what's the best gear for the money and a rookie?

[hntnfshn247]

 i need a new gps mine has no topo options. i gather the garmin etrex vista hcx is the best.

also some boots meindl or schnees??
 
how about range finders, is there one versatile enough for bow and gun hunts. either way which should i be considering?

Sleeping bags brands, temp range???

Backpacks brands or styles any favorites?

 and lastly i tried on a kangaroo hide hat at an outdoor show a couple of weeks ago and loved the way it felt and looked. anyone wear them or know how durable they are?
 Thanx in advance for the input u guys r very helpful as well as this site 

[KILLERBEE]

hope this helps, this is  the gear i've used and liked:\
1st, GPS--   yes on the garmin Etrex. love it[ but i dont hardly use it]   but if i do it's great.
2nd boots: no 100% answer.  i have the meindle alaska hunters and i HATED them the first 3 months. but they are getting realy nice now.  and i'ver heard that the other models are less break in time.   also i've heard nothing but good about SCHNEES boots. just never tried them.
3rd:range finders. leupold makes a great range finder that tells you your range and the range you should shoot at different angles.  really popular model. but i have a leica set  and really like them. nothing fancy just really dependable and will hit almost anything up to the 1200 yrds it says it will.
4Th. sleeping bags-- depend greatly on what your doing. if your packing it on your back you will need to look at a whole nother line than if your packing it in your truck or on a mule. i use a north face 0 degree bag that weighs  3 lbs and have a fleece liner that i use if i think i need it.  but north face , marmot, cabelas, big agnas, and a couple others, make great bags. just have to fit one to your needs.
5th: backpacks.same as sleeping bags. tons to choose from.  badlands, eberlestock, feildline,cabelas,blacks creek, and others.  i've used the eberlestock j104 : i hated it!  i cant believe it gets a good revue from anyone.   badlands 2800, loved it. great pack, great warrenty. 
 my favorite honestly is a Dwight schuh pack from feildline. its a 3000 [ 3500] inch  and is the most comfortable pack i've ever used.
6th- hats: well if you want to be caught with a kangaroo hat thats your deal, thats what they wore on broke back mountain....................................:} just a good camo ball cap for me!

[animules]

My 1-cent worth since I'm not a guide....

Another good boot to look at are the Russell Moccssins, not cheap but very sometime cheap costs more.  And still made in the U.S.
http://www.russellmoccasin.com/

I like the wool baseball style hats with the ear flaps I can pull down when needed.  I have a couple, comfortable.  Think Elmer Fudd (Oh geesh, I'm old)

[Buck]

I can't comment on the GPS since I've never used one.  But so far I haven't found a reason that I need one, might be fun to play around with, but then it's just extra stuff to carry also.

Boots - I love my Meindl's.  I use 3 different pairs.  I've got the Perfect Hikers just for everyday and easy hiking.  Then I switch to the Denali's when I need more ankle support like for backpacking or sheep hunting, and the Perfect Hunters for when the temperature drops.  All three of these boots were easy to break in.  Just throw 'em on and wear them around for a couple days and you're good to go.  I know some guys who have the Alaskans and said they were harder to break in like KB said.  I used to be a diehard Danner guy, but their quality has dropped a lot - they shipped most of their lines overseas.  I stay away from them now.

Rangefinders - can't go wrong with the Leica 1200's or 900's if you don't need the extra distance.  If you're looking to save some money, I'd go with the Leupold RX 2's.  Or save up until you can get the Leica Geovids - I have a pair and wouldn't trade them for anything.

Sleeping bags - like KB said, depends on what you're using it for.  For backpacking, I use a GoLite Adrenaline 20 degree bag.  The only other top end brand I have used is North Face.  The GoLite is better all-around IMO.  The same temp bag is lighter, warmer, and doesn't lose a lot of down like my North Face did.  It's also about $100 cheaper, but still around $300.  It's also got the zipper on top - I wasn't sure I'd like it when I got it, but I don't think I'll ever go back to a side zipper - it's a lot more comfortable and easier to maneuver in the bag to get to the zipper.  I used this bag on late sheep hunts in mid-October - it was cold, but I slept warm in long underwear. 
The bag I use for going to camp is a Cabela's Alaskan Guide -20 bag.  When you don't have to worry about the weight as much, it's nice to have the super warm bag and I can sleep comfortable in my boxers - I don't like sleeping with extra layers on.  It's a great bag.  Also nice to have a larger bag at camp so I can move around when I sleep - mummy bags for backpacking only!!!
Another thing to consider if you are going to backpack and sleep on the ground - don't overlook a good pad!!!  IMHO, it's more important than the sleeping bag.  I use a Thermarest Prolite 4 - nice and thick to insulate better, and super lite and packs small.  I used the Exped Downmat for a week - it was BY FAR the warmest and most comfortable pad I have used, also not much heavier than the Thermarest.  The problem I had was mine sprung a leak midway through a hunt and I would be right on the ground halfway through the night - it could have just been bad luck - I might try one again down the road sometime.

I can do a whole other post on just backpacking gear - I think I might finally have the setup I want for awhile after trying lots of different gear out.  Although I might have to trade in the old Swarovski scope when the new lightweight magnesium ones come out.  These companies need to stop making new stuff, cuz I'm the biggest gear junkie around.   

Backpacks - For day packs, I like the fanny style pack that rides on your hips more than a conventional back pack.  I've used an inexpensive one that Cabela's makes that is really nice.  But now I have a Nimrod pack - it's great - 2 packs in one - the waist belt is a small pack that I use alone for cat hunting when I don't carry much.  Then I clip on the "main" pack for fall hunts when I need to carry more gear.  They also have lots of accessories like the gun scabbard - which is a must.  They are super quiet fleece packs and have great padding.  If you like the regular style backpack, you can't go wrong with Badlands.  I've never used other brands so I can't comment.  As far as backpacking for sheep hunting or bivy hunting, if you can afford it, get a Barney's pack.  There is none better or even close to matching.  If your budget is limited, Cabela's frame pack is nice, I used it before I got my Barney's.

I agree with KB on the kangaroo hat, and I agree with Tina on the Stormy Kromer caps - they are great when the weather gets too cold to wear my cowboy hat.  Then I have a fleece stocking cap in my pack at all times in case it gets really really cold, and I just pull it over the top of the Stormy Kromer.

[royaltine]

Great advice Buck and KB...........I only add slightly.


1. ANY GARMIN GPS -- they are all good and user friendly
2. boots. I have schnees and meindl. They are really different boots. The lowa sheephunter boots are similar to the meindl and i have those too. These boots are more hard core hiking boots and the schnees are more deep snow and riding boots.
3. rangefinders - Leica or if you don't have a lot of $$, then the leupold RX2. Get a rangfinder that reads at least 600 yards or better.
4. sleeping bags -- i have had a bunch of north face bags and liked them a lot. this is really a hard one to recommend though because everyone is different as far as how hot or cold they sleep. The cabelas bags are pretty good. Yes, to a sleeping pad also.
If you are a reptile like LeRee, you need a super cold bag. She really likes her Wiggy's bags. and has one to -60. I would recommend that you at least get a bag that goes to -20. Generally, I have found that sleeping bags are underrated. It is better to kick off the covers than to freeze your butt off.
5. backpacks/fanny packs -- BADLANDS, hands down. i like the super day pack. Great warranty.
6. Absolutely no kangaroo hat of any kind.........save your money and get a real cowboy hat. A hat like that is the first sign you are an out of towner. Late season, wool stormy kromer.

[Grey Eagle]

I'll put my 2 cents in here:
1.. Garmins are the most user friendly except for the basic Etrex @ $99.  Be sure to get one with a "click stick".  That's the button that moves left/right/up/down and when pushed straight down, acts like the enter key on your computer.  Any Etrex above the basic unit has this.  Or better yet, a Map 60 CSx.  You should also consider/investigate  the DeLorme PN-40.  It's very similar to the Map 60 CSx but for $29/year, you can get unlimited downloads of USGS 1:24000 topo, aerial photos, and satellite imagery. These are very helpful if you are not intimately familiar with the terrain you're operating in.
4.  Cody, don't rag on LeRee--she kept me sweating in the cook tent...  I was in a t shirt and she was still wearing a sweat shirt and sometimes a down vest too.  I also prefer North Face but use the synthetic insulation instead of down as it still will keep your warm if it gets wet whereas down will not.  Get a bag rated to at least 15 degrees colder than the coldest temp you think you'll experience.  You could also get a Sea to Summit "Thermolite Reactor" liner for your sleeping bag for about $50.  This adds about 15 degrees to the rating and is about the size and weight of a soft ball so space/weight should not be a problem.  I used a 20 Deg. North Face for the class in Apr/May 08 and never needed anything else though there was plenty of snow on the ground.  As Cody said, you could always sleep on the top of the bag if it was too warm.