Best Camping Gear for Hunting 2019 - Hunt Alaska Magazine

Best camping gear for hunters 2019

Hilleberg Niak 2 Person Tent us.hilleberg.com We asked Contributing Editor John Whipple about some of his essential gear items and he said, “My number one backpacking tent for solo and two-man trips is hands down the Niak by Hilleberg. You would be hard pressed to find a tent maker that has more attention to detail or a higher standard for quality than Hilleberg, and in my opinion the Niak is the best pick for a lightweight, early-to-mid-season ultra-light tent. It is a no-frills, one-vestibule, two-man tent with a full rain fly and strong but simple two-pole design that keeps the weight to 3 pounds, 12 ounces while still being robust enough to handle Alaska’s wind and rain.”
Alaska Tent and Tarp Arctic Oven 12 with Vestibule alaskatent.com This tent is a super choice for a hunting basecamp, family vacation, or expedition. We like the roominess in the main tent with a 7’2” peak and 152 square feet of space. The vestibule adds 46 square feet and provides ample room for gear, and a good place to take off wet footwear. We partnered the tent with the Alaska Deluxe Stove package, footprint, and floor saver. The stove kept the tent toasty warm and the footprint and floor saver protected the floor of the tent both on the bottom and top. It’s easy to set up and has many high-wind, tie-out points and stake-out points. This is a great-size tent for four hunters sleeping on cots.
Camp Chef High Output Single Burner Cooker campchef.com This adjustable, high-output, cast-iron burner puts out 60,000 BTUs and is a good choice for cooking for a large group at hunting basecamp. It has reversible legs which makes for more compact transport and storage. It has a 15-inch diameter cooking grate, is made from steel, and weighs 15 pounds. We paired it with Camp Chef’s 42-quart aluminum pot and boiled gallons of water quickly.
Hilleberg Allak 3 us.hilleberg.com This new model is strong, light, and versatile. We like that it is freestanding, has two vestibules for gear, and two entrances. We appreciate the 43-inch height of the tent which gives you plenty of head space when sitting. The dome construction is designed to handle a snow load. It is comprised of an inner and outer tent, which can be pitched in tandem or independently. It weighs 8 pounds, 3 ounces, so is a good choice for basecamp or for backcountry trips. The tent provides lots of room for two hunters.
Camp Chef Mountain Series 4-piece Cook Set campchef.com Made from anodized aluminum, this 4-piece set includes a 3-liter pot, 7½-inch fry pan, a common lid, and carry bag. The heat ring on the pot increases efficiency so you use less fuel. Handles are insulated. This light-weight set was in our packs on several mountain hunts.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 Tent bigagnes.com After using this product our field tester contributed, “I’ve always liked packing a small, lightweight tent for hunting. I don’t need a lot of room, just somewhere to sleep and store my gear. The first trip out was on a remote 14-day moose hunt and seeing how this was my first experience with Big Agnes tents I was a bit nervous, but it performed flawlessly. It was over a pound lighter than my previous tent, even after adding additional stakes for anchoring it in the tundra. Setting this tent up was fast and self-explanatory. There is plenty of head and shoulder room to sit up and get ready in mornings and there is enough floor space to store a decent-size pack and a weapon inside. The vestibule provides more than enough additional storage for larger packs or other bulky items. The interior has several mesh pockets to keep small items organized and you can add a gear loft for even more storage space. Everything stayed dry on the extended hunt, even with the condensation and consistent morning frost. This 3-season tent performed well beyond my expectations and will be my go-to tent for many more hunts.”
Jetboil Flash II Stove jetboil.com Contributing Editor Larry Bartlett has this to say, “The Jetboil Flash II is my new go-to field stove. I like it because it boils water nearly twice as fast as my MSR gas stoves of the past, and its lightweight, compact features allow me to minimize bulk in my pack, have immediate heat for quick warmth or for boiling water, and the most efficient fuel consumption of any other stove I’ve tried to date. Lastly, it may be a fluffy extra, but the heat sensor display allows me to combine quick tasks while water boils for dinner. When the “flame” turns from black to yellow at the tip, 212 degrees F is reached, and water is within seconds of boiling.”
Stanley French Press stanley-pm.com Our tester uses a French press daily, so this item was sure to be put to the test. Stanley is serving the needs of coffee drinkers by making this durable, trusted, insulated, smooth, coffee-making vessel that requires nothing more than coffee grinds and steaming-hot water to make a good cup of joe. That’s a really good way to start the day before heading out on the day’s hunt.
MSR Trail Lite Duo Cook Set msrgear.com Weighing in at a mere 21.6 ounces, this 2-person cook set is comprised of a 2-liter aluminum pot with a clear strainer lid, as well as a pair or bowls and cups, made from polypropylene. This is a solid solution for a backpacking trip where our customary diet consists of dehydrated food, pasta, oatmeal, coffee, trail mix, and jerky. We like how the set nests together, the lids on the mugs, and the volume indicators in the mugs that are from 2- to 10 ounces in 2-ounce increments.
Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter Water Hydration System katadyn.com Contributing editor Paul Atkins shares, “Water filters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and I’ve tried many of them on numerous occasions. But what has worked best for me over the years are those made by Katadyn. They’re simple to use, pump water effectively and are 99.99% germ proof even in dirty water. They also fit nicely in your pack, plus they work for both hydration packs and water bottles. The easy-to-use pump is fast and efficient, and will give you good clean water in no time. Get one for your next adventure!”