Best of Show: SHOT Show 2025

The biggest bang in trade shows has to be SHOT Show. Vegas is abuzz in January with tactical folks, foreign businessmen in suits worth more than my truck, politicians, gear-dos, and everything in between.

For those of you who weren’t there, let me paint the scene: miles of booths boasting everything from sleek optics to rugged, apocalypse-ready hunting rifles, innovative outdoor tech, and tactical gear so cutting-edge it might make a Navy SEAL blush. It’s where ideas meet craftsmanship and where the old-school spirit of the outdoors shakes hands with the future of adventure. It’s a whole lot of pew-pew.

But the real highlight? The GearJunkie Best of Show Awards. This year, the competition was fierce. Innovators from all corners of the industry came ready to impress, and let me tell you, they delivered. Shockingly, the majority of the awards weren’t even rifles or shotguns but instead went to accessories or other cool tech gadgets that caught our eye.

So, grab your favorite beverage, whether it’s campfire coffee or something with a little more kick, and settle in. We’re diving deep into the winners and the products that will shape your adventures in 2025.

Federal 7mm Backcountry

So much chatter surrounds this little box of boom. The 7mm Backcountry from Federal is creating serious buzz for its lightweight design, long-range precision, and performance tailored to backcountry hunting. I think any time a new round hits the table, people get giddy about it. We shot it at the range, and it certainly has some pop.

It makes sense why it was all the rage at this year’s SHOT Show.

It’s not all rainbows and butterflies, though. Critics point to concerns about increased recoil, limited ammo availability, and questions about its reloading potential. Some see it as a game-changer, while others argue it’s just another niche cartridge with tradeoffs.

We thought it was fun to shoot … as long as it’s suppressed and we didn’t have to shoot it often.

Benchmade Bugout

The Bugout is a staple. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have at least one (though, to be fair, my circle is pretty niche). Benchmade had a load of new knives at the show this year, and it will be dropping them to the public periodically as the months of 2025 roll on.

It was hard to decide on the best selection because there were just so many killer selections to choose from. (Notice those hints of burgundy in the upper right-hand corner of the image above, because sheesh.)

The new Bugout in Grey/Redstone Aluminum & Richlite is packing some serious upgrades with a premium blade steel and a bolstered onlay design. Part of the new Blue Class lineup, it sports a 3.24-inch CPM-S90V stainless steel blade and an Ash Gray aluminum handle with a slick Redstone Richlite inlay. It’s pretty. That little pop of orange adds a touch of fun to what otherwise is one of the classiest versions of the Bugout we’ve seen.

Seekins Precision 2025 Lineup

Seekins Precision kills it in rifles because it doesn’t mess around with quality. Its rifles are insanely accurate, built like tanks, and fronted by serious marksmen who know what they’re doing. When it gets down to it, the team at Seekins Precision are machining specialists and not shy about it.

Two rifles caused a buzz at the SP team’s show, and we couldn’t choose between them.

HAVAK PH3

The Seekins Precision HAVAK PH3 is the kind of rifle that just feels right as soon as you pick it up. It’s smooth, accurate, and built to perform whether you’re dialing in long-range shots or out in the backcountry chasing game.

The fit and finish are top-notch, and you can tell a lot of thought went into every detail. The HAVAK PH3 is available in 6mm CM, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC, .277 FURY, .308 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC, 7mm Backcountry (ohhhhhh, dang), .300 Win. Mag., and .300 PRC.

At a price starting at $1,895, it’s also much more affordable than most of the Seekins offerings.

Element Hunter

The Seekins Precision Element Hunter is a lightweight, no-nonsense rifle built for hunters. It’s designed to handle tough conditions without sacrificing accuracy, and the balance makes it a dream to carry on long hunts. Though the Element Hunter has a more tactical look, it is specifically designed with hunters in mind.

The Element Hunter has the Element M3 barreled action paired with Seekins’ FIRST carbon fiber barrel, specifically contoured for hunting. It includes a folding, snag-free stock for easy packing and quick deployment, an adjustable cheek piece, a full-length M-LOK rail on the fore-end, and the Seekins Quick Change Barrel Collar, allowing caliber changes to suit any hunting scenario.

The Element Hunter is available in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .277 FURY, .308 Win., 7 REM MAG, 7 PRC, 7mm Backcountry, 300 Win Mag, and 300 PRC. Starting at $3,200, it isn’t a light investment, but it offers some serious savings over the Seekins custom shop rifles.

Pelican Reset

Pelican RESET inserts are the ultimate gear organizers. This says a lot coming from someone like me because I tend to toss the foam inserts and pack my rifles with clothes as a protective barrier. I hate the pick-at-it foam inserts, and laser cuts are forever.

Now, you can customize them to fit whatever you are hauling, whether it is camera gear, tools, or hunting equipment. The foam rods just pop up and down, meaning one insert can be used for countless gear options and “RESET” for something else.

They are tough and easy to adjust, and they protect your gear. What’s not to love?

Once they launch, the RESET inserts will be available for the Pelican 1700, 1720, and 1750. I can only imagine they’ll expand that to other cases soon.

Nite Ize CamJam Ratchet Strap

Picture this: Sean McCoy is essentially running toward you on a show floor, rambling on about a ratchet strap you just have to see. That was my reality at SHOT Show this year. No, he wasn’t excited about a shotgun, a knife, or even some quirky flashlight (though he did get giddy about those later). He was stoked about … a ratchet strap?

Then I saw it, and I got it. It’s different. It’s a whole new way to ratchet your gear down, and it is slick.

The Nite Ize CamJam Ratchet Strap stands out because it skips the standard hooks and uses looped webbing ends instead, giving you more versatility for securing gear. The CamJam system makes tightening and adjusting easier and faster without the hassle of clunky mechanisms.

It is strong, reliable, and far less frustrating to release when you are done. If you are tired of fighting with traditional ratchet straps, this one is a serious upgrade. Unfortunately, they aren’t exactly super-budget-friendly ($75).

Editor’s Note: There is a learning curve with this one, but I think once you get it, it’ll save you time and frustration in the end.

Nightcore EDC29

The Nitecore EDC29 is a little powerhouse for everyday carry. It delivers a mind-boggling 6,500 lumens in a slim, flat design that can fit in your pocket. Built tough and USB-C rechargeable, it is perfect for anyone who needs reliable, high-performance lighting without the bulk.

Of course, big lumen numbers mean nothing if the light isn’t user-friendly with a long run time at lower lighting levels. Nitecore nailed those checkmarks well, with a maximum run time of 61 hours at 15 lumens. It is easy to operate and has an intuitive digital battery readout to monitor how much juice you have left. This could easily become one of our best flashlights after testing. Stay tuned.

Check out the other top flashlights of SHOT Show 2025 here.

AGM Evolver LRF 1280 Thermal Optic

Thermal optics coverage on GearJunkie? It’s about time. Few things have exploded in popularity like thermal optics have in the past few years.

The GearJunkie team chatted with thermal optic manufacturers, and none quite brought the wow factor like AGM.

The AGM Evolver LRF 1280 is a thermal riflescope featuring a 1280×1024 resolution sensor with a 12μm high-sensitivity detector, delivering wildly detailed thermal imaging. It includes a built-in laser rangefinder effective up to 1,000 m and an advanced ballistic calculator for precise targeting.

This scope offers a base magnification of 2.5x, with digital zoom capabilities up to 20x, and supports onboard video and audio recording, shot-activated recording, and Wi-Fi data transmission. The Evolver LRF 1280 is the second 1280 scope ever to hit the market.

Gavin from AGM gave us the rundown and is easily the most helpful, welcoming, and friendly new face we met on the floor. That alone might be worth the award.

For all its perks, the Evolver LRF 1280 is likely to hit the market at around $8,000, which (wait for it) is several thousand dollars less than the only other 1280 scope on the market. What’s a bargain to some is certainly not a bargain to the casual user.

CRKT Provoke Hatchet

Practical? Maybe not. Super cool? Definitely.

The CRKT Provoke X is like having a tiny Viking axe in your pocket. With its unique Kinematic folding mechanism, it flips open faster than you can say “lumberjack,” and the D2 steel blade is tough enough to handle anything from kindling to camp chores. It is compact, clever, and rugged enough to make you feel like you could conquer a forest if needed.

That said, I’ll admit it’s probably more cool than truly practical. It is rad that it folds up into a tight, tiny little package. It’s also rad that you flip-deploy it like a dang ninja warrior.

Would I rely on it as my go-to field hatchet? Maybe not. I prefer a bit more girth in the handle to ensure maximum swingability.

Do I want one anyway? Obviously.

Check out the rest of the best knives of SHOT Show 2025 here.

Olight Ostation X Battery Charger

The Olight Ostation X is like the Swiss Army knife of battery chargers. It is a 3-in-1 device that charges, tests, and organizes your AA batteries. Just toss up to 32 batteries into the top, and it will handle the rest, charging them in groups of four in as little as 2 hours. Once done, it spits them out the bottom, ready to roll.

It is efficient, user-friendly, and a must for anyone tired of juggling multiple chargers and testers. It doesn’t even matter which way you drop your batteries in. Positive end, negative end, who cares? Chuck ’em in, and it does the rest.

The only thing we’d love to see is the addition of AAA capability. If we could toss a handful of AA and AAA batteries into the same device for sorting and charging, you’d have my money tomorrow.

Acebeam M1 Terminator

The Acebeam M1 Terminator is more than a flashlight. This tool combines a zoomable white laser and a powerful LED flashlight into a single device. It’s a wild option for lighting, allowing the user to illuminate objects both near and very, very far.

And by very far, I mean 1,600 m. That’s the kind of spotlight that’s nearly impossible except with a white laser. But what makes this one really special is that it has a zoomable head, which expands the LEP laser from a 3-degree cast to 13 degrees. That means it lights a broader area, making it useful at more modest ranges.

Of course, the added LED flashlight takes the cake. With both lighting sources, you’re covered from a few feet to almost 2 km!