May 15, 2015
By Brad Fitzpatrick
Father's day is getting close, and if you don't have dad's gift yet, don't panic.
We've compiled a list of products that we think will make great gifts for dad this year. From weather radios to spotting scopes and even thermal imaging cameras, no matter what dad likes to hunt, or what your budget can handle, there's an idea here for you.
If the father on your gift list is wild about the outdoors, here are some great products that he'll enjoy.
Oh, and dads, feel free to share this list with your family. That is, of course, unless you want another tie rack.
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Aimpoint | 9000L As the popularity of red dot sights increases so are the options available to hunters. One great choice is
Aimpoint's 9000L , which is available with two dot sizes (2 and 4 MOA). The company's ACET technology allows for extended battery life, upwards of 50,000 hours, and the 9000 L fits in standard 30mm scope rings. These optics allow for fast shooting and work equally well on shotguns and rifles, so no matter what his game dad will love this gift.
Price: $ 483
Signature Products Group | Browning Buck 2500RT Hunting Daypack The new
Browning Buck 2500RT pack from
Signature Products Group weighs just 3 ¼ pounds, yet it offers 2,500 cubic inches of available storage space. The Baumshell fabric and Hypo-Sonic zippers are extremely durable yet quiet, so you won't have to worry about spooking game when you're reaching in your bag for equipment.
Additionally, the pack's Mountain Crawler design provides plenty of storage up front so your important gear is always right at hand, and features like the asymmetric waist belt and Infinite Loop shoulder straps make this one of the most comfortable packs you can own for long-distance hikes and all-day hunts.
Price: $ 199.99
Bushnell | Elite 1-Mile ARC with CONX Technology If the dad in your house likes hunting and cutting-edge technology, then the
Bushnell ARC with CONX technology might be just what he needs. The unit combines a Bushnell ARC 1-mile rangefinder with wireless technology that provided instant holdover and windage adjustments to your rangefinder and phone.
The unit can even connect with CONX compatible Kestral devices that record environmental conditions, meaning that barometric pressure, altitude and other factors will be calculated into your holdover figures. Long-range shooting just got a whole lot simpler.
Price: $ 819.95
CZ | Sharp-Tail Dad's sure to love
CZ's new Sharp-Tail , a classic side-by-side shotgun with a single trigger, a fine Turkish walnut stock and a striking color case-hardened finish. It's a thoroughly updated version of the company's successful Ringneck, and the new Sharp-Tail features coil springs (as opposed to the leaf springs on previous models), one piece CNC machined receiver, independent floating firing pins, and much more.
The Sharp-tail is available in 12, 20 and 28 gauge and .410, and it's extremely well balanced for a smooth and consistent swing. Other features include single extractor, five flush-fitting choke tubes and a plastic case.
Price: $ 1,022
Danner | Steadfast Danner's new Steadfast boots are designed to be extremely comfortable, with a cushioned footbed, underfoot venting, a broader toe box and an Airthotic heel clip for additional support in tough terrain.
These boots are also very durable, with a blend of nubuck leather and 900 denier nylon uppers and a brand new outsole that is aggressive enough to tackle slick terrain yet comfortable and light enough for an all-day hike. Danner's new Steadfast boots are available with or without insulation, and they utilize Danner Dry waterproof protection.
Price: $ 129.95-
$ 159.95
OTIS Technologies | Ear Shield One of the most innovative new products to come along in years, the
Ear Shield eliminates the need for bulky ear muffs or battery-operated hearing protection. Loud sounds are directed away from the ear into a sound chamber where they are disrupted, and background noise levels will also be reduced, so dad will actually talk more quietly with his hearing protection in place. The Ear Shield won't interfere with shooting glasses and will fold up for easy storage in a pocket or shooting bag.
Price: $ 19.99 for the 26dB model;
$ 24.99 for the 31 dB version (for indoor ranges)
Fieldline | Sage Canyon Waist Pack If dad needs a lightweight, easy-to-carry pack that won't get in his way then check out the
Fieldline Sage Creek waist pack . A large front pocket and smaller side pockets offer plenty of storage, and the front mesh pockets are perfect for lighter, smaller items like reed calls that need to be quickly accessed.
The Sage Creek provides 252 cubic inches of storage space, just enough for the essentials without being bulky or taking up too much space. It's a great choice for archers, turkey hunters, and almost anyone else who heads afield.
Price: $ 20.00
FLIR | Scout II The
Scout II handheld thermal camera will allow dad to take scouting to the next level. Lightweight and portable, the Scout II has a high-quality LCD display for clear images even in total darkness. The tough weather-tight exterior protects it from the worst conditions, and it is available with a variety of different color pallets including white hot, black hot, red hot.
It's available in 240 and 320 resolution models, and the 320 version also offers video output to record imagery and video. If dad's serious about his big game hunting then the Scout II is an ideal gift.
Price: $ 1,999
Pro-Defense | Gunslinger Tactical Sling Keeper The search for the perfect gift for dad seems to get tougher every year. If you're seeking something practical this time around, check out the
Gunslinger Tactical Sling Keeper from Pro-Defense . This neat little multi-use tool solves the problem of dad's rifle slipping off of his shoulder while out in the field. Regardless of which shoulder he carries his rifle, the velcro strap on the Gunslinger mounts to either the left or right strap of any backpack. Constructed of durable polymers, the Gunslinger also features a Picatinny rail mount that accommodates a flashlight or any other rail mounted accessory and keeps them securely in place.
Price: $ 9.99
Midland | ER200 Compact Emergency Crank Weather Alert Radio Being caught unaware in bad weather can lead to disaster, so
Midland's new ER200 weather radio is a great gift for any hunter. The ER200 features digital AM/FM and weather band radio as well as NOAA Weather Alert capabilities, and there are four available power sources (rechargeable lithium ion battery, 6 AA batteries, a solar panel and a dynamo hand crank) so the radio will continue working even when battery power fails.
It comes with a powerful LED flashlight with high and low settings and an emergency SOS Morse code beacon. The ER200 is compact and lightweight, a great gift for any hunter or boater.
Price: $ 59.99
Primos | Truth Cam Ultra 46 HD With 46 LED lights,
Primos' Truth Cam 46 HD trail camera offers extended camera range for outstanding nighttime shooting, and the 7 megapixel camera will provide crisp, clear shots of anything walking past.
The camera also records 720p HD with audio, and the extended battery life allows you to go as long as nine months between battery changes. Anti-blur technology and a one-second trigger speed insure that you'll get high-quality images, so dad will know exactly what's prowling around his stand.
Price: $ 194.95
Hunter's Specialties | Scent-A-Way MAX Waterless Travel Kit Staying odor free can be tough, especially in the back country. To remedy this,
Hunter's Specialties has introduced its new
Scent-A-Way Max Waterless Travel Kit , which includes a six ounce bottle of dry shampoo, 12 odorless Wash Towels, antiperspirant, and a 12 ounce bottle of Scent-A-Way MAX spray for deodorizing equipment.
The kit comes with a mesh bag for easy transport. With this kit, dad can stay odor-free even when he's deep in the wilderness and far from the conveniences of home.
Price: $ 27.99
ThermaCell | Heat Packs Help dad ward off cold temperatures this hunting season with
ThermaCell's innovative new Heat Packs . These lightweight, compact heaters are rechargeable and allow the hunter to select from three separate temperature settings. And, unlike disposable hand warmers, Heat Packs provide even, consistent heat for up to six hours on a single charge.
An easy-to-read LED display indicates temperature setting and there's an ON/OFF button to preserve battery life. The larger Pocket Warmer is sold as a single unit, and the Hand Warmers come as a pair.
Price: $ 79.99 for the Hand Warmers;
$ 69.99 for the Pocket Warmer
Core4Elements | Torrent Jacket There's a good chance that when dad unwraps his
Torrent jacket you'll have to tell him that it's actually raingear. Why? Because the Torrent is made from laminated polyester microfiber brushed tricot material, which is breathable as well as waterproof. That means it's lightweight, doesn't hold heat and moisture, and above all, it's silent.
In addition, the Torrent jacket zips into its own pocket, so you can carry it with you in your pack without sacrificing a bunch of space. The YKK zippers on this jacket are both silent and sturdy, so you can expect years of use.
Price: $ 169.99
Trijicon | HD Spotting Scope Trijicon's new HD Spotting Scope offers 20-60x magnification, multi-coated fluoride lenses, magnesium construction, rubberized armor, interchangeable eyepiece, tripod adaptor and many more features that you'd expect to find on a scope costing hundreds or even thousands more.
Light transmission is excellent, and the dual focus knob allows for a clear, bright image. The angled eyepiece is comfortable and easy to use, and the body indexing feature allows for 225-degree vertical rotation of the scope to move eyepiece position without adjusting the tripod.
Price: $ 1,899
Zeiss | Terra ED 32 Binoculars Zeiss is building on their popular
Terra ED line for 2015 with the addition of new 8x32 and 10x32 Terra ED binoculars, which come with an exclusive Under Armour Gray finish and bino harness. These new compact Terra HD binoculars weigh less than 18 ounces and are extremely durable, which makes them perfect for all-day hunts in tough country.
The Terra Ed 32mm Binos also feature Schott HD glass and Zeiss MC multi-coated lenses for a clear image, and the wide field of view means that dad won't miss a thing while he's in the field.
Price: $ 411.10 for the 8x32 model;
$ 444.43 for the 10x32 model
Leatherman | Tread We got our first look at this multi-tool/watch combo at the 2015 SHOT Show and came away impressed. While it seems more like something you'd probably expect to find on the wrist of James Bond instead of the outdoorsman in the plane seat next to you, the Leatherman Tread combines style and functionality to give you a toolbox you wear with you anywhere you go.
The innovative TSA-compliant design features a bracelet made from swappable links that serve as 29 individual tools, including 5 screwdrivers, 4 hex drives, 3 box wrenches, a cutting hook and bottle opener, to name a few. It is also customizable with a shock-resistant Swiss-made timepiece. Weighing only 7.6 ounces and water resistant up to 200 meters, this utility tool will keep you prepared for anything — anytime, anywhere.
Price: $ 150-$ 200
Leatherman | Charge TTI Sometimes, a knife alone won't solve dad's problems. Thankfully,
Leatherman's Charge TTI comes with a variety of tools (19 in all) you don't know you need until you need them. It will help you fix just about everything that could break on the range or in the field.
It not only comes with a 2.9-inch knife blade, the Charge TTI includes screwdrivers, scissors, a gut hook, pliers, a saw, even a bottle opener for the post-hunt celebration. Dad will still have to find and shoot his own deer, of course. It weighs 8.2 ounces and is 4 inches when closed.
Price: $ 170
