Over and underrated gear

[tylerduce]

What has been your most overrated and underrated piece of hunting gear/equipment?

Why was is a failure? Why did it excel? What did you learn?

[warnniklz]

individual packs of Kleenex

[Bubbacanuck]

Deer drag! Makes it easier when trying to get a deer into a better position or back to the truck...for $10 can't go wrong

[Bustercluck]

Baby wipes.

[Harvest the Land]

Most overrated - Scent Killer sprays (just play the thermals and wind right - no need for that shit)

Most underrated - a good neck warmer and heated long underwear (top and bottom) and heated socks. Can carry way less clothes now just have to turn battery on. You will hunt much more effectively if you're warm and comfortable

[MichelD]

Most overrated - Scent Killer sprays (just play the thermals and wind right - no need for that shit)

Most underrated - a good neck warmer and heated long underwear (top and bottom) and heated socks. Can carry way less clothes now just have to turn battery on. You will hunt much more effectively if you're warm and comfortable

I've been wearing a folded bandana type handkerchief around my neck for years now. It is almost like wearing an extra sweater. Keeps me warm when cold and cools me off if I get overheated.

[MichelD]

I don't know if they are over-rated or not, but something I have not perchased nor felt a need for was a rangefinder.

I have never once thought; "Damn, if only I had a rangefinder i could shoot that (enter a game animal here.)"

Now I am prepared to be flamed and respect people who have them and use them without question, but for me, there just has not been a need.

If I got more moose LEH permits and found myself looking at a moose way on the other side of a clear cut or meadow and was uncertain if it was 300 or 400 yards away, then yes, I suppose one could be useful, particulalry if I had plenty of time to use it.

But under normal circumstances, I usually shoot game at 70 or so yards, or at least the last half dozen deer and bear have been at that range, or less.

[todbartell]

Great piece of gear I've been carrying for the last few years is the Thermarest Z-Seat. A 13x16"x0.75" thick cushion/glassing pad that weighs only 2 ounces. Sure nice to sit on

[fuzzybiscuit]

Baby wipes.

Now we are talking! Absolutely indispensable…

[wideopenthrottle]

under rated: rubber boots with liners...use em all the time
over rated : gut hook- I have one that I got as a gift...tried it a couple of times and hated it

[tdot]

Under-rated - liner/compression socks. I typically use them religiously and they are not really noticed, a pain to put on, but otherwise easily ignored or forgotten about. But any time I actually do forget them I spend the trip bleeding, blistered and sore and spend every step thinking about those damn socks sitting at home in a drawer.

Over-rated - craft beer. There are too many of these things in the liquor store now. Most times I go into a liquor store and don't recognize the vast majority of the selection. I don't know how many times I've gotten back to the van, ready to enjoy a tasty beer after a hard hike and it turns out the craft beer I thought I'd try for the first time is some hipsters impression of what a beer should taste like. But really its just bad beer disguised as craft.

[whitlers]

Underrated - Bino adapter for tripod. Glassing from a tripod is a game changer.

Overrated - Most hunting brand targeted clothing. I own some Sitka and Kuiu pieces and they are great items but you can get just as good quality in the hiking/mountaineering section of VP or stores alike.

[adriaticum]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYDOl57gMQ4&ab_channel=BuffCanada

[boxhitch]

Baby wipes.over rated , I agree
also agree om the craft beer, as it usually disappoints, maybe thats a sales feature, keep trying

[Treed]

Underrated- Sunlight dish detergent on my optics, it keeps them fog free. Overrated - commercial fog free wipes. I missed an opportunity on a great 4 pt whitetail this year because of wipes not working.

[Treed]

Under rated - Bino packs! What a game changer. I agree with the comment on bino adapters for tri-pods. Makes a huge difference.

[Blacktail1]

Underrated … wool pants over rated expensive dog shit Sitka gear

[Beachcomber]

Semi-auto shotguns for waterfowling. Pump-action every day.

[lovemywinchester]

Under rated. Game carts. Wyoming saws. Good new wool socks. Primos trigger sticks and pics in threads

https://i.imgur.com/w9OdMS2l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iJpiBhdl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/39AEoNll.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/KHdcMaBl.png

Over rated, plus 6 and rain at the end of November

[RambleOn]

Covered bino harness. Just started using one this year. Keeps the binos clean and dry. Tuck a few extra goodies in if you like.

[brian]

Underrated - melton wool, rope, a good sense of humour.
Overrated - rain pants

[Bustercluck]

Overrated-Merino long underwear
underrated- merino socks

[Greenthumbed]

Underrated- Foam pad for under your ass when sitting. I always have it with me.
Overrated- Flip caps

[digger dogger]

Love my sil-tarp. Saved my ass a few times

[MRP]

Underrated, my Bass pro camo umbrella, even when you have the best rain gear on the extra protection is well worth it.

Overrated, the weather forecast.

[Bustercluck]

Underrated, my Bass pro camo umbrella, even when you have the best rain gear on the extra protection is well worth it.

Overrated, the weather forecast.

judging by that comment, I’m guessing you’re on the west coast of the island. I hardly ever wear rain gear since I left there. Lol

[604ksmith]

Underrated: Kuiu Peleton 118 zip off base layers. Absolute game changer to not need to take off boots to add/remove base layer.
Overrated: 90% of hunting branded clothing. I've found great comfort and success moving to Mountain Hardwear and Arc’teryx.

[mod7rem]

Underrated: Drugstore eye patch. Helps provide hours and hours of comfortable spotting scope viewing. Been using one for over a decade and forgot it on this years sheep hunt. A real pain in the forhead without it.

[twoSevenO]

Underrated: air mattress. After years of using a thermarest, I finally put an Exped downmat on the wish list for my bday and my gf purchased it.
It is an absolute game changer. I used to wake up so stiff I couldn't reach down to tie my boots in the morning. Now, I have a MUCH MUCH better sleep in the backcountry. Well worth the $165+tax that it cost. A little paranoid of poking holes in it so I carry a sheet for under it, but so far so good.

[marcus44]

Unrated - Butt-out tool and deer drag

[Squire]

Two underrated items:
A bipod for longer shots.
A rangefinder for longer shots.

I’ve heard all the arguments for and against but it’s undeniable that they’ll both help you make better shots.

[walks with deer]

Underrated … wool pants over rated expensive dog shit Sitka gear

Agreed 100 percent and i dont need camo just warm

[walks with deer]

Underrated- Sunlight dish detergent on my optics, it keeps them fog free. Overrated - commercial fog free wipes. I missed an opportunity on a great 4 pt whitetail this year because of wipes not working.

Interesting.

[Treed]

A clerk in a gun store in PG told me about it. It works well. Dab tiny bit on a wipe it off. I hate fogged optics!

[dapesche]

Interesting thread to read. You can tell by the opinions the folks that hunt deer and moose out of a truck or from a quad.

[xfactor]

under rated - tripod adapter for binos

over rated - any thing besides rubber claiming to be waterproof

[sparkes3]

Sunlight dish liquid on your glasses as well as scopes.

[Blockcaver]

Is Sunlight detergent over or under rated on optics?

[SR80]

overrated - saying something is a gamechanger:shock:

[madcalfe]

Underrated - melton wool, rope, a good sense of humour.
Overrated - rain pants

would have to disagree with the rain pants.

underrated- sil tarps, puffy jackets, wet fire starter, baby powder, gaitors, camp shoes, chair left at drop off lake along with canned food, super glue

over rated- dont take stuff that you dont need

[Bustercluck]

Underrated- zip starters. Ultralight and burn for 15-20 minutes. Also super cheap.

[Bustercluck]

Interesting thread to read. You can tell by the opinions the folks that hunt deer and moose out of a truck or from a quad.
Another underrated- emergen-c before bed.

[AllDay]

Interesting hearing people calling sitka gear overrated... I can tell you that almost every person I have gone on a sheep hunt with has said the exact opposite. Sitting in ridiculous conditions and being reasonably comfortable, friends and I have looked at one another and said that the gear is worth every penny. Especially the synthetic stuff... You can use your gear to dry wet stuff by layering and putting a gortex jacket on to push all the water out and get dry through movement.

[Bustercluck]

Interesting hearing people calling sitka gear overrated... I can tell you that almost every person I have gone on a sheep hunt with has said the exact opposite. Sitting in ridiculous conditions and being reasonably comfortable, friends and I have looked at one another and said that the gear is worth every penny. Especially the synthetic stuff... You can use your gear to dry wet stuff by layering and putting a gortex jacket on to push all the water out and get dry through movement.
I run the downpour jacket and it is by far the best rain jacket I’ve ever used other than being heavy. It started leaking last year and Sitka warrantied it for me. I’d like to get the dewpoint for stuffing in my backpack next year.

For pants I have a pair of grey arcteryx ultralight goretex pants that I only pull out in case of emergency. There’s no way I would’ve paid the asking price on them, but at half price it was reasonable but still expensive

[AllDay]

I run the downpour jacket and it is by far the best rain jacket I’ve ever used other than being heavy. It started leaking last year and Sitka warrantied it for me. I’d like to get the dewpoint for stuffing in my backpack next year.

For pants I have a pair of grey arcteryx ultralight goretex pants that I only pull out in case of emergency. There’s no way I would’ve paid the asking price on them, but at half price it was reasonable but still expensive


Thats a good point. It helps that I got my gear at a reasonable price off camo fire on really good sales. Full price at a shop in Canada would make me cringe for sure.

[hawk-i]

Underrated, would be rangefinder binocs...broke mine and until I got a replacement hunting just wasn't the same.

[ghost]

ice grippers for boots.small and fit in back pack.dont like landing on ice with a loaded pack

[blacksn95]

Underrated- Shooting stick