The Talarik SlingHook is a gear accessory that makes rifle or shotgun hunting with a backpack much easier — and quite possibly safer.
Basically, if you hunt with a backpack and use a traditional rifle sling, the rifle sling will slide off of the backpack straps and off of your shoulder. It’s a constant fight to keep the gun sling in place.
The Talarik SlingHook makes sure your rifle sling doesn’t slip off of hunting backpack straps . . . and then off of your shoulder.The challenge increases dramatically if you need to use your hands while moving — like grabbing a tree branch. You would think that gravity and friction would keep a rifle hanging off of your shoulder, but once the backpack straps are there, your rifle can slip off at bad times.
Even doing something standing still — like using your binoculars — can lead to a sling slip. Sure, your can likely catch your rifle with the sling around your arm, but it is far from ideal. A lot of safer hunters these days have stopped scrambling through rough terrain with a round in the chamber, but a sling slip could still bang up your rifle or scope.
The Talarik SlingHook Answer
Attachment is super fast and easy. A Velcro strap holds it in place.If you’re reading this, you probably have already experienced this problem and brainstormed some solutions that you could make yourself. I did . . . and then I realized that someone has probably already solved this one. My search led me to Talarik, which is based in Alaska.
The Talarik SlingHook is one of the simplest and most easily effective solutions I’ve seen — which is why I bought it . . . and is also why the Talarik SlingHook is in our guide to the best hunting gifts for the second year in a row.
The Talarik SlingHook is a must-have accessory for rifle hunters who wear hunting backpacks.
The overall design is basically a plastic, hook-like shelf system that doesn’t let a strap slide off of your shoulder. The attachment method is a simple hook-and-loop (i.e. Velcro) strap. You wrap it around your backpack strap on the shoulder you want to use for your rifle, ideally near the top of your shoulder above your collar bone.
It’s sized to fit any backpack strap, including thick multi-day hunting packs or load-hauling packs.
Does It Work?
The Talarik SlingHook design is super simple — and effective!The Talarik SlingHook works amazingly well. After multiple miles and some rough terrain, my rifle sling hasn’t slipped from my shoulder.
It’s important to realize, however, that the Talarik SlingHook doesn’t stop your rifle from swinging. The butt of your rifle can move around at your side as gravity and motion dictate. Most of the time your hand or arm will steady your rifle, but if you take some big or fast steps, your gun will swing.
If you use a bow sling, the SlingHook will work with those slings, too.
Does your gun sling get caught in the SlingHook?
Nope. The hook is big enough to ensure that your sling doesn’t slide off but it’s also open enough so that your sling easily comes off when you want it to. There’s no technique to this — I don’t even think about it. I just naturally pull my rifle off my shoulder when I want to.
SlingHook Drawbacks
The SlingHook does its job, but remember that the stock of your rifle or shotgun can still move by your hip if you don’t steady it with your arm or hand. Most of the time that’s not an issue, but it can be. For instance, that movement is likely too much to let you use the SlingHook effectively with trekking poles while navigating rough terrain.
Competitive Alternatives & Options
If you’re considering the Talarik SlingHook, here are two competitive alternative options:
Creed Outdoors Sling Saddle Shoulder Clip — The Creed Outdoors Sling Saddle Shoulder Clip is even simpler in design than the SlingHook. To install it, you simply slide the plastic clip over your backpack shoulder strap. A curved hook catches your rifle sling and keeps it on your shoulder. The primary drawback is that the clip isn’t tethered to the backpack strap at all. Creed does have an answer to lower gun stock movement, though: The Creed Outdoors Sling Saddle Universal Combo with Pack Adapter adds a belt clip that holds the stock of your gun close to your side.
Kifaru Universal Gunbearer — The Kifaru Universal Gunbearer uses a butt stock cradle pocket that attaches to your backpack hip belt to support a rifle. You then use a small strap that wraps around a backpack strap near your chest and your rifle to secure the rifle to your body with the barrel pointing upward. The key benefit is that you can carry your rifle mostly hands free.
The Bottom Line
The Talarik SlingHook is one of those small, simple outdoor gear accessories that is so good it quickly becomes must-have gear. If your rifle or shotgun sling competes for space on your shoulder with your backpack straps, the SlingHook is for you. Very highly recommended.
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