Best Black Friday Deals from the MeatEater Crew

Adam Moore Nov 29, 2024

It’s that time of year again. Black Friday deals are here, so you can take advantage of huge discounts on some of our favorite gear. Whether you’re adding a layer to your current clothing system or shopping for the outdoorsman or woman in your family, there’s plenty of hunting gear to choose from. The best part? You can spend less time waiting in line and more time on the stand or in the field. Check out these picks from the crew for the MeatEater Black Friday sale.

Furnace Hoody

Winter is coming, and that means frigid late-season temps. The furnace hoody makes an excellent base layer for hunters willing to brave the cold. That’s why Tony Peterson relies on the furnace hoody when he’s trying to stay warm in the treestand.

"The Furnace Hoody started out as a piece I'd layer for bowhunting,” Tony said. “but it’s almost an everyday piece for me now. It's crazy comfortable, super warm, and one of the best sweatshirts I've ever owned. I love it so much that I got a couple for my daughters, and they wear theirs almost every day, too."

Kiln Hoody

I’ve been running the Kiln hoody for several years now, and it’s a mainstay in my layering system. It makes an excellent standalone piece for those first early-season cold fronts (down South, anyway), and I typically wear it as a mid-layer in the late season. It’s not as warm as the furnace hoody, but it’s a versatile hoody that you can run all the way through deer season.

Talus Fingerless Gloves

For hunters, you can never have too many pairs of gloves, and the Talus fingerless gloves make excellent stocking stuffers. MeatEater’s Director of Web Content, Maggie Hudlow, loves them so much, she’s bought multiple pairs.

"I use the Talus gloves for absolutely everything,” she said. “I think I’ve racked up three pairs. I’ll keep one in my truck, a pair in my hunting pack, and one in a blind bag. They’re great because you can still tie knots, work onX, or easily find zippers all in frigid temps. I can’t think of a hunter or angler who wouldn’t put these to good use."

Uncompahgre 2.0

Whether you’re shopping for a lightweight early-season pullover or a warm and waterproof shell for the duck blind, you’ll find plenty of outerwear options during the Black Friday sale.

MeatEater’s Jordan Sillars prefers the Uncompahgre 2.0, a lightweight puffer. "It’s my favorite piece from First Lite," he said. "It’s lightweight and packable, which is great for those days when the morning temps are cold but rise significantly by midday. I actually own a few of the solid colors just to wear around."

It also makes an excellent, packable layer for western hunters, which is why MeatEater’s Janis Putelis uses this jacket all across the country.

"The Uncompahgre has been a staple in my western hunting pack since I started wearing First Lite,” he said. “No other piece of insulation spans a wider range of temperatures, conditions, and seasons. It’s kept me warm from Alaska to North Carolina."

Source Jacket

If you want something similar to the Uncompahgre, but need the stealth required for close-quarter whitetail hunts, consider First Lite’s Source jacket. It features the warmth and packability of a puffer, but the durable DWR exterior keeps it silent and durable. It even has a pass-through for your treestand harness. The Element’s K.C. Smith cited this as one of his go-to pieces of gear for early-season whitetails, but he tends to keep this jacket close throughout the whole season.

"I always keep the Source jacket handy," he said. "I love that it zips up, because it’s easy to throw on at last light when the temps start to drop."

Phelps Game Calls

Turkey season might still be months away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go ahead and buy some of the best turkey mouth calls. Right now, you can catch the Black Bat, Trippin Hen, or Brent Reaves’ favorite, the Rippin’ Red on sale from Phelps Game Calls. If you prefer super raspy calls, the Rippin’ Red “comes out of the package like an old rusty gate hinge,” according to Brent. Or, if you’re buying for someone else, grab a few for the stocking so they can see which one fits them best.

FOB Bino Harness

Already own a pair of the best binoculars? FHF’s FOB bino harness offers convenient and intuitive access to your binoculars when you’re in the field. Most of the MeatEater crew runs some configuration of this harness, and the front open (FOB) makes it an excellent option for western hunters who do a ton of glassing or die-hard whitetail hunters who need quick, discreet access to their binos.

If you’re looking for gift-of-the-year ideas, check out the MeatEater Trivia game, which makes for a great time at deer camp.

"MeatEater Trivia was made for hunters and anglers," Spencer Neuharth said. "It's perfect for any occasion, from family Thanksgiving to deer camp. Thanks to the tin carrying case, it can travel, too. “You can fit hundreds of game cards, whiteboards, and markers in your backpack or glove box."

But, MeatEater Trivia isn’t just another board game. "The coolest part of MeatEater Trivia is how it supports land access and wildlife habitat," he said. "Through the podcast, board game, and live tour, MeatEater Trivia has donated nearly $150,000 to conservation groups. It really is the only board game where conservation always wins."

Unlike jelly of the month memberships and other “high-quality items,” MeatEater Trivia is the gift that keeps on giving.

Even if nothing from the sale catches your eye, you’ll find plenty of great gift ideas in the MeatEater store. From the best hunting knives, backpacks, tree saddles, riflescopes, and more, you’ll have no problem finding a gift for the hunter in your life.