Gifts to lift sportsmen out of doldrums

Ken Perrotte's outdoor column

Date published: 11/20/2008

T HE NIGHTLY NEWS carries depressing word of slumping retail sales and economic recession, but the community of outdoor enthusiasts typically finds room for a gift or two that can improve the quality of life in the woods or on the water.

Every product in this annual gift suggestion lineup has been either tested in the field or inspected at outdoor trade shows. They range from inexpensive stocking stuffers to pricier tools.

Otis Hardcore Hunter Cleaning System: Otis adapts its quality line of tactical and military firearms cleaning systems for hunters and sport shooters. This could be the only gun cleaning kit you'll ever need. Easy to use, it'll clean anything from a .17-caliber rimfire to 10-gauge shotguns. It folds into a camouflage, zippered softpack about the size of a large apple! $65. otisguns .com (Click on "catalog" and the "hunting and sporting" page.)

Sun-Mag Plus Polarized Sunglasses With Bifocals: Eliminate fumbling for reading glasses when you need to tie a fishing knot. Many people older than 40 or those who have had corrective eye surgery require reading glasses. These $39 glasses come in two styles: tortoise-color with amber lens, or black frame with gray lens. The polycarbonate lenses are impact- and scratch-resistant with polarized filters. The bifocal comes in three magnification strengths: 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50. sunmag plus.com.

The QuikSlide Stringer System: This innovative stringer system is designed for either boat or wade fishing. I think it stands out for those wading. Removable snaps that slide on a 7-strand stainless-steel PVC-coated cable let you easily add fish to the stringer without pulling the stringer from the water. The snaps clip to your belt until you catch a fish. Snaps can be ordered in three different colors to facilitate culling or identifying fish from multiple anglers. Stringer comes in 3-, 6- and 14-foot lengths. Prices range from $13 to $17. quikslide.com

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Date published: 11/20/2008