How much stuff did y'all drag to your first match on the road? Just wondering if I need a bigger truck. 
Gear - First Road Match
- Thread starter Rommie
- Start date
When I was traveling for matches I took basically the same stuff as far as gear goes, maybe only throwing in a cooler and extra clothes of course. Misery is a good teacher, I will take extra shoes or boots and extra snivel gear because there's room for it and why suffer if you don't have to. I started doing that after one particularly wet match when my gore-tex boots got soaked, still weren't dry the next morning, and I got to ride home in still damp boots.
I always have a pretty compact field cleaning/maintenance kit with tools, cleaning cable, that sort of thing to get out of a jam but I'm not taking a whole toolbox and cleaning rod. Some guys take an extra rifle but I never have, good pre-competition checks and using proven gear should mitigate any potential issues that'll shorten a trip. Guys get in trouble when they "try something new" at the competition thinking it will give them an edge and it ends up fucking them.
I always have a pretty compact field cleaning/maintenance kit with tools, cleaning cable, that sort of thing to get out of a jam but I'm not taking a whole toolbox and cleaning rod. Some guys take an extra rifle but I never have, good pre-competition checks and using proven gear should mitigate any potential issues that'll shorten a trip. Guys get in trouble when they "try something new" at the competition thinking it will give them an edge and it ends up fucking them.
What exactly is a road match? All my matches are at least 3 hours away, and once it's 4-5 hours I'll usually camp the night before.
You know I think that's actually important to remember. It's not hard to forget to eat something when you're baking out in the sun, prepping for a stage, or shootin' the shit, then before you know it you're hangry and making mistakes. I've been to matches where they'll provide a lunch and others where you eat when you have time, in any case I've always preferred to just have small, easy to eat snacks like Clif Bars or Clif Shot Bloks. It doesn't sit heavy like a bigger lunch would such as BBQ or a sub would but keeps me going for the duration.
Anything not in the comfort zone, which would be home range where all shooting up to that point has occurred.
Gotcha. Well, the way I think of it is as camping trip + rifle match. If you cover both those bases then you're golden.
As far as match stuff I only bring what I'm going to be packing on my back for the day of shooting, plus extra ammo if it's a 2 day.
Weather gear as needed.
And if you're unfamiliar with the area keep in mind weather reports for nearby cities are likely to be more mild than remote areas. I always bring a bag with long underwear, spare raincoat, socks, etc.
I was at a match that was providing water but ran out during the summer. Having a few bottles you can throw in your pack or knock back before the match or driving to the hotel can be nice to have if it's going to be hot.
Trail mix is a good choice too. Holds up well in heat, cold, or if it gets squished.
Speaking of shooting in the summer, the prevailing instinct is to try to stay cool but wearing shorts and a t-shirt but in my experience it's actually better to wear lightweight long sleeve shirts and pants and steering clear of anything cotton. I've seen guys get lobstered pretty good on the arms, legs, and neck from going casual during the match and neglecting sun screen. I have a couple pairs of those lightweight fishing shirts with a hood that I keep up through the match that have proved to be invaluable shooting on exposed ranges in 90+ degree heat. I don't wear anything under the shirt and I was surprised how cool and dry it kept me even on hot days. Cotton t-shirts on the other hand get soaked, stay soaked, and cling to me like a wet blanket while doing little to protect me from sunburn. The pants that I like to wear are like lightweight hiking pants from Wrangler that keep the sun, bugs, dirt, and everything else off my legs as I'm navigating stages. I can say that at the end of the day wearing the full length lightweight clothes I'm tired but I don't feel as worn out and beat down as if I was just wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
As much as I like trail mix, I've had to ease up on it since it doesn't seem to agree with my stomach for whatever reason. I like beef sticks vs. jerky too for a mid-day snack but stay away from the SlimJim shit and dried fruit isn't too bad depending on what it is.
Oh hey, don't forget wet wipes.
As much as I like trail mix, I've had to ease up on it since it doesn't seem to agree with my stomach for whatever reason. I like beef sticks vs. jerky too for a mid-day snack but stay away from the SlimJim shit and dried fruit isn't too bad depending on what it is.
Oh hey, don't forget wet wipes.
The lightweight fishing shirts are almost essential equipment. I burn under a florescent light and those have been great. Don't know how I used to get by without.
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