Essential Alaska gear: Eddie Bauer Skyliner hunting vest

Editor's Note: In an ongoing series, we ask Alaska outdoorsmen and women about their favorite or most essential piece of gear. This week we asked Christine Cunningham, 38, an avid hunter and lifelong Alaskan who now lives on the Kenai Peninsula. Cunningham, who has hunted both big and small game in remote locations from the Kenai Mountains to the northern slope of the Brooks Range, writes a hunting-and-shooting column every other week for Alaska Dispatch News.

What?: The Eddie Bauer skyliner hunting vest is a goose-down quilted shooting vest with a leather collar, shooting patches and a game pouch. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $199.

Why I like it? Durable and functional with plenty of deep pockets to serve the purpose of a day pack on mountain bird hunts or in the duck blind.  I live in this vest all season. Despite four seasons of being put through the wringer, it's never been washed. Hard to find that kind of durability in women's outdoor gear.

Any issues or concerns? Women's outdoor apparel has come a long way in terms of fit, but many women's items still tend to run large, and this vest is no exception. Although it holds up to extreme use and has a rugged yet tailored look while worn in the field, it is not an item that transitions well from the field to the office — it has a bulkier fit better suited to performance than fashion.

What do you think? Tell us what you think of the Eddie Bauer hunting vest, or suggest other outdoor gear we should feature. Send email to mcampbell@alaskadispatch.com.