Saw this kind of thread on another forum and thought it was a great idea.

If you've picked up any new gear/gadgets in the last year or so, please share what it was, what your impressions were and how you would rate it.

Cheers,
Canuck

Black Diamond "Firstlight" single wall tent with Epic fabric canopy and SylNylon floor. It's a two man mountain tent that weighs, with homemade Tyvek ground cloth, 3lb's 8 oz's exactly. I used it this past summer on one trip and set up with my 12 year old son at 9,000 feet. It blew HARD and rained HARD both nights but we were snug as a bug with ZERO rain penetration.

If you're over 6ft tall I'd reccomend the "Lighthouse" version as it's longer. I also think the tent should have side pullouts and may, in fact, have them installed myself. BD wanted to compromise the fabric as little as possible so didn't put any on like its Bibler cousin.



Also got a new Western Mountaineering bag, Versalite Super. With 2oz's overfill it weighs 2lbs 2 oz's and is rated to 10 deg F. It's impecably made and an absolutely "perfect" all-around bag for three seasons in the Rockies. It's my third WM bag and I doubt there's a better bag made anywhere... and yes, they're still 100% USA made.

Leica 1200 LRF... don't leave home without one. Sell anything you need to and get one.

Forgot to add, MSR "Simmerlite"... much prefer it to my old XGK and it's lighter than the Whiperlite. Great stove!

I don't think this is too OT. It looks like Filson's is changing for the worst with a new CEO and a "creative director" !! Now yuppies will be 'real' men with psuedo Filson's.

I bought a Jet Boil pack stove this summer and for boiling water in a big hurry I love this set up. It runs on the small propane bottles with electric spark starter. The cup holds better than a quart of water and it will bring it to boil in less than 1 minute at 10000 ft. The weight is nominal especially compared to my old Austrian copper pressure tank. For dehydrated food and instant coffee, I like it.

I've got a laundry list of gear I use and can't live w/out. Most has been used so long that I no longer recall their model names, My Titanium GIGA cookset as example (not even sure if it's made anymore). I'll get back later w/ details on such stuff.

For now, The EXPED SCOUT TARP is my current do all spike shelter that has more than proven it's worth. This is my absolute favorite all purpose tarp.

The Mountain Hardwear Skyview 1.5 tent (no longer made) has been my favorite 4season convertible tent. I've used this tent hard every year since it first came out in brutal conditions and it has never failed. This has been the most durable light weight 4season tent I've ever used.

Big Agnes bags. I have one hard season under my belt w/ this system and I'm more than pleased.

The Kokatat Polartec Liner is one of the best lightweight synthentic one pc long johns ever made. I started using them for kayaking extreme whitewater in freezing temps. I have one pair that has lasted approx. 15 years of hard use and they still outperform anything going for warmth w/ little weight (even when soaked) and for packability. The Kokatat version is very well made.

Smartwool anything is good. I'm rarely w/out smartwool socks and 2pc long underwear. Only exception, tests have proven that Coolmax performs better in warmer climates when used w/ Gore-Tex.

Helley Hanson Impertech is right up there w/ milk, tp and bread. It is a staple with my outdoor gear.

As a longtime fan of the older American made Lacross leater top boots, I was saddened by their fall to junk since they were bought out and are now made oversees. But I am very happy w/ my choice to switch to Schnee's for such boots. I have pushed my Schnee's well beyond their intended use without any failures and I've been extremely pleased.

The newer Eberlestock pack w/ the upgraded framesheet/suspension is now my favorite all around hunting pack. If I'm hunting out of my pack (especially if I'm scrambling and/or in heavy brush) with the intent of packing my game out, this is the pack I'll grab first. One hell of a well designed pack. My favorite scabbard.

UCO Candle lantern w/ 9hr candles. Great piece of gear to have and use. Puts out fair light while warming your shelter. Burns forever, gives light, heat, dries your wet gear hung in the tent loft and prevents condensation in your tent.

I'll stop for now.

Gary

I guess the one piece of gear that made a big difference for me this past year would my Four Dog UltralightI titanium woodstove....it will heat a big tent as my 12 man Kifaru Tipi is app. 20'+ long, 17' or so wide, and 11' tall. The stove and the pipe all up is about 8lbs, the tipi about 11 lbs making for a great lightweight basecamp. Four Dog also has a small stove called the Bannerman which would be great for smaller tents w/o floors....weight on the Bannerman + pipe is 4# and change.....all of the Four Dog titanium stoves are double floored and will be a truly one time buy as they are really well made.

Joe

Good thread idea. I posted this elsewhere, but will throw it in the mix...

Integral Designs North Twin 10degree sleeping bag- awesome bag. I won't say anything about the temp rating, as I haven't used it down to it's rated temp, but the bag quality is superb. Gets an A+ in comfort, still works when wet, and dries fast. These guys'll get more money from me before it's over. Think Brother Bill will say the same.

Mystery Ranch Deluxe pack, 4000cuin- Just what I was looking for, and tough. Fully loaded, it survived my first good scooter crash, which was an impressive event, without a scratch. I tore the back straps off two other packs by winding 'em up in the back sprocket, also. You'd think I'd have learned, but I did it to the Deluxe's strap and it held firm…though it nearly tore me off the back. The material is a touch noisy for sneakin' and peakin', but the overall fit and load bearing comfort make this another outstanding purchase.

Coleman Exponent Ultralight F1 stove- man, Bonzi's been saying it to girls for as long as I've known him, but there might be something to the notion that good things come in small packages. This little stove rocks. I suppose the isobutane fuel sources have potential problems operating in cold temps, but after trying this thing once we slicked up 3 more to keep on hand. After more than a few meals over 'em, I'm still happy.

GoLite Lair 1 tarp/tent- despite serious rainfall and even some fair wind, these lightweight tarps worked great. 4 of us had 'em on a week long hunt, and everyone liked them.

Hennessy A-sym Ultralight Backpack Hammock- think I got the name right. After only using it a bit so far, I think this thing is the ticket for sleep comfort in the trees. Easy to set up and stayed dry inside nicely. I did spend a cold night in it when I neglected to put a pad under me…my azz was a little close to the open air, and my Wiggy's bag compressed enough that it wasn't much insulation under me. Using a pad for insulation is a must-do.

Gene Ingram blades- think Brother Bill and I bought 5 of these over the course of the year, and they're kickass…enough has been said elsewhere about them. Suffice it to say I'm putting in a standing order of one a month, if it fits Gene's schedule.

Garmin Rhino 530 GPS/radio- outstanding. Have some radio problems with one of the units, so it'll go back for a checkout, but overall I think these are awesome. Very handy to check the map and see where your various friends are roaming, in relation to your position. Can't wait to load the topo and nautical chart software in it. Think Bonzai ordered one on his cell phone from the beach after trying mine, so I guess that says something…

Kimber Montana 7-08- guess enough has been said of this already, but I'll mention that it deserves high praise. Uncle Jim gave me instructions to order up a twin to the two we're using, after he toted Bill's for a week and killed 3 bucks.

Scent Blocker Outfitter Jacket and Pants- I was a little skeptical of these, but decided to give them a try, and am glad I did. They're comfortable, and have the best pocket arrangement of any gear I've tried. They rank #1 in my pile of clothes to grab when heading out the door, especially in inclement weather. I won't get into the scent blocking capabilities here, but I had a couple experiences with deer this month that lead me to believe there's something to the concept. I will say that despite most people's claims that camo is unnecessary, and gives one the appearance of a Cabela's cowboy or weekend warrior, I have zero doubt that it helps in the woods I haunt.

Cabela's Berber Fleece- primary rival of the scent blocker clothes, for primacy. Great stuff, and I'm gonna order up the bibs next. This is by far the most comfortable fleece I've ever worn.

The Cyclops, 15million candlepower spotlight- point this to the sky, and batman will come running. A little bulky for my day pack, but a must-have on the boat and in the truck.

I dont know for sure if this listing applies but I feel it merits worth mentioning.

I litterally dont go to the john without my Leatherman Wave, but up till my freind and mines last elk trip it never TRUELY saved the day, till this. I had already been fortunate enough to have taken a beauty of a 6x6 bull and after we took all care of it, we consentrated on getting my friend a bull. Long story short we had my friends bull down and low and behold he did not have a knife of any kind on him. I only had two. One was my Blackjack Knives Trail Master and the small knife found in my Leatherman wave. Walking back and getting a knife was not possible, so my friend went at the task of skinning the lower 2/3rds of the bull with my Wave, while I tended to the bull from the shoulders up.

The little knife found in the Wave did a job nothing short of spectacular!. We both simply could not get over how well it would perform the job of skinning out that dusty old bull or how sharp it was and easly it would re-sharpen in the field. We both also liked the fact (unlike his Gerber Multi-tool) the Waves knife blade was of a locking design.

Under Armour heat gear provides a good base layer. Mosquitoes would land, but never penetrated.

The Cold gear is great when the temp drops.

Snipe pod is a very good light weight bipod.