About this episode
John Barklow - a seasoned outdoorsman and 26-year U.S. Navy veteran. A diver by trade, he spent most of his career supporting Navy Special Warfare, often working with elite SEAL teams. Much of his time was spent in Kodiak, Alaska, training SEALs in cold-weather survival and night movement through technical terrain, known as Cliff Assault. After his service, John joined SITKA Gear, applying his military expertise to develop advanced clothing systems for hunters and outdoorsmen. Join us for a conversation about John’s experiences with helping grow the Sitka brand, the succession of hunting gear and how the gear has changed, some of John’s greatest hunt stories, and more! Follow along: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronrhanes Twitter: https://twitter.com/cameronhanes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camhanes/ Website: https://www.cameronhanes.com Follow John Barklow: https://www.instagram.com/jbarklow/ Follow Sitka: https://www.instagram.com/sitkagear/ Thank you to our sponsors: Ketone IQ: https://www.ketone.com/Cam use code CAM for 30% off your first subscription Sig Sauer: https://www.sigsauer.com/ use code CAM10 for 10% off optics Montana Knife Company: https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/ Use code CAM for 10% off Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/ Use code KEEPHAMMERING for 20% your first order Hoyt: http://bit.ly/3Zdamyv use code CAM for 10% off MTN OPS Supplements: https://mtnops.com/ Use code KEEPHAMMERING for 20% off and Free Shipping Timestamps: 00:00:00 Montana Knife Company Video Series & a Unique Perspective 00:04:28 John’s Background (the NAVY & Teaching Survival Skills) 00:11:17 Understanding the Concepts in Gear 00:16:12 The Great Equalizers: Testing Guys in the Field 00:22:20 Survival Exercises 00:27:09 Finishing School for BUDS 00:29:07 Peer Reviews 00:31:56 Ad Break (Ketone IQ & Sig Sauer) 00:33:56 Diving & Getting into Hunting 00:36:18 When John got into Hunting 00:38:56 John’s Most Memorable Hunt 00:45:52 Hunting Mountain Goats 00:48:53 John’s Brown Bear Hunt 00:54:59 High Stakes in Hunting & Memories from the Hunt 00:59:31 John’s Buffalo Hunt 01:08:48 Takeaways from John’s Hunting Stories 01:13:10 John’s Best Elk Hunt Story 01:18:35 Hunters John Looked up to 01:22:03 How Much the Hunting Industry has Changed 01:29:03 Failure: The Foundation that Built Cam’s Hunting Career 01:30:51 Celebrating Success in Hunting 01:32:29 Measuring Success in Hunting 01:33:47 The Succession of Hunting Gear & Clothing (Down) 01:37:10 What’s Next for GORE-TEX Gear 01:42:29 Small Adjustments in Gear Make a Big Difference 01:44:44 Nobody Likes Being Cold 01:45:40 QA: F#$k, Marry, Kill: Backcountry Bowhunting, Diving, or Mountaineering? 01:46:48 QA: For Sitka - is Mountaineering a Good Place for Inspiration? 01:50:34 QA: If you had to Choose 1 Material or Textile to Use, What Would You Choose? 01:52:06 QA: How Would You Use High Pressure Situations to Help Develop Your Career Path? 01:54:21 QA: What’s One Non Negotiable for Your Daily Routine? 01:57:06 Outro