GearDaddy’s 'Top 10 Things for Spring'
Nicole digs back into her gear-lovin’ roots.
As a person who did not come from means, I feel crazy blessed to test quality gear for a living. Since 2018, brands have sent me products to test with the hope that I would one day find room for said products in coverage. Sometimes, brands invite me to test gear with other writers in-person on epic adventures, and in many ways, gear testing brought my writing dream job to life.
I love putting gear through its paces, and I want to continue writing about this important subject in a way that serves readers with integrity. Thankfully, Katie and Kestrel were on board when I asked if we could create a Gear section in our print quarterly edition.
Enter GearDaddy.
As part of this section, I curate a quarterly Top 10 list for the paper and go into greater detail online. This list is meant to be pondered, scrutinized, questioned, and hopefully enjoyed — that’s the fun of it. I love a gear list for the sake of a gear list, and as I’m always testing, I’m always considering what I wish I could hand out to everyone I know.
Since space is precious in the print edition, we focus a bit more on storytelling there. In the inaugural issue, I break down the ethic of GearDaddy, where the nickname came from, my brand pick for spring, and why Nuyarn is the best merino wool I’ve tried yet.
I recommend reading both the GearDaddy section in print and this online companion piece to complete the experience. If you are an annual subscriber to our Substack, you’ll receive four issues of The Westrn in print. Though we’re past the subscription date to receive the Spring Issue, individual copies are still available for purchase.
Bonus: I know a lot of gear is expensive, so I’m adding some budget alternatives at the bottom. GearDaddies need not spend all their sugar on top-tier gear. <3
Top 10 Things for Spring
Rucking for Fitness: The Improved Mystery Ranch Pop-Up 30 Pack ($399)
This spring, I’ve picked up Michael Easter’s habit of rucking. Why? Every fall, I get a rude wake-up call putting on a pack of gear that weighs close to 30 pounds. So I’ve packed down my Mystery Ranch Pop-Up with weights and water and I ruck every time I walk the dogs, head into the hills, or do chores. MR does a great job of fitting packs to people. Before purchasing a pack, I recommend learning how to fit, adjust, and alter a pack correctly. Otherwise, it’s much less fun.
Bug-Off Turkey Hunting: Sitka Equinox Guard Hoody ($149)
Listen, GearDaddy had Lyme Disease in her mid-20s and tick-borne diseases are no joke. Sitka Gear’s Equinox line utilizes Insect Shield technology, which is EPA-registered and repels all sorts of bugs. The Guard Hoody is one of my favorite pieces of technical clothing far beyond hunting wear. It’s the lightest sun shirt I own, which makes it extremely versatile for beating back bugs and sunburns. It’s expensive, for sure — but it continues to repel insects through 70 wash cycles.
With a warming climate, insect-borne diseases are on the rise, so I also added a budget permethrin treatment at the bottom that allows you to treat clothes you already own. Because safety is king and itchy welts are passé.
Backcountry Bear Hunting: LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Trekking Poles ($250)
I love trekking poles, and I shall shout it from the rooftops. For years, I got by with a pair of $30 CostCo poles until one broke at a crucial moment in the backcountry. It was time to level up. My LEKI Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Poles ($230) have yet to let me down. To shave an extra 2 ounces off my pack weight, I’d go with the Black Series. It’s all about the specs, babe. The specs!
Old Man Dog Treat: Furvor Bone Broth Collagen Meal Topper ($29)
If you know and love GearDaddy, you know and love Go West Butch Cassidy — my 10-year-old border collie and a retired professional greeter at trade shows and offices alike. Butch is a finicky eater. I typically have to sing him a special song to eat when we travel, and now that he’s in his golden years, I worry a bit more about his joints. I take collagen, so why shouldn’t he? Furvor’s Meal Topper is now a staple for my sweet ol’ man, and it inspires him to consume more calories than my song ever could.
Donkey Pack Bliss: Mountain Ridge Gear Pack Saddle, fully outfitted ($458)
On a whim, Kestrel and I purchased a pair of long ears last year. Rocco the BLM donkey is probably the best purchase of all time. He’s trained to packing perfection, can haul out 140 pounds in a single trip, and is an absolute mountain goat of a donkey…if that’s a thing. Donkeys have unique needs when it comes to tack. Their straight, flat backs are primed for carrying heavy loads, but the saddle bars absolutely must fit like a glove to do their job properly.
Mountain Ridge Gear makes a really beautiful pack saddle, with donkey-built gear to match. I love the neon colors that differentiate Rocco from a mule deer during Montana’s rifle season. And I’m just so impressed with the quality of this saddle. I think pack donkeys are the new pack llamas, and that’s a topic for a future article, guaranteed.
Nighttime Ranchin’: Knog Bilby Run 400 Headlamp ($70)
I use headlamps almost every night on my Mini Ranch. During Montana’s winter months (usually September to May), my horses eat two hay feedings per day and the second one happens well past sunset.
I’ve worn the Bilby for a few months now, and I’m impressed with a few things in particular. The silicone strap is beyond easy to adjust when wearing hats of varying thickness, much easier than a typical fabric strap. There are seven lighting options, and the high beam is insanely powerful, reaching over 300 feet. I really look forward to using the spot option for hunting season, which only illuminates the ground below you. I’ll say it: this is the coolest headlamp I’ve owned. I think it’s worth the extra cash. And once I got the hang of the USB charger, I loved the ease of it.
Gun Dog Finesse: SportDOG SportTrainer 875 ($220)
E-collars get a bad rap, mostly because the undereducated use them incorrectly to punish — rather than condition — their dogs. But, in the right hands, an e-collar is a powerful tool for training a safe and responsive canine. My gun dog Bob and I went through a tough phase when his recall was imperfect. The SportDOG SportTrainer 875 changed our lives for the better. Bob freaks out with excitement when the orange collar comes out because he knows we’re about to do something fun. It’s a win-win; I have a light hand on him from a distance at all times and I can better trust him to chase joy, dog freedom, and wild birds with ease.
Muddy Miles: HOKA Challenger 7 GTX ($160)
If there’s one item that should stretch your budget, it’s performance footwear. HOKA One One is, for me, a lifetime brand. Its revolutionary cushion allowed me to walk, jog, and backpack with major knee issues far longer than should have been possible. After four surgeries, I can now wear shoes with less cushioning comfortably. My current pick is the GORE-TEX version of the Challenger trail shoe. It’s insanely rugged and keeps spring mud, ice, and water at bay while remaining light and responsive in varied terrain. Plus, I’m into the all-black vibes. It’s a slick and edgy look, and I don’t mind wearing them into town on errands.
Spring Cuts: Montana Knife Company Blackfoot 2.0 ($300)
Montana Knife Company is one of my personal favorite small brands here in Montana. The brand might lean a little more conservative than I do, but master bladesmith Josh Smith is a visionary for building a small, independent business in a way that bolsters physical communities. He’s done just that for Frenchtown, Montana, and he’s made the best knife I’ve ever used in the process.
The Blackfoot 2.0 is MKC’s flagship knife. It boasts a full-tang 7.5-inch blade made from 52100 ball-bearing steel, and it holds an edge like none I’ve used prior. In order to purchase, you’ll have to sign up for MKC’s drops because knives sell out quickly. But I tell you, it’s worth the wait. You can check the timing on new drops at the top of the website. Plan accordingly.
Ranch Cleanup: Lightweight Give’r Work Gloves ($31 + $8 for personalization)
My Giv’r gloves! I thought I lost them recently, and my heart palpitated with longing as if my teenage crush had just told me he didn’t share my feelings. Thankfully, I found them in the barn between hay bales. (I blame Rocco the donk for knocking them down. Rocco!) After a few years of wear, the yellow patina is beautiful. I prefer the lightweight, uninsulated version for its versatility. I can easily add a liner for colder months without sweltering in the hotter months when a lot of Mini Ranch projects are in full play. My pair is branded with my initials, which saved me from glove thieves more than a few times. The ‘branding’ is worth the extra cost.
Budget Alternatives: A GearDaddy Keeps Her Promise
Note: Starred items have not been personally tested. Instead, I choose items that I would buy as a frugal alternative.
Beating Back Bugs: Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent Treatment ($10-19)
This year, I’m leaning on Sawyer for my insect-repelling needs. This fabric treatment repels and kills mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers for up to six weeks or six washes. Use it on any fabric at a rate of 4.5 ounces per item for full repellency. If you can’t spend the big money on permethrin-infused fabric, this is your next best bet for affordable and accessible protection. Not only do I recommend doing this, I see it as a non-negotiable for anyone in areas with serious insect-borne disease risk.
Affordable Trekking Poles: Zpacks Carbon Fiber Trekking Pole* ($60)
Zpacks is a well-known brand in the long-distance hiking community, and its Carbon Fiber trekking poles have an overwhelming number of 5-star reviews. The pair weighs in impressively at just under 15 ounces total. Though I prefer the ease of a folding pole, ZPacks poles compress down to 2 feet for easy side-pocket storage. Trekking poles are really your best friend for better days in the mountains, and they’re worth every penny you’ll spend on them.
Ruckpack for Non-Hunters: GORUCK Ruck Plate Carrier 3.0* ($115)
If you don’t need to buy an expensive hunting or weight-bearing pack, please don’t. But I do think we could all benefit from rucking, and GORUCK offers a more affordable and streamlined option for anyone interested in leveling up their morning walk.
Wallet-Friendly Hunting Knife: Randy Newberg x Gerber DTS Knife ($68)
Honestly, I love this knife. It’s burly, well-constructed, and offers a second blade for cutting tendons to preserve the life of the main blade. For under $70, I can’t think of a better option. I used one to field-dress a pronghorn a few years ago, and it performed near flawlessly. For me, the knife is a bit oversized which did bother my genteel, femme hands at the end of the job, but it worked. It still works. I keep it as a truck backup for when I inevitably forget a knife, and I know that it will do a great job when needed.
Battery-Powered Headlamp: Fenix HM23 V2.0, AA-powered* ($37, 25% Off)
I carry two headlamps on any pack-supported adventure. Once you’ve had a headlamp latch failure or a faulty recharge in the backcountry, you’ll do the same. My backup is *always* battery-powered, and I only buy Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries for this purpose. This offers a reliable failsafe when recharging can be hit or miss. Fenix is my brand choice for my second option, and though I haven’t personally tested the HM23, I would absolutely purchase it for myself if on a budget. It boasts 300 lumens, only needs one battery, and it can be locked against accidental activation (big bonus, you guys). With a max runtime of 100 hours on a low-light setting, you can parcel your lighting needs out easily. For under $40, it’s a steal.
Nicole Qualtieri is the Editor-in-Chief of The Westrn. She’s written for Outside Magazine, USA Today, GearJunkie, MeatEater, Modern Huntsman, Backcountry Journal, Impact Journal, and many others. A lifelong horsewoman and DIY outdoorswoman, Nicole lives on the outskirts of Anaconda, MT with a full pack of happy critters.