Rokman Backpack Gear Review

Overlooking Twin Lakes on the Toxaway Loop Trail

If you've been following me on social media at all, you may have seen that I have been trying out the backpacks from Rokman Gear for a while now.  If you haven't heard of Rokman yet, or seen how their packs work, let me just say you're in for a treat! I'll post some of their videos as well, as they're better quality than my videos.

The first time I used the Rokman Pack was on a four-day backpacking trip.  I took the pack without having a complete explanation on all the features, and took a blind approach to hopefully give it an honest review.  Jumping ahead with my take on the pack system--I was blown away with comfort, and grateful for the functionality and quality of the gear! Within an hour of starting our hike, we were met with a rain storm that soaked my hiking partners gear.  My gear, however, was completely dry.  That night, I didn't want to cram all my gear in my small backpacking tent with me.  It rained some more as the Rokman Pack sat outside my tent, but I wasn't worried because I was confident that the pack was protecting everything.  Aside from keeping my gear safe, the pack was easy to use and I have yet to find anything else that is as comfortable!

Here are more valuable features of the Rokman Pack:

Core Flex Harness
The Core Flex Harness is the foundation of the whole system for Rokman.  It is made with a carbon fiber core, which flexes with your body, preventing resistance and allowing some forgiveness when your pack isn't loaded completely evenly.  Let's be honest, there are many times we are able to load our gear perfectly so it rides nicely on our back before going in to an area or on a hunt--but on that journey, we are in and out of our bag and stuff gets moved around, and then it rides unevenly.  Even when loading harvested animals, it is never evenly balanced.   I love the fact that the Core Flex Harness allows for this forgiveness, while also providing a SOLID and comfortable base to their system!

The Core Flex Harness is fully adjustable to fit practically anyone's torso length and girth. Adjusting the harness is as simple as releasing a tension strap, moving the buckles to the right spot, and then tightening the tension strap. This can all be done in 10-15 seconds. The first time I used any of the Rokman Packs, the main thing I noticed was the amount of padding in the shoulder straps and lumbar support/waist strap.  Aside from the awesome fact that these packs are water proof, I have yet to find a pack that is this comfortable.  The Rokman Pack is by far the absolute most comfortable pack I have ever worn.  It doesn't matter if I have the pack loaded with a few items for a quick day trip or loaded heavier than I would need for a two-week long backpacking trip; the pack is extremely satisfying, and adjusts to fit my body perfectly!

Core Flex Harness - weight: 3.1 lbs. 

You can also clip the Rokman Bino Case right to the shoulder straps of the Core Flex Harness! No more sweat patch on your back from another set of straps when you run the whole system! I'll actually make a separate review of the Bino Case and Harness as to not make this review longer than needed.

Attaching a Bag or Pack Frame
Once you have the Core Flex Harness adjusted perfectly for your body, attaching any of the Rokman bags is super simple.  Each bag or pack frame has two DuraFlex pockets which slide into two hooks on the bottom of the Core Flex Harness.  Then, each pack has a metal stud at the top, which you insert through a hole in the shoulder harness and push in a load pin to secure the bag.  Once the bag is attached to the Core Flex Harness, you just have two clips on each side that help dispense the load weight evenly and provide support.  Now that the bag or pack frame is on, you have 7 points of contact securing the bag to the Core Flex Harness.


The Bag/Pack

The Basecamp 5000 on the pack frame

The backpacks that Rokman makes are extremely durable. They're made out of 100% TPU bonded 420D High Tenacity Nylon core fabric and 100% waterproof RF welded seams.  Those are some fancy names to pretty much say it’s made out waterproof material that is extremely durable!  I expected the bags to feel rubbery, but that was not the case when I got my hands on them.  They are not your typical canvas material that many packs are made out of--while at the same time they don't feel a lot different.  The material is a little bit louder than a normal pack, but when it is loaded with gear and strapped down, I hardly noticed this at all.  I will say, one thing I noticed is that the material does not have any give, so in those situations where you like to squeeze one more item in your bag, it is a little more difficult with the Rokman bags.  Rokman combated this by making their packs with the ability to attach other packs or bags to add additional space/storage capacity very easily!  Also, the reason the material doesn’t have any give is because they are fully water proof!  You can literally throw this bag, full of gear, into the river or lake and it will float.  The side pockets are water resistant and are designed to not allow water in unless completely submerged in water for extended periods of time.  It is made to survive through extreme conditions.

Rokman makes three sizes of backpacks as well as a pair of Side Kick Bags that can be attached to any of their packs or pack frame.  Rokman also makes a gun scabbard that attaches to the back any of the bags or pack frame.  The sizes of the Rokman backpacks are as follows:

Base Camp 5000 - 5000 cubic inches, 4.12 lbs. 
Scout 3800 - 3800 cubic inches, 3.6 lbs.
Pinnacle 2500 - 2500 cubic inches, 3.12 lbs.

I have used the Basecamp 5000 and the Pinnacle 2500.

All of Rokman's packs, including their pack frame, have a built in Load Strap that is florescent orange.  The Load Strap is located on the bottom of every bag and is sewn in, then attached to side and top buckles to secure loads.  They built this into every pack with the intention of allowing you to carry in or carry out any item that you are unable to put inside of your bag.  They also built this Load Strap with a "nose hole" which allows your to securely attach the head of any animal you harvest in a secure and safe way. 

Another feature that I love about Rokman is that I can use all three of these bags or the pack frame separately or at the same time on the same shoulder straps/Core Flex Harness!  Once you own the foundation of the system, you can get another size of pack and switch it, depending on what adventure you're going on.  "Piggybacking" the backpacks effectively onto one another is a feature I have yet to find on another pack system.

Basecamp 5000 keeping all my gear dry after a rain storm

Carbon Fiber Pack Frame
I want to touch on the Carbon Fiber Pack Frame.  The pack frame is made out of carbon fiber, which makes it extremely durable and strong.  It is also designed to match the contour of your back rather than having a stiff/straight design that is contrary to the human body.  The load capacity of the frame is 250 lbs., but it only weights 3.10 lbs! Just like all of the Rokman Packs, the pack frame can be attached directly to the Core Flex Harness.  The top of the pack frame can be removed if you wish to have a smaller profile pack frame.  This is great if you wish to run the Side Kick bags on your pack frame to go in super light.

You can see my sleeping bag (in the white trash bag)

 between the pack frame and the Basecamp 5000.

The way I used the system was by attaching the pack frame to the shoulder straps, and then strapping the Basecamp 5000 to the pack frame.  My sleeping bag carrier ripped, so I put my sleeping bag in between the pack frame and the Basecamp 5000 before strapping everything down tightly (as shown in the picture).  This is how I would recommend running the system: Core Flex Harness, pack frame, and then whatever pack you decide to use that trip.  If I was in a hunting situation, running the same system, I would be able to extend the bag out and use the load shelf to haul meat or other items while still keeping my bag attached on the outside, protecting the rest of my load.

Now to the luxury feature of the pack frame!  I LOVE the fact that I can use this pack frame as a seat. Yes, a seat... The pack frame load shelf has padding in it, which allows you to use it as a seat when glassing or sitting in camp.  It's fully adjustable so you can kick back and relax or sit upright while spending hours looking through a spotting scope.  The load shelf is also made out of the same waterproof material. Using the load shelf is nice so you don't get wet from sitting on the ground. The padding also allows you to sit longer without your rear end or legs going numb like they would from sitting on hard rock or log.

Carbon Fiber Pack Frame - Weight: 3.10 lbs.

Cost
Now comes the fun part. You find some amazing gear and love what it does and how it feels. Now it’s time to pull the trigger.  You look at the cash register, back and your wallet, and then back at the cash register... Let's be honest, quality gear is not cheap.  The cost for the Rokman gear is on the high end of "average" gear--but at the same time, when considering high-end gear, it is actually on the lower end of the spectrum.  I've even heard a few people say that they've spent $600 on a "normal" backpack that doesn't do HALF the stuff the Rokman Packs can do!  This is where my wife would chime in and say she would much rather see me pay $600 for a quality pack than buy a new pack every other year because I'm not happy with the one I have.

The lifetime warranty on their gear is also a comfort point. I can rest easy knowing that if there is a defect in the material, I will not be S.O.L. in a year if something fails on me.  Also, looking at the Rokman system as a protectant for your other gear is a huge benefit! All of us know how expensive hunting equipment can be.  Having a pack that will protect your gear from the elements is a reassuring piece of mind that you don't get with all other packs.

Basecamp 5000 

Core Flex Harness - $299
Pinnacle 2500 - $320  ($619 with harness)
Scout 3800 - $349  ($648 with harness)
Basecamp 5000 - $369  ($668 with harness)
Carbon Fiber Pack Frame - $420 ($719.00 with harness) 
Rokman Extreme Combo Pack: Includes their Core-Flex Harness, Pinnacle 2500, Basecamp 5000, Carbon Fiber Pack Frame, and their Bino Harness - $1499.00


Summary

Pros: 
Quality
Durability
Light Weight
Lifetime Warranty on manufacturers defects
100% Water proof material
Completely Modular System
Fully adjustable to fit you and your load perfectly on each trip
Piggybacking capability
Load shelf/seat
Separate pocket for hydration bladder which is 100% waterproof
Load Strap - Hunters Orange, Nose Hole game strap system to secure any item you wish
Attach your Bino Harness right to shoulder straps

Cons: 
Cost - In defense of Rokman if you were to buy each item separately from any other company, you would be very competitively priced.  I don't know of any other gear where you can get this quality, comfort, and functionality for these prices.
Noise - I put this as a con, as I will admit, the material is slightly louder than some other materials, but not enough that I wouldn't use it in any situation.


Conclusion
I would fully recommend Rokman packs to all outdoors men and women who love quality gear.  Aside from all the "cool" features, I have yet to find another pack that is this comfortable, regardless of how heavy I pack it.  It is hard for me to go back to any other backpack after using a Rokman Pack because of the comfort factor, alone.  This is a system that is for all levels of outdoors enthusiasts; from your weekend warriors to your week long back-country hunters, Rokman has a system that fits your adventure.  Looking at Rokman as an investment for your gear, as well as for your experience, is something that can't be beat.

Basecamp 5000 with gear floating in my kids' swimming pool

Disclaimer:

As with all reviews on Idaho Pursuit, the following review is my honest opinion.  Rokman did not ask for this review, nor did I receive any compensation for this review.  Rokman did not give me any instructions or guidance on how to review the products so everything written on this post is based on my personal experience with the product.

Hawke Laser Range Finder Hunter 600 Review

As I get things ready for spring bear, turkey season, and all of my other spring hunting prep, I always evaluate my gear and determine if what I have works or if I need to make an upgrade... Well this year was the year I decided it was time to upgrade my range finder.  As I have been happy with all of my Hawke Optics products I thought I would give their new Laser Range Finder a shot to see how I liked it.

I picked up the LRF Hunter 600 which ranges out to 600 meters or around 650 yards.  Hawke has two models (Hunter and Professional) which come in a few different options/ranges.  The Hunter comes in either a 400 meter or 600 meter version, while the Professional model comes in 400, 600, or 900 meter version.  The Hunter, which is a smaller model, measures out at 3 inches tall, 1.65 inches wide, and 3.8 inches long.  Below is a graph with the details on the size and features of the Hunter LRF: 

I have been testing/using this rangefinder for 6 months now and have been very satisfied with it!  When using the LRF Hunter 600, I have loved how fast it recognizes and display's the distance.  A quick response is essential to me in a hunting situation as we all know a hunt can be determined in a mater of seconds.  One feature that I truly loved while using the LRF Hunter 600 is the Hunt mode which measures the distance between you and the target while ignoring interference with long grass or brush.  This is huge for us hunters as we know many of our targets are not standing in a clearing when a shot is presented.  This is great as I have had a lot of trouble with previous range finders (Leupold, Nikon, and Bushnell) with picking up various readings when my target is near brush or tall grass.  I am looking forward to this year's antelope hunt as I missed an opportunity last year because I couldn't get an accurate reading on a bedded antelope.

The display also has a feature I want to explain which helps show the quality of the LRF Hunter 600.  The icon that looks like a wine glass is the Target Quality Indicator.  This shows you how certain the reading you are getting is accurate.  I have loved this as I have usually gotten in a habit of taking two or three readings to make sure my range finder was accurate.  Now with this indicator, I can trust the reading displayed and move forward.  

I created a survey on social media and asked many hunters what features they looked for when purchasing a rangefinder.  One of the items that came up often was a red display for low light situations.  With the LRF Hunter 600, as well as all of the other Hawke rangefinders, the display is a black digital display.  I must not have had as much problem as some hunters in regards to needing a red display, yet I can see how the red display could make it easier in those low light situations.  I have found a easy solution if you can't read your display which some may find dumb yet it works for me.  After I ranged my target, I flip my range finder around and breath softly on the front glass.  Once I look back to the display after doing that, the reading is displayed against a foggy screen and is as clear as black writing on white paper... I know that is not the best solution, yet it has worked for me. 

I tested the LRF Hunter 600 in lots of environments, against various targets, and in many different weather conditions and have never had any issues with it.   For the six months that I have been using the LRF Hunter 600, it has been extremely consistent in its readings and has been very reliable.  I like having a range finder that I can use both while archery hunting in close yardage, which needs to be consistent and accurate, as well as in rifle hunting and shooting to reach out to the 600 yard range.  For me that is more than long enough with my rifle so if my rangefinder won't pick it up, then I know it is WAY out of my range for a shot.  

If I were to give this rangefinder a score out of 1-10, 10 being perfect, I would give it a 9 out of 10.  In the survey I previously mentioned, many hunters brought up items such as size, feel, consistency, price, weight, and warranty which I feel the Hawke LRF 600 would get a 10/10 on.  I like it's design, feel, consistency, magnification, clarity (which is consistent with all of my other Hawke products), size, weight, and the display.  The only change I would make, would be a red display for low light conditions, yet for me that is not even that big of a factor.  With the LRF Hunter 600 coming in at $189.99, Hawke has once again come in on the lower end of the pricing for their products of similar logistics, while providing such a product with exceptional quality! As I said earlier, I chose this range finder because I have been a fan of Hawke Optics products, and as expected, this one has once again met and exceeded my expectations.  If you are in the market for a rangefinder, be sure to check out Hawke Optics and give them a consideration! Whether you choose the LRF Hunter, or the LRF Professional, the quality of their optics is great, and their two year warranty on their range finder is amazing!

Hawke Optics Enduranec 2.5-10X50 LR Dot IR Rifle Scope Review

With Idaho's hunt results out now, it is time to do all the necessary preparation to get ready for hunting season.  To ensure you make the best possible shot, like most hunters, you probably have things to do to make sure everything is set.  I got out recently to make sure my rifle was still sighted in for this next hunting season and was reminded about why I love this scope.  This past hunting season I have used the Hawke Optics 2.5-10X50 30mm Rifle scope on my 300 Win Mag, and LOVE IT! Here is my take on the scope. Before I get into the review, let me inform you that I have used this scope to a great extent including in the rain, wind, sun, snow, and it even rolled down a mountain with a log (not on purpose).  In all situations before and after all of this wear and testing, I will let you know how I feel this scope has performed!

When I first got the scope I was impressed with the size and weight of it compared to the scope I had on my rifle before.  The scope measures in at 13.4" long and weighes in at 22.5 ounces, which I feel is a great fit for my rifle.  It also comes with a 4" sunshade that you can choose to attach to the front of the scope--but of course that adds an additional 4" and a few more ounces. For my review, I used this scope multiple times with and without the sunshade to get a good feel for both.

When using the scope in the field, I loved how clear the optic was.  That is one thing I have to praise Hawke about--the quality of their glass has always been impressive!  This scope has the same amazing quality and clarity as all of their other products I have used.  It didn't matter if I was on the lowest zoom or if I was zoomed up to the 10 power; the clarity and lighting was always amazing.  The size, lighting, and overall view of the scope made looking through it such a breeze while hunting.  I have used a few scopes that were good, but when I cranked up the zoom the image clarity would get a bit fuzzy and blurred.  Hawke Optics puts a 16 layer multi-coated finish on their glass to maximize the clarity.  Attention to detail while hunting is an aspect that this scope is able to provide you in every situation.

LR Dot Reticle

The second thing I really like while using the scope in the field was the reticle.  On this scope, I chose the LR Dot reticle, which is for the long distance situations.  I absolutely love it because it takes a lot of the guess work out of things while in the field.  The reticle is set up so that if I sight in dead on at 100 yards, the lower aim points will be for 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards.  This is great for when I want to shoot at a wide range of distances without adjusting my scope in many of the unpredictable situations I encounter while hunting.  I was a bit skeptical that the lower aim points would be on, but after sighting in my scope, I can assure you that the reticle is set up perfectly for my rifle.

Another good thing is that you can download the Hawke Optic app, which will calculate where each aim point will hit based on your different load and caliber of rifle.  All you have to do is put in the following: 1) the info of the scope you have, 2) your caliber of rifle, 3) the load. This will tell you right were you will hit at each aim point according to the drop of your bullet.  One more plus about this scope is that it has a built in illumination that you can use to illuminate the etched reticles in the glass.  Of course, check to make sure this feature is legal in your state, but I can say it is a great feature for simply sighting in your rifle.  I take the battery out during hunting season so that it is not a temptation for me to use while hunting.
 
 Another great feature of the rifle is how easy it is to use.  The fast focus eyebell, the high torque zoom ring, and the no snag low profile fingertip turrets make using the scope super easy and convenient.  I love being able to focus the scope or zoom in with a easy adjustment while looking through the scope.  The scope designed so that you can make every adjustment while looking through the scope with ease.  Also, each end of the scope has screw-in metal flip-up covers.  This is awesome because you don't have to purchase any additional lens covers that add bulk to your scope.  Seems how I put this scope on my 300 win mag, I loved that the flip-up lens covers were very thin and didn't take away from my eye relief.  The eye relief on this scope is 4" which gives me some confidence that I shouldn't scope myself as long as I don't do anything stupid.  Even if you choose to attach the 4" sunshade I mentioned earlier, the sunshade also allows the screw-in lens cover to be attached to your scope.  These are great especially when hunting in the rain or snow, or just as a way to protect the glass.  I'll admit, I have used the 4" sunshade more to keep my scope dry than I have to keep the sun from creating a glare while hunting. 

I have heard that the only limitation to a a rifle is the scope you have on it, and the person pulling the trigger.  As I mentioned, I have tried a hand full of other scopes and even though I have liked some of them, I have never been as impressed or committed to any other scope as I am with the Endurance 2.5-10X50 Scope.  After using this scope for close to a year, I would have to say that this scope is a great addition to have on my rifle.  With Hawke, your products are covered under a Lifetime World-Wide Warranty, and the reputation of providing a quality product.  I will be honest, I don't know all of the details about how they build their products or all the science/engineering that goes into them, but I can attest that I have used some of their other products now for close to years and have been nothing but impressed with them.  I have put this scope through a lot of different conditions and situations, and it has performed flawlessly in every situation.  I have never had any problems with the scope fogging up, not functioning properly, or any other type of issue.  If you are in the market for a quality scope for a reasonable price you should do yourself a favor and at least check out the Hawke Optic rifle scopes.

Sunshield attachment

This scope comes in at $369.99 and is built to last. I'll admit, on a recent outing, I had my share of bad luck while cutting some firewood--I put my rifle with the scope leaning up against the down hill side of a tree.  Then, rolling down the hill at full speed, a log I cut caught my shoulder sling from behind the tree and took my rifle another 20 yards down the mountain with it... The event broke the stock of my gun... I ordered a new stock, replaced it, and without making any adjustments, my scope, it was STILL dead on.... That may be a bit of luck, but I can't help but be impressed when a scope gets thrown around, banged up, rolled over by a log, and STILL remains sighted in!  I definitely don't recommend going as far as throwing a log down a hill toward the scope to see if it stands up to the abuse, but I will attest to the durability and reliability of the Endurance 2.5-10X50 rifle scope!

A doe I shot last year with my Hawke Scope at 310 yards

Smart Rod by Tackobox Gear Review

 Every once and a while I see a product online that makes me curious enough to give it a shot.  This I exactly what happened with the Smart Rod by TackoBox! 

This fishing pole is unlike any other fishing pole on the market today.  What sets this rod apart from all of the others is it’s advanced technology built into the rod which senses the bite of the fish and sounds an alarm!  I know some of you are already wondering why in the world would you need/want a rod that sounds an alarm when the fish bites… Let me give you my take on this rod to help you understand why I think the Smart Rod is a great addition to any fisherman’s arsenal!!!

First let me tell you a little about the rod itself:
The Smart Rod comes in either 6’6” or 7’ length and in two different styles: Spinning rod, or Spin cast rod.  The technology in the Smart Rod is referred to as Poletap which is a “Computer Controlled Accelerometer Technology."  The rod has three different sensitivity levels: High, Medium, and Low which allows you to adjust it to your conditions according to the weather, as well as for the fish you are after.  The alarm on the rod is not obnoxiously loud and also has three LED lights that go off when the fish bites!  The rod only cost $39.44 from Walmart.com and can be shipped to your local Walmart for free.  At that price the Smart Rod is not too expensive to give it a shot and see how you like it.  I will even say that I have used the Smart Rod as just a regular fishing pole while spinner fishing and I love the way it casts.  I would much rather buy a rod like this than some of the other rods at Walmart for the same price, which fail to perform as well.

Now I’ll get into why I feel you should give this rod a try.

Here in Idaho you can use two fishing rods if you purchase the “Two Pole Permit” which is only $13.75.  That is worth it to me to double my chances of catching fish.  So… When using two rods, the Smart Rod is an awesome second rod that you can cast out and let sit while either throwing a lure or some other type of spin cast bait.  Using the Smart Rod allows you to completely focus on your lure fishing until you hear the alarm of the Smart Rod letting you know you have a bite on your other pole!  I also love being able to bait up the Smart Rod, cast it out, and then spend time rigging up my other rod without having to worry about a fish pulling my rod in while I’m not looking!

The first time I used the Smart Rod, I was fishing by a local bridge and the fish weren’t really biting very well.  I fished for about 45 minutes and had one bite on my other rod but the fish didn’t take the bait… I decided to spread my rods out to cover more water so I took the Smart Rod to the other side of the bridge, cast it out, activated the alarm, and then re-baited my other rod.  Just as I was finishing re-baiting my other rod, I heard the Smart Rod alarm going off!!! I hurried and set my other pole down and ran over to the Smart Rod to see that I had a fish on! If it wasn’t for the Smart Rod, the fish could have swam around and gotten off or it could have even pulled my pole in before I got around to checking on it!

After that experience, I knew the Smart Rod worked well on some decent sized trout. The second time I used it, I sought out to catch a few small brookies out of a local stream.  I loved how sensitive the rod is, especially on a nice calm day.  The rod worked exactly as expected and sensed even the lightest bite from a small brook trout.  I will say though, for creek fishing like this, I rarely ever use a second pole so my justification for using the smart rod in a situation like creek fishing is if the fishing is slow, you can cast out your bait and let it sit rather than losing patience and giving up. 

I kept trying to get the Smart Rod on camera in action but every time I had a camera going, the fish wouldn’t cooperate.  Luckily, I went out one morning with my wife and got lucky enough to get one on camera.  I was fishing on Henry’s Lake in my canoe.  If you look close enough you can see the tip of my rod bounce just a tiny bit when the alarm sounds.  This fish bit very softly, taking a dead minnow I had on it for bait.  In the video, ignore me talking about how the rod shuts off while reeling in… It does shut off when you reel in but I wasn’t reeling in consistently and long enough to have it shut off.  :)  I reel a couple cranks, rest, then start again…

I went out another time to keep testing the rod, this time I was intentionally fishing in some “less than perfect” weather conditions to give the rod a good review.  As I predicted, on the high sensitivity level the rod kept moving just enough to set off the alarm.  The solution to this problem is simple--All I had to do was push a button to adjust the sensitivity to medium, and the alarm stopped giving me false hope.  As any fisherman knows, fishing in windy conditions for finicky or light biting fish can be frustrating.  Likewise, when using the Smart Rod set on a less sensitive setting, it will not always catch the light bite of a fish.  The difference in the sensitivity levels allowed me to also test out the rod while trolling in my canoe. I was able to troll while on the medium or low setting without false alarms, but never got a bite during that time.

Sooo.... Here it is!

Yes, the rod works as described.  Yes, it is simple to use and simple to understand.  Yes, not every fisherman wants/needs this rod.  Yes, I believe that it brings some extra excitement to catching fish.  Yes, I feel this rod would be great for a second rod, a kids first rod, a grandpa’s fishing rod, or for anyone who just enjoys the idea.  I know my nephews LOVE my "fishing pole that has the alarm."  This brings such a fun dynamic to fishing with kids!!! I am not saying that every fisherman needs this rod, but I am saying that it is a fun rod that any fisherman would enjoy having in their arsenal.  I enjoyed using this one so much, I even went out and bought my dad one for Father’s Day because I knew he would love it! 

When talking to TackoBox, they informed me that they are in the process of building crappie rods, kids rods, as well as ice fishing rod!  The last one makes me SUPER EXCITED!!!

I am very excited and anticipating when they are able to market the ice fishing rods because here in Idaho you can fish with 5 rods, use tip up (JawJackers of course!), as well as fish both day and night! This will take my ice fishing game to a whole new level, I can’t wait to have my five JawJackers set up with a Smart Rod ice rod and sit back and wait for the alarm to get my heart pumping! Also fishing for ling (burbot) at night with the LED’s on the smart rod will allow me to locate which JawJacker has a fish more easily!  The Smart Rod really is the first step in blending technology with fishing rods.  I am definitely excited to use the Smart Rod this summer as well as while ice fishing this winter!  I can confidently say that if you at least give the Smart Rod a shot, you won’t be disappointed.  I know some of you still feel that this isn’t for you or isn’t necessary, but when you get it and catch a fish on it, you won’t be disappointed!

Review: Hawke Sapphire ED 10x42

This week Hawke Optics released a new logo, tag line, and other facelifts for their company and website.  With all of this hype I thought it would be a good time to finish up and post my review of one of their products.  

For the past year I have used numerous Hawke Optics' products and I can't speak high enough about the customer service and the quality of gear I have used.  From their rifle scopes to their spotting scopes they make sure that every product and feature they offer their customer is of the highest quality at an affordable price, especially compared to their competitors. 

The products I'll share with you on this post is the Hawke Sapphire ED 10x42 binoculars.  These binoculars are listed at $479 on their website and are offered in either green or black.  I have used these binoculars now for about a year and have "put them through the ringer" sort a say.  I have used them on my back country elk hunts, my desert deer hunts, in my tree stand, all of my scouting trips, and I have even used them on random trips with my family for recreation.  I pack these things every where I go including indoor archery shoots.  While packing them everywhere and using them as much as I have, I feel like I have gained a pretty good idea of their functionality and durability that I want to share with you.

At 1.6 pounds (25.7 ounces) these binos are great for packing around no matter what adventure you are on.  They are light and compact enough to make them very convenient to have on back country without sacrificing magnification or clarity.  To give you an idea of the specifications, here is the info provided on Hawke's website about these binoculars:
 Key Features:

---

• Power:  10×
• Objective Diameter: 42mm
• Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated (FMC)
• Field of View: m @1000m / yds @1000yds: 113m / 339yds
• Close Focus: 2m / 6.6ft
• Eye relief: 15mm / 0.6″
• Height: 137mm / 5.4″
• Weight: 730g / 25.7oz
• Waterproof, fog proof and Nitrogen purged.(tested 1.5m for 3mins)
• ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass for maximum clarity
• Dielectric Prism Coating
• BAK4 Prism
• Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
• Lightweight Magnesium Alloy Body
• Quick Ratio Focus Wheel
• Twist-up Eyecups with Position Stops

Additional Features:
• Stay-on Lens Covers
• Water Repellent Objective Lens Coating
• Leather Carry Case & Padded Neck Strap
• Hawke® Worldwide warranty

Check out their site to see the specifications and overview in much more detail.

Now I will get into my take on the binoculars and share with you what I like about them.  The first thing I like about these binoculars is their size and weight.  Out of all of the different binoculars I have used, I have come to realize that no matter how awesome a pair may be, if they are too big, too heavy, or too bulky then they aren't right for the conditions I am using them for.  The Hawke Sapphire binos built with the hunter in mind being 5.4" (length) inches by 4.3" (width) inches and only 1.6 pounds yet jam packed with high quality glass and amazing features.

The second thing I like about them is durability... I will admit I have dropped them (in the field and down my stairs at my house), drug them through the dirt while belly crawling toward an animal, used them in the rain/snow, and even left them in my vehicle on the floor for my daughter to step on. I don't think these situations are all what Hawke had in mind when they made their binoculars, but I can testify that they work just as well after my abuse as they did right out of the box.  I will state that I did have one of the stay on lens covers come off during a stalk on an animal so just be sure to have the lens covers secure when/if you plan on crawling through the brush.

The third thing I will touch on is the quality and clarity of these binoculars.  I have used quite a few different optics from Bushnell, Tasco, to Minox, and have borrowed even borrowed some Vortex and Swarovski optics from other hunters during archery shoots.  My take on it is that optics do what they say they will do... no matter what brand you have or what style you like, they all magnify an object and help you see what you are looking at.  What is important to me is that I get the best quality of product for what I pay.  The last thing I want to do is pay 100 dollars for something that performs like a 5 dollar pair of binoculars my 3 year old daughter would use no matter what name is on it or how cool it looks. Vise-verse, I wouldn't pay 100 bucks for a pair optics that perform like a 100 dollar pair of binoculars when I could pay 80 bucks for a pair that does does as well if not better.  With all of my random analogies put aside, I choose the Sapphire ED 10X42 because they are worth every bit of what they cost and then some.  The construction put into these binoculars makes them the set of binoculars you will use year after year to give you the clearest look at the animal you decide to pursue.

I can keep writing a few things I like about these binoculars such as the light weight rubber coated magnesium alloy chassis, the science behind the ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass for maximum clarity which I doubt I could even get close to explaining, but instead I just encourage you to check out Hawke Optics to see what I'm talking about.  If you have binoculars that you are happy with, or a company you will always go back to, then I'm happy for you.  All I am saying is that if you haven't checked this company, or this product, out then you are missing out.  As I stated earlier, this company stands behind their products and takes care of their customers.  Use their dealer locator on their website to find a dealer where you can check them out.  If you are any where in my area I would be more than happy to take you out and let you use my Hawke Optics for a day, and I can guarantee you'll be impressed!

The Sapphire ED 10x42 Binoculars and their leather carrying case