The hunt for the best gear in the wild just got real.
For the first time ever, Ballistic’s Best is stepping off the range and deep into the backcountry with the launch of the Ballistic’s Best Hunting Edition Awards—right here on Athlon Untamed.
You already know the Ballistic’s Best name. For years, it’s been the trusted benchmark for real-world gear testing and brutally honest results across the firearms industry. Now, that same level of expertise and no-BS testing is aimed at the gear hunters actually use when the trail gets long, the weather turns, and the shot counts.
Five Categories. One Goal.
This inaugural Hunting Edition kicks off with five categories designed for life in the field:
- Hunting Revolvers
- 20-Gauge Shotguns
- Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles
- Laser Range Finders
- Backcountry Suppressors
Each piece of gear will be tested, evaluated, and pushed to its limits by Athlon’s expert team. People who don’t just talk about hunting; they live it. The goal? To find the tools that perform when it matters most.
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Just the Beginning
This is only the start of something big. The Ballistic’s Best Hunting Edition Awards will expand every year with new categories, new challenges, and new innovations that raise the bar for performance and reliability.
Down the line, expect reader-choice voting, more specialized gear divisions, and maybe even a Hunting Gear of the Year title. Because this isn’t just about awards, it’s about giving hunters the knowledge and recognition they deserve.
New Era for the Outdoors
The launch of the Ballistic’s Best Hunting Edition Awards also marks the beginning of a bigger chapter for Athlon Outdoors and Bleecker Street Publications. Alongside the awards comes the debut of the 2026 Bleecker Street Publications Media Deck. A roadmap for how outdoor storytelling is evolving.
With over 75 million monthly ad views, 1.8 million newsletter subscribers, and powerhouse platforms like Open Air Media and Rotten Gun Reviews, Bleecker Street’s expanded digital network and production capabilities are reaching outdoor and tactical audiences like never before.
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“Our audience has evolved, and so have we,” said Charles Anderson, CEO. “The Ballistic’s Best Hunting Edition Awards reflect the innovation of modern hunting, while the 2026 Media Deck gives our partners the tools to connect with a broader, more diverse audience of adventurers, hunters, and explorers.”
So here’s to a new era of testing, storytelling, and authenticity in the outdoor space.
The Ballistic’s Best Hunting Edition Awards are just the beginning. Because in the wild, the best gear doesn’t just perform. It proves itself.
Stay tuned. This hunt is just getting started.
