What's some gear you can get by without top of the line?

[mcseal2]

I use camofire or eBay to get the good name brand camo at a significant discount. I pick up used or previous years models. I think the only piece of clothing I paid full price for is the Krypek Dalibor II jacket for $200. It was worth it, I wear it all the time and it has the best designed hood I have ever used. I can leave it up to keep my ears warm without impairing my peripheral vision at all. I got Kennetrek boots used on eBay too.

I have a lot of good gear now I've picked up over time. Glass especially, it was frustrating to see game in my binos that my scope wasn't good enough to see. I still use some cheap stuff that just works too.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

One lesson I learned years ago was to NEVER EVER go cheap on optics and boots. I have a pair of Browning all leather boots that are at least 30 years old. They have been resoled 3 times and have leather patches on them. They still are very comfortable, but not really waterproof anymore. I still wear them around my place and on short summer hikes. I could write a book about optics, But since I went to all Leupold scopes 30 years ago, everything has settled down I do also have a pair of Swaro bino/rf combination that my wife bought me that are unbelievable.

 

[JFox]

I've never had any problems with camel's brand gear, and usually it's less expensive that the "name brand" stuff. I run their optics on 2 rifles and have had success for years with themy, and have nevery lost a zero. A good pair of binos are worth their weight in gold. Honestly man, most of my camo came from goodwill when I was starating out, much of which I still have today. Especially if you visit a goodwill that's near a high dollar hunting town like Jackson's Hole or Bozeman.

 

[ColoradoV]

Optics, boots, sleeping bag, tent, pack = get the best.

Clothing can be found for much cheaper if you look at non hunting outdoors clothing I use a lot of burton wool and there gortex ak line. The burton wool is the best deal going you can get bottoms for $60 bucks and a top for the same right now..

 

[480/277]

Alaska (and every other back country hunt) is no place for Coleman tents ,sleeping bags or cheap gear in general.
Everything has a place , but I draw the line where cheap stuff that "might" or might not get me by , but can get me killed.
I have never regretted buying top shelf goods but I have regretted every
Cheap piece of gear I ever brought.
I started out with cheap optics. After all I spent way more money than if I just bought my Leica binos and spotter to start with.

For me, I get the best I can afford. Good stuff lasts longer too.
.02 YMMV

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I have had Leica binos for 20+ years. Buddy talked me in to buying them. I have never regretted it. Other than that I am a middle of the road guy. Leupolds on most rifles.

 

[fackelberry]

I agree with most everyone here. I'm pretty lucky i guess when it comes to equipment. I have a good job, single now, Used to be married but got divorced a year ago, never cost me a dime, we did the paper work ourselves and she paid for the paperwork (75$) We actually get along. haha. Never had any kids. So i have bought good stuff when i can afford it. Bought a Swarovski spotter with money i made guiding hunters. Just bought a pair of Vortex Razor HD 10-42 Binos this year. And Leupold scopes on all my guns. Few things i don't skimp on. Optics, because you can't shoot what you can't see! You can make a cheap rifle shoot good with a good scope, you can't make a expensive rifle shoot good with a cheap scope! I don't skimp on boots either, when your feet hurt or are cold the hunt is over! And one thing that you should NEVER skimp on is a good nights sleep.

 

[HuskyMusky]

natural fibers, natural dyes, and allegedly deer can't see red well...so that red/black combo might have been better than the super complicated camo these days...

Camo. Now don't get me wrong, it has its place but I think some of it is getting very ridiculous.

I don't know how our grandfathers ever managed to kill anything in Woolrich and blue jeans.

 

[maine canoe guide]

I think you can save a lot of money not spending on high priced camp food. There is a lot of lightweight food you can buy thats half the price of freeze dried. YOU HAVE TO BE CREATIVE. You can buy dehydrated Hummus and refried beans.Make your own jerky or dried codfish. Bulgar wheat and Cous-Cous are pre cooked an just need to be soaked. Swallow your pride and check out the goodies at the local hippy co-op or the ethnic market in a bigger town. Tons of cheap noodles and instant soup. We have a German food store here that has dried mushroom dumplings that cook fast and taste great. We aren't the only people in the world who need lightweight, healthy, easy to carry and fast to cook food.

 

[y02MDM]

I rarely like to settle for lesser quality but instead I find a way. Make wise decisions when purchasing gear. There is nothing worse than have to repurchase gear because you made a bad initial decision and purchased poor quality to begin with. With that said there are several boot/clothing brands out there that should be ashamed for asking what they ask for their clothing. It is utterly ridiculous and targeted to hunters that have more dollars than sense. I recently purchased $150 dollars of quality wool material and a $10 dollar pattern and had a killer hunting jacket made.


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[mallardsx2]

I shoot cheap arrows. Always have.

Paying 10$ for an arrow is insanity...lol

 

[Slugz]

MCG "Swallow your pride and check out the goodies at the local hippy co-op or the ethnic market in a bigger town"

LMAO.........reminds me of going into Portland ME once a month.

 

[zpooch]

natural fibers, natural dyes, and allegedly deer can't see red well...so that red/black combo might have been better than the super complicated camo these days...

Yes I was being facetious. Not everything makes it through in type sometimes.

 

[Team Kabob]

Knowledge and good hunting buddies are priceless!


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[Sundowners@5?]

Used 4 Wheel Drive vehicle's that some of the yuppies purchased that never have seen mud!

 

[lostriverproductions]

Everything.

The nicer equipment is just a luxury not a necessity.

But I think I would spend more money on boots and rain gear before anything else.

 

[kidoggy]

I just buy what I can afford to buy and upgrade as I am able.
my theory is if I can afford it and want it,why deny myself?if I cannot afford it ,I deny myself.