Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/299259
S P O r t i n G C l A S S i C S 1 0 4 additional insurance in the form of strap-on cleats. The use of a staff or walking stick may also be advisable. While no equipment can make you fall proof, why not use gear that can turn the odds in your favor? For those with arthritic hands, the BOA Closure System is another plus. Used by several manufacturers of hunting and wading boots, the system utilizes a closed-loop lace of fine diameter, braided stainless steel cable permanently affixed to an unobtrusive spool control knob. Simply slide your foot into the open boot, then snap the knob to the in position and, with one hand, begin turning to ratchet the boot comfortably closed. To remove the boot, merely unsnap the spool control knob to the out position, disengaging the ratchet and slip the boot off. It is extremely fast, fumble free and secure. The only way dealing with footwear could be easier is if you had a valet! Hunting Packs Lightweight and durable, many of today's hunting packs are designed with a specific quarry in mind such as turkey or deer. They often boast convenient features such as multiple attachment points, dedicated pockets and even hydration units. Most possess sophisticated load- dispersing suspension systems; however, if you insist on cramming them with a lot of extraneous paraphernalia, you will defeat their purpose. Then, as far as your shoulders, knees and spine are concerned, you might as well be lugging a vintage canvas haversack full of bricks. Once again, be good to yourself and forget all that macho stuff. You proved how strong you were years ago; why do you think you've got back pain now? Ladder-style Tree Stands When it comes to increasing deer-hunting success, tree stands absolutely work, but my days of climbing like an orangutan to hang one 20 feet off the ground are over. While I trust the manufacturers of the actual stands, I've had to accept the fact that my legendary Cirque du Soleil agility may have faded somewhat. These days I use a ladder stand or I'm in a ground blind. The point is that I'm still out there getting my share of the venison. FISHING As a dedicated fly fisherman with no desire to hang up my waders, I have also made similar changes in my approach to that sport. Waders I've abandoned full bib waders, preferring instead the waist-high versions. For me, they are far more comfortable throughout the season and they completely remove the temptation to wade deep in churning waters, a dubious practice I attribute to my 15 years of surfing. No, the days of shuffling to mid-stream and then double hauling to the far shore (where the big ones always hide), are over. A careful approach and a shorter cast with better presentation have proven to be a safer and far more productive tactic. Besides, I can't even see a strike indicator at 40 yards unless it's the size of harbor buoy. Wading Shoes I use Simms RiverTek aluminum cleated wading shoes with the BOA closure system. Beautifully made and comfortable, the sure footing they provide on local freestone streams is superb and, once again, the BOA closure system means unrivaled ease for on and off. Folding Wading Staffs Those offered by Folstaff, Simms and others are convenient, lightweight balancing aids while you're bucking a current to locate unseen holes and drop-offs or negotiating some of the more treacherous streamside trails. Used like a road worker's skewer, they also allow the easy retrieval of those delightful Styrofoam nightcrawler tubs that seem to bloom at water's edge every spring. During the late muzzleloader season, such staffs can also be a great help getting to a blind via a trail that looks like the Iditarod. Some companies, like Folstaff,