My Favorite Backcountry Gear

My Favorite BackCountry Gear

Chuck Fitzgerald ©2005.  All Rights Reserved.

If you've been a regular reader of mine, you can probably guess my favorite pieces of backcountry gear.  I've written about having a good time while bird watching, geocaching, camping, hiking and many other awesome outdoor activities, and I believe more fun can be had if you have the right equipment.  Many things are more important than my choices.  For instance, if mosquitoes are thick, insect repellent would be a good thing to have.  If it's cold, anything that provides heat would also be nice to have.  Rain gear, a first aid kit, sunglasses, food and water are obviously very important, but let's talk about cool stuff now. I'm talking hi-tech.  So what are my favorite backcountry toys?

My favorite piece of backcountry gear are my binoculars.  I carry the Nikon Monarch ATB 8 x 42 mm.  These are the best binoculars you can own for under $300.  I use them birding, hunting, hiking, sight seeing - I use them every time I'm outdoors.  As you step into the backcountry, the landscape becomes larger and in many cases more distant.  Always have good optics with you.

I won't be caught off the pavement without my trusty GPS Unit. The Garmin eTrex Vista is in my pack.  Having a high quality GPS unit allows me to travel freely on trails or when trailblazing.  I know how to navigate with map and compass, and you should too, but that's my backup plan.  My GPS is my first choice in navigation.  I use it hiking, hunting, geocaching, trail riding, exploring and sometimes just for the fun of it.

When I'm in the wilderness, I am almost always with some else.  Therefore, two-way radios are in order.  I happen to use Motorola's Talkabout T6400.  It keeps me in contact with my friends and gives me a lifeline to others with FRS or GMRS radios, should I need it.

Finally, I love my Bushnell Outdoor Camera.  It's a digital camera that is rugged-ized, weather resistant and has built-in digital zoom.  Just this past week I took pictures of wildflowers growing out of a boulder, a sunrise, a sunset, my friends, a Coyote, a Praying Mantis and a Harris Hawk.

These are my favorite pieces of backcountry gear.  I always have my binoculars, GPS, radio and camera with me when I enter the backcountry.  Without them, I'd still have a good time, but with them, I get the most out of my outdoor life.  Get Outdoors!!

Chuck Fitzgerald, The Outdoor Guy, is also the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the "Best Gear Out There" and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to "Get It Right The First Time" with timely educational information.  Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir."  (800) 316-9055.

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