Many of you know that I’m cheap. I’m not afraid to say it, but I like to not spend money. With that said, I also like my quality items, and will pay a good amount of money for them if needed. My favorite thing, however, is to find quality items that don’t break the bank. When it comes to outdoor/hunting/fishing gear, quality is crucial. The last thing a sportsman wants is to have a product fail them in the field, especially if a trophy fish or big game animal is on the line.
These are my top 5 gear items that won’t break the bank, but are still of good quality. I’ve done extensive testing on all of these items and have no problem putting my name to them. Each item will have a link as to where to purchase them.
1.) KUYOU Hydration Bladder
This hydration bladder comes in 2 liters or 3 liters, and is also BPA free. The bladder features two ways to fill – it has a screw lid and also a top that comes fully open. The hose that connects to the bladder comes insulated, which is especially nice in the Arizona heat. This hydration pack is made out of a thick material, and doesn’t seem to have as much of that horrible plastic taste that new hydration bladders seem to have. The mouth piece comes with a cover, and also “clicks” in and out of place. I’ve used this hydration pack through multiple hunts, through a lot of abuse without a single leaked drop of water. At the end of the day, you can’t beat a $13.98 3 liter hydration bladder. Purchase HERE
2.) GETIHU Portable Phone Charger
I came across this portable phone charger while I was looking for chargers that I could use during hunting the backwoods. I was looking for a reliable charger that would provide more than one single charge, and that wouldn’t break the bank, and that’s when I came across the GETIHU Portable Phone Charger. This charger is sleek in size, comes with a charging cord, a flashlight, and a case. The charger provides around 1.75 battery charges, so roughly 1 fully charged batter followed by a battery to 75%. These chargers come with 2 USB ports, a port to charge the charging pack, and a small light. I can’t say enough about this product, and the price is unbeatable at $14.99. Purchase HERE
Game bags can be crucial to keeping meat as fresh as possible while within the field, and they can be pretty expensive. I’ve yet to splurge to purchase game bags that cost more than $30, but I can say that these Northern Game Bags do the job. I’ve found that game bags at your local outdoors shop often are overpriced, so just buy these guys on Amazon – they also come in two different sizes. Pro tip – I vacuum pack my game bags so that they stay dry with wet conditions, and so that they take up less space. Purchase HERE
5.) Energizer Headlamp
Headlamps can be expensive, but they are crucial for hands-free, light-free excursions. I scoured the internet and stores for a reasonably priced headlamp, and came across the Energizer line. I was not very optimistic at first; I paid less than $15 for this headlamp. I can tell you that this thing has surpassed my expectations, and I more than likely won't ever use any other headlamp other than energizer. This headlamp in particular is 250 lumens, but they come in a variety of lumen powers. This headlamp also comes with 5 different light settings; high, low spot, flood, and night vision. The green colored head band might make you look like a badminton player, but it won't disappoint with its performance. Click HERE to purchase.
That’s it folks. These 5 items, all together, would cost you less than $70.00. Like I mentioned, I have no problem putting my name to these items, as they are all of good, and even great, quality. This is the first of posts like this, and I will be posting articles in the future in regards to my top 5 items in other, more specific categories, such as rod/reels, baits, backpacking items, and more. Stay tuned.