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A deep dive into a mindful perspective on the discipline of hunting.
Episodes
Jan 12, 2026
Jan 12, 2026
19 min
In this in-depth review of the 2025 Durston X-Mid 2 Solid, I take this ultralight trekking pole shelter into true mountain hunting terrain to find out whether it can handle real-world backcountry abuse. Wind, rain, poor ground conditions—you name it. No sponsor bias, no marketing fluff—just hard-earned experience and honest feedback.
We cover everything from specs, setup, and weather resistance to real-time in-field performance and packability. I also break down whether this tent belongs in your hunting toolkit—or if it’s better left for more casual trips.
🔔 If you’re tired of gear reviews that feel like commercials, hit subscribe. This is the Mindful Hunter way: practical, honest, no-BS reviews to help you make smarter gear choices.
📌 Join the Community: https://www.mindfulreviews.com
⸻
🕒 Timestamps / Chapters
00:00 – Intro from the Field (Hawaii Update)
00:38 – Initial Setup and Wind Prep Strategy
01:50 – Tent Design and Geometric Benefits
02:50 – Gear Testing and Scouting Trip Overview
03:45 – Guided Hunt Openings + Booking Info
04:14 – Tent Review Criteria Explained (11 Metrics)
05:22 – Weight, Price & Materials Deep Dive
06:05 – Weather Resistance and Rain Performance
06:54 – Condensation, Build Quality & Packability
07:58 – Setup Techniques and Pro Tips
09:18 – Small Footprint Trade-offs
10:10 – Real-World Interior Space Test
11:49 – Vestibules: One of the Tent’s Biggest Wins
13:20 – In-Field Footage
16:54 – Final Verdict & Use Case Recommendations
18:54 – Support Independent Reviews
Jay Nichol
jay@mindfulhunter.com
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
Jan 8, 2026
Jan 8, 2026
16 min
Are you a bigger guy looking for the best ultralight sleeping pad that won’t bottom out on rocky ground or cold nights? In this in-depth comparison, I put the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite NXT and the Big Agnes Zoom UL head-to-head to find out which one truly delivers for tall and heavy hunters and backpackers.
This review goes beyond marketing fluff. I field-tested both pads in real backcountry conditions, evaluated their warmth, comfort, durability, and packability, and broke down the specs in a way that actually matters when you’re over 6 feet tall and 200+ pounds.
If you’re tired of vague reviews and want real answers from a mindful, no-BS perspective—this one’s for you.
0:00 – Intro
2:28 – Testing Protocol
3:17 – Spec Comparison Table
8:03 – Mindful Hunter Outfitting
8:51 – In-field Testing Footage
13:15 – Final Thoughts & Recommendations
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
Jan 5, 2026
Jan 5, 2026
23 min
Is the Sig Sauer Oscar 6 HDX Pro worth the hype? In this no-nonsense review, I take a deep dive into Sig’s latest image-stabilized spotting scope and stack it up against the competition in real-world hunting and glassing conditions.
📌 Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
3:09 – Limitations of digiscope footage for competitive reviews
4:45 – Mindful Hunter Outfitting updates
5:38 – 3-way Digiscope Analysis
12:29 – 3-way Category Scoring
15:50 – Conclusion & Recommendations
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
• Real-world pros and cons of the Oscar 6 HDX Pro
• Where it excels—and where it falls short
• How it compares to other high-end stabilized spotters
• Who should (and shouldn’t) invest in this optic
🎯 Whether you’re a backcountry hunter, long-range shooter, or glassing geek, this breakdown delivers the insights you need—no marketing fluff, just honest field-tested results.
📈 Support the Channel:
Subscribe for weekly gear reviews and hunting content rooted in real-world experience and mindful critique.
Jay Nichol
jay@mindfulhunter.com
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
Dec 31, 2025
Dec 31, 2025
1hr 47 min
I sat down this week with my good friend Colton Bagnoli to discuss his personal experience with the recent trend of smaller cartridges for use on big game. We closed out with a good chat on some reloading basics as well.
Colton Bagnoli
https://www.instagram.com/papwinkle/
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
Dec 29, 2025
Dec 29, 2025
17 min
Revenge by BLK FLG claims to deliver energy, focus, mood, and pumps—but does it actually hit the clinical doses that research shows are effective? In this no-BS deep dive, I break down every key ingredient—L-citrulline, caffeine, alpha-GPC, Dynamine™, TeaCrine®, huperzine A, and more—against real peer-reviewed science.
🎁 Gear Giveaway:
Win a SIG Oscar6 Image Stabilized Spotting Scope by supporting at https://www.mindfulreviews.com
🦉 Hunt with Me:
Interested in booking a 2026 hunt?
📧 Email me at: jay@mindfulhunter.com
💥 December Booking Discount Ends Jan 2!
✅ Support Independent Content:
No sponsors. No hype. Just honest reviews and real-world experience.
Subscribe on MindfulReviews.com starting at $5/month.
0:00 – Intro
0:33 – Clinical Dosing
2:34 – Mindful Hunter Outfitting
4:08 – Review Framework
4:39 – Ingredients Profiles & Dosing
9:48 – Conclusion and Recommendations
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
Dec 25, 2025
Dec 25, 2025
1hr 15 min
When I saw Aquila's giant muley show up on my IG feed, I knew I had to sit down with him and hear the story of how he killed this buck. As usual, there were no secrets or gimmicks just a whiole lot of persistence and hard work.
Aquila Broewn
https://www.instagram.com/kootenaybackwoods/
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
Dec 22, 2025
Dec 22, 2025
44 min
I’ve been running the new Teratorn Backpack from Shoot2Hunt and Exo for over two months—and I’ve put it through hell. From six weeks of hardcore bear guiding to a full week at a precision rifle course where I fired 1,200+ rounds, this pack wasn’t babied. I used it as my primary shooting support, my daily hauler, and my backcountry workhorse.
This isn’t just a first impressions video—this is a real-world, no-BS review after serious use. If you’re considering this pack for backcountry hunting or tactical shooting, you’ll want to watch this first.
0:00 – Intro
3:26 – Scoring System
4:13 – Mindful Hunter Outfitting
5:59 – Price
7:01 – Weight
8:02 – Capacity
11:29 – Fabric
12:12 – Build Quality
12:47 – Weather Resistance
12:59 – Buckles & Zippers
14:30 – Straps
16:59 – Access
19:28 – Pockets
19:46 – Hydration Compatibility
20:12 – Meat Shelf Protection
21:28 – Compression
24:00 – Packing System
36:53 – Final Score and Conclusions
Shoot2Hunt
https://www.instagram.com/shoot2hunt/
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
Dec 18, 2025
Dec 18, 2025
1hr 28 min
I leave in just under a month for a two-week Coues hunting trip that will see me bow hunting in Arizona and rifle hunting in Mexico. That means there was no better time to sit down with the Coues legend himself, Jay Scott.
Jay Scott
https://www.instagram.com/jayscottoutdoors/
http://jayscottoutdoorspodcast.com/
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools
Dec 17, 2025
Dec 17, 2025
16 min
I have a lot of friends in Australia, and I lived there for two years, so when my good buddy reached out to see if we could do a quick update on how people could fight back against Australia's knee-jerk reaction to stricter gun reform in light of the recent terrorist attack, of course, I agreed. Remember they;re not just coming after our guns they're coming afetr our freedom so even if you are not a gun ownewr it behooves you to help porotect civil libeerty.
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide
Dec 15, 2025
Dec 15, 2025
1hr 3 min
This week I sat down with Tanner from Frontiermen to discuss reinstating the Ram awards at the BC sheep show in 2026. We also had a good chat about several other hunting topics.
Jay Nichol
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/
Forged In The Backcountry
https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/
Merch
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop
Newsletter
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact
IG
https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/
Podcast
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast
Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide