The "Gear I love" thread - An open list for good gear

[Micky Duck]

the pink bit of para cord that lives on top of Megs dog pack...it saved the day yesterday when my bit of boot lace broke,so much easier and cleaner to bone out meat when its up a tree at chest height rather than down in the dirt and leaves..untill you drop it aye @amlnz LOL...

so my best bit of kit...a bit of string somewhere around or over 30cm long.

[canross]

Wear on earth down jacket

550grams, crammed with 950 loft down. Warm in the coldest of conditions. Love this jacket

$340, NZ made, unbeatable

How is the outside material for abrasion/snags/toughness? I really like the puffy jackets for how warm and packable they are, but any I've seen (mine included) tear if you so much as look at them. It ends up meaning I don't wear mine much even when I want to, just because I inevitably get snagged on something and tear a panel.

Stoney creek makes a really tough version (thermotough) that I have, but that's on the far side of what I'm looking for - it's basically a work jacket with down liner. Packs somewhat small, but not enough to fit in a multi day hunt pack.

I suppose what I'm looking for is something with a thin tough ripstop material in the outside fabric - like the new generations of military pants.

[canross]

I wouldn't want a waterproof down jacket, however if you call the owner and request specific material then he can make a waterproof version for you

Good to know they do custom orders... might solve the easily torn aspect of puffer jackets

[akaroa1]

The generic Lanna / Luci inflatable solar lanterns have been a huge bonus in huts and tents

No more kero or gas lanterns smell and noise
No more using headlights in a hut or tent and blinding your mates
I have heaps of these and some are likely 10 years old and still go great
Weigh nothing
Great to leave out on slow flash to find a tricky tips camp in the dark

And best thing is super cheap
A few hours a day of decent light and charged

[RV1]

My Cactus supershorts. I live in them outside of work. If could wear them to the office, I would . I wore out the crotch of my first pair - was getting a bit embarrassing to be seen in public with them. I took them in to Cactus HQ and they patched them up. Should do another 5+yrs easily. The fabric's a bit stiff at first, but once they're worn in they're super comfortable and tough as nails.

[hotsoup]

How is the outside material for abrasion/snags/toughness? I really like the puffy jackets for how warm and packable they are, but any I've seen (mine included) tear if you so much as look at them. It ends up meaning I don't wear mine much even when I want to, just because I inevitably get snagged on something and tear a panel.

Stoney creek makes a really tough version (thermotough) that I have, but that's on the far side of what I'm looking for - it's basically a work jacket with down liner. Packs somewhat small, but not enough to fit in a multi day hunt pack.

I suppose what I'm looking for is something with a thin tough ripstop material in the outside fabric - like the new generations of military pants.

Hey mate, I've used the WOE puffies for roughly 5 years now. My versions I've requested to be as light as possible, the outer fabric is 20d. 99% of the time I'm using this to sit and glass, there's not really a situation where I'm pushing through scrub or anything. However I'm pretty rough on the clothing I use and have not punctured or ripped it. If I did I'd just use that tenacious tape patch repair.

If you're wanting a tougher outer fabric, simply give the guy a call and give him the rundown on exactly what you want. My wife has a version with a tougher outer fabric, she loves it
@canross @bigbear

Edit; my mate borrowed one of my woe puffies and somehow it got got partially burnt in the fireplace. Wear on earth repaired it to look like new for $40

[The bomb]

Cable ties…use them constantly on packs,tarps,lashing frames,all sorts of uses,

[madmaori]

Those Bahco knives really are the ducks nuts!

[16Tontovarish]

Silky Bigboy saw, makes cutting up some chunky firewood for huts a breeze.

Rab Mythic sleeping bag, genuinely feels like sleeping in a warm little cloud. pricey as hell but I'd get another one in a heartbeat.

[Barry the hunter]

the pink bit of para cord that lives on top of Megs dog pack...it saved the day yesterday when my bit of boot lace broke,so much easier and cleaner to bone out meat when its up a tree at chest height rather than down in the dirt and leaves..untill you drop it aye @amlnz LOL...

so my best bit of kit...a bit of string somewhere around or over 30cm long.

yup I have a 12 metre length of 5mm heavy nylon rope have had it in one of my belt bags for must be nearly 30 years at least - hung a few up - been saved from muppets knives a few times - but I like my belt - made by saddler in Gisborne many years ago - heavy leather with brass pack saddle buckle -two canvas belt bags for ammo -torch etc

[Moa Hunter]

How is the outside material for abrasion/snags/toughness? I really like the puffy jackets for how warm and packable they are, but any I've seen (mine included) tear if you so much as look at them. It ends up meaning I don't wear mine much even when I want to, just because I inevitably get snagged on something and tear a panel.

Stoney creek makes a really tough version (thermotough) that I have, but that's on the far side of what I'm looking for - it's basically a work jacket with down liner. Packs somewhat small, but not enough to fit in a multi day hunt pack.

I suppose what I'm looking for is something with a thin tough ripstop material in the outside fabric - like the new generations of military pants.

I wear a down jacket quite a lot on the hill, if moving with it on I always have a thin tough camo top over it. I keep the same camo outer layer on all the time and just vary the clothes underneath. I waterproofed the lower sleeves / cuffs with the silicon + turps mix on my down jackets

[Moa Hunter]

Niggeloh rifle slings. Make a shoulder carry easy and a pleasure, comfey, rifle doesnt move, much less tiring than carrying a rifle in hand because the rifle is close to the centre of gravity / balance.
Mustering stick, makes sidling, descents easy, make old legs young because there is no leg energy going into maintaining balance

[imaca]

Ditto on the walking/mustering stick. I bagged the hell out of a mate years ago when he suggested getting a walking stick. A few years later and observing some fit old farts using them, I gave them ago.
What. a. difference.
Especially long descents with weight and just all-round stability.

[16Tontovarish]

sticks are a must, I have dual poles for tops work, which double as a makeshift bipod, and a big manuka stick for general use/ river crossings

[MB]

Ditto on the walking/mustering stick. I bagged the hell out of a mate years ago when he suggested getting a walking stick. A few years later and observing some fit old farts using them, I gave them ago.
What. a. difference.
Especially long descents with weight and just all-round stability.

I made one out of a broom stick to try out. Useful where I hunt as steep slopes covered in loose shit. My boy managed to break it somehow(?!) and I haven't got around to replacing it. Took a serious tumble on my last outing, just knee, elbow and pride scraped, but could have been a lot worse. The stick would have probably saved the day.