Gear for 2026

[BrandonM]

Hey all, I'm planning some fairly epic trips this year (after not drawing much the past 2 years) and I'm going through my gear list again. I'm curious what new gear you've seen to keep in the pack, have at camp, new boots you're using, epic clothing layers you can't live without, etc.

I'm a gear junkie and am always looking at improving my setup. Lay it on me! I'm all ears!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I really have everything I need, just replacing stuff when it breaks or wears out.

I did but a new camp lanturn and retired my forever Coleman gas. It is LED and has batteries. It really puts out the light and I don't have to screw around with fuel and mantles.

 

[BrandonM]

I really have everything I need, just replacing stuff when it breaks or wears out.

I did but a new camp lanturn and retired my forever Coleman gas. It is LED and has batteries. It really puts out the light and I don't have to screw around with fuel and mantles.

That will be convenient, for sure. I've been developing a gravity fed pellet stove for the wall tent so I don't have to get up and throw more wood on the fire every couple of hours. Here's what I came up with after months of trial & error...works pretty good so far (about a 5 minute video from my cell phone showing how it works):

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wwTNoybyPfjfDBby5

 

[JimP]

After a dozen years I have finally gotten rid of most of the gear that I didn't use.

Anymore I can pack for just about any hunt that I want to do and that includes the gear for my creature comforts.

It's still funny that I'll find a box out in the garage with stuff that I thought that I would use and I can't even remember when I bought it.

 

[idcwby]

Hey all, I'm planning some fairly epic trips this year (after not drawing much the past 2 years) and I'm going through my gear list again. I'm curious what new gear you've seen to keep in the pack, have at camp, new boots you're using, epic clothing layers you can't live without, etc.

I'm a gear junkie and am always looking at improving my setup. Lay it on me! I'm all ears!

Give us a run down of what you got and what types of hunts your doing.

 

[ScottR]

We know it revolves around Nacho Cheese in travel form making it to camp...

 

[BrandonM]

Give us a run down of what you got and what types of hunts your doing.

A possible Alaska float hunt in August, high country mule deer in Wyoming (backpack hunt), New Mexico elk in November, and we'll see what I draw in WY for antelope and elk.

Most of my gear is pretty dialed but I'm always wanting to see what others are using to see if I'm missing something.

I'm going to use the new Eberlestock Mainframe II, and hoping to use some new gear from Last Light. They have some killer headlamps, rope lights, power banks, etc. Dark Energy is coming out with some sweet new options in the power bank and solar panel arena as well.

I'm hoping to test some new layers from some clothing companies this fall, too, but we'll see if I can get them in time.

For boots on MOST hunts I run the Zamberlan Baltoro lightweight boots and run them with gaiters to get me through mid-season.

I'll be sticking with the Browning 6.5 PRC (X-Bolt 2, Speed model) and the Mathews ARC. I am totally drinking the kool-aid on copper bullets these days. My family has had some great success in recent years on elk with these and it was jaw dropping how quick the kill shot was.

 

[idcwby]

A possible Alaska float hunt in August, high country mule deer in Wyoming (backpack hunt), New Mexico elk in November, and we'll see what I draw in WY for antelope and elk.

Most of my gear is pretty dialed but I'm always wanting to see what others are using to see if I'm missing something.

I'm going to use the new Eberlestock Mainframe II, and hoping to use some new gear from Last Light. They have some killer headlamps, rope lights, power banks, etc. Dark Energy is coming out with some sweet new options in the power bank and solar panel arena as well.

I'm hoping to test some new layers from some clothing companies this fall, too, but we'll see if I can get them in time.

For boots on MOST hunts I run the Zamberlan Baltoro lightweight boots and run them with gaiters to get me through mid-season.

I'll be sticking with the Browning 6.5 PRC (X-Bolt 2, Speed model) and the Mathews ARC. I am totally drinking the kool-aid on copper bullets these days. My family has had some great success in recent years on elk with these and it was jaw dropping how quick the kill shot was.

Why did you go with the Main Frame II? I’m looking at going from a Main Frame I and going to a Stone Glacier, to save on some weight.
Boots I’m a big Crispi fan, been using the Guides almost year around. I have wanted to try some Zamberlan’s, but haven’t found them in a store yet.
I’ll have to look into Last Light, don’t think I have heard of them before. I tried to find a headlamp that would use the CR-2 battery, to help minimize batteries in the pack. Never did find one though.
Look into Apex bullets, been reading a lot of good reviews on them. The biggest thing I’ve noticed with the copper bullets, is having the impact velocity high and a faster twist rate helps.

I think for the most part we have flatlined with gear somewhat. It’ll be interesting to see the next big change/breakthrough is.

 

[BrandonM]

Why did you go with the Main Frame II? I’m looking at going from a Main Frame I and going to a Stone Glacier, to save on some weight.
Boots I’m a big Crispi fan, been using the Guides almost year around. I have wanted to try some Zamberlan’s, but haven’t found them in a store yet.
I’ll have to look into Last Light, don’t think I have heard of them before. I tried to find a headlamp that would use the CR-2 battery, to help minimize batteries in the pack. Never did find one though.
Look into Apex bullets, been reading a lot of good reviews on them. The biggest thing I’ve noticed with the copper bullets, is having the impact velocity high and a faster twist rate helps.

I think for the most part we have flatlined with gear somewhat. It’ll be interesting to see the next big change/breakthrough is.

I went with the Mainframe II because I'm a huge fan of the Mainframe I and this one has a few improvements to it. I've gotten so used to using the frame's shelf as a seat by laying the pack have down that when I have a pack without that shelf I end up really missing it.

SG has awesome packs, though. Don't blame you for going that route. I love their minimalist approach to things.

 

[ScottR]

From a current pack perspective, looking at the new Brooks series or Brute Series from Eberlestock they might work in your applications.