“Get Your Tech Wet!” – Cell Phone Protection for Hunters
Cell phone use has become increasingly prevalent in all aspects of our lives these days and from a hunting aspect, we’ve found them to become quite useful too. They allow us to communicate with each other through mute texts and photos of harvested game, provide a life-line for help in case we need it and in the case of our iphones, allow us to check the up-to-the-minute weather details. We’ve even been known to check out our Facebook page when we get a little bored on stand. Whether your cell phone is an extension of your extremities or you simply just take it along in case you need help, we’ve found some gadgets that you’ll want to consider to keep it safe and most importantly, dry during a hunt. The key to a good case is that it protects the phone without hindering the phone’s performance and these two products do just that!
One of the biggest complaints that we’ve heard about not bringing along a cell phone into the woods for a hunt revolves around the possibility of it getting wet and damaged in the elements. It is a valid concern since replacement plans are NOT cheap these days. We realize that not everyone utilizes their phone during a hunt, but if you do (or have been concerned with damage caused by the elements) you may be interested in the products below. Each has its own place in the gear bag.
Click on the price or picture to visit the manufacturers website!
This case has the perfect name for how it fared in our testing. It literally protects your phone from the rigors of life in general. I have been utilizing the Life Proof case since I received it and can honestly say that it does what it claims to in every aspect. Life Proof cases protect your phone from Water, Dirt, Snow and Shock. It is an all-purpose type case that will hold up in whatever environment you find yourself in. We found that there are two areas that the Life Proof case really excels in; the ultra-slim design and the full functionality. The case only adds 1/16 of an inch to your existing phone and the design does not hinder the phone’s performance in the least. It allows me to keep my phone in the case at all times without feeling like it’s too bulky. We were able to take photos and videos, play sounds through the speakers and not sense any reduction in sensitivity of the touch screen with the Life Proof case. All facets of the phone are functional while in the Life Proof case. The case is also able to withstand being submerged up to 6.6 feet in water. Overall, an excellent case for hunters that want to use their phone in the elements without the worry of the phone being damaged. If you’re worried about the $80 price tag, don’t be! The investment will not only protect your phone but keep it looking brand new. Click here to visit Life Proof
Although having a different design, the Dry Case is also another reliable product for keeping your phone protected in the elements. This product is essentially a clear waterproof plastic bag that becomes air tight when a bulb is attached to suck out the air. This product is really geared for situations where you know you will get wet and is not a “daily” type case that you will want to keep your phone in all the time. In fact, the motto of Dry Case is “Get Your Tech Wet!” and you can imagine the myriad of situations (not just hunting) that you could use the Dry Case in and still fully utilize your phone. We tested the Dry Case while rifle hunting in a downpour as well as ice fishing and each time it worked flawlessly. The clarity of the plastic allows for the camera on the phone to be fully functional and we experienced zero problems with the touch screen sensitivity while texting. We literally had our phones out in the pouring rain in the Dry Cases and were able to use them as normal. The Dry Case comes with a neoprene armband and has a headphone jack built into the bag for use with waterproof headphones. Overall the Dry Case is a genius idea and should at least be in the gear bag of every hunter that uses his/her cell phone while hunting. They even have a case for the new Ipad. Click here to visit Dry Case
Check out this video of Dry Case in Action:
Both of these products do exactly what they say they will do in the protection of your phone. While each is a different variation on the same theme, both the Life Proof case and the Dry Case are great investments to keep your phone safe from the elements.
Have you ever tried a product that suited your exact needs perfectly at first use? We were fortunate enough to try out several new and innovative products this Fall that did just that. For the sake of simplicity with all of these products, we’ve broken them down into two categories: The Best of Show; which represents products that we’d feel “naked” without, after our testing, and The Best of the Rest; which still represent good quality products, but may require some additional time with before they fall into the first category. Click on the pictures or the Product name to visit the manufacturers website.
I don’t know why this stuff isn’t in everyone’s closet by now. From standing on the sidelines of my daughter’s frigid soccer games, to ice fishing, to the deer woods, the double thick sweats are a fantastic piece of gear. Whether it’s the hooded sweatshirt, quarter-zip sweatshirt or sweatpants, Arborwear has hit a homerun with the double-thick series of apparel. They have a variety of items that are “tougher than nails” and you should definitely check them out at www.arborwear.com
Another great product from Arbor Wear is their 1/4 zip pullover with “Dri-Release” that has a built-in odor neutralizer which also does a great job of moisture management. Combined with the Double Thick Sweats, the 1/4 zip pullover is a great combination for outdoor activity when the mercury drops! Another thing that Arborwear does really well is come up with great slogans for their apparel. Check out their latest Thanksgiving Advertisement below:
Once you experience Gerbing’s line of Heated clothing, you’ll realize why you never again have to be concerned with the question “How cold is it going to get?” Gerbing’s heated vest is an absolute must have piece of equipment for the avid hunter and ice fisherman. Not only does the vest give you the ability to wear less layers, it gives you the ability to have “heat” at your command with the small rechargeable battery packs that fit neatly in the vest pockets. It’s pretty simple really. You wear the vest (which is pretty warm in it’s own right) to your stand and sit until you start feeling that unforgettable chill that hunters experience. With a simple push of a button on the battery, you can heat up the inner-workings of the vest to the level of your choice (100%, 75%, 50% or 25%). When you get home, you plug in the battery to a charger (included with the vest) and recharge for the next hunt. We also will be trying the heated sock version of the Gerbing System later this Fall/Winter so stay tuned to see how we like those!
It seems like when Leupold does something, they do it right! The RCX trail camera system is by far the best we’ve ever used. Not only are they easy to hang and operate, the controller / viewer allows you to 1) take a look at your field of view to make sure it’s pointing correctly and 2) View your pictures in the field and download them to another SD card in the controller. Simply throw the controller in your pack and you can check your pictures without removing anything from the camera itself. The units allow for both pictures and video depending on the settings you choose as well as options for a single or continuous string of pictures. We can’t imagine using anything but Leupold trail cameras from now on.
The beauty of this product is its simplicity! Slide the switch forward and you’re recording. Slide it back, and you’ve turned it off. We absolutely love these Midland cameras for capturing all the action that happens to and from the treestand. They are small, easy to clip onto your hat and take great video. Order one of these to video your next track job!
This hat is literally two hats in one. When we heard that this product was “reversible” we had our skepticism. Usually one side is better than the other, but this is not the case with the RackHat. Realtree camo on one side and blaze orange on the other. We can see this hat working especially well in Turkey season by turning it to the blaze side while walking out of the woods with a forest chicken slung over your shoulder.
I’ve always been somewhat of a “scent freak” when it comes to storing my hunting clothing. I moved from rubber totes to the Hunters Specialties bag and that all seemed to work pretty well……….Until now. Since finding the Watson Airlock Camo bags, I can literally throw ALL my hunting clothes in one bag along with all my non-apparel accessories and drag that sucker from hunt to hunt. We do a ton of “speed hunts” in a few different counties and this carrier bag is perfect for a hunter on the go. It’s big (26″L x 19″H x 12″D), rugged (Back2Back™ fabric coating technology for water repellent and abrasion resistance) and Scent Proof (Airlock™ Technology to lock out odors). Watson Airlock also offers a version of this bag called the “Bottomless” bag for boot storage in the same size as the camo carrier that we tested as well as a bigger 34 inch version.
The Mayhem Boots from Wolverine combines everything I love about a lace-up hunting boot and the one thing I love about rubber boots……..the easy on/off! With the Mayhem side-zip boots, I can lace them up and forget about it! The Individual Comfort System or ICS easily changes the amount of cushioning in the heel. Simply remove the insole and turn the gel disc to enhance inner support, increase outer support, add cushion or even make the shoe more firm. With it’s 100% waterproof full grain leather construction, the Mayhem boot from Wolverine has found a home in our arsenal of footwear!
The Black Bear Boot not only have that Classic look, they are built to withstand any punishment you can dish out! A throwback to the days before camo rubber boots, these 10 inch boots are waterproof and have 400 grams of Thinsulate Ultra, making them the perfect still hunting boot! One look at the stitching on this boot or perhaps the aggressive tread pattern on the outsole and you’ll see that these boots are built for wear and tear. The padded removable insole is a nice touch and means that comfort is also important to Irish Setter. When the season turns from sitting long hours in the stand to hiking over vast terrain, reach for the Black Bear Boot from Irish Setter!
Just take one look at the saw teeth on this bad boy and you can figure out how well it will cut. No longer do we need to sweat buckets taking limbs the size of our calves, nor do we need to worry about saws breaking in the middle of those type cuts! The Wicked Tree saw is in fact “Wicked” when it comes to making short work of branches and small trees. The saw is 14.12 inches long when it is open and only weighs 0.5 lbs. I would love to see this company come out with a pole saw version of this thing and maybe add some sort of a sheath for this compact cutting machine. Check out the video on their site to see this saw in action! (click on picture above to see how Wicked Sharp and Tough it really is!)
Seemz offers a variety of scent-free products and one of those comes as a complete system called “The Krush”. The Krush system includes:
32 oz Scent Elimination Spray
12 oz Scent Elimination Spray
64 oz Scent Elimination Refill Bottle
32 oz Laundry Detergent
12 oz Hair and Body Soap
Seemz Truck Sticker
I’ve used the Krush System all bow season and have not run out of spray. The Spray bottles are unique in the fact that they spray just as well when tipped upside down. The whole odor elimination system hinges on what Seemz calls “Odor Fusion Technology” which creates a molecular barrier that prevents odor molecules from reaching the air, thereby possibly floating downwind to your prey. The Krush system from SEEMZ Technology has not only saved me money this fall, it has also provided me with the confidence of having a reliable scent-free system.
The newly redesigned Believer G1 from Concept Archery is another great addition to their line of 99% let-off bows. The Specs on the Believer G1 are:
Axle to Axle . . . . . . . 33-7/16″
Brace Height . . . . . . . 8″
IBO Speed . . . . . . . . 312 fps
Adjustable Let-Off . . 80% or 99%
Draw Lengths . . . . . . 25-32″
Draw Weights . . . . . . 30-70lbs
Mass Weight . . . . . . 3lbs 14oz
String Length . . . . . . 88-15/16″”
Cable Length . . . . . . 35-11/16″
As with all the Concept bows, the draw cycle is super smooth and it’s a blast to shoot. We were able to have several of our staff shoot this bow this Fall and they all had the same impression……….smooth draw, accurate and fun to shoot! The valley on the 99% let-off bows takes a little getting used to on the “let-down” if you’re not shooting the arrow. It’s hard to know when the rollover is going to occur going from 1% holding weight to the full poundage gain. Hand shock was minimal and we’re pleased with their redesigned wood grip. It not only looks classy, but it’s slimmer and fits the “life-line” of our hands better than the older models. Concept is making huge strides in their bow production and if you’ve never shot one, you’re missing out!
Then LLBean name is synonymous with quality and durability when it comes their apparel. The offerings for their line of hunting apparel is no different. LLBean has come up with what they call “The Big Game System” which essentially is a series of shell, liner, and pants or bibs. There are two different shells and liners to choose from and although our pick for those where the Technical Shell and the midweight liner, it’s hard to go wrong whatever you choose. All aspects of this Big Game System is built for hard wear in harsh weather and the best thing about these garments is that they kept us dry and warm in our outings.
The Northweave series is a lightweight shirt and pants that are designed to be a durable moisture wicking garment. These were not only great for hanging tree stands in late summer, but would serve us well for chasing Spring Gobblers in the rising May temperatures.
We’ve always been big fans of Irish Setter’s boots and are quickly becoming fans of it’s clothing line……..that’s right! If you didn’t know by now, they make apparel as well as great boots! The Springfield Jacket and Starbuck Lined Pants contain what Irish Setter calls “Wool Loft” insulation. It is this 100% wool insulation that traps in the heat while allowing for moisture management. The “Ultra Dry” membrane keeps the garments wind and waterproof. One looks at this apparel and you get a sense of quality. There are no imperfections in the seems or clasps that we could decipher. That’s probably a good thing for the price! (Springfield Parka = $209 and Starbuck Pants = $199)
The RamCat is a fixed style head with blades that move forward and back. The ferrule is one piece stainless steel with 0.32 inch thick blades that are sharpened on the front and rear. The cutting diameter is 1 3/8 inches and the cutting tip has deep lobes that serve to minimize any windplaning. We found RamCat Broadheads to outperform our expectations on toughness and durability. After shooting these heads through 1/2 inch plywood, they sunk into the tree behind it, only to be pried out with only a slightly bent tip of one of the blades (see above). The flight of the head flew great out of our Hoyt Rampage XT’s and we found no difference between the RamCats and our usual mechanicals. All testing was done with Victory VAP arrows and the combination with the RamCat is absolutely impressive! Check out how far the head sunk into the tree behind the plywood! (below)
This product is the epitome of a 2 in 1 product for hunters. As the name suggests, it is a pack that quickly folds into a chair. No longer do you have to carry a seat/folding chair as well as your pack into the deer woods. Originally I thought that it would take some getting used to in order to figure out how the chair folds/unfolds in order to strap to my back. I was wrong! There really is only one way it logically folds/unfolds and it is quite simple to use, even when the pack pockets are filled with gear. As one might surmise, this product has other uses besides hunting. From fishing, to camping, to sitting on the sidelines at your child’s games, the Chair Pak comes through as a useful and durable product.
We also tried out 2 different types of safety / sunglasses from a company called Radians. The Shift glasses remind us a lot of the classic M-frame Oakleys and come with 5 different color lenses (along with a sweet black zip box to keep them in). The nosepiece fits great on these and they are so lightweight that you won’t even know you’ve got them on. In fact, there were a few times I caught myself forgetting they were on as I climbed into my afternoon stand! The other pair of glasses are called the Vengeance glasses by Radians and these are also lightweight and stylish. They too come in a variety of lens options and two different frame colors (black and tortoise shell). Both the Shift and Vengeance glasses meet or exceed ANSI Z87.1 + standards and are both very affordable. (Shift = $78 and Vengeance = $11)
Anyone who has marked their hunting property with POSTED signs knows that sometimes you want something a little extra to send that message. Radians also manufactures a line of “Safe Tape” to do just that. Coming in 3 different messages (NO HUNTING, POSTED….PRIVATE PROPERTY AND NO TRESSPASSING), the high visibility boundary tape works perfectly. The durable 4mil tape comes in 300 foot rolls and worked especially well for us in marking gateways and parking areas.
HyCreek is famous for offering “package deals” when it comes to hunting clothing. We decided to test out their Bowhunters Stealth II Package for 2011. The package comes with a Jacket and pants that both have a 130 gram low-nap outer layer and a 300 gram berber fleece inner layer. It also comes with their STAY-DRY Wicking Underwear w/ ScentSense (top and bottoms) and PRO II Extreme Insulating Thermal Set (top and bottoms). In essence, you get 6 garments for $229. Now after having had several years of experience with base layers, it’s no secret that I’ve always been a big fan of the Under Armour products. However, the base layers that come with this HyCreek Stealh II package are just as good in my opinion. I found that the wicking properties of the base layers did the job quite well as did the insulation properties. As for the outer layer Jacket and Pants, the phrase I would give to these would be “tougher than nails”. They do very well with the wear and tear associated with walking through the woods and brush. The Jacket and Pants also do an extremely good job with blocking the wind. As for fit, the Jacket, pants and base layers are true to fit and comfortable. If you’ve ever seen those HyCreek Advertisements on the back of a hunting magazine and wondered how they would fair, feel free to give them a try. It’s not a gimmick!
Elusion camo represents one of the most exciting products to hit the scene in a very long time. We’ve seen camo companies emerge over the years, but none that seem to have the longevity to compete with the “Big 2” of Mossy Oak and RealTree. Although in the early stages as a company (having just started in March of 2011) Elusion Camo has already been a buzz on the internet. We decided to see what the buzz was about and got ourselves two sets of BDU style suits (Ridge Raider and Forest Ghost Autumn patterns). The suits are 100 % polyester and have no insulation but can be worn over layers of insulation because of the generous sizing. The pockets seem to be well thought out and the Velcro enclosures hold up well after prolonged use. The suits come with jacket, pants and headcover and there is one price per suit to make things simple. The area where Elusion Camo shines is the HD quality of patterns and variety of patterns available. One look at the 11 patterns available and you’ll see why we think this company is going places. The company’s founder Lee Dufresne is also a force to be reckoned with. He is one of the more driven individuals that I have met in the hunting industry and appears to have “the sky’s the limit” philosophy on this company. The true photo HD quality of the patterns has “turned heads” in the industry and we predict that it’s only a matter of time before Lee has the ear of a major bow brand to dip their risers. Another feat that Lee has managed to accomplish in his first year in business is to manufacture his products entirely in the USA. When you purchase a suit from Elusion Camo, you know that you are helping to employ another person in this country. Add to that the feeling of comfort that comes with Elusion’s guarantee policy and we think you’ll be pleased with your purchase. Lee is always willing to “talk shop” and answer your questions so don’t hesitate to contact him (Lee@elusioncamo.com). See if you can get Bill Jordan or Toxey Haas to answer an email!?!? Check this stuff out at www.elusioncamo.com
5.11 is a company that specializes in tactical equipment for law enforcement and the military. That means quality equipment that is well thought out. 5.11 offer a line of gloves that are not only tough and comfortable, but are off the charts on dexterity. Because members of law enforcement and the military have to be able to “feel” what they are doing while wearing gloves, 5.11 has mastered the market in this area. We tried out the Taclite 2, the Station Grip and Praetorian gloves in their line and we’re not sure we can put enough wear and tear on them to justify needing another pair. We gave the Praetorian gloves to a K-9 handler friend of ours to try. Needless to say, he raved about them so much that we never saw them again! He told us that not only did they not take long to “Break in” but they were a perfect combination of warmth and tactility. In short, they are tough enough to handle the dog in a rowdy situation but tactile enough to use in drug searches. As for hunting, we found the Taclite 2 glove to be the perfect early season bowhunting glove. They are like shooting a release with no gloves on yet, they provide a level of protection when griping the tree steps to climb into a tree stand. The station grip gloves are the perfect riding gloves for ATVs and do equally well for putting up those tree stands in the summer and early Fall months.
With 2000 grams of Thinsulate, you’d think the Swampwalker 2000 boots would be too heavy to bother wearing too/from your stand. Not so! Itasca has found a way slimline the entire boot while maintaining the extensive insulation aspect of these boots. Sure, they are a little heavier than your uninsulated boots, but we really didn’t notice too much of a difference between these and our usual 1000 or 1200 gram rubber boots. As for the quality, the seems are nicely welded and the outer walls of the 17 inch boot are made of tough rubber. We can’t wait to see how these fair on the ice this winter!
This product has got to be the coolest I’ve seen in a while. I’ve always thought that a European mount looked much more bad ass than a regular taxidermist mount. Skull Lok takes that concept and gives you a custom mounting bracket for a European mount or a simple horn mount. When I first contacted Jon from Skull Lok, I asked him about the broadhead brackets. To my surprise, he told me that he can make a custom bracket of just about any shape (he even does the shape of your home state) and he offered to do up the Heritage Hunters logo for us as a giveaway. When it showed up at my door, I was blown away. The thing is beautiful and the powder coat is equally impressive. If your hunting club or organization is looking for a great promotion, drop a line to Jon Eichhorn at joneich@skulllok.com
The Strut & Rut Energy brand energy “shots” have got to be the ultimate energy drink for hunters. The container looks like a giant shotgun shell and to be honest, they’re almost too cool looking to throw away after drinking. They make me want to line them up on a shelf somewhere………anyway, the actual drink itself tastes great and doesn’t cause any sort of “crash” after the fact. We’ve found that energy drinks come in two basic varieties; Those that give a short-lived burst of energy with the crash that comes later and those that provide a sustained, almost “Timed-release” trickle of energy to keep you going even when you’re dog tired. Strut & Rut Energy is definitely of the latter version and we would recommend it to any and all hunters that want to keep up the pace, even after getting up day after day at O-Dark Thirty!
We hope you’ve enjoyed the variety of items presented in this year’s 2011 Deer Gear preview. Obviously not all the items are necessary to bag that slammer, but they’re all worth a look! Do us a favor and let us know what you think of any of these items in our FORUM.
That season started just like any other really. I checked my “go-to” spots and made sure the chains from the stands weren’t biting into the tree, the straps hadn’t ended up squirrel food and the lanes were still open. I had some time to examine a few additional stand sites and I liked what I saw in an orchard just off from the piece of property that I had been hunting on for years. I was no stranger to this piece of property either. In fact, I had often engaged in idle chit-chat with the elderly couple that owned the piece and the gentlemen had told me several times over the years to not be afraid to hunt on him. The piece of property was not that large and was mostly fields, but that orchard had always intrigued me. After taking a look at the orchard, two things occurred to me. One; it looked like a decent travel corridor from the property beyond it, and two; I thought my aging father might be able to sit there during muzzleloading season since he had had trouble making the uphill trek on the property we usually hunt. The orchard was slightly downhill and not that far from where we park. Once I made the decision to hang a stand in that orchard, I made no attempt to make it secret. I drove down the edge, through the field and I even waved as I passed the elderly couples house going in and out. Mission accomplished, stand hung, ready for bow season to begin.
The first 3 weeks of bow season passed with me visiting the “Orchard Stand” 4 or 5 times. I had seen deer there and even had a chance to shoot a doe at 7 yards. I passed on her thinking there may be a better chance ahead at a buck. That chance was not to be since I was told by the landowner one week before the start of gun season to take the stand down, and that there will no longer be ANY hunting by ANYONE on his property. I must admit I was a little stunned. When I asked why, he told me the neighboring landowner had seen my stand from his property and it made him irate to think that I would put a stand within 50 yards of his. I could see that trying to explain to the elderly, seemingly confused gentlemen that the other stand in question was not there when I hung my stand, therefore I had no idea that the neighbor was planning on putting one in that spot. I assumed that this neighbor went in to put up a stand close to that orchard, one week before the start of gun season, saw mine hanging in the distance and freeked! I later found out that the neighbor had gone off on a tirade about the potential for lawsuits associated with hunters and treestands and that they should speak to there
lawyer to avoid any litigation resulting from letting people hunt out of tree stands on their land.
Growing up in the 80’s, there were no shortage of movies with great catch-phrases. One of my favorites was the 1986 Crocodile Dundee and the “That’s a Knife!” scene:
Times have changed quite a bit for me since 1986 but one thing still holds true. I never know when I’m going to need a good knife! This review is dedicated to some blades that would make Paul Hogan proud! We’ve done hunting knife reviews before and just so you don’t think we’ve lost our minds, we’re not telling you that these blades are all purpose skinning/gutting knives or even that you’ll want to ditch your trusty Buck knife that daddy gave you. However, there are times when you need a little more meat on the bone in terms of a good blade and these knives certainly have it. Every outdoorsman/woman should own a blade that screams “Now That’s a Knife!” in their collection. Whether you’re out in the field scouting, hanging stands, clearing trails or just simply on a good hike, you may want to strap one of these babies to your leg, because you never know when the above clip is going to go down in your neighborhood woodlot and you saw how impressed the woman was about that knife, right!?!
We’ve put together quite a collection of knives that are impressive to say the least. Click the picture of each knife to visit the manufacturers website!
Ontario Knife Company:
This company has earned top billing in this review with what we thought were the some of the most impressive knives we’ve seen in a while. Extremely well made and rugged, these knives can handle their own in a variety of situations.
Ranger RD4 Ready Detachment ($85) (10.25 inches overall, 4.5 inch blade, .25 inch thick blade)
A true survival in every since of the word, the thickness of the 5160 texture coated blade along with the micarta handle make this knife a hefty piece of tactical excellence! A very well balanced knife, the RD4 is rugged enough to chop but small enough to wear in a hunting / field-dressing situation. The MOLLE compatible sheath on this knife is almost as equally impressive with a hard plastic insert and utility pouch. The RD4 is a solid piece of equipment!
Ranger Afghan ($83) ( 10 inches overall, 5 inch long blade, .25 inch thick blade)
In similar fashion to the RD4 above, the Afghan has a simpler look but just as rugged and well balanced. Same MOLLE compatible type sheath and micarta handle make the Afghan an excellent camp knife as well as what I feel would make a great hunting knife. Everything about the Afghan knife make it my favorite among all the knives in this review. Tough, hefty, and all around bad-ass!
SP8 Machete ($50) ( 15.125 inches overall, 10 inch blade, .25 inch thick blade)
The SP8 is a purpose type knife and at only $50, is probably the best value in the mix here. The heft of the 1095 carbon steel blade make this one hell of a camp knife / brush cutting machine. Saplings up to softball sized diameter proved to be no match for the SP8 and once again, the sheath that comes with it is very impressive with snaps and straps. The handle reminds me of my old KABAR knife and I can assure you that strapping this thing to your leg will make people think twice about how they approach you. Not necessarily a bad thing!
Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT):
This Oregon based Knife manufacturer works with some of the world’s leading designers to produce ultra sharp knives for sport, work, and professional use.
Razel SS7:($200)Developed by John Graham, the Razel SS7 is a cross between a razor and a chisel with a beefy knife handle. This knife takes the cake for being the sharpest knife we’ve ever received “out of the box”. NOT for the faint of heart, this knife is the ultimate do-it-all tool and is sure to scream “don’t mess with me!” as you use it.
The sheath for the Razel SS7 is molded Kydex and has a quick release belt connection.
The Razel has some little brothers that are also impressive. Check out this video to see the Razel collection by Columbia River Knife and Tool:
Gerber:
Gerber has been around for over 70 years and is not just a knife company. From survival kits to pruners to headlamps and flashlights, Gerber has an array of gear for sportsman. We took a look at 3 different types of knives from Gerber, 2 of which might interest the Deer Hunters.
Freeman Guide Fixed Blade ($32): This offering from Gerber is an excellent choice for a hunting knife. It may not be the scariest knife in the mix here, but the large finger grooves and TacHide onlay makes this the right choice for field dressing big game. The sheath is solid construction nylon and we found this blade to hold an edge extremely well. I like the fact that the tacky grip is removable for cleaning also.
Freeman Guide Folding ($32): I don’t mind telling you that I am not usually a fan of folding knives in my hunting arsenal. Harder to clean, and not as immediately accessible as the fixed blades, they’ve just never been a favorite. However, I decided to give this Freeman Guide Folder a try last muzzleloading season and it’s causing me to re-think my stance on this issue. Not only was this knife easy to to “Flick” open on short notice with the thumb knob, it cleaned up exceptionally well after working on game. I feel this knife is a do-all sort of knife that can also double as a camp knife (with the exception of the chopping function of course). The gut-hook on this knife also worked like a charm when it came to zipping through fur, skin and tissue. It’s a great all-purpose knife for the price!
Gator Machete Pro ($53): As machete’s go, the Gator Pro is top notch! It’s shorter than we thought it would be at 16.5 inches long but the 17.9 ounce weight-forward design allows it to be used as a regular machete or an axe type tool. The sheath has a built-in pocket with sharpener for occasional touch-ups in the field. We took the Gator Pro along on a few stand hanging sessions this summer and it worked as advertised. We should also mention it looks quite menacing strapped to the leg!
Blackhawk:
Blackhawk supplies gear for Military, Law Enforcement and the Gung-Ho Outdoorsman. They also make one heck of a knife………The Tatang!
Tatang: ($100) Designed by edged-weapons expert Michael Janich, the Tatang has a pistol grip and curved handle that allows for a variety of maneuverability of the blade. We really like the lean, sleek look of this knife and the knurled rubber handle provides a fantastic gripping surface. The blade (especially the back part) is hefty enough to be used for chopping/splitting but it’s mobility allows it to be used as a general carry knife during hunting season.
The sheath on the Tatang is simple heavy duty nylon and works well enough. A minor thing, but we thought that such a cool looking knife would have a cooler looking sheath.
If you’re looking for a little more “meat on the bone” in a quality knife that will make a statement on your belt, give the knives mentioned above a look. You never know when you’ll need to use that line “Now That’s a Knife!”
We looked at Energy Shots a while back and decided to revisit the issue this time around with the Energy “Drink”. As most self proclaimed “Hard-Core Hunters” will attest, our obsession with hunting is more than just a hobby as our families would have us believe. Getting up at O-dark Thirty is not really a choice. We have to do it, it’s in our blood. The urge to hunt is more powerful than the desire to roll over and keep on snoozing. Unfortunately, there are many other responsibilities in our lives (besides hunting) that we sometimes don’t have the available energy to accomplish after a long day’s hunt but have no choice in the matter. You know, the day to day grind of honey-do lists, children’s sporting events, home projects and of course the day job. I’m finding it much harder as I approach 40 to get a turkey hunt in before reporting for work and still having enough energy to stay awake through dinner. So in our quest for finding that extra boost, we decided to examine a variety of Energy “Drinks”. Here’s the lineup and what we thought of each (click on the logo above the description of each brand to visit the website of each)
(8.4 oz) $1.46 each if bought by the case
While we were originally interested in the Sugar Free variety of the XL brand, Aaron from www.xldrink.com sent along two other versions of the XL drink as well. The sugar free version was good (and only 10 calories!), but the cranberry drink exceeded expectations. Not only is there only 120 calories associated with the cranberry, it tasted excellent as well. I wasn’t used to an energy drink having so few calories. The regular XL drink has 110 calories and also tasted great. I could certainly get used to this brand at less than $1.50 a can! The XL Energy Drink gets our “Best Value” for the taste award in this review.
(8.4 oz) $1.99 each
This drink contains the a synthetic version of the secretion of the larvae of the Giant Asian Hornet and takes a little bit different angle on how the body obtains energy from this drink. The synthetic secretion contains amino acids which are supposed to metabolize fat stores and turn it into energy, just as these amino acids do for the Asian Hornet (allowing them to fly fast for great distances). When we heard that Killer Buzz could give us extra energy while helping us with our…….um…….excess fat storage, we were all over it. An extra bonus to this drink is that these amino acids (9 out of 10 in fact) contained in Killer Buzz are needed by our body. So you can almost think of this product as an energy burning, energy giving, daily multi-vitamin of sorts. Ok, so this drink has a great name and a cool concept but does it work? After our testing, I can conclude that this drink works about as well as any other energy drink but the fat burning aspect was……….well…….inconclusive! This drink does go very well with “mixed drinks” however. The kind that you might have after a long hunt.
(3.4 oz) $4.99 a bag
One thing I like about Energy Drink companies is their affinity for cool marketing schemes. Harcos Labs takes the cake on their marketing ploy as well as their packaging. The Blood Energy actually looks like blood and comes in a bag type container that looks like you could hang it from an I.V. The Zombie blood is a weird green color and has the biohazard markings on the same style bag. There are actually bloody finger prints on the bags! Awesome idea, especially since I referenced in my opening paragraph that hunting is in my “blood”! I thought they looked really creepy hanging on my picket fence out back (pictured above).
The taste of these two energy drinks was surprisingly very good. A little thicker than we expected but we’re guessing that is what gives it the “blood-like” appearance in the bag. The first time we chugged down on these drinks, we pulled up along side our fishing buddies in our boat and asked if they wanted anything from our cooler. We pulled out the “blood bags” and drank up! Needless to say, our fishing partners were pretty curious about our drink of choice and wouldn’t stop asking us “What was in that bag?” all day long.
The look on your friend’s faces will be priceless when you take these energy drinks out of your pack and start squeezing the bag into your mouth for a new style energy source.
(8.4 oz. cans) $38.62 per case of 24, $1.61 a can)
Another great 20 calorie choice is Ex Slim Energy Drink which boasts all natural ingredients, including one called “Kombucha” to promote an overall sense of well being. Ginseng (for stamina and boosted immune system) as well as Guarana (natural caffeine as the “energy” aid) are also found in this drink. So apparently, this one gets you pumped and mellows you out at the same time. I found this drink to have the least “Soda-like” taste to it of all the energy drinks. For some reason, it had what I would describe as a hint of cocoa taste but that could have just been me. I like the idea of boosted stamina with a relaxed mentality with this drink. Might be a good one to try on the way to the deer stand.
(16 oz. can, $1.99 – $2.50 a can)
I’m not thrilled with how much sugar is contained in the original versions of Rockstar, however I like the taste of Sugar Free Rockstar. They use artificial sweetener that doesn’t taste like crap but in a way the size of this can is almost a little bit of overkill for our hunting purposes. Drinking one of these on the truck ride to the hunting area is probably not the smartest thing to do during deer season. It’s 16 ounces of kick but you’ll be paying for it in the stand trying to hold it in your bladder. I would like to see a smaller version of this drink with the same energy kick. However, if your back from a hunt and needing to check some items off that “honey-do” list, give this drink a try.
(16 oz. can, $1.99 – $2.50 a can)
Similar sentiments with taste and size as written above. For some reason, the Lo Carb Monster tastes more like a soda to me and is a little more tart than the aforementioned Rockstar. It has approximately the same level of energy boost as the above Rockstar with all of it’s 16 oz. I have grown quite accustomed to mixing this beverage with spiced rum and making a cocktail of sorts on those nights out on the deck.
Summary on Energy Drinks:
For “on the go” daily hunting purposes, we like the XL and Killer Buzz. They are smaller, and can fit easily in your pack or pocket. On the other hand, the Blood Energy or Zombie Blood can be opened more quietly in your treestand and has the added bonus of being a hit at this year’s hunting camp! The upside to the Rockstar and Monster is that they can be obtained virtually anywhere that has a cash register. Get ya some of each and let us know what you think!
Self video and Action Cameras have been hitting the market hard in the last couple of years with an assortment of video cameras and adapters that fit on a bow or gun. We feel these products allow the average hunter to not only reach the potential of capturing that shot on video, but also (and most importantly) allow for the digital preservation of the hunting heritage. Capabilities and prices vary amongst these devices but we try and sift through all the marketing hooey to give you some real world feedback.
One such device that we’ve been playing around with lately is the Lid Cam from Rhino Outdoors.
First let’s get the specs out of the way:
LID-CAM Specs
High Definition 720P Video Camera
Takes Up to 32 GB Micro SD Card for Additional Memory
Up to 60 Degree Rotating Lens to Capture the Impact Shot
8x Digital Zoom with 3 presets
4 Function Switch
Date and Time Stamp
ReChargeable Lithium-ion Battery with up to 3 Hours Record Time and
up to 8 Hours Stand Bye
USB Port for Downloads and Charging
Records High Quality Audio with Wind Noise Reduction Technology
* The Lid Cam mounts onto the brim of your ball cap so that it records whatever you are facing.
* The Lid Cam has a moveable lens that allows you to cock your head while still being able to point the camera lens in the direction you want to record (ie; the case of shooting a bow or gun)
* The Lid Cam has a 3 position zoomable lens.
* The Lid Cam has 2 LED lights on each side of the camera allowing for added light on the way to the tree or in a blind.
* The Lid Cam comes with a 2GB SD card which is rare these days.
First Impressions:
After reading the directions on the operation and charging of the Lid Cam, I was pretty excited to see how this device would work. For some reason I couldn’t get it to record by simply pushing the record button like the manual indicates. After several attempts and some confusion, I noticed a “reset” hole on the side of the unit. BINGO! After sliding the pointed end of a paper-clip in that hole, all systems were go and off I went to record with the Lid Cam.
Note: I believe that I tried to seal the rubber grommet flap too tightly onto the unit which resulted in the inadvertent ejection of the micro SD card, causing the unit to lock-down. Had I watched the instructional video on the Rhino Outdoors website prior to use, I probably would have figured this out sooner.
CORRECTION: Rhino Outdoors has corrected the issue of the grommet flap causing the ejection of the micro SD card.
I also thought the Lid Cam seemed extremely light, almost to the point where it seemed like a toy (not necessarily a bad thing, but just my perception)
Here is a sample video that I found accurately shows the capabilities of the Lid Cam:
What I like about the Lid Cam:
*comes with a 2GB micro SD Card
*the device attaches in a simple way to the brim of your hat
*the rotating lens (right or left) for bow shot options
*the device comes with a wall and auto charger
*comes with A/V cables for viewing on a television
*LED lights for an additional light source on your way to the stand or inside of a blind.
*unit shuts down to save battery life after a long period of inactivity.
What I don’t like:
*Closing the rubber grommet flap that goes over the charging/USB port and micro SD slot seems to cause the micro SD card to eject inadvertently which can cause the unit to lock-down.
CORRECTION: Rhino Outdoors has corrected the issue of the grommet flap causing the ejection of the micro SD card.
* The video segments on the micro SD card are not immediately viewable on my iMac like they are on my PC.
CORRECTION: The LID CAM now comes with a sticker on the unit that tells consumers to go to www.rhinoutdoors.com and download the FREE media player.
Overall:
Once getting used to the Lid Cam, it is very easy to operate with one hand. The quality of video is very good and it is light enough to not feel front heavy on the brim of your hat. The two unique features of the Lid Cam that makes it stand out in a crowd full of action cameras are the rotating lens and the 3 levels of zoom. The fact that the unit comes with its own micro 2GB SD card is also a plus. We can tell that the Lid Cam is designed specifically for the hunter in mind which cannot be said for many action cameras on the market. Overall we found the Lid Cam to be a good option for self filming your hunts and digitally preserving the hunting heritage. Check them out at
Written by Heritage Hunters Staff
UPDATE: After reading our review of the LID CAM, Rhino Outdoors sent us the updated version of the unit that is now available on their site (Complete with an updated orange “LID CAM” logo on the front of the unit). Apparently, they too noticed some of the concerns addressed in this review and have since corrected them. Bravo Rhino for your attention to detail and your desire to make a better product. As of this writing, Heritage Hunters would not hesitate to recommend the LID CAM for your action hunting video.
Two years ago, we reviewed several brands of protective eyewear for serious outdoorsmen and picked a few of our favorites. We’re back at it again with a few new brands and what we feel are more stylish offerings. We basically looked for two components in our review this time around in terms of style and safety standards (while of course taking into consideration quality and affordability). While all of the glasses below meet or exceed the safety standards, the styles are up to your interpretation. Here’s a look at the lineup and what we thought. If you see anything you like, simply click on the name or picture and check them out further!
Edge Eyewear (www.edge-eyewear.com)
First off, the price and the fact that we can acquire these at our local hardware store have these leading off the review. We like that Edge Eyewear has a million different styles to choose from. Ok, not really a million but check out the variety offered on their site and you’ll see what we mean. The two styles that we tested were the BRAZEAU and the RECLUS. Both were stylish and functioned well on the safety side of things. The wrap-around style of both of these models fit perfectly on our domes and the overall quality of the frames seem to hold up to our abuse. Because the sides of the frames fit so nicely on us, there was less of an issue with fit of the nosepiece, which is usually the issue for us (as you will see below). Overall, the affordability, variety of lenses offered, and documented compliance with the ANSI Z87.1 2003 standard makes these shades literally a “safe bet” for all your outdoor activities!
BRAZEAU (Pictured on Left): Rubber incorporated into the frame makes these grip the head and stay in place. The silver acsents on the sides of the frame make these really stand out. Offered in a variety of lenses, the polarized models take the cake!
RECLUS (Pictured on Right): Similar to the Brazeau models, the Reclus is a smaller frame with a little less rubber incorporated into it.
5.11 Tactical (www.511tactical.com)
This company is one of the coolest out there and has way more than just tactical sunglasses. From boots and gloves, to knives and bags, 5.11 Tactical has some of the best quality gear on the market. Their eyewear is no different. All the styles of glasses that we tried were superior in quality, performance and style. Although the fit of the different styles varied on our particular faces, it wouldn’t be too hard to find the right pair for your taste. We have small to medium sized faces and our favorite hands down was the Climb model. The wrap around style of these glasses fit our faces the best and held up to any abuse we gave them. These glasses have a variety of lenses associated with them and some come with more than just one pair of lenses. They are easy to change and we didn’t feel like we were going to break the frame while doing so (like with some of the others we’ve tested over the years). All of these glasses exceed the ANSI Z87.1 2003 standard and are used by military and law enforcement all over the globe (how’s that for an endorsement!). Another nice feature on the 5.11 eyewear is the zippered belt-loop case that you get with each pair as well as a neck strap and cleaning bag. I would love to see more of a rubber gripping “Nosepiece” that is more “adjustable” associated with these glasses but they are all a classy black color and made specifically for 5.11 by Wiley X so you can’t go wrong with these! We tested the following models:
ASCEND: A very stylish model with an adjustable nosepiece. Rubber incorporated into the frame to grip the sides of your head. A very well made product. The nosepiece was “adjustable”, but only to a point.
RAID: These are reminiscent of the Oakley “M-frame” look and have little rubber bumps on the inside of the temple part of the frame to keep the glasses in place. A nice feature for sure. Our only issue with these was that the nosepiece seemed a little too high. The bottom of the lenses rested on the upper part of our cheeks to hold the glasses in place rather than the nose piece resting on our nose. We could see this being an issue with prolonged wear. However, they seemed to fit fine on some of the other people we had try them.
DEFLECT: The frame on these was more of a flat black finish and was a “half-frame” with the lenses exposed on the bottom. Nosepiece on these was also “adjustable” to a point.
CLIMB: Easily our favorite model of all the glasses tested in this review. Very Cool design and wrapped around the head nicely. Would love to see the Ascend’s nosepiece on this model, but our pick for the most stylish!
After further investigation on 5.11, we learned that their eyewear exceeds the European standard for safety eyewear- EN 166 (F). It’s not widely recognized in the USA but certain aspects of this test are more challenging than the US ANSI Z87.1-2003. Also, while the strap on the back of each eyewear case is great for mounting on a belt, it’s claim to fame is that it is the only MOLLE-compatible (found on tactical & military equipment) protective eyewear case provided with safety eyewear. 5.11 also offers a couple of other models of eyewear on their site that we didn’t test. You can check them out HERE!
Radians (www.radians.com)
This is our first experience with this company but they offer a wide variety of protective gear including eyewear, headgear and hearing protection. Besides the price (very affordable for the nice quality), we found two unique things about this company in terms of their eyewear: 1. They offer their eyewear branded with three companies that Outdoorsman are no doubt familiar with (Dewalt, Remington and Black & Decker) and 2. They offer eyewear and hearing protection bundled in a “Performance Kit” that we found extremely useful at the range. As with the two companies above, all of the Radians eyewear meets or exceeds the ANSI Z87.1+ standards so this company is definitely worth checking into for your protective needs. We tested the following models:
POLARIZED ADRENALINE (Pictured on left): These extremely lightweight glasses are made of aluminum alloy with reversible hinges. They are very durable and do a great job of blocking glare. The nosepiece was quite adjustable and they came with a hard case and neck strap. Probably our favorite models in Radians lineup.
CAMO REVELATION (Pictured on Right): More of a traditional shooting or safety glasses, the adjustable nature on these glasses made these lightweight frames very comfortable. The perforated nosepiece was the best in the whole review and allowed these glasses to just “sit” on our face with the only other contact point being above our ears. They were by far the most comfortable.
PERFORMANCE KIT (Pictured at Top): This is an all in one kit for the shooting range. Not only do you get the fully adjustable Revelation model glasses (mentioned above), you also get the Silencer 26 model ear muffs with extremely soft padded ear cups. Combine the comfort of the Revelation glasses with the padding of the Silencer 26 ear muffs and you’re ready for a long day at the shooting range.
One look at these boots and we knew we needed to try them out chasing around forest chickens this spring. There are three main aspects we look for when reviewing a hunting boot. Those are: Comfort, Waterproof ability, and durability. The Wolverine Forester boot achieves all of these qualities extremely well and is a great buy for a non-insulated hunting boot. Wolverine has been in the boot business for 125 years so it was not surprising to us that the Forester is one hell of a boot.
When they arrived, the feature that caught our attention first was the rubber lug outsoles. The bottom of these boots look like sneakers on steroids! We figured that this would translate into comfort and we’re happy to say that we were NOT wrong. These boots are among the most comfortable we’ve ever tested and found almost a zero break-in period with them. The rubber outsole not only makes the boot comfortable, but also provides great traction and slip resistance. Comfort?……..Check!
We logged several hours in these puppies during our spring season and found them to be very good at wicking moisture away from your feet. Combined with a performance sock, the Wave mesh lining of the boot itself and removable mesh sock liner did a great job of keeping our feet dry from the inside. As for keeping water out? These boots combine waterproof leather, sealed seems and heavy duty construction to keep the water out. We found that these boots did a great job of keeping the water out when crossing streams. Waterproof? ………Check!
The leather on these boots seems already soft and broken-in right out of the box. We wondered if that would cause the boot to wear down more quickly after prolonged use…….Uh, nope! These boots are constructed extremely well and we could not find one stitch that was compromised after heavy use this season. They still look ready to rock and roll for the fall and we’re pumped to continue wearing them. Durability?……….Check!
If you’re wondering if we found any fault with the Wolverine Forester boot, the answer is NO! We might like to see a pull strap on the back of the boot but honestly, these boots rock! We always take a price tag of $100 + seriously and these boots are no joke. They are well worth the money. We found them online for about $109 HERE or you can visit the Wolverine site HERE!
We have a saying here at Heritage Hunters; “You can never have enough gear!” Of course how much gear you bring on your adventures varies but one thing remains constant. The pack you use to carry the gear is often as important as the gear itself. We stumbled across the Celo 2ed. Pack while looking for a compact camera bag for our turkey hunts this spring. Not only are we finding that the pack works excellent as a camera bag, we can see uses for this pack for everyone from the avid outdoorsman to the quintessential soccer mom!
Here are the specs on this pack: Specifications: Main Compartment: L 8″ x W 8″ x D 5″
Front Pocket: L 7″ x W 7″ x D 1.5″
Side Pockets: L 6.5″ x W 3.5″ x D 1.5″
Buckled Pouch: L 4.5″ x W 2″ x D 1.25″
Rear Pocket: L 9″ x W 9″
Top Pouch: L 4.5″ x W 2″ x D 1″
Side Pouch: L 5″ x W 3″ x D 1.75″
ID Holder Fits Standard ID
The Celo 2ed. is extremely rugged, well designed and sits comfortably on your shoulder as a side pack (or on your belt with removable belt attachment). It is constructed using UTX buckles, YKK® zippers, Functional, high strength Webbing, High Strength Nylon Stitching, and Rugged 1000D Nylon. The pack has no shortage of pockets and we liked the I.D. holder on the front of the pack for keeping all of our permission cards for the various properties we hunt.
Our only suggestion for these packs would be to offer them in a camo pattern. However with the way licensing fees are these days, we can learn to live with the solid color if the overall cost increased by anything more than a couple of bucks! Maybe a desert camo perhaps?
The functionality of this pack really shines for camera equipment. We found the Celo 2ed. to work incredibly well as a DSLR camera bag with plenty of room for extra lenses, battery chargers, and a small tripod. My wife took this bag to several of our kids’ soccer games and found it big enough for all of the camera equipment and cash/keys/ect. She chose to use the I.D. holder for her driver’s license and cash. In fact, I wish I would have found the Celo 2ed. before I spent the $50 on the Nikon Camera bag specifically designed for the camera.
The Celo 2ed. also works exceptionally well for our new Canon HV 40 HD video camera. The HV 40 is smaller than our GL2 camera and fits easily in the pack with all the extras (Shotgun Mic, remote mics, tapes, flashlight, and lens wipes).
Turkey hunters will also love the Celo 2ed. as a call pack. The pouches and pockets easily fit box, pot and mouth calls all in one pack. We actually found it easier to find our calls quickly with this pack versus trying to remember which side pocket in our vests we put a specific call. It’s easy on/off nature as an over-the-shoulder style pack works well for a run-and-gun style turkey hunt.
Check out this Youtube clip explaining a few other features and uses for the Celo 2ed.
We can see many other uses for the Celo 2ed. From fishing and hiking, to snowmobiling, mountain-biking, and all things tactical. The Celo 2ed. pack is now our go-to pack for our camera equipment. It is a rugged, well designed pack that is comfortable to wear in whatever your outdoor adventure entails. The price of the Celo 2ed. is $69.99 and can be purchased directly from
(Click on Disse Logo to enter their website)
Disse Outdoor Gear has a variety of packs and bags in their arsenal that are bigger AND smaller than the Celo 2ed. Disse has a slogan on their website saying “Our Gear – Your Environment” and we think that sums things up pretty well on this pack. Whether you are looking for an all-purpose bag/pouch for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing or just a place to stash your stuff during that soccer game, check them out and let ‘em know The Heritage Hunters sent ya!
Our Fast Facts video bow reviews try and provide some critical information about each bow in order to help viewers decide if they want to further examine the bows for themselves. We suggest that you always shoot the bow a few times before purchasing. Here are several Fast Facts video reviews to help in your quest to find the right bow. If you would like us to review a specific bow in the style of Fast Facts, drop us an email or let us know in ourFORUM.
