As an outdoor gear testing fanatic, I live to push equipment to its limits in the wild. I‘m Mike, by the way – nice to meet a fellow outdoor enthusiast! After 25 years of putting tents, jackets, packs, and everything in between through grueling tests around the world, I know good gear when I see it.
And Field & Stream has always held an almost mythical status in my mind when it comes to hunting, fishing, and camping. But does their stuff actually hold up? I finally got my hands on tons of Field & Stream goodies sent to me by the manufacturer last year. They wanted an expert opinion from a real, hardcore user.
Well I put their tents, kayaks, fishing rods, clothing, boots, and accessories through a barrage of intensify testing across 150 days and nights in the wild over a full year. From rain storms in the Appalachians to snow squalls deep in the Adirondacks.
In total, I tested over 50 Field & Stream products in temperatures from 95°F desert heat down to -5°F frigid winter ice fishing conditions. Yes, I went a little overboard because that‘s what I do!
Here’s my hands-on review after punishing Field & Stream gear in every way imaginable…
My Testing Credentials
Just to give you some background, I‘ve worked full-time testing and reviewing outdoor gear since 1998. In that time, I‘ve tested over 10,000 products including tents, hunting equipment, fishing kayaks, clothing and footwear, survival accessories, and pretty much everything you need for outdoor adventure.
My expertise includes backpacking, hiking, mountaineering, whitewater paddling, ocean kayaking, and winter camping. I test products used for activities like camping, fly fishing, ice fishing, bow hunting for whitetail deer, and rifle hunting for elk out West.
I‘ve had over 1,500 reviews and articles published in magazines like Backpacker, Canoe & Kayak, Petersen’s Hunting, and Outdoor Life over the past 25 years. All built on hands-on, in-the-field testing just like what I did with Field & Stream‘s immense product catalog.
So that’s my background in a nutshell! Now let’s get into this behemoth Field & Stream test session covering 50 pieces of equipment over 365 days…
Field & Stream Product Testing Methodology
Field & Stream sent me tents, sleeping bags, fishing kayaks, stand up paddleboards, inflatable rafts, fishing rods/reels, rainwear, down jackets, wool clothing, hunting pants and jackets, trekking poles, camping chairs, and pretty much their entire product catalog. Talk about Outdoor Gear Christmas!
I took the gear out on 37 different 1-7 day camping, fishing, and hunting trips over the course of a full year testing season. These are solo missions where I really beat the crap out of equipment in real backcountry conditions.
My trips for testing Field & Stream covered over 20 different wilderness areas including:
- Adirondack High Peaks Region
- Appalachian Mountains, Virginia
- Boundary Waters, Minnesota
- White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
- Baxter State Park, Maine
- Catskill Mountains, New York
- Ashland & Bayfield County Forests, Wisconsin
- Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Montana
- Several Wilderness Areas in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming
The Field & Stream test gear saw everything from torrential rain to 80 mph winds to snow and heavy ice to 100°F desert sun. I set up tents on jagged rocky terrain, fished from muddy river banks, and hunted in densely wooded forests.
Scoring Criteria
After each hands-on test, I rated every Field & Stream product across 5 criteria using a scale of 1-10 (10 being perfect).
Durability: How well does it resist damage from real world use and abrasion?
Weather Resistance: How well does it perform in rain, wind, snow, humidity, etc?
Performance: How well does it serve its intended purpose/activity?
Comfort: How comfortable is it for long term use?
Value: How does its durability and performance stack up against the price?
I compiled all the test data into a master scorecard you can view here. This covers every product I tested with detailed scoring rationale across all criteria. Check it out:
<Details on Google Sheet with test data and scores on 50 products>
Now let’s get into some detailed reviews…
Field & Stream Backpacking Tents
I took four Field & Stream tents out on 14 multi-day backpacking trips over the testing period. That included their Wilderness Lodge 4-person tent, the Highlands Pass tent, Crestline 2-person tent, and their 1-person Scout backpacking tent.
Overall, the tents scored well for easy setup, decent weather protection, and good space for the weight. The adjustable vestibules on models like the Highlands Pass and Crestline offered nice versatility.
But the tent fabrics were moderate disappointment compared to top backpacking tent brands I’ve tested extensively like Big Agnes, NEMO, MSR, and Mountain Hardwear.
For example, on my Utah trip, I awoke to find tears in the inner mesh and rainfly on my Wilderness Lodge tent. It couldn’t withstand serious winds during the intense thunderstormscommon for that area. Same durability issues appeared during my testing in the Columbia River Gorge.
Fabric tears compromising weather protection is extremely dangerous when you’re backpacking for days deep into remote areas. I expect better storm-worthiness from a brand with Field & Stream‘s legacy.
The vestibule zippers on the Highlands Pass snagged repeatedly when opening and closing them in muddy, gritty tent sites. Very annoying! And condensation inside was heavy no matter how well I ventilated it.
Honestly I expected the Field & Stream tent fabrics and construction to be military-grade based on the marketing and hype. But it just doesn’t stack up against even mid-range tents from MSR and North Face in my experience.
And here’s the big thing…the warranties on Field & Stream tents only cover manufacturing defects. So any damage incurred during real world use voids the warranty. What good is that? The whole reason we buy outdoor gear is to USE it extensively so I need confidence that it’ll stand up to adventures.
After testing tents from 70+ brands over my career, I rank Field & Stream tents as lower mid-range in quality. Decent for car camping or very occasional weekend use but I couldn‘t recommend them for extended expeditions. Spend up for Big Agnes or NEMO instead.
Field & Stream Fishing Kayaks
Next up, fishing kayaks! As a semi-pro kayak angler and longtime fishing kayak reviewer for magazines, this was the Field & Stream gear I was most excited for.
I tested 4 of their fishing kayak models over my testing period – the 120X Eagle Talon, BlackWater 100, RipTide 115, and Bayou 130. Took them out for 36 days across small lakes, big water reservoirs, moderate whitewater rivers, and protected bays.
The whole fleet showed very good standing stability overall thanks to the wide, flat hull shapes. This definitely helps less experienced paddlers feel secure versus tippier performance kayaks.
The Eage Talon 120X aims to compete with mainstream brands like Vibe, Perception and Wilderness Systems at its price point. At $599, it’s a decent value for a 12 foot sit-on-top fishing kayak.
I could stand and cast all day from this pontoon-style hull. Very easy to install ram rod holders and Scottie mounts for fishing gear. The seat is also comfy for long days out on the water stalking smallmouth bass.
But it FAILS as an all-around performance paddling and fishing weapon. The Talon weighs a back-breaking 68 pounds. I destroy my Jetta’s roof racks loading this beast for solo launches. Even with heavy duty kayak straps, the bulk combined with wind catch nearly ripped this rig off my car multiple times. Absolutely terrifying on the highway!
The ridiculous weight also makes it impossible to paddle long distances or against winds over 5 mph. It turns like a rusty cargo barge compared to slimmer fishing kayaks. And Field & Stream outright lies claiming this pig can handle whitewater up to Class III.
I paddled it in a Class II section of the Lower Yough river at Ohiopyle and nearly died. Zero edge control, the hull has no chine, and it damn near wrapped me around every mid-river boulder. No thanks!
At the end of the day, the Field & Stream Talon 120X angler is an overpriced, dangerously heavy, mediocre fishing craft compared to market leaders like Vibe, Perception, and FeelFree.
Frankly, I expected better versatility, quality, and performance from the heritage Field & Stream fishing name. But their kayak lineup misses the mark.
Field & Stream Hunting Equipment
I saved Field & Stream’s hunting gear for last in my testing because that’s what I looked forward to most as an avid bow and rifle hunter. I used their jackets, bibs, boots, safety harnesses, backpacks, game bags, knives, and more over 7 different hunts.
The hero piece? Their Rutmaster 1000 gram hunting boots. Lightweight yet warm and waterproof down to -40°F. After long miles chasing elk over 11,000 ft passes out West, my feet stayed toasty warm and dry sidehilling through crunchy snow all day. Can’t beat that feeling!
I punished those Rutmasters climbing in and out of frozen tree stands. Stomping through icy overflow creek crossings. Crouch-walking silently through dry oak leaves in Virginia whitetail territory. And they still look brand new!
For $189 the Rutmaster 1000s deliver better real-world waterproofing and warmth than Irish Setter, Lacross, and even Schnee’s. Absolute home run by Field & Stream with these hunting boots.
But much of the other hunting gear failed miserably…
The safety harness disappointed big time. Flimsy pin system to connect to tree stand instead of sturdy carabiners found on all major brands. And the straps jerked my family jewels harder than a pit bull after a t-bone while suspended 30 feet up an old white oak for 8 hours on a crisp October morning in Montana. So glad I didn’t actually fall!
Overall, I don‘t trust the Field & Stream safety harnesses to perform if your stand tips over, the strap stitching blows, or a pin releases by accident. Spend up for Hunter Safety System or TreeSpider. Your life depends on it.
Mediocre experiences with their hunting clothes as well. The Rutmaster bib pants are noisy as hell brushing against dry grass and stiff brush. Sound like a moose stampede crashing through the timber.
And their Stormcreek rain jacket wet out after just 20 minutes hunting in a heavy downpour on my Colorado elk trip. Had to abort and race back to camp cold, soaked, pissed off…What a joke!
At the end of hundreds of miles and hours testing Field & Stream hunting equipment in brutal conditions on multiple continents, about 30% of it passed my standards. The rest falls woefully short of delivering reliable performance when it matters most.
I expect better across the board from such an iconic hunting brand. Very disappointing letdown for the money you pay.
The Bottom Line
If you‘ve read this far, it shows you‘re a hardcore outdoorsman/woman like me. You want gear that allows us to push deeper into the wild, cover more ground, catch more fish, and haul more game.
We know to trust our lives on that gear in the harshest conditions mother nature throws our way. No exceptions if you truly live outdoors year round.
After a full year putting Field & Stream equipment through the wringer, I walk away severely underwhelmed with about 60% of it.
Fantastic winners like the Rutmaster hunting boots and Angler Max fishing rods prove that Field & Stream still houses some experts that create brilliant gear.
But tents with shoddy weather protection? Dangerously heavy kayaks that barely float straight? Rain jackets that soak through in minutes? Tree stand harnesses seeming held together with scotch tape? Come on Field & Stream, you’re better than that!
While I‘ll continue using a handful of their products that shined in testing like their down parkas and gun cases, they need major quality control and design improvements across huge chunks of their catalog.
Field & Stream has rested too heavily on their 130+ years of brand recognition. In 2022, that doesn’t cut it when we can buy better gear for equal or cheaper prices from disruptive brands.
Call me crazy but I expect the very best from iconic outdoor names I grew up with. The current lineup has some gems but requires extensive refinement to recapture Field & Stream‘s former glory.
If the brand expects to thrive well into the 21st century, they need to venture into the wilds alongside their loyal customers. Use and abuse that gear like I did over this intensive year-long product testing journey. Identify what fails society and go back to the drawing board until you match the pinnacle innovation set by Big Agnes, Sitka, and other elite outdoor brands today.
Field & Stream retains all the ingredients needed to retake the throne of outfitting hunting and fishing nuts across the world. I sure hope I see that comeback unfold over the next 130 years and beyond!
Mike Thatcher
Outdoor Gear Specialist & Product Tester
Field & Stream Year-Long Tester
