Bowhunt America

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S4 Gear

SideWinder EVO, LockDown and FreeStyle720

By Jace Bauserman

Bowhunters are a savvy bunch. Give us a product that doesn’t boast perfection in performance and we’ll quickly label it a gimmick. To survive—to make products bowhunters crave and will purchase—manufacturers must make field-worthy gear.

S4Gear definitely fulfills this requirement. Its innovative products have been designed to make the hunter more efficient. From the SideWinder EVO to the LockDown to the FreeStyle720, S4Gear’s products are useful, dependable and designed to hunt.

Many bowhunters struggle with where to keep their rangefinder when the device is not in use. Personally, I’ve tried everything—inside my shirt or pant pocket, slung bandolier style and tied to my belt. In truth, I’ve never found the perfect answer to this frustrating question—until I tried the SideWinder EVO.

S4Gear describes the SideWinder EVO as a “retractable gear deployment system.” This nifty device clips directly to your pack or clothing via the LeverLock Belt Clip, keeping your rangefinder, GPS or cell phone secure and out of the way when not in use. Your electronic device attaches to the SideWinder’s tether pad with ultra-sticky, double-sided 3M adhesive interface, and an industrial-strength security strap wraps snugly around devices of almost any shape to prevent loss. When you need to use your rangefinder, the silent and durable Kevlar cable slides flawlessly from the housing, allowing you to get your rangefinder to your eye regardless of body position. When you’re done ranging, the cable quietly retracts back into the housing and your rangefinder is once again out of the way.

The EVO sports a Rotating Mounting System capable of achieving eight different positions. This is particularly handy when you’re cramped in a tight treestand or slithering across open terrain. For extra protection, a safety lanyard cord will hold your rangefinder to the tether pad in the unlikely event that the adhesive interface and the security strap fail.

Need to quickly detach your rangefinder? No problem. Simply depress the silver button on the top of the tether and pull. The quick-detach system will engage, instantly releasing the device in a single, smooth movement. It’s easy to see that the SideWinder EVO will become your rangefinder’s most trusted partner.

Quality binoculars cost big dollars. After dropping some serious cash on good glass, the last thing I want to do is abuse them. But, like many bowhunters, I hunt hard. Wear and tear, scratches and dings are par for the course when it comes to the condition of my binoculars. I never manage to complete a full hunting season without damaging them in one way or another. Thanks to S4Gear’s protective LockDown binocular straps, this season will be different.

The LockDown sports a stylish Moldable Security Cover. Lining the inside of this cover is a soft, scratch-resistant material to keep your lenses in pristine condition. On the outside you’ll find a rugged, noise-resistant fabric that even the craftiest creature in the woods won’t detect. The overall support, or frame, for the LockDown is the moldable aluminum core, creating the perfect caddy for your optics.

The LockDown’s Shock Cord Security Straps grab your optics and won’t let go. Tension Free Glassing Technology means you can draw your binoculars to your eyes in a single motion, keeping game-spooking movement to a minimum. The streamlined straps are lightweight, breathable and compatible with backpacks. The LockDown comes in two sizes—one that fits optics from 6 to 7.5 inches in length and one for optics from 4 to 6 inches. And because the LockDown is so adjustable, it accommodates an array of optics and body sizes.

Most impressive is the LockDown’s Anti-Bounce Technology. This technology keeps your binos safely against your chest and not up under your jaw. During testing I crawled, jumped, ran, climbed a treestand and rode a mountain bike. The results were always the same—no noise and minimal movement. The LockDown is one cutting-edge binocular system.

Finally, there’s the S4Gear FreeStyle720. You haven’t experienced ground blind comfort until you’ve spent a few hours in this multi-directional blind chair. Weighing a mere 10.5 pounds and measuring only 17 inches, this portable chair can be easily carried to virtually any hunting destination. It comes with a durable backpack-style bag that makes transport a dream. And thanks to its patent-pending Cam-Over Latch Technology, the FreeStyle720 deploys in less than twenty seconds. This ease of set up will come in mighty handy in the hunting woods.

Hunters will also appreciate the Window-to-Window Technology, which allows for a full 720-degree rotation. How many times has a turkey been right behind your blind and you spooked him while rearranging your chair? For me it’s happened more times than I can count. With the FreeStyle720,you just spin silently on the comfortable closed-cell molded foam seat and put that crafty gobbler down. This seat also keeps sweat build-up down by minimizing the amount of heat it absorbs. Those of you who’ve spent a full day in the blind during pronghorn season are really going to appreciate this feature.

The technology backing this chair is nothing short of spectacular. The Coaxial Bearing System distributes your weight between four bearings, allowing for a stealth-like rotation that will never wear out. Independent telescopic legs create maximum stability in any terrain, which is something I really value. No more sinking in the spring mud or feeling off balance on a whitetail-infested ridge.

I’m a big believer in taking advantage of products that boost bowhunting success, and these products from S4Gear do just that. They will definitely be in my arsenal this hunting season.

For more information, see your dealer, visit s4gear.com or call (541) 998-8800.

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