These are not paid advertisements. This is gear we spend our money on and in most cases have used for close to a decade! We recommend gear we truly believe in and stands up to the rigors we put it through.
Lathrop & Sons Custom Boot System is by far the best boots we have used. We have ran these boots a full hunting season and now one month into year two. I have bone spurs in my big toe and this is the first boot I have ran that has relieved the pain in my toe. I can honestly say I have zero pain in my toe from these boots. These are also the most comfortable boots I have ever owned! The build quality in these boots is cannot be beat. In my opinion, the top build quality in the boots I have tried are Hanwag and Scarpa. These are as good if not better in my option!
The whole custom boot system ordering experience is easy and straight forward. I talked with Steve Lathrop on the phone for about 45 minutes talking through the boot and decided on the Mountain Hunter insulated. Where L&S beats everyone is both Steve and James are Podiatrist. This is on of the things that got me interested in their boots and their customer service after the sale. I was also extremely impressed when I opened the box and there was as set of extra boot laces and boot wax included.
We put a lot of miles on in rough terrain every year and these boot are holding up exceptionally well.
I know these boot are not a cheap investment but it is truly the one piece of gear that is probably the most important! I just ordered a set of Mountain Hunter Encompass for the less rugged terrain, will keep you up to date on those.
Benellis SuperVinci and SBE3 20 gauge
Benelli is our go to shotguns. We bought a new SBE3 20 gauge this year and used it exclusively, form 3/4 ounce skeet loads to 1 and 1/4 ounce loads for pheasants, the gun has been a great addition. We started out with Chukar and Sage Grouse in Wyoming early season and the gun was such a fun little gun we used it all the way to the end of January. It performed great on a river duck hunt with steel and will be the every day shotgun for the 23/24 season.
The SuperVinci has been old reliable for 8 year! We only used it one time this year on a goose hunt but as always it worked and smashed birds! I do not recommend this but the gun has not been cleaned in 5 years and just keeps working!
Myself and two friends went on an Argentina Dove hunt in 2012 after my EAS (end of active service) from the Marine Corps. For this hunt we took four Benelli’s and over four days, 20,000+ rounds and a great time. Besides a handful of hard/bad primers the guns worked flawlessly! Our choice of auto loader every time!