Producing television over the last 13 years has been a ride like no other job I’ve ever had. Meeting some of the coolest people on the planet and traveling the world has its pluses, but producing television isn’t all fun and games! One thing that I’ve always depended on is high quality camera equipment and the latest technology to produce award-winning programming. There is one part of this equation that has gone unmentioned much of the time: high quality apparel that has function and does what it says it does. If the apparel you’re wearing fails you it could cost you the shot, the show and maybe even more depending on your geographic location. Enter Kryptek Outdoor Group. Butch Whiting and Josh Cleghorn have taken their skill set to the next level with the release of their new line of gear taken from the battlefield and cleverly designed to go with you into the back-country.

Kryptek's Alaios Armored shirt and pants made filming in the New Mexico desert enjoyable.

I am currently producing a new series called Skull Bound TV, which is headed for the Sportsman Channel in January 2012. Over the last 9 months I’ve put Kryptek’s new line up of gear through the rigors while filming our new show. What I’ve discovered is their gear has saved the day more than once. From the cleverly designed removable knee pads for the Alaios Armored Pants to the waterproof/windproof Koldo Blockade jacket and pant, Kryptek Outdoor Group made their gear with function in mind. Did I mention numerous pockets for the filmmaker in mind? Skull Bound TV‘s host Jana Waller has been known to don Kryptek apparel from time to time.

While on a recent elk hunt in New Mexico I used the removable knee pads in the Alaios Armored pants while filming from the kneeling position. Elk don’t give you a second chance to get comfortable. One move and they’re gone! I never had to give my knees a second thought, which kept me concentrating on filming bugling bulls and less on the rocky terrain.

Soon as Jana and I returned from the New Mexico shoot it was off to central Montana with Jason Becourt from Hunting the Rez magazine. Spot and stalk antelope are by far one of the most fun hunts you can go on. Cactus dotted the dry landscape and more than once I found the reinforced laminated knees and removable knee pads kept me from getting poked. Jana was able to harvest a beautiful antelope buck at 165 yards with her new GA precision .300 WSM. You can read more about this hunt in the latest issue of Hunting the Rez magazine.

I barely had time to breathe before we were off to film a mule deer and elk hunt in eastern Montana. Jana hunted with Ben Wholers from Painted Rock Outfitters and hammered a great 5×5 mule deer buck while I continued to stay warm and dry in my Kryptek gear.  The weather took a turn for the worse as the first snow storm of the season rolled in. The Pidbor defender jacket kept the snow at bay while stalking a giant 8×7 bull elk. The Dominant DNA pattern kept me out of sight while Ben and I stalked to within 300 yards of the unsuspecting bull. Ben hammered the big bull with one shot from his .300 Ultra-mag at 300 yards in a blinding snow storm.

Watching for the ever elusive whitetail buck to make a mistake. Kryptek's Koldo Blockade Jacket and pant kept me comfortable all day long.

Finally I made my way to the Midwest to chase whitetail deer during Wisconsin’s archery and rifle seasons. I was able to take a great buck with my new GA Precision .300 WSM and nice coyote while sitting still for long periods of time. The weather was cold, damp and windy – the kind of conditions the Koldo Blockade Jacket and pants live for! When you have to limit your movement it’s nice to know the weather on the outside will never make it to the inside. Core temperatures were comfortable all day long and the side leg and sleeve zippers allowed me to let out my trapped body heat while walking to and from different stand locations.

Kryptek has taken the hunting apparel market by storm and by the looks of things their new line up for 2012 qualifies as “Epic” as well. No matter what you do in the outdoors Kryptek has you covered! If you haven’t had a chance to check out Kryptek’s latest line up you can purchase their gear exclusively at Cabela’s or visit their website at www.kryptek.com. Kryptek’s gear has preformed flawlessly through the rigorous schedule of filming Skull Bound TV and continues to help me produce award-winning imagery day in and day out.