Gear employed to hunt in enormous and risky mountains and reach rough distant terrain has advanced dramatically during the previous century, and thankfully so. To bag the trophy of a lifetime and live to tell the tale over future campfires, the pioneers of specialized hunting gear had to be as tough as the nails in their boots, and the blood in their veins. To fully appreciate today’s advances, and to develop a deeper regard for the past ones, we want to take you on a nostalgic journey as we analyze the then & now of technological hunting gear.
IN THE BEGINNING
A typical American Hunter
For decades, old timers would utilize a string of pack mules and powerful mountain ponies to hunt locations far from any path or trail start. Because the animals did most of the heavy lifting, the weight of the gear was not a huge concern. Gear comprised of cast iron pots and pans, enormous canvas tents, tinned food, and thick cotton and scratchy wool clothes.
However, this manner of hunting faced one huge issue. Livestock needed to be watered and fed daily. This means the camp had to be positioned close to a good quantity of mountain pasture and a substantial water source. This limited the regions where the elderly lads could pitch their camp. Consequently, these horse camps were not necessarily in the greatest hunting areas, which prompted hunters to trek out, often many kilometers from base camp. This involved dragging a big canvas frame pack laden with heavy supplies. Next, technological advancements began to take place.
MODERN HUNTING TOOLS
Quickly, early adopting mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts jumped at the chance to design gear using these synthetic marvels. The advent of such technically advanced outdoor equipment laid the groundwork for the creation of technically advanced hunting equipment.
As a result, the hunting business lagged behind other sectors by 30 years in terms of capitalizing on the information technology revolution. Perhaps this was for the best, since many of the specialist textiles created almost half a century ago are now much more technologically advanced than they were then. When the hunting business finally got the itch to explore new technologies, the rest, as they say, is history.
FEATHERWEIGHT OUTFITS FOR HUNTING
It would be a huge understatement to suggest that lightweight hunting gear has advanced significantly during the past two decades. Hunters now have options for the first time in 20 years, and the gear they use is lighter and more durable than before. Thus, there were limited alternatives in concealing (camo) designs for high-performance hunting apparel 30 years ago.
Conclusion
Hunting equipment has come a long way. Today’s hunting is so much different compared to hunting many years ago. Many changes have occurred, from hunting clothing to hunting weapons.