FIELD & STREAM ANNOUNCES 8TH ANNUAL BEST OF THE BEST WINNERS December 15 , 2005

- Number One Outdoor Magazine Names Top Outdoor Products -

New York , NY- November 8, 2005-Field & Stream magazine awarded top honors to the world’s best new outdoor products today, announcing twenty-two winners in the magazines annual “Best of the Best” round-up. Winning products ranging from binoculars and boats to reels and rifles were battle tested by the magazine’s editors to ensure they’re up to snuff. “Best of the Best” winners will be featured in Field & Stream’s December/January issue, on newsstands November 21, 2006 .

The booming outdoor gear industry is expected to see $10 billion in sales from American outdoorsmen alone in 2006 noted Jay Cassell, Deputy Editor of Field & Stream. “Thousands of new outdoor products are introduced each year,” says Cassell. “The Best of the Best list is great way to maneuver through the mountain of gear available and assure you come out on top with products that will perform.”

The products were tested by a panel of editors at Field & Stream comprised of gear fanatics and expert sportsmen. Winning items were selected based on outstanding performance, ability to deliver in the field, reasonable and fair pricing, design and usefulness to sportsmen.

Many “Best of the Best” products are sure to make it onto holiday wish lists with a variety of items to fit every budget. Suzuki’s new 700 King Quad, commended for it easy handling, towing capacity and ability to plow through rough terrain comes in at $7,300. At the other end of the spectrum, $5 boxes of Federal’s new Premium Vital-Shok Truball Rifled Slugs, notable for their revolutionary accuracy, are sure to keep outdoorsmen smiling though the season as well.

For more on Field & Stream’s “Best of the Best,” please see the December/January issue of the magazine or visit fieldandstream.com

 

FIELD & STREAM’S 2005 BEST OF THE BEST WINNERS:

 

• Federal Premium Vital-Shok TruBall Rifled Slug - New technology and design allows these shotgun slugs to perform with revolutionary accuracy.
  
• Winchester .325 Short Magnum - This rifle cartridge offers lots of power on a compact package, and in an unusual bore size to boot.
  
• Shimano Torsa - This top-of-the-line saltwater fishing reel allows users to tune for specific species of fish using a lever drag system that includes eight interchangeable cams.
  
• Daiwa Viento - This freshwater reel is a bass fisherman’s dream with a specially designed Twitchin’ Bar that allows users to retrieve short lengths of line without cranking the handle.
  
• Greenhead Gear Full-Body Mallards with Real Motion Base - These simple to setup decoys achieve the difficult task of recreating the lifelike look and movements of real mallards.
  
• Rivers West Ambush Fleece Jacket - A waterproof-breathable fleece jacket that guarantees to keep outdoorsmen dry using a proprietary membrane and stretchable exterior fabric to block water.
  
• Ruger Gold Label - This beautiful new American side-by-side shotgun will please outdoorsman hunting for a shotgun with classic English looks and modern performance at a reasonable price.
  
• Sako Quad - This rimfire rifle comes with four interchangeable barrels that are easy to swap, yet retain outstanding accuracy.
  
• Rocky Revolver Hunting Boots - These innovative boots provide a practical solution to getting boots on and off quickly by reinventing the idea of laces with a dial and cable system that will not stretch, break, come untied or freeze shut.
  
• Cabela’s Ultralight Extreme Hunter 4000 -Weighing less than five pounds this backpack is the first foray by a hunting-pack manufacturer into the ultralight craze. With special pockets designed for outdoorsmen it is ideal for those who need enough pack to haul camp in and meat out.
  
• Matthews Switchback - This new bow is quiet, easy to maneuver, screaming fast and includes a laundry list of Matthew’s patented features, including the new no-stretch Zebra Barracuda bowstring.
  
• Simms Hard-Bottom Roller Bag - Proclaimed the “Best piece of fishing luggage ever designed,” by Fishing Editor John Merwin, this rolling bag features specially designed compartments for up to six multi-piece rods, wading boots, vest waders, clothing and more.
  
• CVA Kodiak Pro 209 Magnum - CVA improves its popular muzzle loader, ideal for game hunters, by adding a 29-inch fluted barrel drilled and tapped for scope mounts with all-metal DuraBright fiber-optic sights.
  
• PowerBelt Bullets - Muzzle loader bullets that deliver enhanced performance by using a new design to increase velocity, eliminate blowby and yielding consistent pressure.
  
• Leupold Golden Ring - These high-end binoculars use a glass rich design with 22 lenses to deliver an optically and mechanically excellent product backed up with Leupold’s wonderful service and warranty system.
  
• Bushnell Elite - The lightest version of the Elite model yet at 23 ounces these superior binoculars include a Rainguard coating on the exterior lenses ensuring they’ll perform even in a downpour.
  
• Zeiss Victory 32 T* FL - About as light and small as is possible in a full size binocular the Victory 20 t* FL’s utilize expensive fluorite glass to deliver sharp optical quality.
  
• Minn Kota Maxxum Pro - Using Minn Kota’s new Lift-Assist mechanism this outboard motor promises to go up and down easily and safely with abundant power for positioning.
  
• Wheeler Engineering Deluxe Gunsmith Screwdriver Set - Great for gun enthusiasts, this screwdriver set includes all the screwhead sizes commonly used in guns was declared by Deputy Editor Dave Petzal to be, “The best screwdriver set I’ve ever used.”
  
• Water Strider Kick Boat - Lightweight enough to pack on a bike at 17 ½ pounds but sturdy enough to run Class III rapids and carry 515 pounds, this is a great boat for globe trotting anglers.
  
• Suzuki 700 King Quad - The King Quad is so easy to handle even an inexperienced rider will feel comfortable on this workhorse with good low-end power, speed and a towing capacity of up to 992 pounds.
  
• Pirelli Rut Buster - Declared by Editor Peter Mathiesen to be the “Best general-use ATV tires I’ve ridden to date,” Pirelli’s Rut Buster’s were puncture proof and performed impressively in the muck.

 

Field & Stream’s New Gun Nut Survey:

Field & Stream is on the hunt for bona fide gun nuts, and their opinions! Visit fieldandstream.com to check out the Gun Nut Opinion Poll , inviting readers to share their thoughts and ideas on the world’s best guns, the gun industry, where and how much they shoot and more. Results from the survey will be published in the March 2006 issue of Field & Stream, providing a comprehensive look at what modern sportsman are thinking, doing and shooting.

 

Field & Stream® , The World’s Leading Outdoor Magazine is the largest and most recognized outdoor publication in the world. Devoted to the complete outdoor experience and lifestyle, Field & Stream gives its readers the knowledge and inspiration to pursue the sports they love. It celebrates the outdoor experience with great stories, compelling photography, and sound advice while honoring the traditions hunters and fishermen have passed down for generations. Established in 1895, Field & Stream is the country’s largest-circulation special-interest magazine and is published 11-times per year by Time4 Media™, a subsidiary of Time Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX).