Published by Joe Balog

Regardless of how crowded my garage becomes, there is always room for more gear. I'm sure I'm not alone in this mentality. Each season, just when I think I have everything I need to successfully hunt ducks and geese, some new piece of equipment comes along that will, undoubtedly, improve my chances at success. Obviously, I need to know I'm doing all that I can to be successful.

Other times what hits the shelves in late summer are items so cool that I have to have them just to keep up. Never being one to concern myself with the latest fashion trends in the outside world, I can't necessarily say the same thing for the world of waterfowl gear. I intend to be buried in Max-4.

Finally, there are simply things that I aspire to and finally just go out and buy. Pricey items like shotguns, mud motors and high-end rain gear often fit this bill. Hey, you only live once.

What follows is a comprehensive break down of a few items I HAD to have this year, the reason for each, and what it's going to cost for you to acquire the same. Trust me, I take great pride in my ability to canvas the catalogs each year, finding the best gear around.

Lacrosse Alpha Burly Pro in Max-4:
I have told every apparel manufacture I've crossed paths with the same thing for years: build it in Max-4, and it will be your best seller. LaCrosse has listened to such whining long enough and recently released the coolest boots in the world. The Alpha Burly is probably the most proven piece of foot equipment ever for hunters, and now it's offered in a pattern that the waterfowl world wears everywhere with pride. The new Alpha Burly Pro features a neoprene upper cuff, delivering easier on and off. The boot actually consists of multiple layers of construction, offering un-paralleled warmth and fit, and is totally waterproof. It's the lightest, most flexible and most durable Burly yet, and retails for $140 to $170. The best boots in the best camo pattern: no brainer.

Banded Dog Gear:
I'm always amazed at how many companies build great gear for duck hunters and yet they disregard one of the most important members of our hunting parties. Banded was formed by a group of hunters who demanded the utmost quality from their gear. The goal was simple: build only the best, and cover all the bases. Their retriever gear is no exception.

This year, I've had the opportunity to utilize the Banded dog platform, boarding ramp/ladder and dog vest in my preseason training, and each are some of the best equipment I've ever seen. The platform features no spring pins or pieces to fail: removable, locking pins are at each leg juncture. Also, with a $130 retail price, it's far below competitors. The dog vests are heavy neoprene with even heavier zippers, and come in around $40 and the boarding ladder is an ingenious design that my lab picked up on immediately. Its cost: $80.

Tenzing WF-13 Blind Bag:
It seems everyone is making a blind bag these days, and many are quality items. The Tenzing WF-13 blind bag, however, is the cream of the crop. Everything Tenzing makes is top of the line quality, and this bag is no exception. It's totally waterproof, including all zippers, and features up to 27 adjustable compartments that are custom built for choke tubes, a choke wrench, ammo and more. In addition, this Cadillac comes with a high-end removable hand muff, complete with zippered pockets for handwarmers. Possibly the coolest, most innovative feature, though, is the shoulder strap, complete with sewn-in game straps to carry a six bird limit. How did nobody else think of that yet? The bag carries an upper-end price point at $200, but it's a one-time investment, as the pack won't need replacing, no matter how hard it's hunted.