Good Morning.
I’m planning a trip to Alaska for this summer. A buddy who lives in Fairbanks has invited me to hunt Caribou, north of Fairbanks, in August. The 40-Mile herd. We’ll be in the field about 6 days, and if we tag out early, we may go looking for a black bear.
Like most people, I don’t have unlimited discretionary monies. I have some questions regarding gear prioritization. I’ll try to give you a good idea of what I have, and what I might be considering purchasing or upgrading, though I’m open to other suggestions on specific brands/models. I’m hoping you all can help me sort out which items are highest-pri, and which can wait til next year.
Optics: I currently have a good pair of 8x42s. I’m considering getting either 12x50s (something like Leupold BX-5, Maven B2, or Vortex Razor HD) or a compact spotter (a compact gold ring, or Nikon ED50, something like that). Whichever I go with, the budget will be $1K or so, maybe a bit extra to get a bipod as well.
Sleeping bag: For some context, my buddy has a Kodiak flex-bow tent that we’ll be using. For transportation we’ll be using his truck and then his side-by-side. No backpacking, so weight and bulk are not huge considerations. I’ll be taking a fat/comfy Exped Megamat pad. I’m not real familiar with climate in central Alaska. I have a few options:
- A 0-degree base camp bag. The large type that’s canvas outside and flannel inside, with synthetic insulation. It’s comfy, but heavy and large, so it takes me some time to heat the thing up after I get in it.
- A 0-degree Coleman mummy from my boy scout days, synthetic insulation. Meaning it’s about 20 years old. If I don’t use this bag on this trip, I’ll likely get rid of it.
- A 20-degree Kelty mummy, about 15 years old, but still in decent condition. Down insulation.
- A Montbell Down Hugger #5. 800 fill down, rated to 40-degrees. I’m not considering taking this (more on why I’m including it below)
If I upgrade my sleeping bag, I’d go the “buy-once-cry-once” route and get a high end down bag. Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends, Montbell, or maybe Kuiu or Stone Glacier for hydro-phobic down. I’m interested in your thoughts on temp rating. I would like to have something that would work in conditions colder than my Montbell – kind of a two-bag quiver idea, though I’d probably still keep my giant base camp bag.
Rain pants: I have a good rain jacket, but don’t have good rain pants. I have a few pairs of soft-shell type pants with good DWR, but no dedicated hard shell pants of the type that may be needed for epic storms, though for the worst storms we’d probably seek shelter. I would be thinking something like Sitka Cloudburst.
Puffy pants: For sitting and glassing. I have good base layers and pants, but wouldn’t mind being toasty warm while I heat up a meal and glass. I would be looking at something like Kuiu Super Down Pro pants.
So, how would you prioritize those items? Are there other options on those items that I should consider, as far as brand and model?
Outside of these items, what has been the most critical piece of gear that saved your bacon on an Alaska hunt?
Thanks for your help.
I’m planning a trip to Alaska for this summer. A buddy who lives in Fairbanks has invited me to hunt Caribou, north of Fairbanks, in August. The 40-Mile herd. We’ll be in the field about 6 days, and if we tag out early, we may go looking for a black bear.
Like most people, I don’t have unlimited discretionary monies. I have some questions regarding gear prioritization. I’ll try to give you a good idea of what I have, and what I might be considering purchasing or upgrading, though I’m open to other suggestions on specific brands/models. I’m hoping you all can help me sort out which items are highest-pri, and which can wait til next year.
Optics: I currently have a good pair of 8x42s. I’m considering getting either 12x50s (something like Leupold BX-5, Maven B2, or Vortex Razor HD) or a compact spotter (a compact gold ring, or Nikon ED50, something like that). Whichever I go with, the budget will be $1K or so, maybe a bit extra to get a bipod as well.
Sleeping bag: For some context, my buddy has a Kodiak flex-bow tent that we’ll be using. For transportation we’ll be using his truck and then his side-by-side. No backpacking, so weight and bulk are not huge considerations. I’ll be taking a fat/comfy Exped Megamat pad. I’m not real familiar with climate in central Alaska. I have a few options:
- A 0-degree base camp bag. The large type that’s canvas outside and flannel inside, with synthetic insulation. It’s comfy, but heavy and large, so it takes me some time to heat the thing up after I get in it.
- A 0-degree Coleman mummy from my boy scout days, synthetic insulation. Meaning it’s about 20 years old. If I don’t use this bag on this trip, I’ll likely get rid of it.
- A 20-degree Kelty mummy, about 15 years old, but still in decent condition. Down insulation.
- A Montbell Down Hugger #5. 800 fill down, rated to 40-degrees. I’m not considering taking this (more on why I’m including it below)
If I upgrade my sleeping bag, I’d go the “buy-once-cry-once” route and get a high end down bag. Western Mountaineering, Feathered Friends, Montbell, or maybe Kuiu or Stone Glacier for hydro-phobic down. I’m interested in your thoughts on temp rating. I would like to have something that would work in conditions colder than my Montbell – kind of a two-bag quiver idea, though I’d probably still keep my giant base camp bag.
Rain pants: I have a good rain jacket, but don’t have good rain pants. I have a few pairs of soft-shell type pants with good DWR, but no dedicated hard shell pants of the type that may be needed for epic storms, though for the worst storms we’d probably seek shelter. I would be thinking something like Sitka Cloudburst.
Puffy pants: For sitting and glassing. I have good base layers and pants, but wouldn’t mind being toasty warm while I heat up a meal and glass. I would be looking at something like Kuiu Super Down Pro pants.
So, how would you prioritize those items? Are there other options on those items that I should consider, as far as brand and model?
Outside of these items, what has been the most critical piece of gear that saved your bacon on an Alaska hunt?
Thanks for your help.
