As a trained engineer and experienced outdoorsman, Rydell Reinbold often modified the gear he used for hunting. Then he started designing and producing his own gear, for his own needs. And, eventually, he founded Aziak Equipment to share his work with other hunters. Today, Rydell is the owner, designer, and sole operator at Aziak.

We speak with Rydell about the Aziak backstory, his current products, and the future of Aziak. We discuss his current ultralight tripod and head, the limitations of ultralight tripods, the balance of weight vs features, and much more.

Connect with Aziak:
- https://www.aziakequipment.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/aziakequipment/
- https://www.facebook.com/aziakequipment

Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
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Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Hunt Backcountry Podcast

464 | Aziak Equipment, Ultralight Tripods, and More with Rydell Reinbold

Mark is solo today to answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. He answers questions about his archery shot sequence, insulated down booties, reducing rifle recoil to spot impacts, a budget chassis rifle, and tips for packraft hunts.

EXO SALE NOTIFICATION — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Items and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Outdoor Vitals Down Booties: https://outdoorvitals.com/products/lt-hybrid-booties
- Enlightened Equipment Torrid Booties: https://enlightenedequipment.com/torrid-booties/
- Exped Down Sock: https://www.expedusa.com/products/down-sock
- Exped Bivy Booty: https://www.expedusa.com/products/bivy-booty
- Exped Camp Booty: https://www.expedusa.com/products/camp-booty
- Recoil Q&A with Form: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/mm-239
- SIG Cross Trax: https://www.sigsauer.com/cross-trax.html
- SIG Cross: https://www.sigsauer.com/sig-cross-rifle.html
- Bergara MgLite: https://www.bergara.online/us/rifles/premier/mglite-rifle/
- Savage 110 Ultralite Elite: https://savagearms.com/firearms/model/110-ultralite-elite
- MDT HNT26 Chassis: https://mdttac.com/hnt26-chassis-system/
- XLR Element Mg Chassis: https://xlrindustries.com/products/element_4-0_magnesium_chassis
- Mark's XLR vs MDT Review & Comparison: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/lightweight-folding-rifle-chassis
- Packrafting Podcast with Thor: https://the-experience-project.com/how-to-use-a-packraft-for-hunting/
- ROK Straps: https://amzn.to/3YQDNrL

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MM 241 | Archery Shot Sequence, Budget Chassis Rifle, Down Booties, and More...

Each year, going back to 2018, Steve and Mark have made a list of their "gear of the year" for that year. The goal is to select items that made a difference for them on their hunts that year. In this episode, they share their selections for 2024 and discuss why each item made the list. 

FULL LIST & LINKS: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/best-hunting-gear-of-2024

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500 | Our "Gear of the Year" for 2024

Sneaking in on two bull elk that are fighting, then arrowing one of those bulls on your first-ever bowhunt? That sounds too good to be true, but that is exactly how Stephen Follett's first archery hunt concluded this fall.

Stephen joins us to share that story and what he learned about starting as a bowhunter after having extensive experience with precision rifles and long-range shooting. He also shares why, and how, he started making shooting and optics accessories through his company, LSWild.

Learn more at:
- LSWild Website: https://lswild.com/
- LSWild Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lswildhuntinggear/
- Scoped Action Cover (Standard): https://www.lswild.com/store/p30/Hunter_Scoped_Action_Armor.html
- Scoped Action Cover (Ultralight): https://www.lswild.com/store/p123/Ultralight_Scoped_Action_Armor.html

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Leave A Message: speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: exomtngear.com/podcast

501 | Long Range Shooting to Archery Elk with Stephen Follett of LSWild

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss their off-season activity and if they honestly "train" to hunt year-round. Next, they dive into a rebuttal about their prior podcasts on the topic of using small rifle calibers for big game hunting, and what's to come on that topic...

Links for this episode:
- Alaska Caribou, Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw8_qlQAru4
- Alaska Caribou, Episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfPTderAnT4
- Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/exomountaingear?sub_confirmation=1
- Small Caliber Podcast, Part 1: https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-1/
- Small Caliber Podcast, Part 2: https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-2/
- Small Caliber Podcast, Part 3 (Q&A): https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-qa/

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MM 243 | Small Caliber Debate, Off-Season Training, and More...

Trevor Thompson joins us to share his experience getting into hunting and traditional archery, his journey of becoming an assistant guide in Alaska, and how his prior experiences as a SEAL, skydiver, base jumper, and backcountry skier relate to his hunting pursuits. We also discuss why Trevor shares Thanksgiving with vegans. And how each of us, as individual hunters, can be a positive influence on the future of hunting.

Connect with Trevor: https://www.instagram.com/trevor.p.thompson/
Protekt Products: https://protekt.com/

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502 | Hunting Is What You Make It (with Trevor Thompson)

We want to make this show as valuable to YOU, our listeners, as possible. So we just launched a quick survey to gather feedback on what you like, don't like, and want to hear about in 2025

FEEDBACK FORM — https://forms.gle/nHE5o1tkN4agZC4P7

We will pick 3 random responses on January 1, 2025, and those participants will be able to choose a $100 Gift Card from Exo Mtn Gear or S&S Archery.

Thank you for your feedback and support!

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MM 244 | What do YOU want from us?

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss their experience using snowshoes, if digiscoping through binos can be a viable alternative to a spotting scope, and what's coming in the new year...

Links for this episode...
- Podcast Feedback Form (& Givewaway): https://forms.gle/nHE5o1tkN4agZC4P7
- MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes: https://amzn.to/405gCvE
- 2021 Snowshoe Death Hike: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/2021-death-hike-in-the-frank-church
- Sig Zulu 6 Image-Stabilized Binos: https://sandsarchery.com/products/sig-sauer-zulu6-hdx-stabilized-binoculars
- PhoneSkope Bino Adapter: https://phoneskope.com/product/c3-optic-adapter-c3-034-i/

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MM 245 | Digiscoping with Binos, Hunting with Showshoes, What's Coming...

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss Steve's experience with the "fad" of ice baths, the pros and cons of attaching your bino harness to your backpack, the 4 Rules of Gun Safety and when they are broken while hunting, and more...

Links for this episode...
- Podcast Feedback Form (& Givewaway): forms.gle/nHE5o1tkN4agZC4P7
- FHF Gear Pack Suspension Kit: https://www.fhfgear.com/products/FHHS2CBOS.html
- Marsupial Gear Pack Strap Kit: https://www.marsupialgear.com/products/pack-strap-kit
- 4 Rules of Gun Safety: https://www.nssf.org/articles/4-primary-rules-of-firearm-safety/

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MM 246 | Following Fads, Breaking Gun Safety Rules, & New Year Reflection

Introducing The First Monday. This new segment of the podcast is an experiment, where Steve & Mark will talk through what's going on for them that month in the categories of The Gear, The Hunt, and the Hunter, as well as what's going on with Exo Mtn Gear.

If you want an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at what we are doing, researching, and learning, or just what we are excited about, this is it. We plan to continue this format on the First Monday of each month, and then continue to use all other Monday Minute episodes to answer your listener-submitted questions (send those here: podcast@exomtngear.com).

Links for this episode...
- $10 SHIRT PRE-ORDER: https://exomtngear.com/collections/10-year-logo-gear
- Matthews Lift-X: https://mathewsinc.com/pages/lift-x
- Northwest Mountain Challenge: https://nwmountainchallenge.com/
- Mark's Garage Workout: https://the-experience-project.com/marks-garage-workout-for-mountain-hunting/
- Hunt Application Deadlines by State:  https://www.huntinfool.com/resources/draw-deadlines
- State Fish & Game Podcast Series...
-- Arizona: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/440
-- Colorado: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/452
-- Idaho: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/442
-- Montana: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/443
-- New Mexico: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/441
-- Wyoming: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/438

EMAIL NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

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MM 247 | The First Monday — January, 2025

Is there a real danger in eating meat from game that was killed with lead ammunition? And is there a real threat to species that scavenge on the carcasses of big game that were killed with lead bullets?

Depending on who you ask, the answers to those questions will vary greatly.

In this episode, we speak with Jim Heffelfinger, to help separate fact, fiction, and fairy tales, about the dangers of using lead-based bullets for big game hunting.

Jim helps us realize that the conversation on lead-based bullets is much broader than hunters realize and that there are both real dangers, as well as unfounded fears on this topic.

A disclaimer that shouldn't be necessary: None of the information presented today is medical advice. And this conversation has not presented all aspects of this topic. Please do careful research for yourself and make your own conclusions.

Additional resources and links mentioned in this episode...
- Is eating game harvested with lead a human health issue? (Article): https://www.boone-crockett.org/when-lead-meets-red-meat-0
- Lead Ammo and Wildlife: Separating Science from Advocacy (Article): https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/firearm-hunting/lead-ammo-and-wildlife-separating-science-from-advocacy
- Jim's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cervidnut/
- Jim’s Previous Episode: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/440
- $10 Goat Logo Shirt: ​​https://exomtngear.com/collections/10-year-logo-gear

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503 | The Dangers of Lead Ammunition — Facts, Fairy Tales, and Nuance In-Between

Backcountry hunters talking backcountry hunting. Join us for a lively discussion on a variety of topics related to hunting big game in the mountains. We'll be talking tactics, sharing lessons learned, swapping stories, interviewing individuals from the hunting industry, hearing the hunt stories of everyday hunters (including our podcast listeners), and getting into the nitty-gritty of backpacking gear, hunting gear, and bow/rifle setups. Contact us at any time with your questions or feedback by emailing us: podcast@exomtngear.com

Thanks for listening!  — Mark & Steve