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

[dannyb]

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.

Go cut a couple straight manuka poles and let them season, then a quick sand and some boiled linseed oil and they are good to go, much much stronger than any broom stick (and more asthetically pleasing).
I usually drill a hole near the top for a paracord hand loop.
Always got a couple in service as shit happens and nothing is indestructible, they are definitely a game changer.

[Moa Hunter]

Truck tire tube scope cover. Cut to make a 75 mm wide rubber band out of a 825/16 - 900/20 tube depending on scope length. Will keep lenses completely dry and protect the entire scope from scratches and impacts

[imaca]

Go cut a couple straight manuka poles and let them season, then a quick sand and some boiled linseed oil and they are good to go, much much stronger than any broom stick (and more asthetically pleasing).
I usually drill a hole near the top for a paracord hand loop.
Always got a couple in service as shit happens and nothing is indestructible, they are definitely a game changer.

Exactly what I am doing.

[Cigar]

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

Cheers for that, I hadn't heard of them before.
I bought one this morning

[RugerM77]

The one thing that's always in my pocket is a Victorinox Climber pocket knife. Not sure what I value the most, tooth pick, scissors or blade. Amazing little multitool.

[Ned]

Go cut a couple straight manuka poles and let them season, then a quick sand and some boiled linseed oil and they are good to go, much much stronger than any broom stick (and more asthetically pleasing).
I usually drill a hole near the top for a paracord hand loop.
Always got a couple in service as shit happens and nothing is indestructible, they are definitely a game changer.

I think I'm about to move to one of these over the 2 walking poles I've been using. The amount of control and leverage I experienced using 2 hands facing in opposite directions on a single staff is a lot more reassuring that one hand at the top of a walking stick.

[16Tontovarish]

I think I'm about to move to one of these over the 2 walking poles I've been using. The amount of control and leverage I experienced using 2 hands facing in opposite directions on a single staff is a lot more reassuring that one hand at the top of a walking stick.

yeah, for me a pole has to reach to about eye height on level ground, that way I can hold it in both hands like an oar on the descent.

[imaca]

I think I'm about to move to one of these over the 2 walking poles I've been using. The amount of control and leverage I experienced using 2 hands facing in opposite directions on a single staff is a lot more reassuring that one hand at the top of a walking stick.

We are still talking about walking sticks right?

[Bobba]

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.

Yep string/ paracord etc. In my pouch is one length of 3-4mm cord that's a spare boot lace, guy rope, close line, pack fixer, meat hanger etc. Also have two 2mm short lengths just for hanging legs and meat bags etc. Makes butchering so much easier and cleaner.

Will always remember a day with my grandfather out in the garage. He was working away at something while i watched and he turned to me and said got a piece of string, I shrugged and he said what sort of boy doesn't have string in his pocket.

[Micky Duck]

Bobba...thats like the old saying "a man without a knife is like a dog without a dick"

taking that further..what is a dog that doesnt have a dick???
thats right a bitch
and I dont want to be anyones bitch LOL.

[Ryan_Songhurst]

Things I like that I currently use, have used heaps of shit and I actually like this stuff..

RAB Siltarp 2, excellent bit of kit and only shelter I use now

Cactus Hector pack, bombproof

La Sportiva Trango TRX GTX boots, all the support of any heavy leather boot I've had at half the weight

Pocket shortwave radio, great for rainy days at camp can pick up something literally anywhere, listen to the news etc

Garmin Alpha200i, topo maps, birdseye maps, inreach, sos, track the hound. One unit covers plenty of features.

Delta Titanium 15-45 spotter. Can't get over how good these are for the money.

[Sideshow]

My original Huntech gaiters. Yep I’ve changed out the zip but these things are just great.
Over 25 years old and still going!!

[kotuku]

ive fgot a stick made of mahogany with my owncarved mallard head on top -that goes everwhere when im duckshooting -bloody good for probing benath rushes etc water for holes etc and occasionally i hang gear off it!helps me bloody walk too !especially in stinky muddy crap where im prone to arseups .ive another smaller one from a cedar branch bark stripped and oiled with vege oil.its used for closing curtains at night or me bedroom door . Ihad a couple of manukas but some b......d got down on em .my other manuka pole made a bloody ecellent shovel handle. imalso keeping eyes peeled for a length of la ncewood which i reckon properly treated would be the bucks nuts.

[Micky Duck]

lancewood makes really good shovel handle too....

[Gruffle]

+1 on Lancewood for sticks. I've recently started cutting Lancewood branches for stick making. Experimenting with different drying / treating methods. Some I'll leave untouched and dry for a year, some I am lightly sanding, some sanding and rubbing with my own BLO/ wax mixture, some BLO alone. But even green they seem pretty good, light, straight and strong
I used to laugh at people using sticks, but now I'm a convert. Not only can stop you falling down slippery slopes, but great for stream crossings, knocking dead branches / cobwebs etc out of your way, probing ground ahead to see if it's safe to walk on. Plus I can extend my reach and give the dog a nudge (not a whack) if I want him to get in behind (ie not running ahead to try and murder the other dog coming along towards us)