Rambling Review – Crooked Horn Outfitters Trailblazer II Pack

Why:

I think every outdoorsman is on the quest to find the perfect backpack. The one issue is that different situations call for different gear and so there are many great products out there for those different situations. Having said that, I may have found one of the best day packs out there – the Crooked Horn Outfitters Trailblazer II Pack.

First impressions:

Made in the USA and Lifetime guarantee – I have a couple different products from Crooked Horn and all of them are high quality. It is great to have a company that cares enough to take pride in their product and back it up.

The Fabric – The folks at Crooked Horn Outfitters utilize a waterproof fabric called GrizHide. Not only is the fabric waterproof but it is also whisper-quiet, soft, and tough as nails.

Built in Bow/Rifle/Fly Rod Tube Pouch –  One nice feature that the Trailblazer Pack has built right into it is the Bow/Rifle pouch. I’ve also found it doubles nicely as a a rod holder too. When not needed the pouch folds up easily under the pack and is out of the way.

Accessible Water Bottle and Knife Pockets – The one thing that I really like about this pack is that I can access several pockets without taking off the pack. It is especially nice when I’m fishing to be able to access the waterbottle pockets. I use the one water bottle pocket for my Katadyn bottle and the other I tuck two fly boxes in to. The same thing with the knife pockets. One has a fixed blade knife, while the other holds a pair of hemostats.

Field Use:

The Crooked Horn Trailblazer II was obviously built by an outdoorsman. The pack itself is well-thought out and is strategically put together for someone who is going to cover some country. The pack is broken down into two main sections. The main bottom compartment rides right on the lower lumbar region and secures snuggly with a durable, padded waist belt. This main compartment is closed with two buckles that make for a great place to cinch down a jacket or extra gear. The upper compartment is a bit smaller but the perfect spot for gear that needs to be handy.

One of the coolest features of this pack is the fact that it converts from a day pack to lumbar pack. I have found this to be one of my favorite things about this pack, especially during the long hot summers of Arizona. When hiking out of a canyon, It’s nice to unbuckle the top portion of the pack and secure it to the lower clips. This allows my back to breathe, keeping me cool and on the move.

Fly Fishing – To be honest, I get more use out of this Trailblazer II as a day pack for fly fishing. What I love about it is the size. Truth be told, it is on the small size as far as day packs go, holding only 900 cubic inches, but it holds absolutely everything I consider essential for backcountry fly fishing. Truth be told, I have take a couple dunks on the slippery rocks with this pack on and completely submerged the pack. My essential gear remained dry, although I myself was drenched head to foot.

Hunting – This pack is perfect for scouting for an upcoming hunting season or a bowhunting day trips. Although probably not the greatest pack for hauling out an elk, this pack surely ranks high on my list if you are looking for a pack that will keep you light and quiet for a spot and stalk hunt. The design of the Trailblazer II pack keeps it close to my back and does not let the weight hang off my shoulders. The cloth is whisper quiet and tough as nails which makes it a great choice when heading into the rough desert landscape of Arizona.

Check out this product video from Crooked Horn Outfitters.

Pros:

Made in America

Lifetime Warranty

Whisper quiet/waterproof material

Day pack converts to lumbar pack

Accessibility of the pockets

Comfortable

Cons:

Size – At only 900 cubic inches the Trailblazer II is on the smaller side of day packs

Prognosis:  I liked this Crooked Horn Trailblazer II Pack from the moment I laid eyes on it, and having beat it up for the past year, I like it even better now. The guys over at Crooked Horn have a dynamite pack that is definitely worth checking out.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review.  My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

The post Rambling Review – Crooked Horn Outfitters Trailblazer II Pack appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Rambling Review – Crooked Horn Outfitters Safari Sneakers

Why:

Shooting a stickbow requires a great many things like practice and patience. One of the greatest requirements for being successful while hunting with traditional archery equipment is stealth. Stalking through the desert in a pair of hard-soled boots can be a loud and crunchy ordeal when trying to get close to the prey. My hunting partner introduced me Crooked Horn Outfitters Safari Sneakers on our javelina hunt last year, and these Safari Sneakers will always be in my pack.

First impressions:

Well Constructed – The Crooked Horn Outfitters Safari Sneakers are made with a very soft fuzzy sole on the bottom and of a soft fleece upper that is ultimately tightened with a velcro. I know several hunters who have been wearing theirs for years, none the worse for wear.

Made in America – Tough to find much of anything made in America anymore, but the Safari Sneakers are built right here in U.S.A.

Field Use:

The Crooked Horn Safari Sneakers have a special place in my pack and I have used them extensively during javelina season. Slipping the Safari Sneaker on allows the hunter to move very quietly over crunching rocks and snapping twigs. The soft padded bottoms are similar to the fur padded feet of a bear or mountain line and the wideness of the pad allows for weight to be distributed. The Safari Sneakers helped me to get in real close on a couple of herds of javelina and last year I was successful at taking at pig at 13 yards. A couple of my hunting buddies swear by these booties and have closed the distance on deer and antelope alike.

One thing I noticed about the Safari Sneakers is they pick up just about everything in the desert. As annoying as this is, I don’t think that it impacts how quiet they are in any serious way. As a precautionary measure, I only where them on a stalk, and at the end of the season, I take an hour or two and try and clean them up as best as I can before storing them for the next hunting season.

I have also heard and read of other hunters using their Safari Sneakers as a layer over their boots for warmth while on stand. Although never having personally done this, I imagine if it was cold enough, these might help out a bit.

Pros:

Ultra Quiet

Ultra light

Well constructed

Made in the USA

Reasonable Price

Cons:

Bottoms pick up everything

Prognosis: The Crooked Horn Safari Sneakers will always have a place in my pack for those spot and stalk hunts. I love these things.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. The Crooked Horn Outfitter Safari Sneakers were provided to Arizona Wanderings for the purpose of this review. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review.  My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

The post Rambling Review – Crooked Horn Outfitters Safari Sneakers appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Rambling Review – Crooked Horn Outfitters Trail Light

Why:

Can an outdoorsman have too many quality flashlight/headlamps? Probably not. The Crooked Horn Outfitters Trail Light is a pretty ingenious system that offers another illuminating option for the hunter, fisherman, or hiker.

First impressions:

The Dual Multidirectional LEDs – The Crooked Horn team really nailed it with the multidirectional LED system that they included in their Trail Light. With two individual pivoting LEDs the outdoorsman can perform those tasks that require light without having to try and position your headlamp in just such a way that leads to neck cramps later.

The Battery Clip – The quick, no hassle battery clip, assures the operater that at a moments notice a new battery can quickly be loaded into the Trail light without having to fumble with tiny screws and a screwdriver.

Hands Free – Usually my head lamp or flashlight is buried at the bottom of my pack. The operator can choose to mount the Trail Light to a backpack or quick clip it to a chest strap or jacket and always have their hands free.

Field Use:

Fly fishing – When small stream fishing, I usually wear a backpack to carry any gear that I may need. When sneaking into that remote stream in the early morning or slipping and sliding out of the creek long after the sunlight has left the canyon, having that Trail Light hooked to my should strap has been an extremely beneficial feature.

(I also performed a very unscientific test. When I was at the San Juan last spring, I had brought my vice with me to tie flies at camp. With my headlamp, I would find myself struggling to focus the beam on whatever I was working on. So, I went to my tying table here at home and turned all the lights off, so that it was completely dark. I then used the Trail Lights double beams and focused on on the hook and the other on the pedestal where my materials were. It was much easier to see what I was working on then just a head lamp, and I imagine if I used the Trail Light and a head lamp, I would be a happy camper.)

Hunting – I spent 4 days on a PA whitetail hunt, sneaking to stands before daybreak and climbing into trees in the dark. The Crooked Horn Outfitters Trail Light really came in handy. I used the green light setting for most walks in and used the two way directional to shine one at my hands and one at my feet as I climbed up the tree steps and got set up. The most convenient thing about the light is that it is hands free and the multidirectional  feature. In my opinion it is better than a headlamp/hat light because you do not have to keep moving your head up and down to see where you are going and it does not shine in your buddy’s eyes when you are talking to him in the dark. The light being clipped to your pack or jacket keeps the light pointed down and forward and allows you to move your head to look all around without the light dancing all around the woods.

Pros:

Innovative Pivoting LEDs

Fast Battery Exchange Clip

Green and White LEDs for different hunting situations

Permanent Backpack Strap Mount

Cons:

There are brighter lights on the market, but I believe that the output is perfect when trying to sneak through the woods to the stand without spooking game.

Prognosis: The Crooked Horn Outfitters Trail Light is a dynamite little tool that will always be at the top of my gear list.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review.  The Crooked Horn Outfitter Trail Light was provided for the purpose of this review. My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

The post Rambling Review – Crooked Horn Outfitters Trail Light appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.