Exo Journal — Gear List

Like most backcountry hunters, we are passionate about the gear we use. At the end of each year, we like to highlight some of the favorite gear we have used for hunts throughout the year and discuss why those particular items made a difference for us personally. Here is our favorite gear from 2025…

Discover how selecting high-quality clothing, combined with the knowledge of when and how to layer those items effectively, creates a comprehensive layering system for backpack hunts.

Steve Speck, owner and designer at Exo Mtn Gear, goes through all of the gear he is taking on his once-in-a-lifetime Moose tag in his home state of Idaho. This is a 7-day backpack rifle hunt in October, with temps in the 30-50 degree range, and some rain and snow in the forecast.

What does Steve (Exo Mtn Gear) take on a 5-Day Archery Elk Hunt, and how does that different from what Trent (Born & Raised Outdoors) would pack for the same hunt? See the differences between an utralight gear list, compared to someone who packs some extra items.