EXPED Cargo Drybags
NEW Dec. 21, 2009 / 9:30 a.m

As much foul-weather photography as we do here at Northwest Wild Country, we've had ample chance to Crash Test water/weatherproof gear bags.

Exped's Cargo Drybags are our favorites.

The Drybag system provides convenient storage for quick access to the contents of each versatile, well-padded bag that's perfect for sensitive gear. A well-positioned weatherproof zipper automatically opens the bag to its full width, exposing the contents in full view. Three sizes cover all needs from personal toiletry kit to group emergency kit.

8 CHECK OUT Exped Cargo Drybags

EXPED SynMat
NEW Dec. 21, 2009 / 9:30 a.m

You don't realize how much difference a good sleeping mat makes in deer camp until you've tried one.

Longtime Wild Country buddy Kaj Bune of Exped had been on my case for months to try out one of his company's sleeping mats, and I finally got a chance to put these mats through the Crash Test cycle late this summer at Mount Baker.

Check that: I let somebody else use the Exped mat while I slept ona different mat. NEVER AGAIN.

The Exped SynMat offers comfort, low weight and compact packed size, and their weight-to-warmth ratio is waaaaay superior to standard foam or inflatable sleeping mats.

8 CHECK OUT Exped's SynMat

TEVA Sunkosi 2
NEW Dec. 21, 2009 / 9:30 a.m

The original Teva Sunkosi had one of the most grueling Crash Tests in Northwest Wild Country history: A week of scrambling in and out of boats, slogging up beaches, clambering over rocks and jungle floor in Panama, all on a severely tweaked ankle. That shoe, quite frankly, saved my bacon with its exceptional traction and adjustable fit.

8 CHECK OUT the Teva Sunkosi 2

8 Shimano Voltaeus
In this economy, you have to appreciate the Shimano Voltaeus rod lineup as you scout out last-minute Christmas gifts. Voltaeus offers anglers a rod that's both high durable and incredibly sensitive. Oh, and the pricepoint is below $60, too.

8 Costa Del Mar Zane
As I write this, I can see two pairs of well-used Costa Del Mar sunglasses within my reach. Suffice it to say, Costa has been near the top of the Christmas Crash list since we started this whole thing back in 2004.

Check out the Zane, which won the 2009 ICAST "Best of Show" award for Best New Eyewear: co-molded Hydrolite temples and nose piece for secure fit, frame vents to prevent fogging, and, of course, Costa's famous polarized optics in whatever color and shade suits your individual fishing application best.

8Frogg Toggs Outerwear
There's no such thing, in this water-logged part of the world, as TOO MANY pieces of rain gear. Frogg Toggs hit the market several years ago with highly packable raingear, and they've continued to improve on fabric technology to encompass dozens of different styles that are picture-perfect for the outdoorsman/woman on your Christmas-buying list.

8 Midland Radio GXT Mossy Oak
A 34-mile range, 42 channels, over 140 privacy codes, NOAA Weather Scan, X-TRA TALK power and dozens of additional bells and whistles make the Midland GXT in Mossy Oak a powerful tool for you hunters. This isn't your dad's old walkie-talkie!

8 Wiley X Jake
Wiley X has been providing eyewear for the military for years, so if you're looking for better overall protection for your eyes than the Wiley X Jake, you won't find it. Part of Wiley's Climate Control Series, the Jake features the company's trademarked Facial Cavity Seal for advanced protection from the elements, and proprietary Filter 8 polarization for unequalied clarity and contrast.

8 Garlic Gourmay Spices
Best stocking-stuffer in the world, period. We first met Paul Kuper - the head Gourmay down at Garlic Gourmay - at Cabela's Fish Camp about 5 years ago, and have been giant fans of his product ever since. Gourmay produces the highest-quality spices in the country, including a Garlic Mesquite Rub that finds its way into just about every dish on our holiday table.

BRADLEY BTIS1 Smoker
NEW Nov. 19, 2009 / 10:30 a.m

Throw down a plate of fresh alder-smoked salmon straight out of the Bradley BT1SI Original Smoker and get out of the way. Smoked salmon will make you a holiday hero, but, dude, you'll get stampeded if you hover too long.

The art of smoking fish is as old as time, but the modern process of smoking got much easier and efficient in 1999, when Ted Bradley offered the original Bradley Electric Smoker to the masses.

We've been putting everything from ribs to steelhead through the Bradley BTIS1 smoker, and, even as I write this, a whole turkey is slowly absorbing the smoke of Bradley's Apple Bisquettes.

MORE TO COME this week in our exclusive three-part Crash Test.

YAKIMA BAIT Mag Lip makes its debut
NEW Oct. 25, 2009 / 10:30 a.m

Burn this name into your cerebral cortex: Mag Lip.

One of the hottest salmon/steelhead plugs in the Pacific Northwest got a hot new name this fall, thanks to the folks over at iFish. Technically, the Mag Lip isn't new in the "unproven" sense of the word: under its former name - the M2-SP - this deep-diving plug had already started to elbow its way into the consciousness of salmon and steelhead anglers from Alaska to California.

8CLICK HERE to see the specs of the Mag Lip.

MACK'S LURES Pip's Leader Caddy
NEW Oct. 25, 2009 / 10:30 a.m

Mack's Lures Pip's Leader Caddy features an internal anti-reverse gear that prevents tangles, and at 4 1/2 inches, there's enough space inside to store rigs with bigger drift bobbers.

8CLICK HERE to see the specs

COLEMAN Hot Water on Demand
NEW Aug. 26, 2009 / 9:30 a.m

Everybody laughs when I break out the Coleman Hot Water on Demand at camp. Twenty seconds later, when I've hooked the thing up and added steaming-hot water to the camp chuck wagon, laughter turns into "That's C-O-O-L! Where do I get one?!?"

I first saw this impressive piece of Coleman camp wizardry about four years ago at Ed Iman's Fish Camp on the Columbia River. Iman - who everybody knows is as old-school as they come - couldn't wait to show his newfangled gizmo off: "Hey Shangle, c'mere and look at this."

8The twist of a knob and, presto, we have a new Deer Camp MVP. Read on, fellow camper, read on ...

CRKT Kommer Signature Brow Tine Hunter
NEW Aug. 11, 1009 / 9:30 p.m

How do you create the perfect hunting knife? You have an Alaskan big game guide design it, that’s how.

That’s exactly what CRKT did with the Brow Tine Hunter, from veteran knife-builder/guide/uber-outdoorsman Russ Kommer. Longtime listeners will remember our interviews with Kommer, and his steadfast insistence that knives be both functional and appealing to the eye. He hit it out of the park with the Brow Tine.

The foundation of this knife is a 3-inch, traditional drop-point, high-carbon, 9Cr18 mirrored stainless steel blade that provides excellent durability while maintaining an edge through repeated cuts. The old-school, hand-finished stag handle is supported by a pinned, stainless steel bolster (the "hilt", between the blade and handle).

Bottom line: one of my favorite knives.

WILLIE 17' x 60" Drifter
NEW May 26, 2009 / 4:30 p.m



When Willie Boats opened its doors in 1981, their colorful namesake had already become a legend in the Beaver State and for good reason: His design innovations had transformed the Pacific Northwest drift boat as we knew it.

Willie Boats builds some of the most popular, functional McKenzie-style drift boats in the world, including the versatile 17-footer with a 60-inch bottom.

MUSTANG Hydrostatic PFD
NEW May 26, 2009 / 3:05 p.m

What can I say about this comfortable-to-wear lifesaving device?

8 Well made, technologically advanced, easy to wear, and quality, quality, quality, quality. The Mustang Hydrostatic PFD is a must-have for us outdoors folks that venture onto unpredictable waters.

PAUTZKE Nectar
NEW Feb. 17, 2009 / 5:30 p.m

To be perfectly honest, there's nothing new about Pautzke's Nectar ... and that's the beauty of it. Columbia River springer anglers are nowusing one of the Pacific Northwest's oldest products in a cool new way.

8Pautzke's Nectar is the hot "new" herring boost for '09.

PFLUEGER Supreme
NEW Jan. 4, 2008 / 6:00 p.m

There's a spinning rod to match every steelheading condition you'll ever face. The newest addition to Pflueger's stable of spinning reels - the Supreme - matches every one of 'em.

8CLICK HERE for our CT of the new Supreme

8 Skeet moves to W & M
We've always been proud to claim that 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion Skeet Reese was fishing Northwest rods. The Skeet Era at Lamiglas is over, however, as Reese signs a new deal on a series of rods with Wright & McGill.

8 Brad's takes stab at cutplug
An artificial bait that perfectly mimics a cutplug herring is the Holy Grail for Pacific Northwest tackle designers. Brad's rolls out the Super Cut Plug to shops throughout the region next month. Is it the Grail? We shall see..

8 Shimano presents Voltaeus
It's a sound theory: offer anglers a rod that's both high durable and incredibly sensitive. Oh, and keep the pricepoint below $60, too.

8Lazer Trokar debuts big
Way back in the winter of 2008, I happened to call Al Noraker of Wright & McGill to chat about waders. Al gave me the heads-up on a new series of hooks coming from Eagle Claw, which he claimed were "so sharp it's scary". The Lazer Trokar is all that and more.

8 Dobyns debuts new rod line
California pro Gary Dobyns has been a longtime friend of the Wild Country, so we were intrigued when the new Dobyns Rods rolled out this spring.

8 Gibbs, Delta Tackle merge
An intriguing merger north of the border, eh? (Oh, the Canadians L-O-V-E it when you exaggerate their vocal habits!). Seriously, though, you have to be interested in the recent merger of Gibbs/Nortac and Delta Tackle.

8 Rennaisance lands Spiess
The Columbia Boats, Weldcraft and Duckworth aluminum-boat brands landed a good one this month as Jerry Spiess was named dealer sales rep for the Pacific Northwest-based boat company.

8 XCalibur TG weight deal
Here's a screaming deal for you bassers: XCalibur is currently offering their 5/8-ounce Tg Bullet Weights at $1.99 for a package of three. Regular price is $8.04.

8 OL Optics Test 2009 online
Occasional Northwest Wild Country guest Andrew McKean, the hunting editor of Outdoor Life, is one of the huntingest dudes in the country. Check out his Optics Test 2009 for some great info on binoculars.

PAUTZKE Yellow Jacket, Orange Deluxe
NEW April 13, 2009 / 9:30 a.m

Trout season and the Pautzke name go hand-in-hand. But did you ever think there'd be a BETTER trout bait than the single red salmon egg?

8Pautzke's Yellow Jacket & Orange Deluxe eggs are must-haves for 2009

WORDEN'S UV Rooster Troll
NEW April 13, 2009 / 10:30 a.m


If you're a hardware-chucker for trout, you know how effective Rooster Tail spinners are. So, doesn't it make perfect sense that one of the most basic components of the Rooster Tail could serve double duty in a lake troll?

8Check out Worden's Rooster Troll

8Jim's Break-a-Way Flashers

8Pautzke's Nectar

8Pflueger Supreme