The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

464 | Aziak Equipment, Ultralight Tripods, and More with Rydell Reinbold

As a trained engineer and experienced outdoorsman, Rydell Reinbold often modified the gear he used for hunting. Then he started designing and producing his own gear, for his own needs. And, eventually, he founded Aziak Equipment to share his work with other hunters. Today, Rydell is the owner, designer, and sole operator at Aziak.
We speak with Rydell about the Aziak backstory, his current products, and the future of Aziak. We discuss his current ultralight tripod and head, the limitations of ultralight tripods, the balance of weight vs features, and much more.
Connect with Aziak:
- https://www.aziakequipment.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/aziakequipment/
- https://www.facebook.com/aziakequipment
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

MM 224 | Ultralight vs Comfort & Other Deep Gear Thoughts

Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss choosing ultralight vs choosing comfort, the best (and worst) ways to save pack weight, how to spend money on gear upgrades, selecting a quilt, and some deeper or more philosophical thoughts on the debatable importance of gear in general.
NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
EMAIL YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

463 | John Barklow on Innovation, Skills, Priorities, and More...

We welcome John Barklow back to the Hunt Backcountry Podcast. This is a wide-ranging conversation that answers some of your listener questions and goes into some unexpected topics. We discuss...
- Bowhunting Cape Buffalo in Africa.
- Recovering from injury and surgery and injury as an aging mountain hunter.
- Where has innovation in technical hunting apparel slowed or stalled? And where is it advancing?
- How environmental regulation and legislation will change the performance of rain gear.
- How technology is being used to improve the performance of natural down fibers.
- How to prioritize your budget to get the most for your money on high-end hunting clothing.
- Gear vs Capabilities, and knowing how to use gear to its fullest potential.
- Why you shouldn’t believe marketing, or John Barklow, and should test gear for yourself.
- Why asking for the “best” gear recommendation isn’t the most helpful question.
- Embracing what you don’t know and enjoying the process of learning.
- John’s tentless sleep system for archery season.
- John’s upcoming course and eventual book on “Survival for the Modern Hunter”
John's Previous Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/395
Connect with John:
- https://knowledgefromstorms.com
- https://www.instagram.com/jbarklow/
- https://sitkagear.com
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

MM 223 | Headlamps, Rifle Tools, and ”Clean” Food

Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss the upcoming Experience Project, Mark's headlamp, tools to fix issues with a rifle in the backcountry, and using "clean" food to fuel performance on long hikes.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Fenix HM50R v2.0: https://amzn.to/4dJGbag
- 16340 USB-C Battery: https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-arb-l16-800up-built-in-usb-c-rechargeable-battery
- Death Hike Food: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/2024-death-hike
EMAIL YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
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View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

462 | Backpacking Light & Hunting with Ryan Jordan

Ryan Jordan is a backpacker, hunter, engineer, researcher, and the Founder & Owner of Backpacking Light.
We speak with Ryan about the benefits of a lighter total pack weight for backcountry hunting, the barriers and misconceptions about "going light", the differences between gear for a lightweight backpacker and the backcountry hunter, and a whole lot more.
FREE RESOURCES FROM BACKPACKING LIGHT: https://backpackinglight.com/hunt/
Ryan and his team put together some free resources specifically for our podcast audience, which you can find at the link above. If you sign up, you will receive those free resources, a discount on BPL membership and courses, and future BPL emails with articles on gear, skills, technology, and more. Of course, you can unsubscribe from BPL at any time if you do not find their information helpful.
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

MM 222 | Sitka vs First Lite vs ???, Glassing vs Moving, & Pillow Hacks

Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss "when to stay and when to go" on difficult hunts, how to keep your pillow in place when using a quilt instead of a sleeping bag, what is going on with hunting clothing brands changing their gear so often, and which clothing brands would be recommended to try.
EMAIL YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

461 | How to Thrive on Mountain Hunts (with Ben Reynolds)

Serious mountain pursuits are demanding. Physically, mentally, and even emotionally. And as you gain experience and build confidence, you can push to new levels of adventure.
Experienced mountain hunter and all-around adventurer, Ben Reynolds joins us on today's podcast to talk about 5 attributes that he feels are critical for the mountain hunter...
- Mental Preparation
- Confidence
- Optimization
- Choices
- Decisive Action
These are attributes that Ben has developed over a decade of high-level activity in the mountains. In this conversation, we discuss each of these attributes, interwoven with examples from Ben's last hunting season, which included successful do-it-yourself solo sheep hunts for both Dall Sheep and Rocky Mountain Bighorn.
Ben's Previous Podcast Episode: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/408
Connect with Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b_reynolds_ak/
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

MM 221 | A Listener’s ”Death Hike” Story

Instead of answering listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute, we get a listener of the show on to today's podcast and ask them some questions. Patrick joins us to tell us about his recent experience putting together and completing his own version of a Death Hike. You'll hear about how he made his route, how he trained, how the hike went, what he learned, and what he hopes to accomplish in the future.
DIY Electrolyte Mix — https://www.v2pnutrition.com/single-post/diy-electrolyte-mix-for-training-in-the-backcountry
EMAIL YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

MM 220 | How Steep Is Too Steep? Plus bear scouting, footwear choices, and more...

Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss when steep slopes are too steep, how to select a camp location when hunting near the top of the mountain, more follow-up on footwear from the Death Hike (and the use of trail running shoes for hunting), and how bear scouting and hunting is affected by the presence of elk and deer.
EMAIL YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

459 | Colorado Bighorn Sheep Hunt (A Listener Story)

"I won the hunting lottery yesterday and saw I was a sole tag winner for a ram tag in a unit here in Colorado. I never thought it would happen!"
That is part of an email that we received from a podcast listener, Joe. Now, after the hunt, Joe joins us on the show to discuss how he prepared for this hunt. What he learned during the hunt. And how the ultimate success of harvesting his ram came to be.
This episode is both entertaining, and also informational for anyone who is planning a hunt that is for a new species, or in a new place.
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast