Have you noticed that when preparing for a hunting trip, no matter how well you prepare, you find that when you get to the wild, there is always that extra thing you wish you had. Do you think that this can be avoided? Well, it actually can. Having the best hunting gear that leaves no loopholes in the preparation method, ensures that you will always have on you everything you need, and go home with a kill.
With the right choices of your hunting gear, you will make sure that you make a kill faster and go home with fresh meat in a safe place. Whether it is raining or not, dark or daytime, you will have a clear view of your target and the right shooting tools, to make sure you have an accurate shot. Getting the tools with these features, in a marketplace full of options, is quite hard, but we are here to help you make those right choices.
By the end of this read, you will realize that the finest hunting gear, is in most cases affordable and very convenient to carry around. And, we will also show you which factors you have to consider in order to be able to make a concrete decision. So, let’s begin.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks
| Product Name | Type of Gear | Weight | Dimensions | Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night Force T-80 | Angled Scope | 6 lbs | 14.4 x 7.6 x 6.8 in | Magnesium | Check price on Amazon |
| Thermacell Thermal Pack | Reusable Warmers | 2 lbs | 4 x 2.8 x 0.45 in | Carbon | Check price on Amazon |
| Ten Point | Crossbow Package | 7.8 lbs | 34.25 x 10 x 4.5 in | Carbon | Check price on Amazon |
| Bushnell Mini-Max | Solar USB charger | 0.6 lbs | 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 in | Carbon | Check price on Amazon |
| Diamond Archery SB RAK | Compound Bow | 3.2 lbs | 31.5 x 12.5 x 6.75 in | E-glass | Check price on Amazon |
| Leopold VX-3i | Duplex Scope | 10.1 lbs | 19 x 5 x 4 in | Aluminum | Check price on Amazon |
| Olympia RG850 | Flashlight | 4.2 lbs | 5.7 x 1.3 x 5.7 in | Aluminum | Check price on Amazon |
| Orion Coolers 65 | Cooler | 39 lbs | 17.5 x 32 x 18.75 in | Plastic | Check price on Amazon |
Features to Consider Before Buying
With a market full of options to choose from, it is just wise to stick to a strict evaluation process and commit some efforts to quality research. Failure to do these increases the chances of getting a low quality or even unsuited product. To make the purchase process easier for you, we have done all those hard parts and come up with the following variables that can affect your purchase:
Portability
The quality of being light enough to be carried around easily is an essential feature to consider when shopping for hunting gear. You normally have to move from one spot to another while on the hunting grounds. Therefore, it can be tremendously difficult to carry around while switching positions if the gear is too heavy.
Ensure that whatever you decide to select for your hunting trip is something you are comfortable walking with for long distances. However, in exceptional cases where you might have a car or a base camp, there are some heavy items you can carry along like the coolers since they will maintain the freshness in your kill.
Usability
You must choose gears that have high serviceability. The quality of being able to provide good service determines how effective a given gear will be on your hunting trip. You do not want to carry defective equipment that will do you more harm than good. This is particularly important when choosing a hunting weapon.
To ensure that the weapons you are carrying have high usability capability, you can always test them before going out. It will cost little or nothing but save you a great deal. It’s even annoying to carry a tool for your trip only to realize that it is not working when you are getting ready to start the actual mission.
Knowhow
The worst thing you can do is carry a tool that you are not conversant with. It will be like wearing an oversized shoe, though you might succeed in making a kill, it will not be one of the most admirable activities you will be proud sharing with your friends.
In the worst case scenarios, you can get a tool that is designed for use by left hand sided people, and you are right-handed or vice versa. At that point, you will wish you had not carried the weapon in the first place. Don’t hinder to your friend’s pressure to go hunting with their tool if you are not familiar with. It will be easier buying the one you can comfortably use.
Durability
It is practically impossible to have the capacity or will to buy a new item every time you are going out for hunting. You have to select a product that can withstand the brutality of the wilderness once and again.
Check the building materials of your preferred tool and ensure that it is of the highest quality, where in doubt you can always confirm its specifications with the manufacturer but do not make a mistake of making a blind purchase.
Best Products on Today’s Market
Committing your money to something you will not be proud to use is the greatest injustice you can do to yourself. To avoid such scenarios, it is always good to follow certain set-out criteria so that you can easily eliminate the basket fillers that do not meet your requirements. Given below is a selected set of products that will offer a true value for your money.
Night force TS-80 Angled Spotting Scope
Price: Approx. $1550
Weight: 6 lbs
Dimensions: 14.4 x 7.6 x 6.8 in
Materials: Magnesium
Specific features: 20-60x magnification, +/-3D dioptric correction, 4.0 mm/ 20x 1.33 mm/ 60x exit pupil, 104.8 feet/ 20x 56.77 feet/ 60x field of view, nitrogen purged, waterproof, magnesium alloy body material, fully broadband multi-coated lens coating, 14.4 in length with eyepiece, 20 feet to infinity focus, and 18.5 mm eye relief.
Best use: Hunting
Description: The NightForce TS-80 Angled Spotting Scope is made of magnesium alloy body, which offers thermal stability and ruggedness. Its tough body is waterproof, and shock tested, and is designed to provide you with a combination of performance and value, which you can hardly find elsewhere.
It is installed with a large focus ring, which is extremely fast, comfortable, and precise. The locking center ring provides you with 360-degree rotation. The device offers detents at different degree positions, including 180, 90, and 45.
This is truly a masterpiece; you can achieve vivid, high contrast images regardless of the magnification. It offers you distortion-free, razor-sharp resolution. Instead of mirrors that absorb light rays; TS-80 is installed with an internal prism design that offers maximum light transmission.
The internal prism extends your viewing time and effectively reduces fatigue. The device is fitted with 80 mm objective lens providing outstanding low-light performance. It has extra-low dispersion glass that delivers the following: sharp resolution, excellent light transmission, and crisp images. This is the best viewing device for you as well as your family when going hunting or any other outdoor expedition.
PROS:
- It has a locking center screen that makes it possible to get a rotation of 360 degrees
- It is fog and waterproof
- Excellent thermal stability and ruggedness due to the materials used
- Maximum light transmission due to the internal design
- It is relatively expensive
Related: With an efficient scope you need an excellent tripod. A tripod that is flexible and versatile in addition to allowing various viewing angles. The Vanguard Alta-Pro 264AB Aluminum Tripod fits well in that description. It has a multi-angle central column, and its legs have three different standing angles of 25, 50 or 80 degrees. Its stop and lock system ensures that the product can have the stability required. It also has retractable spikes.
ThermaCell Hand and Pocket Warmers
Price: Approx. $50
Weight: 2 lbs
Dimension: 4 x 2.8 x 0.45 in
Material: Carbon
Specific features: 100% polyethylene, last up to 6 hours, thin, lightweight, durable, rechargeable, and lasts over 500 charges, three temperature settings, waterproof and shock resistant, and micro USB chargeable
Best use: Hunting, camping, hiking
Description: You must always be equipped with heat packs when going out into the cold, and there are no better models than the ThermaCell Hand and Pocket Warmers. They are available in three different packs, including; bundle back, pocket warmers, and hand warmers. The bundle pack is available for both pocket and hand warmers.
It is made of 100% polyethylene, which is shock and water resistant. It has a simple, thin, lightweight design, which is ultra portable and easy to use. ThermaCELL heat packs are designed to make your outdoor activities enjoyable, regardless of what you choose to engage.
You can easily regulate the temperature of the packs from 116°F (high heat), 110°F (medium heat), 106°F (low heat), and no heat. Irrespective of the temperature level you choose, you can comfortably use the packs for a time span of six hours per charge.
The packs’ designs are user-friendly; all that is needed to operate them is a touch of a button. Then place the packs in your hand muff, hat, gloves, or pockets. Winter should not limit your outdoor potential. ThermaCELL packs are just what you need for such cold times. Generally, these packs are great products, and they work exactly as you would expect. These products will keep you out in the cold longer.
PROS:
- Thin and lightweight
- Rechargeable batteries
- Long lasting with over 500 recharges
- Shock and water resistant
- Fast recharge (4 hours) and long charged hours (6 hours)
- Due to their size, they can easily be misplaced more so in the process of doing the outdoor activities.
Related: Hiking and skiing are joyous outdoor activities, but the biting cold sometimes makes you feel uneasy. To maintain your feet warm, it is important to consider buying the ThermaCell Heated Inner Soles. They can stay warm for almost five hours, and a full recharge only takes 4 hours. They are controlled by a remote system to set your temperatures.
TenPoint Nitro RDX Crossbow Package
Price: Approx. $1800
Weight: 7.8 lbs
Dimension: 34.25 x 10 x 4.5 in
Material: Carbon
Specific features: 165 lbs draw weight, up to 385 fps/ 122 key, 4.5 in bull-pup-style T3 auto engaging trigger, adjustable cheek piece&butt plate, 3-piece C3 stock, carbon stock & carbon-wrapped barrel, and 10-in axle-to-axle length
Best use: Hunting, target shooting
Description: The TenPoint Carbon Nitro RDX Crossbow Package is one of the best archery equipment for the money. It has an ultra-compact design that delivers speeds of up to 385 fps. Unlike most crossbows on the market, this particular model is engineered to use redraw technology, which involves an axle-to-axle length of 10 in.
With this particular length, it will be easier for you to take positions in any ground blind or tree stand. You do not have to be worried about the weight because it has been conveniently minimized by the precision-made carbon stock and carbon-wrapped barrel.
It is fitted with a well-lined butt plate and cheek piece that offers the finest eye alignment. The three-piece stock structure gets rid of vibration and noise. The auto-engaging trigger is well-guarded in a machined-aluminum trigger box; therefore, you wouldn’t accidentally pull the trigger.
Safety is further enhanced by the rubber safety wings and patented DFI dry-fire inhibitor. It has a draw weight of 165 lbs, which provides you with the most ideal kinetic energy and speed. 165 lbs is more than enough for your hunting expedition. If you are in search of a flawlessly balanced hunting masterpiece, then TenPoint carbon Nitro RDX is what you need.
PROS:
- The package comes with a range master pro scope
- It uses Acudraw mechanism that reduces draw weight by up to 50%
- It is relatively small and lightweight
- Offers a consistent shooting accuracy at various ranges
- The package is cumulatively expensive
Related: If you have been carrying your crossbow around without a strap, you know how uncomfortable and cumbersome it can be. It is advisable to buy a TenPoint Crossbow Sling, to ensure you can walk with your bow comfortably for long. It is built for convenience with integrated elastic bands, thumb loop, and an Omni nock technology.
Bushnell Mini-Max Solar USB Charger
Price: Approx. $60
Weight: 0.6 lbs
Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 in
Material: Carbon
Specific features: Single USB output, micro-USB input, battery charges from USB, 2200 mAh Li-ion battery, flexible solar panels w/ integrated high capacity Li-ion battery, beautiful & durable design, 100% heavy-duty material, quality optics w/ stunning HD clarity, high quality structure
Best use: Hunting, hiking, camping, backpacking
Description: You always have to be fully prepared when going hunting in the wild. One of the most important gears that you need when hunting off the grid is the Bushnell Power Sync Solar Wrap USB Charger. It is made up of heavy-duty and flexible panels, which are integrated with high capacity battery rolls.
The solar wrap is fitted with a single USB output, which is compatible with almost any USB powered rechargeable device. It is equipped with a Micro-USB input along with a USB cord for pre-charging. The unit’s battery charges effectively for 4 to 10 hours from a USB power source.
The 2200 mAh Li-ion battery will charge your action camera, e-reader, MP3 player, and smartphone. The unit’s design is simple, beautiful, and highly durable. This is so since the material used in its construction is high quality and well-tested. A feature unique to this solar charging device is the integration of high-quality optics, which has stunning HD clarity.
When you receive the solar USB charger for the first time, the very first thing that you will notice is the flexibility and versatility of the charger. The solar cells are not bulky; in fact, they are incredibly lightweight to bring along when going hunting.
PROS:
- It has 13 watts fully charged capacity
- The solar wrap is super light and highly portable
- It has excellent ergonomic features; it has a cap on both ends
- The power gauge makes it possible to estimate the power levels
- It can generate and store energy
- Not suited to charge iPads and tablets
- It takes a long time to charge in the sun, that is 10 hours
Related: Most of the time, while going for outdoor activities, you carry more than one electronic gadget. These can be phones, cameras, iPads, and many other gadgets. Carrying all the charging cables associated with these gadgets can be stressful. It is wise to buy a Kingback Multi Charger that has 4-pins to save yourself from this hassle; it is lightweight and affordable.
Diamond Archery Deploy SB RAK Compound Bow
Price: Approx. $100
Weight: 3.2 lbs
Dimensions: 31.5 x 12.5 x 6.75 in
Material: E-glass
Specific features: Lifetime warranty, cable rod, cable slide, octane factory strings & cables, tight high precision limb pockets, single offset string suppressors, rotating module, binary/dual cam, knight riser, a kinetic energy of 82.1 feet-pounds, 80% effective let-off, draw length range of 26 to 30.5 in, and IBO speed of 330 FPS.
Best use: Hunting
Description: The Diamond Archery Deploy SB RAK Compound Bow is the best compound bow for hunting. This unique archery tool combines an advanced carbon riser with the synchronized binary cam system. This puts you in the best position possible when hunting game.
This masterpiece has a brand new deploy, which sets a whole new level of performance. It provides you with the following: lightweight, accurate, easy adjustment, and tenability. The best bow should allow you to launch arrows at far-fetched speeds. At 330 FPS, it chains enormous power with reliable accuracy.
The bow offers improved accuracy and consistency because of the two impeccably symmetrical cams. You should anticipate maximum accuracy and impact whenever you release an arrow, which is made possible by the unmatched tenability, and straight-line nock travel.
It is incorporated with a rotating module design, which provides you with wide-ranging draw length regulation along with an immeasurable draw stop. You will achieve this without the need of a new cam. Generally, this bow offers you the best and most effective combination of consistency, accuracy, and power.
PROS:
- Shoots arrows up to 330 fps
- Synchronized binary cam system for flawless arrow travel and nocking
- Carbon riser to reduce the weight of the bow
- Adjustable draw length, with a maximum of 30 in
- Vibration free shooting
- It is meant for right-handed people
Related: Since the bow has a draw length of between 26 in and 30 in., it is advisable that when looking for arrows to use with this bow, a length of less than 30 in is the most appropriate. A longer arrow might not pose any serious issues, since it can be cut, but shorter arrows will equate to a void purchase. The preferred arrows for hunting to consider buying are the Misayar 30 in Carbon Arrows. They are packed in 12 pieces.
Leupold VX-3i Duplex Scope
Price: Approx. $400
Weight: 10.1 lbs
Dimensions: 19 x 5 x 4 in
Materials: Aluminum
Specific features: 3.5 – 10x magnification, VX-3 series, 29.8 feet maximum field of view @ 100 yards, 11 foot minimum field of view @ 100 yards, ¼ MOA adjustment graduation, 58 MOA maximum internal adjustment, duplex reticle; 3.5 – 10×40 mm measurement, 11.43/4.0 mm rifle exit pupil, 4.4 in eye relief, waterproof
Best use: Hunting
Description: The Leupold VX-3i Duplex Scope is the best rifle scope for anyone who is serious about hunting with a rifle. You do not have to miss shots when hunting your favorite game. This uniquely designed scope offers you a whole new level of sight performance.
It offers maximum brightness in all possible colors as well as exaggerated contrast through the entire field of view. You are provided with match grade precision when you use the dual spring adjustments. You can easily turn on the power selector.
The magnification range of 3.5 to 10x provides you with the perfect ratio of the size of the image you are capturing to the size of the target. Leupold offers the best field of view both at maximum and minimum. At the maximum field of view, at a hundred yards, you are able to have a visual of your target at 29.8 feet.
At the minimum field of view, at a hundred yards, you are able to have a visual of your target at 11 feet. You should always consider increments of 1 MOA at your desired distance. This scope provides you 1/4 MOA adjustment graduation, and 58 MOA maximum internal adjustment.
PROS:
- Durable and rugged, the scope is made from aluminum
- Provides maximum brightness in all colors and maximum contrast
- Fog and water resistant
- Easy to turn the power selector, can be used even with gloves on.
- Twilight max light management system
- Comes with neoprene cover from Leupold
- It does not come with a mounting device
Related: For easy mounting of your scope on the rifle, you will require a base and the rings. Since the scope is designed for hunting, you have to get a ring that is well built from steel, rugged, and be dependable in the field. The Leupold Standard 1 in Rings meet all these qualities.
Olympia RG850 LED Flashlight
Price: Approx. $50
Weight: 4.2 lbs
Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.3 x 5.7 in
Material: Aircraft grade aluminum
Specific features: Rechargeable batteries, reverse polarity protection, a smooth metal reflector (high performing), micro USB charging port, Cree-XML-U2 LED, 389 meters beam distance, conforms to ANSI FL 1 Standard, five memory settings, 850 Lumens, and waterproof IPX-8 to two meters
Best use: Hunting, camping, hiking
Description: You must always be prepared with the best torch when going hunting, especially at night. The best torch for the money is the Olympia RG850 LED Flashlight. This is more than just a flashlight because its design is incorporated with contemporary features for higher performance.
The RG850 is the most portable torch for backpacking when going for a hunting trip. Its design is made up of anodized aluminum material, and it is black in color.
The finish is anti-abrasive, and it provides you with an anti-freeze non-slip grip; therefore, you can effectively use it on a cold night. It is a highly versatile flashlight; it is installed with five light settings, such as high, middle, low, strobe, and SOS. It is unique in every aspect. It is fitted with a micro USB charging port along with a wall charger, which makes charging easier.
The package includes the following: 1 user guide, 2-extra O-rings, 1-extra tail switch cap, 1-belt clip, 1-lanyard, 1-nylon holster, 1 18650 rechargeable battery, and 1-micro USB cable w/ wall adapter.
PROS:
- Rechargeable
- The finish and the building materials make this torch long lasting
- The textured body offers a non-slip, antifreeze grip
- It is the brightest torch in the RG series
- It is water and impact resistant
- Due to the high number of modes the torch has (5), the LED wears out faster
Related: A torch is a device that you will find yourself using more often than a majority of the other hunting gears. It can be used at home, during travel, or in any other outdoor activity. However, since this is a rechargeable gadget, you need to get a plug adapter that won’t fail you no matter where you go. The Ceptics All-In-One International Travel Plug Adapter is designed for use in more than 150 countries. On top of that, it has Dual USB ports and costs approximately $11.
Orion Coolers 65 Cooler
Price: Approx. $500
Weight: 39 lbs
Dimensions: 17.5 x 32 x 18.75 in
Material: Made from plastic
Specific features: YakAttack gear tracks, lockable padlocks, low profile camming latches, two-insulation, and rugged, roto-molded polyethylene shell,
Best use: Hunting, camping, fishing
Description: The Orion Coolers 65 Cooler is the best cooler to bring along when going camping, hunting, or fishing. It is spacious enough to accommodate a reasonably sized game. This is what you need when you are going hunting in the wilderness.
If you go hunting for an extended duration of time or even a whole week, a cooler is almost a must-have gadget and not an option. How is fishing without proper storage facilities? Not enjoyable. Traditional methods of storing fish are cumbersome and unfriendly. Why should you be ancient while people are modernizing?
These coolers can hold ice for a long period without getting warm. Its interiors feature a removable solid plastic tray that can be used to store the things you need in solid form or your food. The tray also slides across the cooler and thus you can be able to see what is inside from any standing point.
They are also fitted with a YakAttack gear tracks on each side, and these allow easy customization or adding of the accessories. It has low profile camming latches that use a hinge system for ease of use. The standing pad gives the cooler the sturdiness it requires just in case you decide to sit or stand on it for any genuine reason.
PROS:
- Can easily fit in a canoe, car or even a raft
- Extremely spacious
- More than 2 in of insulation
- Lockable, and the IGBC certifies it as bear resistant
- 6-tie down points and out of those 4 are bottle openers
- Well-shaped hand grip handles
- A bit bulky and heavy
- It requires the ice to keep cold
- Relatively expensive
Related: Despite having a good cooler to store your items, it might still be risky to leave the cooler on the open since wild animals, or even a stranger might pass by and take whatever you have put inside. To avoid a situation where you are constantly worrying whether someone will open your cooler when you are not watching, consider buying Yeti Bear Proof Lock.
Wrap Up
Finally, it is always good to buy a product that you can use easily and comfortably. In case of any difficulties in usage, consult your user guide or call the seller for a detailed insight on how to handle a particular element that might be not working for you.
Now, it’s your turn to speak. What do you think of the gear we reviewed here? Have you used any particular product? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Feel free to let us know by leaving a comment in the comments section below, where you can also ask questions if you have any. Thanks for reading and if you think that your friends should read this article as well, don’t hesitate to share it on social media.
I bought the TenPoint RDX Crossbow as a replacement for my compound bow, I chose this particular model for it’s ACU draw cocking mechanism and it’s size and I’ve been happy with its performance so far.
It is powerful, well-balanced, light and extremely accurate, though I did have to spend a little time adjusting the sights before use. A handy piece of kit for any hunter.
While I use both compound bows and crossbows, choosing either is still a great decision. The TenPoint RDX is very easy to use and can really deliver accurate and deadly shots, not to mention how light and durable the unit is.
The Leupold VX-3i has been my scope of choice for my bolt 300 win mag for a little over a year now and I’m still as happy now as I was when I bought it. Leupold scopes are renowned for their quality and have always served me well, and the VX-3i is no different. It has professional grade glass, precise clarity adjustments and is great in low-light conditions. Highly recommended!
Scopes with great low-light capability is what appeals to me especially when the external elements and weather conditions significantly reduce visibility. This is where the Leupold series shines!