is a super value for clothing for them.
Im still using some of the Browning clothing I purchased over 15 years ago. Kings always has some great buys at the International sportsmans expo
Of course the high end tech clothing is impressive. My Sitka mid layer hoodie appears to be made exactly like a friends Patagonia hoodie, it has become my sleeping pajamas on top.My goal is to wear it out before I die.
The Pnuma shell was used a dozen hard days and performed well, but not really "tested".
One high end T didnt impress me. The Principal at my school purchased long sleeve poly shirts for under $5.00, we compared them to Under Armor. We couldn't find any difference on the comparable other than color.
Sleeping pads, while I have a nice Klymit sleeping pad; on my 5-night Wind River Bridger Wilderness two weeks ago I carried my $9.00 Walmart closed cell pad.
Last week at Scout camp I used my Cabelas inflatable sleeping pads,


Ill let others talk about bows, arrows, tents boots broad-heads etc.

[Losefreeze]

I couldn't be more excited to have this as my first post. While enjoying a few beverages at Breckenridge Brewery just outside of Denver, what did I happen to see cruising the parking lot but the mecca of all gear Kuiu van.

[Lefty]

all gear Kuiu van.

They were in Idaho Falls with their sales trailer,...

[Tigger]

I am also one to look for the sales on the gear I want. I buy most of my stuff in the spring in the Cabelas bargain cave. I don't like the used stuff, but the discontinued stuff is brand new. I will always be a year out of date stylewise, however. I hope the elk don't think less of me. Here are my random gear thoughts.

I agree, no cotton.

Boots. Boots that fit are SOOOOOO important. Quality mountain boots are SOOOOOO important. Having both is a difference maker. I actually think boots, over the long haul, will make a difference in how many elk you shoot. If your feet are sore, fatigued, blistered, etc, even a little bit, you will be less apt to hike up one more drainage. Since feet vary so much, one boot may work great for someone and not work for another person. But once you have found the right mountain boot, your feet will love you for it. Loving feet are an asset on an elk hunt. I use Schnees Beartooth and couldn't be happier.

Sitka. I was skeptical. Then I tried some. I bought more. I am a believer. Simple as that.

Gloves. I haven't found a pair I love. Maybe someone here has a recommendation. I wore out a pair each of the last two years while on our archery hunt. That might give you an indication of how steep it was.

Wapiti River Calls. I have tried 10 or so. the last 2 years I used the Reaper with great success. This year I think it will be the Patriot (I wrote a gear review on the Patriot in the gear forum). Easy to use and they make elky sounds. That is a good combination.

Leupold Rangefinder and Mathews Halon. Love them both. I especially enjoy the angle compensating feature on the rangefinder.

Mountain House. Is better than I thought it would be.

OnXmaps. I have a love/hate relationship with OnXmaps. It has worked great, but it also went belly up on the second to last day of the hunt.

[Losefreeze]

all gear Kuiu van.

They were in Idaho Falls with their sales trailer,...

Lefty that is just their small van most likely doing pre-work for the upcoming 3 day travel event starting on Thursday that they will have that huge sales trailer. By the way did they have any good deals we should be looking out for?

[ElkNut1]

Anything by "Gamegear" This is what my Son & I are using again this year, great stuff for 1/2 the price of other gear!

ElkNut/Paul

[saddlesore]

Lefty mentioned it briefly,but anything with a zipper that Cabelas sells has plastic instead of metal. Usually two years is max before they go south.So that bargain you got in price will cost you another $30 if you have to pay someone to put a good metal zipper in.

I don't buy any hunting clothes with a plastic zipper or velcro, unless I can take the velcro off without running the garment. Being smaller in stature, I have had hard time getting their long underwear to fit me.

I have had better luck when Costco gets their Merino wool/poly combos in for about $18 a piece

[Lefty]

all gear Kuiu van.

They were in Idaho Falls with their sales trailer,...

Lefty that is just their small van most likely doing pre-work for the upcoming 3 day travel event starting on Thursday that they will have that huge sales trailer. By the way did they have any good deals we should be looking out for?

There were 6 people setting up. They had a small semi trailer and were setting out in a strip mall not far from Cabelas and Sportsmans.
10% off on most items, some items were 20%.
I ended up purchasing Instinct from Cabelas. I really think it was much more windproof ( and a bit noisy) than the Kuiu Peloton Jacket.

Saddle sore I was about ready to send that Kuiu jacket back, the plastic zipper separated one cold hunt (-20 f). I zipped it back up and wont use it as the outer layer in that kind of cold again.

[Roosiebull]

I have grown a liking for high end hunting clothes, it is expensive, but worth it to me, and easy to justify with the amount of days per year i'm wearing it. i'm in the woods a bunch from august to june, so the cost isn't so bad.

a couple things that I do is never (or rarely) pay full price, I always wait for sales, or discontinued items.

I am not brand loyal, and don't care if I match. I mostly wear kuiu, sitka, and first lite, which means I rarely am wearing matching attire. I like certain pieces of clothing from each company, though first lite may have convinced me to never buy any sitka gear again.

I liked the sitka ascents better than any other pants for elk hunting, didn't really like any of the kuiu pants, but LOVE first lite corrugates. KUIU makes the best raingear for the money IMO, and have some nice shirts that I like....i'm always mismatched, but elk don't know or care.

if you are patient, good deals can be had, and jump on them when you see them, it doesn't last long.

[Lefty]

I just received an e-mail: Kuiu is having a big sale July 20-24 19-50% off,.. hm,,. a mt star tent if they are 50% off
another e-mail from Pnuma 10% off
I saw kings had a womans Pink camo jacket marked from $195 down to $45

[Lonnie]

Ok for those of you who have not checked out the gear page you are missing out. It's getting hot in there. And just for LEFTY we are talking about gear not sex. LOL