Rank-Order Your Equipment

[clacklin009]

While thinking about what my new hunting purchases might be I wondered what order of importance hunters would place there hunting gear in. Assuming that weapons and ammo are at the top I will leave those off the list; however, I wanted to see how others would rank-order their equipment and what would be on the list. We each hunt in different areas and I assume the area will determine what is on the list and the order we put it in. I was thinking of keeping it to a top 10 list. Here is mine-I think:

1. Boots
2. Camo
3. Cover-up Scent
4. GPS
5. Water Purifier
6. Bino's
7. Knife
8. Sleeping bag
9. Tent
10. Spotting Scope

What is on your list?

 

[Drhorsepower]

1-optics
2-pack
3-clothes
4-boots
5-sleeping bag/pad
6-shelter
7-tripod
8-knife
9-game bags
10-water filter


I'm winging it here for sake of the thread

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My list would be:
1. Boots
2. Rain Wear
3. Sleeping bag/pad
4. Clothes-camo & otherwise
5. Optics
6. Knife (s)
7. Tent/shelter
8. Eye protection-sunglasses
9. Wide brim western hat (Stetson type)
10. Camp comfort - A good coffee pot & a bottle of Baileys: When you get old like me, your priorities change!

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

If I was starting out, here is the order I would purchase quality gear.

1. Knife (Havalon and Benchmade folder)

2. Boots (Mine are Lowa Tibet. Take a month to wear various ones inside at home to find a boot that fits YOU)

3. Flashlight/headlamp (Petzl headlamp)

4. Quality Binoculars (Swarovski 10X42 with internal rangefinder)

5. Quality Clothing (Kuiu Attack Pants, Arcteryx fleece pullover, Kuiu waterproof shell)

6. GPS (Garmin Oregon 450 with land status cards)

7. Spotting Scope & Tripod (Vortex spotting scope)

8. Sleeping bag

9. Backpack

10. Trekking Poles (Huge help when packing a load)

Last year I actually forgot my boots on a hunt. Had to hunt the first day in a pair of dress-up shoes, so I know it can be done….lol

 

[hardstalk]

Ive always considered myself kind of a minimalist.

1- optics binos then spotter ( including tripod & good fluid panhead)

2- boots

3- pack

4- shelter

5- sleep kit ( pad and bag )

6- clothing

7- stove (pocket rocket or jet boil)

8- water filter

 

[Timberstalker]

If I'm just hunting and not camping my list goes like this

1. Knife (sharp)
2. Boots
3. Comfortable clothes, hat is a must to keep sun out of eye's (camo or not)
4. Pack
5. Water/food
6. Light
7. Fire starter (lighter and pitch)
8. Compass and map of the area, if I don't already know it.
9. Rope
10. Timber ribbon

I guess I am a minimalist. I never have spent the night in the woods without planning on it, god willing I never will.

 

[tdcour]

I think it really depends on what type of hunting you are doing. For me, we hunt Walk In Areas for the most part, so we are usually staying in a cabin or hotel. My gear list for the leave your truck at dark and come back at dark hunting would be...

1: Binos
2: Boots
3: Pack (day pack, then frame pack or one that functions as both)
4: Knife and Saw
5: Range Finder
6: Flashlight/Headlight
7: Spotter
8: Hunting clothing (start at what you can afford and work your way up)
9: GPS
10: 2L-3L water bladder

My ranking may seem a little weird, but this is basically how I started off. I bought 1-6 my first year and borrowed the spotter I used. I am still borrowing the spotter as of right now, but I was able to purchase Russell gear, borrow a GPS, and get a couple water bladders for my pack.

 

[hoshour]

Good optics and a comfortable pack aside, I'm thinking safety first in terms of importance. I never go off without more items than are on this list, like my knife and phone, while the sleep items I don't take on a day hunt and sometimes my my spotter & tripod stay behind.

1. Boots, comfortable, stiff sole and tough
2. Clothing (layered, functional, dry, quiet, not big bucks)
3. Water/tablets/filter
4. GPS/maps
5. Sleeping pad & bag, in that order
6. Optics – good binos minimum, then spotter w/tripod (spotter is useless w/o tripod)
7. Light – headlamp and small flashlight w/ extra batteries
8. Fire starting materials
9. Pack (different packs for different hunts)
10. Spare glasses

 

[nickpaolini81]

I'll assume this is for a hunting trip where a camp is set in a remote area.

The logic I use when purchasing equipment is simple, I put the money, hence importance, into objects that I use repeatedly and daily on a hunt. Survival stuff and killing gear aside, I'll partake in the discussion.

1. Optics (Votrex 10X50)
2. Backpack (Eberlestock J34)
3. Boots (Cabelas)
4. GPS & Radio (Garmin Rino 610)
5. Clothing (Mostly Cabelas)
6. Sleeping Bag (Cabelas)
7. Tent (Montana Canvas)
8. Headlamp (Energizer)

 

[BigSurArcher]

1) Optics
2) ...Optics
3) Clothing
4) Boots/Pack
6) Camera
7) Sleep system
8) Cooking system
9) Hydration system
10) Lighting

 

[Musket Man]

1. Clothing. I put clothes right at the top. I get cold alot easier now then I used to and dont take it very well when I do get cold and I dont glass near as long or well as I could if I get cold. I tend to over dress too. Last week I left 1/2 of them under a tree and got them on my way back that night. LOL
2.Boots. Feet need to be comfortable when your walking alot.
3. Sleeping bag/pad, shelter
4. Head lamp, flash light, emergency kit. I put these 3 together because when its dark you might need all 3. I got stuck about 300 yards from my camp once when my head lamp went out and I didnt have another light. It was a very dark night and cliffs all around me and I wasnt gonna walk off one. I had a bic lighter and a cliff bar wraper in my pocket. Got a fire started and sat by it all night and found camp when it got light.
5. Optics. Binos, range finder, spotter/tripod
6. GPS
7. Pack
8. Knife
9. Cook stove
10. Water filter

 

[tttoadman]

This is my swag, but I know this could change depending on the hunt. This has really made me think a little.

1. Sleep system(air pad and air pillow): I have a spine fusion that has all but prohibited any sleep in the back country in the past. It took me a couple tries to find something that works, but now I have it.

2. Boots: good socks, insoles....

3. Clothes: proper layering and base layers

4. Pack(SG Solo): This allows me to carry more water, emergency bivy and tarp, better kill kit to make a heavy first load back to camp. My largest commitment this year for sure.

5. Tent/Shelter: Nothing matters if your shelter doesn't take care of you and your gear.

6. Lights, GPS, maps: I group these together because they seem to be one big system to me. We do alot of our hiking in/out at night and even pack outs at night. Just seems to work for us.

7. Camera: This has always been much higher on the priority. Backcountry hunting tends to move equipment to the front that keeps you warm, dry, and safe.