Prioritizing gear purchases

[*zap*]

right now 40 lbs for 8 to 10 miles. i want to work up to 80 pounds for 10+ miles.

Nice, that will be a body soaker in La. in the summer....

 

[jek5224]

I just want to say that for a Western hunting newbie, this thread has more helpful gear information than anything else I have read.

 

[wakechase]

1. A quality pair of boots that fit YOU best not someone on the internet
2. A solid layering clothing system that whicks moisture.

 

[Jayski33]

Amazing information on here. Especially for a beginner. Thanks all.

 

[BHakeneis]

Good advice!

 

[Luziana Feller]

**UPDATE**

the majority of my purchases have been been either used gear or on sale. the only thingd i have left to buy are my pack, calories and loose end things like batteries and fuel

2019 First Rifle Elk Colorado
Gear List – 4/15/19

Tag- $590
Boots- Asolo Hunter GV- $150
Pack- Slumberjack bounty 2.0 $300 or Mystery Ranch Beartooth/Marshal $500-$550ish
Pack Fly/Pack Liner/Dry Bag/Contractor Bag- using a contractor bag and dry sacks- already own FREE
Game Bags- Black Ovis Elk bags on camo fire $50
Battery Charger borrowing Goal Zero Flip 30 - FREE
Stove- Optimus Crux with Optimus Terra Weekend pot- bought all used $50
Stove Fuel- butane canister (2)- $18
Spork- sea to summit long handle $5
Hydration – nalgene ($6), smart water bottles (FREE), sawyer mini ($16) and aquamira ($10)
Spotter- borrowing Leupold spot scope (free)
Binos- Leupold 10X (own)
Ranger- Leupold 1000 range finder (own)
Bino Harness- Alaskan Guide Kodiac Cub (own)
Lense care- wipes and cleaning pen (own)
Pillow- spare fleece, puffy, etc
Sleep bag- Outdoor Vitals Atlas 0 degree - $160
Sleep Pad- Nemo tensor field- $110
Tyvek- FREE at the construction site across the street
Shelter- sharing buddy’s Seek stove tent or regular 2 man tent with partner depending on weather
Hammock- possible depending on weather (own)
Emergency Blanket
Trek poles- Cascade mountain aluminum trekking poles- $18
Dry bag- Outdoor Research 20L Dry bag $12 & Ascend 55L (own)
Glassing pad- Klymit inflatable- $8
Gun- Rem 7mmRM, 160 gr Accubond, 10 rounds (own)
Blaze- vest, hat and beanie (own)
Contractor bags- (own)
Blades- pocket knife (own), 1 skinning knife, fine stone to touch up knife (own)
Saw- nope
550 chord- 50ft 3mm reflective chord (own), 50ft 1.8mm chord $9
Seasoning- cooking fresh tenderloins
Fire- Bic lighter (2), fero rod
Nav- map, compass, Casio ProTrec watch, OnX Maps on phone
Wind Checker
Headlamp- Balck Diamond Spot $25 & backup headlamp (own)
Flashlight- surefire scout (own)
Batteries- spare AAAs for lamp (6)
Chap stick
Deodorant- nope
Teeth Brush/Paste
Coolers- own
Carabiners- 3 for various things (own)
Zip ties- own
Hand warmers- depending on forecast, only if very cold

First Aid Bag- tourniquette, compressed guaze, super glue, Various Band Aids, Gorilla Tape, Luco Tape, pain med, altitude meds, stomach meds, benedryl, Sleep meds (own all )

Vitamins/Supps- daily vit, pro-bio, Omegas, BCAA/Electrolyte powder, caffeine powder (own all)

Clothing
Base layer- FirstLite Kiln Hoody $75, FirstLite Fuse Long John $55, outdoor research merino boxer (2) $16
Pants- Wrangler Outdoor Pant ($25) or Wrangler Outdoor Fleece Lined Pants ($26)
Mid Layer Tops- various fleece depending on forecast (own)
Vest- Cabelas Wooltimate Guide vest (own)- probably not bringing
Rain Jacket/Pants- Slumberjack Windage jacket and pants- $75 total for both
Puffy- Slumberjack Incog puffy $70
Boot Gaiters- Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters $80
Neck Gaiter- own
Beanie/Hat- own
Gloves- First Lite merino glove liners and leather mitten/gloves (own)
Socks- First Lite Triad $20

 

[elkstabber]

Since you're going for the first time and need to watch your budget I'd suggest that you look on ebay for your pack and insulation layers.

I bought a used down puffy by Columbia for less than $20 on ebay a few years ago. This is the right time of year to get good prices on warm clothing.

For the pack I am a big fan of Kifaru but even used they are expensive. I used a Marine ILBE pack for a couple of years and it always got the job done. You can buy one used and then sell it and you won't lose much at all. You want the main bag, lid, shoulder straps, and waistbelt. You don't want the Assault pack. Attached link is an example.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/USMC-ILBE-...735964?hash=item4b626b241c:g:bbQAAOSwtLxcrpAr

Your highest priorities and where you should put the most money is in your boots (your Meindls are solid) and your base layers. I'd also suggest comfortable hiking pants (KUIU Attacks are solid). A lot of your whitetail gear will work but don't bring anything made of cotton.

 

[elkstabber]

Alright, now that I've seen your latest list.

These are great meat bags. I've used them many many times. For some weird reason WalMart is selling them for $19 and Amazon is selling them for $50.

Also, I would discourage you from the aluminum trekking poles and paying more to get carbon. Carbon is lighter and quieter. Cascade makes inexpensive carbon poles. They will stay in your pack most of the time anyhow. Most guys use trekking poles for moving camp and packing meat, and not so much for hunting.

 

[ChrisAU]

**UPDATE**

the majority of my purchases have been been either used gear or on sale. the only thingd i have left to buy are my pack, calories and loose end things like batteries and fuel

2019 First Rifle Elk Colorado
Gear List – 4/15/19

Tag- $590
Boots- Asolo Hunter GV- $150
Pack- Slumberjack bounty 2.0 $300 or Mystery Ranch Beartooth/Marshal $500-$550ish
Pack Fly/Pack Liner/Dry Bag/Contractor Bag- using a contractor bag and dry sacks- already own FREE
Game Bags- Black Ovis Elk bags on camo fire $50
Battery Charger borrowing Goal Zero Flip 30 - FREE
Stove- Optimus Crux with Optimus Terra Weekend pot- bought all used $50
Stove Fuel- butane canister (2)- $18
Spork- sea to summit long handle $5
Hydration – nalgene ($6), smart water bottles (FREE), sawyer mini ($16) and aquamira ($10)
Spotter- borrowing Leupold spot scope (free)
Binos- Leupold 10X (own)
Ranger- Leupold 1000 range finder (own)
Bino Harness- Alaskan Guide Kodiac Cub (own)
Lense care- wipes and cleaning pen (own)
Pillow- spare fleece, puffy, etc
Sleep bag- Outdoor Vitals Atlas 0 degree - $160
Sleep Pad- Nemo tensor field- $110
Tyvek- FREE at the construction site across the street
Shelter- sharing buddy’s Seek stove tent or regular 2 man tent with partner depending on weather
Hammock- possible depending on weather (own)
Emergency Blanket
Trek poles- Cascade mountain aluminum trekking poles- $18
Dry bag- Outdoor Research 20L Dry bag $12 & Ascend 55L (own)
Glassing pad- Klymit inflatable- $8
Gun- Rem 7mmRM, 160 gr Accubond, 10 rounds (own)
Blaze- vest, hat and beanie (own)
Contractor bags- (own)
Blades- pocket knife (own), 1 skinning knife, fine stone to touch up knife (own)
Saw- nope
550 chord- 50ft 3mm reflective chord (own), 50ft 1.8mm chord $9
Seasoning- cooking fresh tenderloins
Fire- Bic lighter (2), fero rod
Nav- map, compass, Casio ProTrec watch, OnX Maps on phone
Wind Checker
Headlamp- Balck Diamond Spot $25 & backup headlamp (own)
Flashlight- surefire scout (own)
Batteries- spare AAAs for lamp (6)
Chap stick
Deodorant- nope
Teeth Brush/Paste
Coolers- own
Carabiners- 3 for various things (own)
Zip ties- own
Hand warmers- depending on forecast, only if very cold

First Aid Bag- tourniquette, compressed guaze, super glue, Various Band Aids, Gorilla Tape, Luco Tape, pain med, altitude meds, stomach meds, benedryl, Sleep meds (own all )

Vitamins/Supps- daily vit, pro-bio, Omegas, BCAA/Electrolyte powder, caffeine powder (own all)

Clothing
Base layer- FirstLite Kiln Hoody $75, FirstLite Fuse Long John $55, outdoor research merino boxer (2) $16
Pants- Wrangler Outdoor Pant ($25) or Wrangler Outdoor Fleece Lined Pants ($26)
Mid Layer Tops- various fleece depending on forecast (own)
Vest- Cabelas Wooltimate Guide vest (own)- probably not bringing
Rain Jacket/Pants- Slumberjack Windage jacket and pants- $75 total for both
Puffy- Slumberjack Incog puffy $70
Boot Gaiters- Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters $80
Neck Gaiter- own
Beanie/Hat- own
Gloves- First Lite merino glove liners and leather mitten/gloves (own)
Socks- First Lite Triad $20

Just a note if you are really budgeting tight for this, the tag will be $661.75, unless you are doing cow only? And I assume you've already put in for the draw or are you banking on a leftover?

 

[Luziana Feller]

yes i already applied for cow tag and my partner is applying for bull tag.

 

[LaHunter]

In your list, your glassing sitting pad is listed as inflatable?? I would recommend something that is not inflatable.

 

[P Y Buck]

Check out Badlands Merino base layers. They have 2 different weights. Hard to beat.

 

[muddydogs]

These are great meat bags. I've used them many many times. For some weird reason WalMart is selling them for $19 and Amazon is selling them for $50.

The $19 bags are 20x30 currently Amazon is also selling them for $19. The bigger 28x50 bags are selling for $39 on both Walmart and Amazon. They are great bags and a cheaper alternative to other bags. The 20x30 bags are to small for a bone in elk quarter. For the price a guy can get both sets for $60 which is what most other 5 packs of bags start at then mix and match whats needed out of the 8 bags. I carry the 28x50 for elk along with 2 20x30 for loose meat bags. When just chasing deer I just carry 4 of the 20x30 bags as they swallow up a deer quarter just fine with lots of extra room in the bags with the front quarters for loose meat. I also have a set of Ovis sacks but from what I have heard the XL sacks don't cover a larger bone in hind quarter completely which is kind of dumb.