Gimmicks that work?

[Freebird134]

After my post on the HECS suit thread and some PM discussion with Swede about different gear, I was wondering what "gimmicks" have actually turned out to be great and useful products? I mean, we could name a ton of gimmicks we don't like (HECS suit, the Kruncher deer call, camoflauge in general, anything with BoneCollector on it), but what are the ones that proved themselves? I bet even carbon arrows, expandable broadheads, decoys, elk calls, and maybe even compound bows were considered gimmicks by some when they came out! I don't know--maybe someone with a longer perspective (*cough* old guys *cough*) can comment

I don't know how many of you are fishermen, but the first thing that popped in my mind was "The Flying Lure," the ultimate in cheesy TV promotion. None of the tournament bass fishermen I knew would touch one--but all the guys that didn't care about "appearances" caught fish on them (I was one that *cared*)

How about the Butt-out tool? I've never used one, but guys swear by them!
Or vibration dampeners and Doinkers--I think they are time proven by now.

I know there have to be some examples, but my find isn't working completely yet (I've only had one cup of coffee this morning...)

[WapitiTalk1]

Bright Eye Trail markers.. Love them little things.

[planebow]

I will add the GPS and the drop away rest

[Indian Summer]

Viagra.

Heck yeah Phantom those reflective tacks are priceless. The ultimate flagging tape. I could send you 31 miles into the Selway Bitterroot wilderness following a few precisely places tacks. Don't you like the places where 1 tack can make or break you and you know others will never be there in the dark to see it. Best of all... cheap.

I find the best gadgets are the really simple ones. Like Smoke in a Bottle.

[Swede]

Viagra??? If i see anyone popping one of those in our camp, I am running in and locking the trailer door well before I climb into my sleeping bag.
I do remember the first Jennings compound bow I saw. It looked like a ridiculous contraption, but it worked. I soon realized it was an improvement over my recurve, but it still took years for me to switch to a compound.
The problem with gimmicks is that once they prove themselves, they are no longer gimmicks. That said I believe a shelf on a pack frame is about as good as it gets.

[Clip-Shot]

I like using a similar product to "Smoke in a Bottle" called "Windicator".
It seems that the unscented powder is a little heavier and will stay visible longer when trying to keep track of changing thermals.

[pointysticks]

i'm pretty happy with my Thermacell purchase.

and my buddy thinks the SHAM-WOW is the best backpacking towel.

[Freebird134]

Hmmm.... didn't take long for Viagra to *pop up* on the list....

GPS, huh? Did people really view that as a gimmick when it came out?

I am just old enough to remember when drop away rests came out, or at least my first experience with them when I worked at an archery store in high school (mid-90s). We didn't think of them as gimmicks; we thought "brilliant." Whisker Biscuits are what I thought was a gimmick--until I shot one!

I also thought the Limbdriver rests were stupid--until I shot one! The simplicity and functionality of my LD Pro-V made me a fan.

[Accipiter]

Here are couple ones from 1970's and early 1980's that other old timers may remember. Two bad ideas and one good one. The broadhead was a Bodkin good design but very poor metal and very hard to sharpen.

Right behind the broadhead was called “Add a cut” which is partially unrolled in the picture. It was a lot like one of those can ham cans where you use a key to open it. When deployed and hit an deer it would unwind and make a massive round hole. The only problem it added over a hundred grains to your arrow and effected the arrow drop. A hunting buddy shot a deer and it dropped right were it stood. Another problem, not very good penetration with all that cutting edge.

The arrow shaft is the first graphite arrow, made by Graflex in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Back then the arrow worked really well and we never had to worry about bent aluminum arrows. I remember the Easton Arrow company fought concept so hard because it was such a good product. I found over time the arrows would loose their flexibility and not recover very fast when coming out of a bow, thus slower speeds.

[Freebird134]

How about hydration bladders. I remember first seeing them in stores and we all thought they were kind of silly. Now you're hard pressed to find a guy that doesn't have one in his pack!

[Indian Summer]

I hear that Freebird but Tuesday's Gone with the wind for me.

I didn't mind the fact that they need to be cleaned properly on a regular basis. 0r when the hose feeezes. But the year before last was THE last time I'll have a bladder leak in my pack. I went back to Nalgene bottles.

[one_elk]

energy foods in general i.e. hammergel, great for those long hikes out...

[otcWill]

Swing blade. Cape an animal faster than you can imagine

[BowKill]

Colored fiber for sights, can't even imagine not having a sight without it.

[elkmtngear]

Whisker Biscuit

[ironhead22]

Whisker biscuit and mechanical broadheads, still fighting with people about both!