Burners

Very nice RT

I mainly use a Swibo for filleting and skinning, I also have an F Dick for skinning, long skinny blade for the bigger fish. Had both these knives for many years. cheers

For the tropics.......I pretty much just use khaki or green cool wear clothing from the safety clothing shops now, they specialise in cool wear clothing for the tropics and you can try them on before you buy. If bow hunting I have some Natural gear, the pants are great, the shirts are too thick for the tropics. Also been experimenting with shorts and knee high gaitors, when its raining or the long grass is wet I think this maybe the way to go because the gaitors don't hold water. Ohh nearly forgot, most importantly, Step One boxers to avoid jock rot and monkey butt 😀 that will ruin any day in the bush haha

I have posted this elsewhere but feel its worth sharing here, I have no ties to Garmin. I have had a Garmin Montana 650T since 2012, not a cheap bit of kit, about $800 at the time. I went for it because it has a larger screen 3 or 4", can carry it, mount it in car, boat, or bike etc.... It's had a rough life, bounced around on the quad, tropical rain, dust and sat on the windscreen in the NT heat. The power button didn't like the tropics, perished some time ago but I managed with it, it was looking pretty rough. A few weeks back, the touch screen stopped working, tried a few things but decided it was done, I could do a final upload to basecamp though. I rang Garmin support, asked if I could send it in for repair, the person I spoke to could see I registered it back then and said the 650T is obsolete, we can't repair but we can offer you an exchange of the newer model 680T for $229. I couldn't jump quick enough, accepted the deal, whipped the credit card out and paid! I posted mine down and received the replacement in 10 days. It looks new, has screen protector, battery shipped in new packaging outside of unit, just not in a flash new box. It takes all the same cables. What I discovered is you must purchase a Birdseye subscription to transfer coords from basecamp to the new unit, $39 for one year, I did it and now have all my old coords and some select maps in satellite image. I thought that was pretty good service from Garmin, shows it is worth while registering equipment, cheers.

That is cool, interesting you can get them in mig and stick as well Looks like thats what it is designed for Rosso

I second the claw, hands down the best sling for grip

Confirmed my suspicions, I have a pair of 10x42's that I never carry, thanks

How often do you use binos up here Mick? I was thinking about going 8 x 32 (recent SSAA mag article driven)

I like these too Musty, my every day wear, I did have an issue walking down hills in them though, toes pushing into the steel cap, maybe a second pair of socks might sort that out....

Depends how windy I guess, they wouldn't work in gale force, wouldn't bother with mozzie coils or citronella candles again

I've got that pack, done some big days with it up here in the heat, usually carry extra water than the 3L bladder, extra 2.5L, no issue with comfort

Rhino, as everyone else has said, impressive work! Can you recommend a source(s) of information for someone starting out? Particularly the metallurgy side of things, I was going to have a crack at this a few years back but never got around to it. Probably won't either haha, cheers

Hey mate, instead of spraying that stinky stuff on ya, around camp try a Thermacell, we swear by them here, had 3 going in the boat the other night and the mozzies just hovered above us just haunting us with the annoying buzzing noise, they were thick! https://www.thermacell.com/pages/how-it-works

I took Shanu's advise, went to BCF and bought an $8 head lamp with 3 batteries, took it home and put the strap on one of the Led lensers. Was that easy I went back and bought another for the brighter H14.

Thanks fellas, I knew there would be some real time experience reviews here ?

What everyone using for a head lamp? I have a couple of Led Lenser's and the straps are cactus, one is a H14 (old model) rechargeable and has been great, its now bolted to a cap.... Time for an upgrade, something with good battery life is a must, cheers.

I've been using Garmin Montana 650T for several years....maybe 5years now, I'm happy with it

Duncs, many years ago I snapped the tip (about 20mm) off this Gerber blade while trying to dig a broadhead out of a tree. I used a bench grinder and frequently cooled in water while reshaping. It still works fine, doesn't hold an edge for too long, normally take the legs off a few pigs and it needs a sharpen, although I suspect that is due to the grade steel as it gets blunt the whole way not just the tip. I would like to upgrade one day, just can't find the right all rounder knife for me.....

Thats some nice work Col, should be happy with them

Yeah I know, have a storm going over so stuck inside, had a silly moment.....

When its hot I prefer this pack, bit of extra capacity, seems to carry the extra weight well

They look like what I'm after, can't see where to get them in oz, can get them from the states. I had a look at bogs, they are cold climate too... Thanks fellas

I've searched the site, heaps on boots but can't find anything on boots for hot weather, can anyone recomend any decent hunting boots for the tropics? Most of the stuff on line are insulated. Mainly to be used for stalking and them long hunts in the dry season, be good if they could be used all year round, but the wet season isn't too kind to boots. Been using sneakers and work boots for years, sneakers allow too many burrs in, work boots are ok but noisey and heavy when wet. Last wet season I bought a cheap pair of jungle boots for the mud, they are ok but chew your feet up on long walks. So I'm looking for something that breathes, dries reasonably quick, have a bit of feel under toe. My bow hunting mate walks for miles in crocs and slips them off when he's going in for a shot, I'm not that keen!

I'd rather wear thick clothing than put bushmans on, that stuff strips paint! Maybe a mesh suit with a thermocell worn on a belt? I've only used a thermocell in the boat or in camp they work really well, but no doubt are poison as well.

I have just started carrying a Spyderco Pacific Salt instead of a fixed blade Gerber. I only hunt pigs and so only require the knife every now and then to remove a jaw. I like the corrosion resistance, it's nice and lite, I don't even know it is there, does the job I need it to. I've been using a Nirey sharpener and diamond steel/normal steel depending where I am and how bad the blade is.