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  • Nicholas Italiano in Gear

Gear for the Long Haul

As winter starts to break across the United States, comfort creeps back in and that’s when people get soft. Bitter cold and cutting winds have spent months trying to pin us indoors, numbing us with screens and convenience. This is when it is important to push back.

Late winter is where weaknesses show. It’s the proving ground for your body, your mindset, and your gear. Dust off your cold-weather kit, load your pack, and step into the elements. Go far enough to find the cracks where layers fail, where systems break down, and, most importantly, where you do. These lessons are imperative.

Hunters, campers, and anyone serious about self-reliance knows this truth: Readiness isn’t built in comfort. It’s forged in bad weather, heavy packs, and long miles when quitting feels easier than continuing. The work you put in now reduces the work you’ll have to do when conditions turn against you.

So, layer up. Cinch your straps. Shoulder the weight and move. Winter isn’t done yet and neither are you. Keep these simple truths in mind and you’ll go far.

Sea To Summit Hamelin

NOTES
Of all the bags I’ve slept in over the years, the Hamelin is easily added to my short list of favorites. A weight-efficient contour shape is exactly what you need if you flip from your side to your back as much as I do. After spending a solid week sleeping in the Hamelin trying the multitude of features, I’ve settled on a few favorites. Not only is there a full-length double slider zipper on the right side, but there is also a 1/4 zip on the left side. This means you can have an open footbox to allow for air flow to regulate

Temperature while still having an access point on the left to exit the bag. There are also snaps located in the collarbone region if you like your arms to be free. Simply run your zippers down to your liking and snap up to have freedom of movement.

Meindl Comfort Fit Hunter 400

NOTES
Comfort is number one when it comes to footwear for long days on the trial or even a little jaunt to the deer blind. Meindl’s Comfort Hunter 400 is a mid-height boot at 9.25 inches with good ankle support as well as mobility, a wide toes box to accommodate movement, and a cork footbed that will mold to the user’s foot over time and miles logged. 400 grams of insulation may sound like a lot, but if you find yourself standing stationary or slowing down your toes will get cold in the snow rather quickly even with a good pair of wool socks.

The plus side is the Gore-Tex lining will keep your feet nice and dry. I’ve spent the last few weeks wearing the Comfort Fit Hunter 400s hunting in the woods of Michigan. They’ve been great, but the cold cuts the fun off early.

Demer Box D2 Haast Orange

NOTES
Demer made the right call choosing Pelican to house their system, considering they are crushproof, waterproof, and the most trusted polymer box brand on the market. At 94dB, Demer’s Bluetooth D2 pumps out serious sound. It’s not only the sound I find so appealing, but also the tone and bass are on par with other high-end portable speakers that are typically much larger.

The interior of the Demer can become a dry well with the use of the port plug as well as a charging station for phones and gadgets via a USB-C port. As we’re used to seeing with Pelican, this box comes with two ports to accept padlocks for securing your tunes. Available in 11 colors.

Knives Of Alaska Alpha Wolf

NOTES
Knives of Alaska have been around for a long time, but the Alpha Wolf is my first touch point with them. I’ve field dressed two nice-sized deer with this one and have not yet found the need to sharpen the 3-inch MagnaCut blade. The thin blade glides through hide, muscle, fat, and connective tissue that lends confidence while working.

A full tang construction with black Suregrip scales fitted with brass pins and lanyard hole gives the Alpha Wolf a refined look. Scalloped-out finger grooves are not usually to my liking; however, Knives of Alaska did a great job on this model. No fixed blade is complete without a sheath, and this one is nicely done. Vegetable-tanned brown leather with a belt loop keeps your skinning knife at hand and ready for work.

Pnuma Vintis Jacket

NOTES
It’s only getting colder here in the Midwest. My Pnuma Vintis Jacket has been getting a lot of use based on a few key features. One of my favorites is the Pnumablock to cut the wind and seal in the warmth without feeling like I’m wearing a tarp. Next is the Whisper-quiet microfleece outer to keep my sound signature low when stalking deer in the woods and fields.

Lastly is the cut of the jacket. I wouldn’t call this an athletic cut, but it is a bit more form fitting than what you may be used to, and I love it. Baggy coats make room for wind to swirl around, and that is a no-go for me. Best for mid to late season hunting, the Vintis Jacket also has pair of pants to complete the ensemble should you be so inclined to match your camo and comfort. I recommend you consider making it a set.

Kings Camo XKG Acro

NOTES
These may quickly turn into your favorite lightweight hunting, outdoors, or everyday pants. The XKG Acro Pants are loaded with features. Starting with four-way stretch material that moves with you to the low-profile streamlined zippered cargo pockets.

If you’ve spent any time in the field, you’ll know how irritating it is to have wind going up your back when you sit down. Built into the waistband of the Acro is a grippy section to help keep your shirt tucked in to keep out the draft. These are functional outdoor pants disguised as casual daily wear. Available in XK7 camo, charcoal, or dark khaki.

Zeiss SFL 8×50

  • MSRP: $1,800
  • URL: zeiss.com
  • OG Rating: 80/100

NOTES
Coming to the table 30-percent lighter than other models of a comparable size is a considerable accomplishment. Not just lightweight and compact, but also incredibly rugged with a clear image, Zeiss developed a coating called LotuTech that is their permanent version of RainX on the lenses of Zeiss binoculars and spotting scopes to ensure a clear unhindered view in all weather and elevations.

The SmartFocus concept makes it possible to dial in your binos to infinity in 1.4 turns of the focusing wheel so you don’t miss that elusive bull elk or rare-to-see island scrub-jay. I found the SFL 8×50 accompanying me on my forays into the field more often than any other handheld optics I’ve got for these simple reasons: incredibly clear image and color differentiation, lightweight, and comfortable to use.

Latitude Method 3 Complete Saddle Kit

NOTES
This system and way of hunting will change the way you see being in a tree. With a little imagination you can find ways to use your saddle setup for uses other than hunting. What if you need a mobile lookout post? Don’t have a drone, but need to survey the area? This is a very well-built system and is much safer and more stable than you may want to believe.

Think of this as an outdoorsman’s version of a lineman’s belt. Once you’re clipped in, it’s difficult to fall to the ground. No more dragging out your ladder stand and ratchet straps or coming out to see someone took your gear. I can be up a 15-foot tree, back down, and packed up in less than 20 minutes, and with practice, I think you can be faster than me.

Moultrie Edge Solar Camera

NOTES
No need to put this game camera away simply because hunting season is over. Not only is this a set-it-and-forget-it camera for game animals, but it’s also ideal for use as a security camera around out buildings, property lines, penned-in animals, and driveways. Moultrie’s Solar Edge has a 100-foot range, and all images will be caught in 40mp, video in 1080p, with a trigger time of 0.40 second.

Featuring the Turn and Tilt function, the Edge Solar opens up mounting possibilities by focusing your camera where you want it while aiming the solar panel where it needs to be. The built-in antenna pulls from all four main cell carriers in the USA and chooses the strongest signal in your area to keep you up to date on movement in your area.

Ops-Core FAST Bump Helmet

NOTES
As cool as it is to have a ballistic helmet, the odds are you can likely save your money and go with a high-quality bump helmet. The exception of course is going into harm’s way either as your profession or you spend an inordinate amount of time in training classes where it’s necessary to run a ballistic helmet. The Ops-Core FAST Bump Helmet may be the best on the market. Weighing in at only 1.02 pounds, the FAST offers protection from blunt-force trauma and features modularity based on the ARC Rails system, allowing you to mount up a headset and manage cables.

Helmets can get tiresome to wear over time. I’ve not found this to be the case with the FAST. I believe that is due to the light weight, Vented Lux Liner, and Head-Loc retention system. If you’re looking to protect your brain case, run your NODs, and be comfortable doing it might, I suggest the Ops-Core FAST Bump Helmet.

Princeton Tec Vizz 550 RGB

NOTES
One of the items that appeared on my “Don’t go to the woods without …” list is a quality headlamp. Multiple light colors give you options when it comes to how much light you need depending on your task. At full power on white light, the Vizz 550 RGB throws light about 90 meters as opposed to the blue light that gets out to about 5 meters.

Running on your choice of either alkaline or lithium-ion, the Vizz 550 RGB takes three AAA batteries. I suggest lithium-ion, as they do better in the cold. With a lifetime warranty, this waterproof headlamp is sure to perform at a high level of satisfaction. I’ve spent a few hours under mine, walking the woods and gravel pits in my area. Available in black, multicam, olive darb, and tan.

Forscher Patrol

NOTES
Forscher collaborated with Ben Garwood, formerly of the British 22 SAS to devise a rugged and stylish 41mm Ronda Swiss 775 quartz-driven watch to keep you on mission, as well as on pace while covering ground or getting to meetings on time.

A subtle stencil font at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions quietly pays homage to Garwood’s military history, while other features like orange accents on the bezel and flat black dial make for an understated confidence in this timepiece. Water resistant to 200 meters, Garwood and Forscher designed the Patrol to withstand the toughest terrain in the harshest environments.

Oakley Alpha Kit

NOTES
Regardless of the task, the Oakley Alpha Kit has you covered. Great for motorcycles, shooting sports, snowmobiles, or flinging yourself out of an airplane, the goggles have a hook Velcro strap to securely attach to the back of your bump or ballistic helmets.

You can even change the lenses to fit your specific needs. Also included in the kit are a set of Ballistic M Frame Alpha Arrays with gaskets. These are great when you want the protection of goggles but are running sans a helmet. This kit comes in a semi-rigid hard case to keep your eye protection policed up and in one place.

Paladin 33 Outback Mk4

NOTES
Keep heavily used items close at hand or anything your little heart desires in the Paladin 33 Mk4, and it will get the job done. This is the largest chest kit Paladin 33 has made to date — so much so that it has its own drag handle. Well, it’s really a carry handle, but you get the picture.

Being that the MK4 is constructed of Cordura, you’re not going to have to worry about rips, tears, or abrasions as you may with other materials. You can load your EDC pistol in the dedicated back pocket, tourniquet to the bottom, and other support gear to the large main pocket to have a robust EDC chest or hip carry kit.

Kifaru Deluxe Bino Harness

NOTES
Over the years, bino harnesses have proven to be an integral part of a good hunting or observation kit. Kifaru offers this Deluxe Bino Harness in small, medium, and large main pouch sizes, or buckets as they’re called in the community.

The Deluxe comes equipped with a range finder pocket and an additional accessory pouch. One-handed operation allows you to keep your eyes on the prize while retrieving your optics. It has an adjustable hood with two small pockets and a minimalist MOLLE field to add on additional gear such as navigation pouches. Available in three colors: Ranger green, multicam black and tan.

One Mile at a Time

Time in the field matters to me. The more time I spend outdoors, the better I feel and the more honest, nuanced feedback I can give on the gear I’m featuring. Experience sharpens opinions and gear earns its reputation one mile at a time.

The Meindl Comfort Hunter 400 boots have proven to be exactly that, comfortable and dependable. They’ve handled everything I’ve thrown at them and remain a solid option when paired with the right warm socks. That said, I wouldn’t lean too hard on the 400 grams of insulation alone to keep your toes warm while standing on ice for long periods or in sustained temperatures in the teens or 20s. Know their limits and plan accordingly.

Zeiss has long been a leader in optics. Look at the equipment your optometrist uses to examine your eyes — there’s a good chance it’s Zeiss. That same level of precision carries into the field. When I put glass to my eyes, I expect true-to-life color, strong clarity, and reliable light transmission. The SFL 8×50 binoculars deliver exactly that, meeting every expectation I have for serious field glass.

Read More From Issue 72

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

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