Choosing the right gear is never easy-in fact, it’s getting harder. That’s why we developed Field & Stream’s Best of the Best Awards: to help you cut through the hype and find stuff that actually works. The winners of our sixth annual contest were selected by a team of 11 experts, who spent months performing extensive hands-on evaluations of design, durability, performance, value, and innovation on over 200 hunting and fishing products. Ultimately they had to choose one perfect item in each of the 20 categories-a piece of gear that gives you an unprecedented edge, something that can truly make you a more successful sportsman. These are the products that we call the Best of the Best.
Binoculars
Swarovski | EL 32
Knives
Gerber | Freeman Fixed Hunter
Shotguns | Rifles
Caesar Guerini | Tempio Over/Under
Tikka | T3 Lite Stainless
Fishing Tackle
Orvis | Vortex Anti-Reverse Fly Reel
Shimano | Calcutta TE Baitcasting Reels
Riflescopes | Spotting Scopes
Schmidt & Bender | Zenith 3-12×50
Zeiss | Diascope 85 T* FL
Hunting Boots
Irish Setter | Elk Trackers
Survival | Technology
Schrade | Navitool
Garmin | Rino 120 Two-Way Radio/GPS
Handguns
Smith & Wesson | Model 500
Ammunition
Black Hills | Gold Cartridges
Hunting Gear
Hunter Safety System | Vest
Fishing Lures & Accessories
Rapala | ProGuide Lock ‘n Weigh
Worden’s | DC-16 Timber Tiger
Outboards
Briggs & Stratton | Camouflage Edition Outboard
Boats
Triton | X Series Bass Boats
Camping
Mountain Safety Research | Ventana
Bowhunting
Mathews | LX