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  1. OpticsNorthwest

    Intermediate fly rod

    TFO is a great rod for the money, particularly in your price range. If you can swing up to around $300-$350 you can find a used Winston BIIX. I have a couple of them in different weights, it is rare I take any of my other rods off the shelf.
  2. OpticsNorthwest

    Best Nut Butters

    Not an exact replacement but Clif makes a nut butter filled bar. I just bought a box of half peanut butter filled half chocolate peanut butter filled. Not sure where they land when it comes to calories per ounce compared to straight JIF but I figured they were worth a try to mix it up a bit. I...
  3. OpticsNorthwest

    Thinner wool socks

    Darn Tough all the way. If you are wanting a boot sock with lighter cushion they make one called the Spur Boot. I got rid of my Smart Wool years ago.
  4. OpticsNorthwest

    Tripod Advice ?

    I run the Sirui A-1205 with the VA-5 panning head. The head adds a bit of weight but man is it nice. The legs are in 5 sections so it compacts down pretty well.
  5. OpticsNorthwest

    How bad of an idea is it..

    It depends if you've been to the Rockies before. December weather could be pretty great or pretty miserable, you'd want to plan for miserable. You'll need a whole lot of different gear than you use in FL. If you are fairly outdoor savvy I'd say you probably won't die, but it might not be too...
  6. OpticsNorthwest

    swarovski vs razor big spotter

    It is a fairly small group of hunters that really NEED top tier glass. Having said that, most hunters want it and it is really nice to have. If you are looking for THE ONE goat, sheep, whatever...then packing top glass is worth every penny. If you are just hunting for your meat buck then any old...
  7. OpticsNorthwest

    Sewing Lessons

    You might buy a yard of ripstop or similar technical fabric and have her help you make a stuff sack. You will learn a lot during that project plus you might get a useful bag out of it.
  8. OpticsNorthwest

    Sewing Lessons

    The best thing she can teach you is how to set up a machine and what all of the different knobs control. Once you work on your own projects you'll need to adjust tension, foot pressure, ect. for each material/thread you run through it. If you can make the right adjustments to your machine, using...
  9. OpticsNorthwest

    Moose Boots

    Totally agree. One slip getting out of the boat or in some deeper puddles and that pack boot liner is going to make for a loooonnnnnng day.
  10. OpticsNorthwest

    Help needed Looking for good socks

    Darn Tough all the way. A local shop had a summer promotion going on them. I wear them for running, hiking, hunting, everyday....
  11. OpticsNorthwest

    Shoes for weighted hikes (trail and off trail)

    I'd go speedcross. I hardly ever wear my actual boots, they are just $300+ of footwear sitting in my closet.
  12. OpticsNorthwest

    Washing/ maintaining rain gear

    The biggest issue with DWR is just the material getting dirty. Often times washing with Nikwax TechWash is all you need, no need to do a round of waterproofing. When it comes to breathable garments with wicking liners you should use the spray on stuff rather than the wash-in. Otherwise you are...
  13. OpticsNorthwest

    Camera gear purgatory: buy lenses or cut bait and start over with a new system

    The cameras that are in phones these days are pretty crazy considering the small package. If you get a new phone every couple years that might be the way to go. Sirui makes legit lenses for phones that would save you a ton of weight. They are made with Schott Glass (Zeiss) rather than plastic...
  14. OpticsNorthwest

    What DSLR for a beginner?

    I agree with others that have said go with a used DSLR. I have been shooting with Canon for over 20 years but any of the big names will be just fine. A used T6i is going to have more features than you will be able to use for your first year figuring everything out anyway. Get a decent, low...
  15. OpticsNorthwest

    Best Bang for buck Tripod

    ET-1204 is great as well.
  16. OpticsNorthwest

    Best Bang for buck Tripod

    Sirui makes some great carbon fiber tripods. I run the A-1205. It comes with the Y-11 Ballhead but I swapped it out to the VA-5 Panning Head (more weight but better for long sitting sessions). The legs are in 5 sections so it packs down pretty tight.

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