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Gift Guide 2025
Vortex Ranger HD 3000
If you’re looking to enter the rangefinding binocular lifestyle, the Vortex Ranger HD 3000 is absolutely a great starting point. For $800–the price of many decent binoculars without rangefinders–you’ll have a tool to use for many seasons and maybe even pass down when you’re ready to step into something a little more feature-rich.
Yeti 10oz Stackable Lowball
This is the classiest liquid receptacle any outdoorsman can own. They’ll keep anything from water to whiskey cold and always make sure your coffee stays hot. I can’t say I’d take it on a backpack hunt, but I’ll never leave for a basecamp hunt without at least a couple in the truck.
QOGIR Snake Gaiters
My least favorite backcountry nightmare scenario is being bitten by a rattler in the middle of a hunt. These gaiters give me the protection and piece of mind that I need without costing an arm and a leg. They're also pretty dang light and breathable so you are not going to have a reason to not strap em on for those hot early season hunts.
Montana Knife Company Mini-Speedgoat 2.0
The Mini-Speedgoat 2.0 from Montana Knife Company is the ultimate EDC knife. I’ve been using this American made blade as my everyday carry for a couple of years now, and it’s been used for just about everything without fail. At only 1 ounce and 6.5 inches in length, this is one fixed blade that you almost forget is in your pocket. It’s tough as nails, lightweight, extra sharp, comes with a great sheath, and is backed by MKC for life. Pro Tip: Gift this to a parent or grandparent this Christmas, so they can help open the rest of the presents - I know I’ll be using mine!
Wilderness Athlete Relentless Series Bundle
The Leupold Relentless series by Wilderness Athlete packs all the staples I’ve relied on for years - now in bold new flavors that hit the spot. This season they’ve fueled my elk hunt prep and earned a permanent spot in my pantry. Sweet Salted Lime Hydrate & Recover is my non-negotiable for training in the heat, while Strawberry Lemonade Energy & Focus gives me the guts to train in that heat. On heavy strength days, Brute Force Blue Raspberry brings the pump and intensity, and The Good Stuff (Multi-Vitamins, Omega-3s, and Probiotics) keeps my foundation solid so I’m ready seven days a week. This stack was built for the relentless hunter - ready 365.
Leupold VX-5HD Gen 2
I’ve always thought that to beat the Leupold VX-5 as a hunting scope would be very difficult… or very expensive. It’s lightweight, tough, and the glass is great. It’s got a redesigned turret with more travel, some ergonomic improvements like a handy-dandy throw lever, and the same SpeedSet system that was launched with the new VX-6HD. For me, this combination of small improvements takes the VX-5HD from the "most functional" category to the "best" category. It’s a lot like the original, but more so.
Zeiss SFL 10x40
The SFL 10x40 and is the best binocular that I’ve seen under that $2000.00 mark. I’ve had these out in the field and was hard pressed to find many differences in quality between them and a pair of Swarovski ELs. The best I could come up with is that the ELs gave me a little more finite detail, but not by much, not enough to justify a $200 price difference. Plus they’re smaller, and lighter.
Dometic CFX
This is the future. The first time I fired up my CFX3 (previous version), the temperature in the back of my Land Cruiser was around 110 degrees, and it dropped to 35 degrees in about an hour. The voltage requirement is extremely low, and this unit is so smart that it will never overdraw your regular car battery. It hardly runs once it's cold. The DZ stands for dual zone, so you can run it fridge/freezer with everything controlled and monitored via an app and Bluetooth. Assuming it lasts a few years, the cost isn't a whole lot greater than a regular cooler plus ice.
Born Outdoor Baja Bundle
This is hands-down one of the most luxurious sleep systems I’ve ever drifted off in. The Baja Bundle pairs a Therm-a-Rest MondoKing Sleeping Pad with a rugged bed shell, cozy Baja Quilt, and soft bamboo sheet set. The system is capable of handling summer days and winter nights depending on the layers you bring along. It’s your ticket to the most comfortable night’s sleep under the million-star motel.
Meat! Grinder
Handing the meat off for someone else to grind and wrap was starting to feel… off. Like stopping an inch short of the finish line. Last year, I changed that. Picked up a MEAT! grinder and chamber vac, and took the last piece of the process back into my own hands. Now I can make what I want: burger, bulk sausage, links, whatever flavor, whatever batch size. It’s cleaner, more personal, and way more satisfying. If you care as much about what hits your plate as what hits the dirt, I’d recommend MEAT! processing gear. Worth every penny.
Kestrel 5700 Elite with Applied Ballistics
In a world where any Tom, dick, and Harry can run out to the range and ring a 1000-yard gong with just about any off-the-shelf rifle, you should have a ballistic calculator that allows you to be as accurate as possible. The 5700 Elite is still the gold standard and won’t be dethroned anytime soon.
Elk Bowhunting Book Series
Created by an avid DIY bowhunter, each book is more than just a collection of successful, 100% fair chase, elk hunts. They explore the vital role that hunters play as stewards of conservation and the many life lessons learned through hunting. These coffee table books are great for seasoned elk hunters and newcomers interested in learning more about bowhunting elk. As a bonus, 30% of all profits are donated to organizations proven to deliver quality elk management and habitat improvement.
Leki Makalu FX Carbon AS
After a decade of use, I finally said sayonara to my old Leki Legacy’s and hello to these new Makalus. They’re a handful of ounces lighter because of the carbon and the lack of a second locking clamp, while also feeling more rigid. They break down into a smaller package and have a far more comfortable grip on them. I can already see these surpassing the scratch count that the old Legacy’s have.
HELIX Gen 2 6-24x50 FFP
If you recently got a new hunting rifle to add to your collection (that your wife may or may not know about), then it’s time to get it dialed in and ready to put to good use. A quality riflescope that you can depend on is always a necessity, and there are a ton of choices in the riflescope optic world. In my opinion, one of the most bang for your buck options is the HELIX Gen 2 6-24x50 FFP by Element Optics. A First Focal Plane riflescope with reliable tracking, a tool-free turret system with a zero-stop, a 30mm tube, good reticle choices, and a lifetime warranty at this price point is undoubtedly a big time value. If you can afford a few tiers above this price point, Element Optics has some real heavy hitters in their NEXUS and THEOS lines that you’ll definitely want to check out.
Kenetrek Mountain Extreme
This year marks my fifth season in these boots. Over the last five years, they’ve seen just about everything Arizona can throw at a pair of boots; triple-digit desert heat, sub-freezing mornings on the Rim, and every kind of dirt, rock, and cactus in between. One of my favorite features is how reliably they keep my feet dry, whether I’m crossing ankle-deep creeks or chasing deer and javelina during those rare low-elevation snow dumps. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’ve never sent them back for a resole, and I’ve only waxed them once. I should take better care of my boots. But that just shows how tough these things are. If they can handle Arizona, and a hunting dad who barely thinks about boot care, they can handle anything.
Hatch Outwest Bipod Gen 2 Standard ADM Picng Bag
The American-made bipod is a favorite among our crew. Its aluminum and stainless steel body holds up to any environments you're willing to put your rifle through. It's fast, stable, and easy to use once you've ran a few dry runs. The three sections and adjustable angles let you comfortably shoot prone, sitting and even kneeling in most cases.
Eberlestock Modframe
The new Eberlestock Modframe is a major leap forward in both comfort and versatility. Fully compatible with the entire EMOD system, swapping from my Brooks 3500 to my old Batwing and Scabbard set up was seamless and took me less than a minute. The totally revamped suspension system features larger padding and an integrated load panel that handles heavy meat hauls with ease, while the redesigned load lifters shift weight off your shoulders and onto your hips for unmatched comfort and stability. In addition to the added support, the lumbar pad doubles as a great pillow for mid-day glassing naps. Built with Eberlestock’s signature durability, the Modframe is ready for years of abuse—and when it’s time for a mid-day glassing nap, the lumbar pad doubles as one of the best camp pillows you’ll ever find.
Camp Chef Gridiron Game Day Stove
Overbuilt is not an over-statement when it comes to the Gridiron Gameday from Camp Chef. This Hoss has a large enough cooking surface to feed you, your family, and the families in the two campsites next to yours. This thing is extremely versatile, and portable enough to earn a permanent spot in any serious camping kit.
Day Six HD Arrows
I’ve been shooting the heavy and very stiff HD 275 arrow from Day Six for the past six months and have been very impressed with the out of the box consistency they arrived with. They showed up fletched with 4 vanes and an insert/outsert system already installed to my specifications. The durability of these arrows so far is great and the build of the EVO broadhead is impressive as well - definitely has meat and bone as a focus, not just foam.
Montana Knife Company Stoned Goat
The MKC Stoned Goat strikes a perfect balance of size, weight, and blade profile, making it an ideal hunting knife. The blade profile makes precise work easier, especially when trying to avoid accidental hide punctures. I used it on a deer and then shortly after on a bear, and it made quick work of both without a single touch-up. Even after two full field dressings, it was still sharp enough to shave hair from my arm.
Leupold Rendezvous Bow Case
There is no greater balance between a highly protective hard case and an ultra-portable soft case than the Leupold Rendezvous Bow Case. I’ve never felt short on storage space with this thing either - there’s perfectly sized compartments for storing everything from stabilizers, releases, tools, you name it. With 900D water repellent nylon, beefy zippers, and reinforced padding, your bow is safe from just about any reasonable threat in its way. Except for a grizzly bear. A grizzly bear would still jack this thing up.
Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Chair
This handy sitting apparatus has been the source of the most “what the hell is that” for the past year. It looks a little odd and weighs a little more than your average sit pad, but it can turn a guy with a bad back into an all-day glassing machine. The chair allows you to lean back rather than having to hunch forward all day. It has not only enhanced my glassing ability, but it also lets me enjoy a glass of whiskey in the evening without having to find a stump to lean against.
MSR Titan Kettle
A titanium kettle is one of the most useful tools in the backcountry. You can boil water from your stove, or if you find yourself in a bind, you can stick it in the fire. The rubber grips on the foldable handles keep you from burning your paws without adding any unnecessary weight. If you’re looking for a simple solution for a backcountry cook kit, this is an item to keep in mind.
Sony Tough Card
I've gone through so many SD cards in the last 15 years that I have become an expert at recovering data. A few years ago, my A7RIII came with one of these TOUGH cards, and since then, I've added more and more of them. I refuse to use anything else. They come in all flavors and sizes, and they lack the little pins that are always the source of breakage. Filming one episode of The Western Hunter is plenty to kill a card, let alone a dozen, and I've yet to have one of these die on me.
Last Lights Headlamp
Headlamps are one of those pieces of gear I never put much thought into. That is, until I was deep in a wash in bear country with a dim bulb and dying batteries. I realized I needed to up my game. The Strike 1800 headlamp from Last Light is built for hunters and outdoorsmen who need reliable brightness in all conditions. With a powerful 1,800 lumen output, it provides unmatched visibility whether you’re on the trail, in camp, or tracking game after dark. Its lightweight design and rechargeable battery were two must haves for me. Pro tip: Get it as part of the Back Country Bundle they currently offer. You will get a great solar charger and LED light rope that are just as great of a tool as the headlamp.
Kuiu Ultra Merino 120 LT LS Hoodie
I’ve worn many Kuiu base and mid layers over the years, and without question, the UM 120 LS Hoodie is my favorite and a non-negotiable piece for any warm or mid season hunts. Earlier this Summer I wore this piece at a two days NRL Hunter match in New Mexico, with temps in the high 90s. I stayed surprisingly cool and comfortable the whole match, especially when throwing the hoodie up was the only shade I could find. After taking my pack on and off a lot that weekend, I noticed some decent pilling of the wool around the mid section which was purely aesthetic and didn’t appear to weaken the fabric at all.
First Lite Yuma Hoody
Out of all the adjectives and keywords I can use to describe this baselayer, essential is the most appropriate. I do not know what kind of sorcery First Lite used in producing the Yuma but it is the most capable article of clothing I own. From keeping the summer sun off me during my kid’s soccer games, to being my next to skin layer during late season hunts, the Yuma can do it all.
Sitka Core Merino 330 zip off bottom
Easy, warm, and comfortable. These make a huge difference when it is extremely cold and windy. I really liked the clam-digger cut that falls just over the top of my boots, although it felt a little funny to begin with. Being able to zip them on and off is a godsend, but it backfired on me last year. If anyone finds a pair of these on a peak in the Matzatzals, they used to be mine.
Hardside Hydration Swig Rig - Wide Mouth
Sick of wrestling your water bladder or cleaning it constantly? Upgrade to the Hardside Hydration Swig Rig. It has the hose function you love, Nalgene durability you need. Easy to use, easier to clean. It's compatible with all Nalgenes. I've ditched the bladder and never looked back.
Hornady 6.5 Creedmore 140 gr ELD-Match
Our team shot thousands of rounds of Hornady’s ELDM cartridge this year, training for and competing in NRL Hunter matches. The consistency in speeds, accuracy, and reliability in a number of different conditions made this feel like one of the few easy buttons for shooting matches. If you aren’t handloading, or even if you are and aren’t very good at it, you should be shooting Hornady’s ELDM cartridge. Plane and simple.
Eberlestock Batwing V2
The updated Batwing V2 quickly became my favorite pack setup due to its minimalist style while adding meaningful improvements like internal pockets and an exterior zippered pouch for better organization. When paired with the EMOD lid, this slim and lightweight pack system is built to go in light and come out heavy.
Outdoor Vitals Ventus Active Hoody
Nearly every hunting apparel company has jumped on the “active insulation” train, but other companies (Outdoor Vitals in this case) have been perfecting them for years. This 7oz mid layer keeps you at a perfect temperature, no matter if it’s 40 and raining or 70 and sunny. This simple piece is well worth having in your closet.
Unknown Munitions Premier Scope Rings
Scope rings might seem like something you can pick up at any old sporting goods store, and as long as they fit, they’ll be fine. Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Rings provide the foundation for your rifle holding zero. If your rings fail, your whole rifle system fails. These rings from Unknown were purpose-built to never let that happen.
