BILLY’S PERSONAL ALASKA GEAR LIST

For the past 26 years I’ve guided and hunted in some of the most remote regions of Alaska for brown bear, grizzly bear, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, and wolf. Given the ruggedness of my hunts and the use of lightweight airplanes, I keep my gear to an absolute minimum. To ensure safety, success, and overall enjoyment, I can only afford to use the best.

 Like anything, you get what you pay for. If you buy the proper gear you don’t need much of it, and you will enjoy the use of it for years to come. If you have inferior equipment, sooner or later the Alaskan elements will exploit it, and you will not only not enjoy your experience, but you could quickly find yourself in serious danger. Trust me: When you experience some real Alaskan weather, you will not regret one penny you spent on your gear.

As I general rule I prefer lightweight merino wool against my skin, down for insulation, and durable synthetic materials as an outer shell. Having a layering system is key. The following is my personal gear list.

Enjoy the Adventure!

Boots
One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “What boots do you recommend?” I’ve tried them all: Meindl, Scarpa, Lowa, Kennetrek, Zamberlan, Hanwag, you name it. These are good brands, but Crispi boots are far and away my favorite. My preferred heavy-duty mountain boot is the Hunter GTX. The Guide GTX is similar, but just a couple inches shorter. When hunting drier, less severe country for elk, aoudad, mule deer, etc. I’ve enjoyed using the shorter, lighter Briksdal MTN GTX . That said, what works for one person may not work for another. When you find a boot that works for you, stick with it. The steeper and rougher the terrain you hunt, the stiffer/higher quality boot you will need. I recommend a good after-market insole, particularly if you’re packing heavy loads. I’ve had good luck with Foot Levelers custom foot beds. Wet, cold, sore feet can ruin a hunt. When I can, I bring 2 sets of boots. An extra set of insoles is also useful, particularly if you don’t have an extra pair of boots. If you allow yourself one “luxury item” make it a second pair of boots. 0-400 grams of insulation is good for early season and sheep hunts. 400-800 is ideal for late season, or hunts where you’re not as active.
*Guide GTX: https://alnk.to/a46cFcC
Crispi Hunter GTX: https://alnk.to/aLLeAuq
Crispi Briksdal MTN GTX: https://alnk.to/9bwpLa7

Mud Boots
Kuiu HD Mud Boots are very durable, lightweight, and can be used around camp for everyday-use on bear, caribou, and moose hunts. Xtratuf neoprene boots are also good, but don’t offer good traction.

Kuiu HD Mud Boots: https://kuiu.sjv.io/vPkzbd

Boot Gaiters
*Kutana Storm Gaiters are my favorite. They’re lightweight and perfect for all-around use. The Yukon Gaiters are very durable and I use them on hunts I know I will consistently be in wet, boggy terrain.
Kutana Strom Gaiters: https://kuiu.sjv.io/nXxkB6
Yukon Gaiters: https://kuiu.sjv.io/MAznWJ

Camp Chair
I highly recommend bringing a packable, collapsible camp chair. My clients and I all love the Crazy Creek Camp Chair. I prefer the “Long Back”.

Camp Shoes
It is nice to take your boots off when you get back to camp at the end of a long day of hunting. I love the Kuiu Ankle Mud Boot. They’re waterproof, slip on and off with ease, while offering a snug, comfortable fit. Crocs work well indoors, but not in Alaska’s rain and snow.
KUIU Ankle Mud Boot: https://kuiu.sjv.io/Vx9ad3

Fleece Sweater/Hoodie
*1 – Kuiu’s StrongFleece Hybrid 235 Zip-T Hoodie everyday in the field. Durable and breathes well. This is a must have.

StrongFleece Hoodie: https://kuiu.sjv.io/QjLPxA

Gloves
3- Kuiu makes the best hunting gloves I’ve used. I use their Precision and Strong Fleece gloves for every hunt. If you’re sheep hunting, or on any backpack hunt where weight is a premium, hunters should also have a pair of *Super Down PRO Glassing Glomitts. If weight isn’t such a concern I prefer the durability and utility of the *Northstar Glove.

KUIU Precision Gloves: https://kuiu.sjv.io/kOEgGL
KUIU Strongfleece Gloves: https://kuiu.sjv.io/Oe0B3W
KUIU Super Down PRO Glommits: https://kuiu.sjv.io/55Ea0N
KUIU Northstar Gloves: https://kuiu.sjv.io/e1XvZO

Hats
2 – 1 mesh baseball cap to block the sun and 1 stocking hat. I prefer a stocking hat that completely covers my ears. Most of todays’ models seem designed more for looks than function and don’t set very low on the head, especially down on the ears. Kuiu’s Peloton 240 Beanie is great for early season and mountain hunts where you’re active. The Kenai Hat is a great option for cold weather hunts where you’re sitting and glassing for long periods of time.

Peloton Beanie: https://kuiu.sjv.io/je0X3n
Kenai Hat: https://kuiu.sjv.io/YRPDGO

Hip Boots/Waders
Hip boots or chest waders are often required for moose and bear hunts, or hunts where you’re utilizing a float plane. La Crosse ankle fit with Air Bob soles are the best I’ve used. Hip boots are durable, but heavy and don’t breathe. Many guides use waist-high breathable waders. Breathable nylon waders are louder and don’t have the durability of hip boots, but they’re much more comfortable to use on hunts where you know you will encounter a lot of rain, in and out of a boat, or frequently wading in water. If using chest waders with neoprene socks be sure to order boots at least 1 size larger than normal.

For moose, caribou, sheep, bear, and goat hunts where only occasional creek crossing are necessary, “Wiggy’s Waders” are the ticket. They are light, nylon over-boot waders, but will only standup to a handful of uses. (Order a size larger than normal.)

Wiggy’s: https://www.wiggys.com/clothing-outerwear/lightweight-waders/

Knife
All I ask my guided hunters to bring is a Leatherman or similar tool. One small skinning knife is optional. As I guide, I always bring a Leatherman, a Havalon with plenty of #60 blades. For moose, caribou, and bear hunts I always also bring a Victorinox 6” boning knife with a carbide sharpener.

Lightweight Jacket
*1 –  Kuiu Super Down LT is a must have. You won’t believe the weight to warmth ratio of this jacket. In extreme cold, you can wear it under the Super Down Pro Jacket.

KUIU Super Down LT Jacket: https://kuiu.sjv.io/55drK3

Base Layer Shirts
*3 – I like wool against my skin. I bring 1 of each of theses three layers on every hunt.

KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT SS Crew-T: https://kuiu.sjv.io/aOVRXQ
KUIU Active Merino 105 LS Crew-T: https://kuiu.sjv.io/dOgKdy
KUIU ULTRA Merino 145 Zip-T Hunting Hoodie: https://kuiu.sjv.io/QjLP1z

Base Layer Bottom

2 Pairs of Merino wool underwear are a must. Kuiu’s ULTRA Merino Boxer Brief are excellent
Bring 1-2 pair of wool long underwear bottoms. I’m sold on the function and performance of Kuiu’s “zip-off” base layers. Ultra Merino 145 Zip-Off’s are a must have. ULTRA Merino 160 Bottom are great for cold/stationary hunts.

KUIU ULTRA Merino Boxer: https://kuiu.sjv.io/XmjyMy
KUIU Ultra Merino 145 Zip-Off: https://kuiu.sjv.io/bOJbMm

Neck Gaiter
*1 – A light wool Neck Gaiter is a must have for any Alaska hunt.
(Link)
KUIU Neck Gaiter: https://kuiu.sjv.io/N9WBMP

Outer Heavy Jacket
*1 – I use Kuiu’s Super Down Pro Jacket. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.This is a must have on any Alaskan adventure.
KUIU Super Down Pro Jacket: https://kuiu.sjv.io/mOqRPy

Vest
*1 – I much prefer a light, puffy vest. Kuiu Super Down LT are great. The weight to warmth ratio of this vest is incredible. It’s a great insulator while keeping your arms from getting too bulky inside your jacket, particularly when wearing rain gear.

KUIU Super Down LT Vest: https://kuiu.sjv.io/9LDG7Y

Pants
2 pairs- My favorite pants are Kuiu’s Kutana Stretch Woven Pants, Attack Pants, and PRO Pants. The Katana and Attack are light to medium weight, and good for all-around. I like the PRO Pants for moose and brown bear as they’re extra durable. They work good in heavy brush, and the knee pads help in boggy terrain.

KUIU Kutana Pants: https://kuiu.sjv.io/Vx9a76
KUIU Attack Pants: https://kuiu.sjv.io/09oQVO
KUIU PRO Pants: https://kuiu.sjv.io/LKBa7V

Insulated Pants
*Kuiu’s Super Down Pro Pants are a must have for every Alaskan hunt. They zip all the way on and off on the side of the legs. When I get to my glassing location I am able to zip them on over my regular pants and boots. When it is time to leave or go on a quick stalk, simply zip off each leg, stuff the pants in the pack, and go. Every hunter uses these pants more than they think. Don’t go on an Alaskan hunt without these.

KUIU Super Down Pro Pants: https://kuiu.sjv.io/XmjyV3

Rain Gear
*1 set- DO NOT SKIMP ON YOUR RAIN GEAR!!! I personally don’t care for insulated rain gear for Alaska. I like a shell only, and use my other laters for insulation. Select rain gear that is commensurate with your hunt. Here’s my Light, Medium, and Heavy.

Light Rain Gear: ChugachTR is great for backpack hunts, warm weather hunts, and hunts with occasional or light rain.
(Link)

Medium Rain Gear. Kuiu Kutana Storm Shell is an excellent lightweight, all-around choice. I’ve used this rain gear for years guiding across Alaska! It’s light, but still very durable enough to withstand years of abuse.
(Link)

Heavy Rain Gear: Kuiu’s Yukon TR Rain Gear is my choice for moose, brown bear, goat, late season hunts, and coastal hunts where weather can be extreme.

KUIU Chugach TOP: https://kuiu.sjv.io/K0mKne
KUIU Chugach BOTTOM: https://kuiu.sjv.io/9LDG5j
KUIU Kutana TOP: https://kuiu.sjv.io/Vx9arM
KUIU Kutana BOTTOM: https://kuiu.sjv.io/bOJbLb
KUIU Yukon TOP: https://kuiu.sjv.io/je0XP6
KUIU Yukon BOTTOM: https://kuiu.sjv.io/kOEg5n

Sleeping Bag
* You must have a good sleeping bag! Kuiu’s Altai bags are excellent, and the QuixDown insulation helps save on weight, space, and allows you to be comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. Kuiu offers them in 0 and 15 degree models. Alaska can be cold any time of year! If in doubt, go with the 0.
KUIU Sleeping Bags: https://kuiu.sjv.io/dOgK2q

Sleeping Pad
*I use a Thermarest “NEO-Air”. It is relatively lightweight and twice as thick as most pads. Quality rest is critical.
Thermarest “NEW-Air”: https://alnk.to/cSKkmed

Socks
3-4 pair – I use Kuiu ULTRA Merino Over-the-Calf Sock. I like sock liners when I’m hiking a lot. Darn Tough is another good brand.

KUIU ULTRA Merino Socks: https://kuiu.sjv.io/LKBaAL

Backpack
*Bring a quality pack and be familiar with it before you arrive in the bush. A 4500 cubic inch bag is a minimum for a guided hunter on any wilderness hunt conducted on foot. 5,000-6,000 is ideal. A Venture Divide 2000 Day Pack is preferred if you’re horseback. If you’re DIY for caribou or moose you will need at least a 6,000-7,800.

As a guide, I’ve used the PRO 7800 for many years: Fantastic pack.

For a guided hunter of basically any species in Alaska, I recommend the PRO 6,000. It’s always nice to have plenty of room to carry extra clothes and bulky items. If weight is a huge concern, the PRO LT 4,000 is a great choice.
(4 links: 3 Kuiu frame packs, 1 day pack)

KUIU Venture Divide 2000: https://kuiu.sjv.io/7aqm5y
KUIU PRO 4500: https://kuiu.sjv.io/QjLOyA
KUIU PRO 6000: https://kuiu.sjv.io/LKBPXY
KUIU PRO 7800: https://kuiu.sjv.io/55EbgN

The standard backpack amongst Alaskan hunting guides is the bombproof “Barney’s Pack”. If you’re a DIY moose or caribou hunter, or anyone who plans to do a lot of meat packing, I HIGHLY recommend this pack. I like the Freighter Frame with Pinnacle Bag. I recommend UL version. It’s all but waterproof, a pound lighter, and still very durable.
Barney’s Pack: https://barneyssports.com/product-category/default-category/packs-bags/external-frame/page/2/

Tent/Shelter
Kuiu’s Mountain Star and Storm Star tents are excellent. Seak Outside tipi’s are great for fly camps/sheep country. Hilleberg’s Allak 2 is heavier, but bombproof. Cabela’s Geodesic Alaskan Guide tents are very heavy, but room and suitable in areas with moderate winds. (You will mostly likely not need to bring a tent on a guided hunt.)

KUIU Mountain Star Tent: https://kuiu.sjv.io/Oe0R1W
KUIU Storm Star Tent: https://kuiu.sjv.io/mOqgnM
Allak 2: (link TBD)

Tarp/Glassing Fly
*For any hunt that entails a lot of glassing, I bring a glassing fly. If you’ve watched any of my films you’ve seen my clients and I huddled underneath it. It keeps out 95% of rain, sleet, wind, snow, hail, and I’ve also used it to block the intense Alaska sun. The Hilleberg UL 10 is a perfect, durable fly that easily works for up to 3 people.

Trekking Poles
I use trekking poles in some capacity on all my hunts. Leki is a good brand.They’re lightweight, collapsible, and a tremendous aid for climbing mountains and packing heavy loads. I’m currently using Leki Makalu FX Carbon. Carbon is much lighter, but break much easier than aluminum. If weight isn’t critical, I recommend aluminum for the flexibility and durability.

KUIU Leki Trekking Poles: https://kuiu.sjv.io/mOqgnM

Optics
Swarovski binoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes, and rangefinders are the best I’ve used. A quality pair of 8-10 power binoculars is required. Guided hunters should contact their outfitter to see if they need a rangefinder or spotting scope. If your guide has quality gear, I would tend to leave the latter at home.

Swarovski Optics: https://alnk.to/cSKkm7F

Water Bottle
I like a 1-liter bottle. I typically don’t use a filtering water bottle, but Katadyn is a good brand. Check with your outfitter if your water will need to be filtered.

KUIU 32oz Bottle: https://kuiu.sjv.io/mOqg2D

Food and Drink
*Not all, but many outfitters provide minimal food and drink. I highly recommend brining 2 single-serve packets of Wilderness Athlete Hydrate and Recover drink mix and 2 packets of Wilderness Athlete Energy and Focus for every day of your hunt. Your camp mate(s) will love any extras, and I ALWAYS have 2 packets of each in my emergency kit. I also recommend brining up to 5 pounds of your favorite, high calorie snack foods/energy bars.

WILDERNESS ATHLETE Hydrate & Recover: https://wildernessathlete.com/products/hydrate-recover-packets-5
WILDERNESS ATHLETE Energy & Focus: https://wildernessathlete.com/products/energy-focus-packets-4

Dry Bags
*If you’re flying in a Super Cub or small aircraft, your gear will need to be stored in small, waterproof dry bags. I use the Kuiu Roll top dry bags. These will also be handy inside your pack for your puffy jacket, puffy pants, heavy gloves, rain, gear, etc. I typically use 2 of the size Large, but I would also have at least 1 Medium and Extra Large.
I use Kuiu’s Waypoint 5500 Duffel for airline travel. This bag also works well for extended hunts where weight and space isn’t so critical. Being able to open the bag from the top and keep all your gear where you can see it is very convenient, and it fits right underneath a standard cot or bunk.

KUIU Roll Top Bags: https://kuiu.sjv.io/XmjxNM
KUIU 5500 Duffel Bag: https://kuiu.sjv.io/4G0emG

Rifle
First and foremost a hunter needs to be familiar and comfortable with his firearm, but for moose, brown and grizzly bears my caliber of choice is .375 H&H with 1-8X variable power Swarovski scope. I consider it the “Alaskan 30-06”. You can get by with a smaller caliber, but often times the stopping power of .375 H&H is critical. I’ve worked with Charlie Barnes at Flat Creek Precision rifles to develop a Modern Day Mountain Man rifle series. The “grizzly guide” rifle comes in .375 H&H, custom built to your specs., lightweight, well balanced, unmatched durability, and built with superior craftsmanship and accuracy. *********
https://flatcreekprecisionrifles.com/

For an all-around caliber for caribou, sheep, mountain goat, deer, and even moose and grizzly, I prefer .300 PRC. No matter where you hunt in Alaska there’s bound to be bears nearby, and a .300 PRC is adequate to take on any big game animal. I use this cartridge for most of my North American big game hunting. This rifle is also offered in the Modern Day Mountain Man series from Flat Creek Precision: The “Mountain Hunter” rifle is available in .300 PRC, weighs under 8 pounds with a 3.5-18X50 Swarovski Scope. Made with the finest, lightest, most durable, and most precise components on the market today, this perhaps the ultimate, all-around big game hunting rifle. Go to https://flatcreekprecisionrifles.com/ for more information.

Ammunition
With a .375 H&H for bears and moose I prefer a 300 grain Barnes TSX or Nosler Accubond. For sheep, caribou, elk, or all-around ammunition, I have seen great results with Nosler Accubond, Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX, and Swift A-Frame, even Core-Lokt. 20 rounds is typically sufficient. ALWAYS BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR ZERO BEFORE HUNTING!

Rifle Case
For airline travel, you will need a quality hard-sided rifle case. SKB and pelican are excellent brands. To reduce space I often take out the foam inserts and use my clothing to protect my rifle.

Stove
A Jet Boil is pretty handy. Guided hunters likely won’t need this, but every mountain hunter will find use for a Jet Boil.
Jet Boil: https://alnk.to/cm03pEo

Miscellaneous Items
Headlamp w/ 1 set spare batteries
Insulated coffee mug with lid. Needs to be short with wide base so it’s stable on tundra/uneven surface.
Extra insoles for boots
Camera/Phone
Personal kit-medications, Ibuprofen, aspirin, toothbrush and paste, floss, Neosporin, etc. No scented colognes or deodorants (The latter will serve only to make your guide question your motives.)
Spare batteries or charging bank for electronics
Small roll of electrical tape for your rifle muzzle and other uses that may arise, or just have extra wrapped around the end of your barrel
1-dollar-sized patch Tenacious Tape for ripped clothing
Lens cleaning tool/wipes
Sunglasses
Band-Aid Hydro Seal blister pads
1/2 roll of Leukotope for major blisters or injury
Belt
Headset if bugs are possible
Small mosquito repellent
Lip balm
Small sunscreen
Ear plugs if you or your partner snore, they also help on windy nights
Watch
Fifth of firewater if you’re a drinking man
Journal and pen
2 small packs of baby wipes
Leather belt case for ammo (Wear this on your person, not your pack!)
Book for down time or weather days in the tent
Garmin inReach (Or maybe you’d rather not check in with your wife or work!!!?)