Guns were loaded and shot, over and over; $2,000 binoculars were frozen, dunked in water, and run over by pickup trucks; ATVs were run through obstacle courses; packs were loaded up and carried into the backcountry. Ultimately, we arrived at the winners.

When all the testing was done, and all the Best of the Best winners had been chosen, team captains still had some really great gear on their hands——equipment that didn't come in first, but which, in many cases, came extremely close. They couldn't ignore it. You'll find write-ups of these close seconds in almost every category below. --The Eds

The Best New RIFLES of 2008
A rich and yeasty mixture of guns got our attention this year: We tested a bunch of bolt actions, one lever gun, and our first-ever air rifle and AR-15s.

The Best New SHOTGUNS of 2008
Double guns, superlight autoloaders, and innovative offerings on the target side dominated the field this year. Sorting out the best from the rest meant taking these guns out and shooting them.

The Best New Compound BOWS (and Best New Bow Accessory) of 2008
Contributing editor Scott Bestul led a team including Marty Stubstad, a big-game and turkey bowhunter; bow technician Trent Kleeberger; Ted Marum, a former whitetail outfitter; and Mark Stimets, who has bowhunted for big game for 20 years, to test new bows using a variety of methods.

The Best New AMMO of 2008
David E. Petzal's pick for the best new rifle cartridge and Phil Bourjaily's pick for the best new shotgun shell of the year.

The Best New BLACKPOWDER Rifles of 2008
Our testers included blackpowder hunter Jerry Ewasiuk; avid bench shooter Bob McDonald; Al Voth, a hunter and reloader; and author Brad Fenson, who has hunted with muzzleloaders from the Arctic to Florida.

The Best New Hunting CLOTHING of 2008
This year's turkey season was cold, wet, and perfect for wearing the type of layering system that has been eclipsed by all-in-one garments in recent years. The dilemma has always been assembling the correct layers—there are just too many choices. One of this year's Best of the Best did the legwork for us. Our other winner took the opposite tack, with softshell technology built into a jacket and pants that claim to be all you need for most hunting.

The Best New Hunting ATVs of 2008
On the test crew were Jeff Lampe of Cocoon ATV Bags; Zach Bevins, an engineer, riding enthusiast, and hunter; John Konersmann, an ATV mechanic; and contributing editor and long-time ATV rider Peter Mathiesen.

The Best New OPTICS of 2008
Our glass-testing panel included F&S contributing editor Thomas McIntyre; Dave Paullin, a retired biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; LeRoy Van Buggenum, a Wyoming rancher, hunter, varmint caller, reloader, and all-around gun and optics nut; and Sam Western, a distinguished outdoor writer and big-game guide.

The Best New Hunting BOOTS of 2008
Boot technology is rapidly evolving, with new materials and designs constantly appearing on the market. This year's winner even incorporates insulation used by NASA. But you'll also find some boots that have traditional styling with below-the-surface improvements.

The Best KNIVES of 2008
Deputy editor Dave Petzal bought his first hunting knife in 1952, and his first custom knife—a Randall—in 1957. Since then, he has been acquiring, using, and trading knives—all kinds. He has been an associate member of the Knifemaker's Guild and has worked in the shop of the legendary knifemaker George Herron, who said he should stick to writing.

The Best GADGETS of 2008
Sorting through the latest advances in hunting technology is the best job of all, mostly because there is so much truly useful gear out there. Also, this stuff is just fun to play with.

The Best Miscellaneous Hunting Gear of 2008
This is possibly the coolest section of Best of the Best. Our testers checked out everything—packs, tents, decoys, gun cases, tree stands, you name it—and ultimately concluded that what you see on this page is really good, practical, smart gear that will help you hunt better this fall. We're betting that you'll find something here that you just can't resist.