New Tech Products for 2022
Here’s a look at some of the best new tech products for hunters and shooters this year.
By Brad Fitzpatrick
Living in the digital age as we do, there are few aspects of our lives that haven’t been impacted by technology. We listen to music, communicate, navigate our world, and socialize via tech tools, so it should come as no surprise that new tech products are becoming more important to shooters and hunters.
It would be impossible to cover all the new gadgets that have come onto the scene in 2022, so we’ve whittled this year’s list of new technology for shooters down to a few of our favorites.
Garmin Tactix 7 Pro Ballistic Edition
There seems to be no limit to the technology Garmin incorporates into their watches. Take, for instance, the new tactix 7 Pro Ballistic, which provides weather reports, helps you navigate in the field, and provides sophisticated ballistics solutions so you can make accurate shots under any conditions. The tactix 7 Pro Ballistic integrates with your rangefinder and compatible weather meter to provide holdover and windage adjustments. This makes the tactix 7 a great choice for hunters and shooters, but this watch was built to serve elite military operators as well. As such, it’s MIL-STD 810 tested and comes with such tactical features as a green or white flashlight, night-vision capability, and a stealth mode (which stops storing and sharing GPS coordinates and disables wireless and communications capabilities). There’s a jumpmaster mode for calculating high-altitude release points for jumpers and a kill switch if sensitive memory needs to be wiped away. For those of us who don’t need these impressive capabilities, it’s still a great all-purpose watch that offers a suite of workout and sport applications that are too numerous to list. The battery is solar charged and lasts up to 28 days.
Bottom Line: The tactix 7 Pro Ballistic is the ultimate digital multitool for hunters, shooters, and weekend warriors. SRP: $1,599. (garmin.com)
SnapSafe GlideVault
If you store firearms in your home, you have a responsibility to keep your guns secure and safe. However, you may also need to access your gun in a hurry in the event of an attack, so you must have a sophisticated storage system. Snapsafe’s new GlideVault is the perfect solution. With an external housing of one-gauge steel and dual internal locking lugs, the GlideVault is robust and strong. The doors are pry resistant and a five-foot steel cable and a pre-drilled housing allow you to secure the safe so it cannot be removed. When you need to reach your firearm in a hurry, the spring-assisted door provides instant access. To gain entry to the box, punch in your pre-programmed four- to six-digit access code on to the tempered glass touchpad. You can also access the vault using a barrel key or the micro USB port.
Interior space measures 13.5x9.5x3.1 inches, which is plenty of space to store a couple of small handguns, extra magazines, and a light. The padded interior keeps your firearms safe and prevents damage, but the GlideVault isn’t just for guns. Passports, important documents, jewelry, and cash can all be stored in the GlideVault, which can then be secured in a hidden location within the home. At 26 pounds, the GuideVault is light enough to take with you while you travel on the road, and the cable lock allows you to secure firearms in motel rooms or vehicles. Power is supplied by easy-to-find and affordable AAA batteries. With its white exterior finish, the GlideVault is less conspicuous than other safes, making it less likely to draw attention from visitors.
Bottom Line: A lightweight, versatile safe that protects your gear while still offering immediate access to your firearm. SRP: $291.99. (snapsafe.com)
Steiner Predator 10x42 LRF Binoculars
Many hunters and shooters prefer to use binoculars with built-in rangefinding capabilities. However, there are two primary issues with binos with built-in rangefinders: they’re heavy and they’re very expensive. At 35.8 ounces, Steiner’s new Predator 10x42 LRF binos aren’t as bulky as competing RF binoculars, but they offer a long list of standard features that include angle-compensated ranging out to nearly 2,000 yards, a Fast-Close-Focus center-focus knob, and four different measuring modes. Two buttons mounted on the bridge of the binos allow you to toggle among the different modes (standard, rain, long-distance, short-distance) and settings and make instant range measurements. The scan mode allows you to continuously take range measurements, which is beneficial for hunters because it allows you to familiarize yourself with the terrain and know the distance to a target as soon as it appears.
Steiner optics have a reputation for being robust and durable, and the Predator 10x42 LRF is no exception. Waterproof construction prevents damage when hunting or shooting in poor weather conditions, and the advanced Predator Diamond Coating allows for maximum light transmission and supreme clarity and fidelity, even in low-light conditions. Should something happen to your Predator binos in the field, don’t worry—they’re backed by Steiner’s Heritage Warranty. Best of all, the SRP is under $2,000, which is considerably less than the cost of competing models.
Bottom Line: These versatile rangefinding binoculars aren’t a burden in the field, and they’re an excellent value. MSRP: $1,954.99. (steiner-optics.com)
Leupold RX-1500i TBRW
Rangefinders have become standard equipment for hunters and shooters, and Leupold’s new RX-1500i TRBW is lighter and more sophisticated than competing models. At its core is Leupold’s high-tech DNA (Digitally eNhanced Rangefinding) engine that accurately measures distances to a half yard, and True Ballistic Range/Wind capabilities provide fast and accurate ballistically calculated range readouts (not straight-line horizontal distance, as is the case with other rangefinders) that compensate for shot angle and even help compensate for wind. The Leupold provides you with a 10 mile-per-hour full-value wind hold, which allows the shooter to place their first shot on target. In addition, 6X magnification helps you zero in on your target, and the Leupold will range reflective targets to 1,500 yards and soft targets, such as trees, to 1,200 yards.
The RX-1500i TBRW is also ideal for bowhunters. In bow mode this rangefinder provides arrow drop out to 175 yards, and it features Trophy Scale, which helps estimate antler size, an excellent feature that helps with deer management by reducing “buck fever.” This rugged rangefinder weighs well under a half-pound and fits neatly in a pocket, making it great for any hunting or shooting application. It’s also a great value.
Bottom Line: When you need a lightweight, portable, weatherproof rangefinder that provides accurate readouts, this affordable Leupold won’t let you down. SRP: $299.99. (leupold.com)
GATORZ Laser Defender and OPz Lenses
When we think of new high-tech equipment for hunters and shooters protective eyewear rarely comes to mind, but GATORZ is offering two new protective glasses that are designed for operating in today’s environments. Their Laser Defender glasses are ANSI Z87.1/Mil-Spec rated and offer protection from harmful laser wavelengths, which is an especially important feature for law enforcement and military professionals, pilots, or anyone else who is exposed to harmful lasers. Available in two popular frame designs (Specter and Magnum), these lenses offer between 23 percent and 51 percent visible light transmission, and there’s even a photochromatic that shifts between 40 percent and 12 percent VLT for working in changing light conditions.
Also new from GATORZ is their OPz lenses, which are available in five different frame styles. OPz lenses offer the glare-reduction properties of polarized lenses, but still allow the wearer to view digital screens, which is more important than ever in today’s world. This makes it easy to view cellular phone screens, computers, holographic sights, digital watches, and any other display that would typically require you to remove standard polarized lenses. GATORZ offers stylish, protective eyewear with a high-tech twist, and all these glasses are made in the USA.
Bottom Line: Whether you’re a military operator working in dangerous environments or a competitive shooter trying to read the ballistic profile on your cell phone, these glasses have you covered. SRP: Laser Defender, $285-$320; OPz Lenses, $220-$250. (gatorz.com)
