I took the opportunity on our first hunting trip to test out some new gear and get reacquainted with some gadgets we have used only a few times before. To paint the proper picture: We were tent camping inland and at a higher elevation than we are used to being at. We live in a rainforest (average rainfall 13 ft/year) which means everything is pretty much wet all the time. If it isn’t soaked, just wait a few minutes. 😉 So even when it is clear and very chilly like it was while we were hunting, there is still lots of water in the air just waiting to get all warmed up in the sun so it can pool, freeze, and drip right down the back of your neck at the most inopportune time (like when you are trying to get to the outhouse or something). The sun was out from about 7am until around 4pm, give or take half an hour. In the early morning as we huddled around a fire and waited for coffee to be ready, it was 27-28 degrees F. During the day, the temps shot up to a balmy 38 degrees F which was just enough to melt the ice on the tarp covering the tent and tables. Rinse and repeat.
Gear of the Hunt
Please note that anything with an asterix (*) by it is a new item that we have not used before.
Coleman stove – A Classic! Two burners, well used and well loved. I have camped without it before but I prefer to have it along on all trips. While the fire is being used for something, you can still heat up something else and there is less chance of burning the bacon over propane than in cast iron over the fire. 😉
*Coleman percolator coffee pot – We normally use the coffee maker that sits on the Coleman stove and looks just like a normal coffee pot in the home (listed below). Toward the end of the trip, we ended up using this more than the other one because it was faster and retained heat for a lot longer.
Coleman Camping Coffee Maker – This is the coffee pot we normally use because honestly, I don’t like the chew my coffee. Using a percolator coffee pot listed above did make the coffee faster but it also took a long time for it to cool enough to drink and it was really strong, thick, and well….chewy. I drank it but I didn’t care much for it.
*Propane tank attachments – Instead of bringing a bunch of the canisters of propane, we opted to bring a small propane tank with us. For lighting purposes, we got the distribution post which allows us to put the lantern on top and still have ports to be able to attach the hoses for use on the Coleman Stove or other uses. Very convenient! Between the Coleman stove, the lantern on top, and the extra hose available to be used, it was a fantastic set up. You only had to deal with one tank, not a bunch of smaller ones and we didn’t even se half of the propane we brought.! It saved time, money, space, and weight!
*Purefire Tactical Magnesium Fire Starter – I have fallen in LOVE with this alternative way to start a fire. It burns so hot that even in our very wet climate, it will still get a good, hot fire going. We will be doing a giveaway on the traveling fire starter they sell later this week that will include a more in-depth discussion on this and other fire starting alternatives.
* Browning Camping Bighorn Family/Hunting Tent – This is, hands down, the largest tent we have ever owned! At 150 square feet of useable space inside, this tent provided plenty of room and some privacy for both couples that went on the trip. It was so spacious that we had our queen sized, double tall air mattress in there along with all of our non-food gear with room to spare! The height is over 7 feet at the peak and we had no issues with headroom or bumping into the ceiling when moving around in there. We could have easily put a folding table and chairs inside and sat around it with our bedding (for both couples) in the same place. Truly a well made, spacious, and touch tent. It is perfect for longer trips we will take or if we have extra people with us. It could comfortably sleep 8 people without question. Likely closer to a dozen if there are kids.
* Interlocking Foam Floor Tiles – I admit I did not think to get these for the floor of the tent and was incredibly thankful that my friend who went with us did! Normally, we will toss down some cardboard on the ground, then put a tarp on top and then the tent on top of the tarp. The cardboard helps take the sharps edges of rocks out without ruining your tent bottom. Sometimes you can still feel those little rocks gouging your feet but not when you put these interlocking foam pieces inside the tent, too! After wearing boots all day long, stepping out of them and onto this flooring was a slice of heaven and we all commented about how thankful we were that they were there. I highly recommend it if you are an avid car camper but they are so lightweight that even bringing two of them would be beneficial, if only for when you get up in the morning.
Mister Heater, Portable Buddy (often called a “buddy heater”) – We have had this item for a couple of years now but don’t often bring it along. This time, with it being so much later than we usually camp, we decided it would be a good idea. I am really glad we did because those frigid nights trying to get into bed were not pleasant. Warming up the tent and making sure there were vents open to dispel moisture before bedtime and then the early morning made getting into and out of bed more bearable. The only downside is that we think it may have caused a little extra moisture inside the tent due to the laws of condensation, haha! No matter what, when camping in a tent here you will end up with moisture inside the tent. It can’t be helped!
* Wenzel sleeping bag – You remember those older, heavy sleeping bags with the plaid pattern inside? That is what the Wenzel is and if we had not gone for these 0 Degree bags, we would have been frozen little popsicles. We bought two of them and zipped them together, nestling down into the soft flannel. As it was, we also had to wear thermals and have a wool blanket added once the temp dropped below 30 because of all that moisture. When you have really humid and cold air, it is hard to stay warm no matter what kind of gear you have. They are spendy but worth it. So long as we take good care of these, they will serve us well for 10+ years. When it comes to staying warm while sleeping, you just don’t skimp on it.
Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener – This little pocket sharpener is wonderful! We have them in our EDC bags, our BOBs, and soon there will be a couple in the vehicle bag. There are others out there but this is the first one we got and it really does the trick. A quick knife sharpening in the field can save a lot of time and heartache. When Mister Dreamer was gutting the deer he shot, he ran his knife through it a few times and it made everything go much faster and cleaner.
Old Timer Pro Hunter Full Tang Fixed Blade – This is a newer knife that I did a review on. When you are out in the woods, having a good utilitarian knife is a must. This knife served me very well on everything from making roasting sticks to cooking to skinning. The solid construction does not allow moisture to get trapped in crevasses and makes it incredibly easy to clean. It holds an edge for a long time. I only had to sharpen it up a couple times and let me tell you: this knife was put through its paces! Here is an alternative that is very similar to what I have.
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