Hunting Pants?

J

johnathanjcbs2

Guest
What type of COLD weather hunting pants do you all like the best? Gore-Tex,wool,...etc?

I am looking for some pants that will keep me warm and dry while sitting as well as walking.

JJ
 
I have 3 different types that I use over my regular pants.

1. A gore tex shell pant for warmer temps that keeps you dry.
2. A thicker pair of gore tex bibs for cooler weather.
3. A pair of gore tex, fleece, insulated bibs for really cold weather.

When you go hunting in the higher elevations you don't really know what to wear until you get there.
 
My favorites a re a pair of german military surplus I got about 10 years agpo at an Army Navy Store. They are wool six pcket pants with buttons for suspenders, and a lining in the knees to keep the wet out. I would carry a plastic sheet or poncho to sit on when I had to sit in the snow.

For the price, they were as good as the heavy wool pantsmany folks have. Just be sure to try em on in the store since many of the sizes ar irregular, (bein Mil-Surp and all)
 
Fleece if I am walking and stalking and wool if I'm sitting for long periods of time.
 
I have three pair of my dads wool pants he had when he was in the service 45 years ago. keepin me toasty and dry. bought some lighter stuff for warmer conditions. river west makes some good pants and jackets.
 
I bought a pair of Rivers West H2O pants this year and was impressed. Lightweight, quiet, warm and waterproof. They were very comfortable to wear on long hikes. They are expensive but I think they are worth the few extra bucks.
 
Wrangler insulated camo jean's from cabela's,along with non-cotton insulated underwear and I've never been cold from the waist down!
 
Columbia Wool pant and parka for outerwear. I then layer different weights of clothing underneath. Depending on the Temp/wind I will work up from Silk/Underarmor - cotton shirt/pant - wool shirt - down vest - wool outer. If it is really raining or wet snow I use a poncho to keep dry because I won't be moving around much. Normal sleet or snow I just go with the wool outerwear unless on the horse going to and from the hunting area. I have tried different wool outerwear military surplus, Cabelas Basic/Oufitter, Woolrich non camo, fleece, and Gore Tex. For the price Columbia is the best thing going. I don't think any "water proof" material breaths or is quiet enough for active hunting. Cold weather to me means snow/sleet, so rain gear level of "wet" protection is not needed. The Cabelas Outfitter series is nice, but the pants will not last for SH&* if you ride a horse. The seat will simply seperate into huge holes and the legs tear very easily from brush. Several of us have switched almost exclusively to the Columbia. One uses Sleeping Indian with never a problem, but the rest can not afford it.
 
Great comments dl19. I also have the Columbia wool set and works well. A guide I used in MT believed in the gortex fleece camo pants, forget the brand. Interested in your opinion of the Underarmor items? Is that scent locking? I roast in fleece when moving, but it's great for sitting. Gortex is a great moisture preventer but you die in heat and sweat if moving. They claim it breathes, but not fast enough to vent your perspiration. The membranes cannot pass enough moisture at atmospheric pressure. If in a sealed environment and heated to increase pressure, it vents reasonably well. (sorry for the thesis, I design headlamps for the auto industry and we use gortex vent patches to vent lamps). In summary, the Columbia's wools are pretty good for the cost.
 
I like the Underarmor Cold Gear Non-Scentlok as long as it has long sleeves. The short sleeve shirts tend to bunch in my arm pit and irritates like heck. They feel weird at first, but after getting used to it I really like it. I could not handle the size I normally wear, and had to go a size larger. They are still tight but not crazy. Try the mid-weight silk from Cabelas. Nice stuff, and it actually is warmer then it feels like it would be. I am sure Scentlok works as advertised, but I have had pretty good luck not using it. I agree on the Gore Tex comments. I am sure there is fabric that will allow moisture out but no moisture in at a needed rate. The cost would be astronomically high.
 
Go with the military wool pants. They are cheap, duarable and quiet. With a pair of long underwear underneath them, you will stay warm in about any weather.
 
How about Cabelas "Dry Plus" wool clothing? Does it also have trouble breathing at a rate to keep up with your body?
Today I got the Filson double makinaw wool coat in camo. Seems to be one sweeeeeeet ars coat and I can't wait to try it out. I didn't choose Filson but I had a gift certificate for the local clothing store and they deal exclusively in Filson. Can't wait to try it out next hunt season.
I never thought about the gortex not breathing adequately. Thats good info. Thanks. fatrooster.
 
Yes, I have the Cabelas Dry Plus in a their winter camo overalls. Holy SH*& is that stuff hot because it does not breath. It is as good as Gore Tex for keeping water out, and was quiet enough. We bought it for late season still hunting white tails, but we could not move at all with out sweating our butts off. I still have it, but don't use it because it is too hot if you walk at all. It might be the combination of coveralls and the Dry Plus, but I put the excessive heat retention on the Dry Plus material.
 
oops the coveralls are not wool. It has a soft cotten outer layer like a semi fleece material.
 
I wonder... if everyone sweats their a$$ off with gortex and other rain gear, what about wearing wool under it to absorb the moisture, but wool will also keep you warm when wet? Make sense? Probably should never wear fleece under rain gear unless sitting. Roasting again... Problem is weather changes and so do hunting locations. Can't ever seem to have it all just right. :)
 

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