With 2022 in the rearview mirror its time to reflect on some of the gear choices. This year involved a wide array of different hunts. Terrain ranged from rocky mountain tops to lowland swamps to old growth rainforest. While each piece of kit may not apply to every single type of hunt, this list is my favourite gear for 2022.
5. Lowa Tibet GTX
Footwear is one of the most important pieces of clothing we where whether it is out hunting or in day to day life. For years, I have struggled to find a boot that can handle technical terrain but still remain comfortable. This year I found the Lowa Tibet, which quickly became of my favourite gear pieces.
Fair warning, the Lowa Tibet is an uninsulated mountaineering style boot with a much stiffer sole than most people are used to. However, this has the benefit that crampons and snowshoes can be used with the boots. Furthermore, the stiff sole protects your feet when spending days on scree chasing goats or sheep. For heavy packouts on sharp rock the Lowa Tibet really impressed.
4. Ledlenser H5R Core Light
When my trusty Black Diamond headlamp kicked the bucket after a decade of service I found myself in the market for a new headlamp. I decided to experiment with a rechargeable headlamp and picked up the Ledlenser H5R Core.
After a mishap where I did not understand the lock feature, my experience with the headlamp has been excellent. The controls are simple and there are no impractical features to complicate the user interface. The headlamp is very bright and the battery life is adequate for days in the field. Additionally, the headlamp is light enough that it doesnt need a large battery pack or a third strap. This makes it much easier to fit in a pocket for day hunts. Both the brightness and width of the beam are adjustable.
Using the Ledlenser made it much easier to follow flagging when hiking through the timber after dark. This proved valuable while hunting moose in north western BC. For those looking for a headlamp, check out the Ledlenser lights at the link below. At no cost to you, we earn a percentage of each sale which helps to keep the site running.
3. First Lite Uncompaghre Pants
While my layering for upper body warmth has been strong for a while, I have toughed it out through cold legs for years. Oftentimes long johns and Carharts would get me through a wet day in the field. This year I made an effort to find some more technical bottoms. An absolute gamechanger was the First Lite Uncompaghre puffy pants.
The Uncompaghre is a synthetic fill puffy pant, which means it retains some of its ability to hold heat when wet. The pant is excellent as a mid layer in extreme cold. However, even more importantly the pants can be kept in the pack for the hike in and put on once at the glassing knob. The side zipper means you don’t have to remove your boots to take the pant on and off. This was a blessing hunting the mountains where the mornings glassing were cold but by lunchtime it was hot out. Being able to add and shed layers while staying in my boots made it easier to layer appropriately and ultimately spent more time behind the glass.
2. OR Cirque II Lite Pant
Next, Outdoor Research is a big player in the hiking, skiing, and backpacking segment of the outdoors market. However, they typically haven’t been a mainstay on the hunting scene. I decided to try the Cirque II Lite climbing pant from them as I was looking for a lightweight pant that was stretchy in the crotch and comfortable. The Cirque II Lite has quickly become my most worn pair of pants regardless of what I am doing that day.
There are a few features of the Cirque II Lite that make it one of my favourite gear pieces of the year. First off there are a ton of pockets, and they all zip up. This means you don’t need to worry about losing your spare cartridges, tags, or knife while climbing over deadfall. Next, the pants are surprisingly water resistant, which helps if you are wearing them over an insulating layer. Finally, the pants have a cuff at the bottom. Initially, the look of the cuff made me weary. On the other hand, once I put them to use the cuff will go over the ankle of your boot. Coupled with the fabrics water repellency this acts almost as a lightweight gator, keeping snow out of the tops of your boots and off your socks. You can check out the OR Cirque II Lite here.
1. AGC Bino Harness
Finally, my favourite piece of kit for 2022 is the Kodiak binocular harness by Alaskan Guide Creations. Previously, I was using a strap and was carrying most of my gear in a pack. Switching to the bino harness has had a myriad of benefits. Firstly, you can travel light if you know you will only be gone a couple hours. Next, all of your essentials are right at your fingertips. Having the bino harness moves your windchecker and rangefinder right onto your chest where you can get to them quickly. When you’re trying to move quietly through the timber this can make all the difference.
At any given time I keep my tags, a folding knife, binoculars, rangefinder, windchecker, lighter, microfiber, and a few extra cartridges in my harness. This is way less cumbersome than trying to fit all that gear into your pockets. Consider me officially converted to a disciple of the bino harness.
Closing Thoughts
Above, I’ve summarized my favourite gear for 2022. I love trying new gear so I’ll be sure to post some updates as my kit evolves over time. Comment your favourite gear below and your experience with it, I’m always looking for new gear. Here’s to good luck in 2023!