Field Gear

It's winter now and time to pack for the annual trip to South Texas for quail or to plan the summer bird hunting safari to South Africa. Or if you're done traveling for awhile, it's a good time to go over the notes from trips past. What did you forget? What new piece of gear could you have used? Whenever and wherever you go, here are five new products to consider for your next adventure.

Braeval Skye Boatmen Boil Sweater/Vest

The same attention to detail that garment entrepreneur Gregor McCluskey gave to his initial four-shirt lineup ("Field Gear," March/April '05) is apparent in BraeVal's newest offering: a sporting sweater that doubles as a vest when you zip off the sleeves. The Skye Boatmen Boil is as unusual as it is practical. It takes its name from the Isle of Skye fishermen who boiled merino wool and then matted and pressed the fibers to shrink them and remove bulk, a technique called "felting." The ancient process, which McCluskey has modernized through a proprietary method, certainly makes for a soft hand. I literally wore his new sweater next to my skin and never felt the urge to scratch. Boiling and felting the wool fibers makes the garment more resistant to wind and water, too.

When I originally interviewed him, McCluskey explained BraeVal's goal was "to blend European sophistication-through fine tailoring and fabrics-with rugged American functionality and design to create the elegance and quality of yesteryear apparel." It's not hype; the new sweater/vest is in line with that commitment. An inner liner of mesh nylon allows the garment to breathe through a vented, swing-back yoke that is then box stitched and leather reinforced. The stretch collar, cuffs and waistband are softer still and feature inside color contrast. Other nice touches include left- and right-side pockets with zippers, a leather loop behind the neck for hanging the garment or attaching accessories, and a zippered rear cargo pocket.

The pocket is designed for carrying the zip-off sleeves (not gamebirds) if you want to convert the sweater to a vest. Available in Medium through Extra Large, the Skye Boatmen Boil, which can be hand-washed in cold water or dry-cleaned, comes in two styles: AvieMoor ($225) and Artemis ($255). I recommend the Artemis, because it has a generous leather shooting patch as well as leather elbows and other handsome leather accents (hand wash only). Colors in either garment are navy or sage with moss trim, rust with navy trim, or moss green with sage trim.

BraeVal Sporting Apparel, LLC; 860-482-7260; www .braeval.net.

e+LITE by Petzl

I'll always be a sucker for neat gadgets, especially those that are light and compact and that serve a highly useful purpose. The new e+LITE headlamp from Petzl is all that and more. At only 1 oz, it is extremely lightweight, and it is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. Options for use abound: The adjustable elastic band permits wearing the light on the head or wrist, or-thanks to an integrated clip-it can be snapped to the brim of your hat or secured to a tree branch or other object. Stored in its red plastic case, which is made waterproof with a secure O-ring, you can carry the red-and-black e+LITE in a pocket or on your belt, or store it in your glove box or first-aid kit.

Self-contained, hands-free headlamps have come a long way since French spelunker Fernand Petzl began developing them by cutting elastic from women's bras in 1973. The new generation of LED bulbs uses Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) technology. Developed for the semi-conductor industry, ITO products increase both lighting intensity and burn time. The e+LITE is powered by a pair of nickel-sized lithium-ion batteries (included), which are popular in cell phones and laptop computers because of their compact size and scant weight. Petzl says its e-LITE batteries will operate continuously for up to 45 hours.

The light illuminates objects up to 20 yards away, thanks to a trio of high-output, white LEDs. There are two brightness levels plus a strobe as well as a red LED to preserve night vision. The red light burns constantly or blinks as a strobe. Altogether, the five functions operate simply by clicking a dial, which comes with two "Off" positions and one clever "Locked" setting to prevent accidentally running the battery life down. I also like the e+LITE's 360° rotation. The headlamp has a 10-year guarantee and a price of $29.95.

Petzl America, 801-926-1500; www .petzl.com.

Shooting Glasses by Rudy Project

If you're into cycling or skiing, chances are good you know about Rudy Project "technically cool eyewear." Designed and made in Italy since 1985, the high-tech products, which include sunglasses, facemasks, goggles and helmets, have been sold in North America for about 10 years. In October 2007 the company launched a new package for USA Shooting, the nonprofit group charged by the US Olympic Committee with developing programs and sanctioning sport-shooting events.

The package, which costs $250, includes a pair of Rudy Project's Rydon Frames, a carrying case and five sets of non-prescriptive, interchangeable lenses for differing light conditions. Besides shooting, the new glasses are ideal for hunting because of their light weight (the composite plastic/ carbon pair I tested weighed only 1 oz) and "bulletproof" lenses, which are guaranteed unbreakable for life. Called ImpactX, the lenses incorporate NXT, a polyurethane optical polymer now used in commercial-airplane cockpit windows and Apache helicopter windshields.

The five lens colors included with my glasses were Laser Copper, Action Brown, transparent, Racing Red and yellow; others are available. You also can order an individual prescription (single-correction or progressive) lens as a snap-in insert behind an outer lens or have it incorporated into the frame itself and still be interchangeable. To clarify: The optical insert is more affordable, but it also limits the field of vision because it is an insert and not an entire lens. The direct-in-frame option uses lenses that are fully prescriptive, resulting in an expanded field of vision but also added cost. To discuss these and other options, call the company directly. Other options include the hydrophobic treatment of certain lenses to repel water and a proprietary polarizing technology available as a replacement lens in brown, gray and Racing Red. Called Polar 3FX technology, the lenses also are designed for wet-weather use.

On a mourning dove hunt in Indiana, I wore the out-of-the-box glasses over my own prescriptive eyewear simply to see how the interchange system works and to evaluate the colors. I discovered that the lenses interchange quickly, although I had to wipe away fingerprints each time I switched colors. On that bright sunny morning, Laser Copper was the right choice. Specially engineered for bright-light conditions, Laser lenses provide 400UV protection. All lenses in the shooting package also incorporate what the company calls

RP-Optics to enhance contrast, reduce glare and ensure true vision without color distortion.

Factory workers coat the lenses and heat them to 120° C. The result is a lens so scratch-resistant that Rudy Project guarantees replacement for the price of shipping ($19.95).

Rudy Project North America, 888-860-7597; www.rudyprojectusa.com.

Guide Jacket from Huntsmith Collection

If you own a bird dog, you no doubt have heard of Delmar Smith and his son, Rick. The legendary Smith family's "Silent Command" training seminars currently are taught by Rick and his cousin, Ronnie. Four years ago Rick ventured into hunting wear by teaming with fashion designer Molly Ward, creator of the Fashion Nautique line of clothing for Correct Craft Boats. The result: the Huntsmith Collection of jackets and chaps. Independent seamstresses in Texas make the apparel from oilcloth-cotton canvas that is im-ported from Australia and impregnated with lanolin and mineral oils along the lines of traditional oilcloth used in ship sails.

The Guide Jacket and Custom Jacket feature 8-oz oilcloth lined with jersey mesh. Available with accents of nutmeg suede, brown suede or safety orange, these handsome coats offer several nice touches. I like the side-mounted D-ring swivel snap, ideal for attaching your dog's lead or the duck decoy line while freeing up your hands. I also like the left- and right-side entry to the game bag in back, which is blood- and mud-proof, thanks to ripstop nylon. The expandable cargo pockets, each of which (in size Medium and larger) will hold two boxes of 12-gauge shells, come with drain holes and protective flaps. The design incorporates a double pocket for warming hands. The back panel of these jackets is pleated with extra material to avoid binding as you swing through a target.

Outside breast pockets on the left, right or both sides (your choice) are available on the Guide Jacket. On the Custom Jacket the pocket is located opposite the shooting patch (left or right side). Other amenities include an inside breast pocket for car keys, a license, a wallet or an e-collar. Made from jersey mesh, the pocket cinches tight via elastic and barrel closures. On both jackets an inside half-sleeve of ripstop nylon attaches via elastic to the outer sleeve at the wrist to keep forearms dry. Clever.

A design feature that I haven't seen before on shooting or hunting coats is extra fabric on each side that snaps open when more room is needed. If you've ever tried to sit down with a game bag full of pheasants or attempted to mount a horse when similarly laden, you know how uncomfortable a tight-fitting coat becomes. No more. With the side panels snapped open, the jacket forms a hoop shape.

These functional jackets are fashionable, too, with brass fasteners throughout and calfskin-suede accents on the cuffs, collar, elbows and license-tag loop. On the safety-orange model, the accent material is Cordura instead of leather. Jackets come in XS through L for $336.95; or XL or XXL for $366.95.

Huntsmith, 877-767-3794; www.hunt smith.com.

Take Down Case from Tuffpak

Since their appearance about 25 years ago, Tuffpak travel cases have been quietly gaining a reputation as offering a safe, secure and discreet way to transport firearms. These are reasons why you'll see these black octagonal cases, if you look for them, stacked behind exhibitors' booths at gun shows. Even gorilla air-freight handlers can't destroy a rugged, hard-plastic Tuffpak, which looks like it might contain golf clubs or trade-show materials-certainly not guns. The original product, which is 52" long, is now available in a shorter, takedown model. When I first saw one at an airport baggage counter, I assumed it held video gear. In fact, Tuffpak cases originally were designed for the TV broadcast industry.

I recently tested the new Take Down model. It weighs 15 pounds and is 34" long and 11" in diameter. Packing my 12-gauge L.C. Smith and Model 23 Winchester in Boyt soft cases brought the weight to 38 pounds on a postal scale and offered room for a third disassembled gun. There was also leftover nook-and-cranny space for clothing and accessories.
The Take Down ($365) comes with a telescoping pull handle and ball-bearing, rollerblade wheels cleverly sculpted into flush fenders that won't catch on objects. Two side-by-side handles for carrying are also integrated into the compact design. I especially was impressed with the intelligent thought that went into this product; for example, the two locations for stick-on nametags or shipping labels are recessed to prevent being torn off. A heavy-duty webbing strap that secures the pop-away lid has a neat side-buckle release for quick access.

The original Tuffpak case ($355) is perfect for long guns. Either case comes with a flush-mounted, pickproof lock like those used on vending machines. For an extra $20 you also can order a TSA lock with a three-digit combination. TSA authorities have a special key that will open the lock, and a tiny green light will then come on to tell you the case was inspected.

Pack it, check it and forget about it. The company guarantees its products for life. Add $19.95 for a personalized nameplate (up to four lines, with a maximum of 20 characters per line).

Nalpak, Inc.; 888-4-TUFFPAK; www .tuffpak.com.