Few things blow your cover more quickly than the jinglejangle of extra ammo in a loose pocket. African Sporting Creations helps you solve the problem and look good doing it with its new Somerset Cartridge Pouch ($149). This hand-dyed, vegetable-tanned leather ammo case exhibits exceptional craftsmanship. It slides on your belt with a pair of double-stitched loops and a slight bend that contours to your hip, providing extra comfort and ease of access when you need it most. Pouch options range from sizes that hold 6 African big-bore double-rifle cartridges, 8 African big-bore bolt-action rounds, or 10 shells of smaller calibers more suited to North American game. A covered version is also available for $169. www.africansc.com
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Any cast-iron enthusiast lucky enough to inherit a piece of heirloom-quality cookware knows all too well that most of what is being made today doesn’t match up to the standards of yesteryear. Michigan-based Marquette Castings brings back the quality of days gone by with two new additions to its product line, both of which run counter to the heavier and rougher options that abound in today’s mass market. Thanks to a unique casting method called investment, an extremely laborintensive process that has never before been used to create cast-iron cookware, the standard 10½-inch skillet ($195), paired with the larger, loop-handled No. 13 ($225), provides a potent onetwo punch around the campfire or in the kitchen. The skillets are remarkably lightweight (41 /16 and 73 /8 pounds respectively), have a glassy-smooth finish, and are sure to become a treasured part of your family’s cooking lore for generations to come. www.marquettecastings.com
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Alpacka Raft has been handcrafting packrafts for hearty adventurers from its home base of Mancos, Colorado, since its inception in 2000. Now this family-owned company is branching out into the hard-core world of hunting and fishing with its new Forager ($1,700–$2,400), the largest and burliest option in the Alpacka product line. The Forager weighs just 13¼ pounds and boasts a remarkable carrying capacity of 1,000 pounds, making it the ideal choice for a single hunter who needs to pack out a moose or elk from remote locales. It’s also an ideal backcountry drift boat for two, with room remaining to transport smaller species such as deer or sheep. Light white water is not a problem, opening the door to fishing miles of previously inaccessible streams before getting out, packing up, and hiking back to camp. Add this to your outdoor arsenal and you’ll have an entire new world of previously unreachable wilderness at your disposal, all with a lightweight packable boat that’s ready to go in less than 10 minutes thanks to Alpacka’s proprietary inflation bag. To learn more, visit www.alpackaraft.com.
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If you’re more in the mood for a luxury hunting lodge experience than a do-it-yourself backcountry adventure, then the Boot Duffel ($380) from Duluth Pack is the bag you need to help store used gear while keeping your dinner clothes fresh for the evening. There’s a generous upper compartment for dress shirts and more formal attire, while the waterproof large bottom alcove is the perfect home for muddy boots, wet socks, or anything else that doesn’t need to mingle with your more refined garb. Reinforced roller leather handles, full wraparound YKK zippers, and rugged 15-ounce canvas construction complete the package. Now all you need is more reasons to use it. www.duluthpack.com
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Since 1929, Zamberlan has been producing some of the world’s finest footwear. Now, three generations after Giuseppe Zamberlan founded the company, his family still uses the same Italian production facility where it all began 90 years ago to create boots that are renowned worldwide for their quality, comfort, and performance. The new 1101 Kodiak GTX RR ($390) is designed for rugged hunting in a variety of unforgiving backcountry conditions, with single-piece construction, the patented Zamberlan foot wrapping system, and full rubber rands around the entire circumference of the boot to protect you from rocks and debris. Gore-Tex waterproof breathable membranes are guaranteed for the life of the boot, while the fit lives up to Zamberlan’s well-earned reputation for a snug concept that allows for excellent heel lock and comfortable over-thefoot wrap while maintaining plenty of room to wiggle your toes. To learn more about Zamberlan’s impressive history of craftsmanship, visit www.zamberlanusa.com.
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If you’re hunting in weather conditions that demand heavyweight protection but don’t care to be weighed down by bulky layers, look no further than the Filson x Mossy Oak Camo Insulated Jac-Shirt ($295). This rugged field garment offers maximum protection against wind, rain, and briars while maintaining a low profile thanks to Mossy Oak’s Shadow Grass pattern—perfect for stalking big game or waiting it out in a duck blind. The snap-front closure is easy to use, even when wearing gloves, while the side-seam hand-warmer pockets are streamlined to be snag-free in tight quarters. Ultralight, low-bulk, 100-gram PrimaLoft Gold insulation protects you against the cold, and Mackinaw wool keeps you from losing body heat, even in wet conditions. www.filson.com
