What better place to test warm weather hunting gear than Florida in early May, when temperatures regularly reach the mid- 90s, humidity is intense, and the sun broils? Our group hunted hogs in Central Florida with the opportunity to test a number of Field & Stream products, with great results.
Smartwick Tech Shirt: This is an ideal shirt for hunting or warm-weather recreation and contains NoScent C3, a combination of antimicrobial and Zeolite technology that captures human scent as well as SMARTWICK, which wicks moisture and gives you that dry feeling.
Men’s C3 Balaclava Long Sleeve Shirt: Despite the high temperatures and humidity, I wore this shirt every day and loved the unique ability to use its hood and transform it into a face mask or neck warmer (I definitely didn’t need that). This can be an amazing base layer for turkey season or early deer season, providing full Realtree camo coverage with the NOSCENT and SMARTWICK technologies.
Outpost XL 17-foot Ladder Stand: This is one of the most solid ladder stands I’ve ever used. Made from D-tubes that reduce flex, you can climb into this stand with stealth and confidence. The padded shooting rail works for bow hunters, crossbow hunters, and firearms. The 17 feet of elevation is perfect for keeping scent above a deer’s nose and keeping you out of its line of sight. A mat powder covering eliminates shine from the rails and helps to camouflage the location of the stand.
Powderhorn XL Hunting Backpack: The vote was unanimous among our group: This was one of the best backpacks we’ve ever seen. As guys prepared for the hunt by switching gear from their old packs, they were quick to comment, “It’s not going back.” Covered in Realtree camo, the pack has a host of very accessible outer pockets with main and secondary compartments to store large items of gear. Once you designate gear to a specific pocket, you’ll never rummage through a pack again. It carries comfortably and is waterproof.
Rutland Tracker Realtree Xtra Waterproof Rubber Hunting Boots: I expected the hog hunt to be marshy and wet, the kind of environment rubber boots were made for. Ironically, central Florida has been very dry this spring, and the forest floor was crunchy. Although I brought tall boot socks, I wore street socks in the hot weather and these boots did not eat an inch, a testament to the comfortable fit and supportive design. Despite the hot temperatures and the insulated design of these boot, they were amazingly cool and comfortable.
Ultimate Ground Blind: During the last evening of the hunt, my guide carried this blind under his arm, walked into a tiny clearing in the heart of the bush and popped up the 5-hub blind in less than a minute. I quickly learned that this was the best blind I’d ever hunted in, for several reasons besides the easy up/down construction. It is easily roomy enough for two hunters, with a height of 72 inches allowing persons to stand up or draw a bow from a sitting position. The windows opened and closed with sliders that eliminated the noise of Velcro. You could literally adjust a window with game nearby and never make a sound. Finally, the blind comes in two camo patterns — two sides of Realtree AP and two sides of APG camo. Just turn the blind toward the side that matches cover best. Ingenious.
Field & Stream has 19 retail stores bearing its name, and you can also find the Field & Stream brand at Dick’s. This is a quality brand and you’ll find many more cool products at fieldandstreamshop.com.
Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
