10 Pieces of Gear I Carried for over a Decade of Mountain Guiding

After a lengthy video-making sabbatical, I'm back!

A quick video to get back into things. As I reorganized my life and gear, post selling my guiding business, I ran into several pieces of equipment that have gone on almost every elk, deer, sheep, goat, and bear hunt I've been on for the past decade. I'd consider these no brainer purchases for anyone diving into mountain hunting!

00:00 I'm Back!
00:35 Newsletter
02:23 In-Reach Device
03:50 Buck 113 Knife (Carl Thomas Jr. Sheath)
05:40 Kershaw Ultra Tek Sharpener
06:50 Petzl E-Lite Backup Headlamp
08:55 Water System (Nalgenes, HumanGear Lid, SteriPen)
12:00 OnX Hunt Mapping Software and a Smart Phone
13:05 Detachable Bipod
14:40 Dermatone Sunscreen
15:30 Ice Axe and Shooting Sticks - Kobah Axe, Whippet, Cascade Mountain Carbon Fiber (Costco)
17:55 Quick-StiX
18:16 PhoneSkope

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Below you will find Amazon Affiliate links to products discussed or used in the video. I make a commission from your use of these links, but using the link will not affect the price you pay for any items.
Phone Skope-
Trekking Poles-
Dermatone-
OnX Hunt Subscription-
SteriPen-
Big Nalgenes-
Small Nalgene-
Human Gear Drinking Cap-
Backup HeadLamp from Petzl-
Kershaw Ultra-Tek Sharpener-
Buck Knife 113-
Cross-Draw Carl Thomas Jr. Sheath
InReach-

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PLEASE NOTE:
*Cliff no longer takes on new guided hunt or expedition clients. He sold all operating outfitting/guiding businesses prior to 2021.

[videoish]

Its so nice to have a level headed guy just explain his kit without the ego & chip on the shoulder so many others have. I appreciate your common sense approach & delivery

[jamesstuart]

Finally a survival expert who tells you not to get into a survival situation in the first place. Well done

[mikekuczynski]

I’ve been an outdoorsman for over 60 years and like you have gone through generations of gear and it’s evolution . What you have shown us today is all good no matter what your doing being it backpacking, fishing, or hunting the one think you didn’t mention was optics ( binoculars/ spotting scope ) which I’m sure you have . All of these items will make your life easier in the backcountry and could even help save your life . Thanks for the video
Happy Trails

[megastick]

A quality knife is probably THE most important tool in anyone’s kit. It doesn’t have to cost hundreds of dollars, BUT, it MUST be rugged, take and hold a good edge and be where you can get to with one hand.
The choice of a fixed blade is excellent for a primary knife. Also the old military saying “ 2 is 1, 1 is none” is especially true with knives. One should ALWAYS have a spare knife of good quality. A knife can be easily lost, having a backup in the field is just good sense. It can be the same as the primary, bigger, smaller, a folder, whatever, but it is essential to have a backup knife.
One broken blade will convince anyone in the field of the importance of having a knife.
Good videos, thanks for taking the time.

[xSirBaconx]

I can literally feel the experience in your voice. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us, you’ve gained a new sub!

[jonfisher]

I've never been a fan of trekking poles until I was given a pair last year. I took them with me to Snowdonia and found them really useful when descending steep rocky paths with a backpack. Thank you for sharing your experience over time. That always sorts the reliable kit from the gimmicks.

[MKlukowski]

The voice, confidence, demeanor, calmness; all simply point to well-earned experienced. Came for the gear, stayed for the talk ;)

[CrackingCritic]

Zinke is an old Australian brand of thick sunscreen (which is why we call it Zinke (pronounced like zinc) and does indeed contain zinc oxide. Australia is the largest exporter of Zinc in the world, since our country contains over 20% of the world’s zinc oxide resource. However, this isn’t particularly important as zinc oxide blocks almost all types of UVA/B sun radiation, it also doesn’t deteriorate from the sun easily and works instantly when applied. This is why you see Australian surfers, lifeguards and sportsmen wear Zinke for sun protection. Especially since Australia has the harshest sun in the world (apart from Antartica) due to having a large hole in the ozone layer. As I type this my grandad has terminal skin cancer so needless to say sun protection is extremely important in this country.

[cartershuffler]

As a new hunter, I just discovered you and your channel. I learn everytime I watch. Love it Cliff keep it going.

[barrytree]

very good video on survival and helpful tools in hunting. Your no nonsense way of describing them and not doing an add for from a supply company is great. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and don’t venture far. I’m 67 and love everything outdoors. I’m going to get walking sticks as I’m not in mountainous terrain, great help with my arthritis. Thank you for putting this video on YouTube

[jimbolson]

One advantage of the Steripen is that you don't have to worry about the cold. Many water filters are destroyed by freezing.

[supersymun]

Holy crow! He’s back! Knife sharpening vid was my bible for years! Cheers

[tomb]

Those walking sticks are a must have. I'm 47 with bad knees and my sticks have saved me many times. I never hike without them.

[bobalvarez]

Cliff, I appreciate your knowledge and you sharing it to all of us. Thanks for what you do!

[mpccenturion]

Love your content. Back 46 yrs ago. I hunted woods from 50 yds - to 500. 1895 Winchester - 0 to 150 yds - 303 Brit --- P14 Enfield - 303 Brit - scoped - 150 to 300 yds. 300 to as far as I was willing to shoot. Paper got hammered a lot! LAST - 300 to 500 yds - A Lee-Enfield No4. welded action single shot - 7.62x51 - 308 Win. Bull barrel. Peep sights at 500 yds - I could cover the group with 2 playing cards.

[davidcloyd]

That was great! As an older guy I’ve discarded so much crap and like getting back to the basics, “necessities”. If you ain’t gonna actually use it, you don’t need it.

[tundrafunk]

I keep one of those Perzl go/emergency lights in my pocket everyday and it’s saved my butt in power outages and earthquakes. Keep one in my hunting survival kit as well. Great little light! Love that it has a red led as well so I don’t blow out my natural night vision in the tent.

[yousweetpotato]

I love being outside & gear & all the videos about gear for outside. This is my favorite outdoor gear recommendation video, because it's based on years spent outside, rather than contrived survival situations / challenges. Thanks for sharing!

[michaelstrauss]

Great review.
I'm so old school, and probably over twice your age; but it was interesting to see what sort of gear and gadgets are being used these days.
Sorry about your knees. I'm finally having to admit that age is catching up to me.
By the way, I still have the Buck knife I bought in 1972.
Subscribed.

[timhansen]

That headlamp has saved my ass so many times. I personally think it is amazing that I haven't lost that tiny thing in 15+ years!