Alaskan Mid-Layer/All-Purpose Pants?

So my dad and my AK combo hunt is within our sights, and I'm getting towards the end of my "things to buy" list. I have a good shell set, and good base layers. I don't intend to wear my shell set unless it gets nasty, so these pants would have to handle the typical activity as well as kneeling for a shot or sitting and glassing.

What would you guys recommend? Something waterproof (Gore-tex, Dry-Plus)? Water-resistant (DWR finish)? Or just regular BDU type? My legs don't typically get cold, so I think i've decided against insulation (temps are only supposed to be 35-60F).

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!



"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

I live in AK and sometimes I don't finalize my clothes until a few days before we go. I check the forecast and make my best decision. I rarely take a pair of BDU type pants because if they get wet they will stay wet for the rest of the trip. I have a pair of sport hill 3SP XC pants that get used a lot along with a pair of 100% polyester pants from Cabela's with reinforced knees and seat. I also always take my Cabela's MTD-50 rain pants as an outer layer. Sometimes if it is wet and I will be moving a lot I will wear the rain pants alone.

Every year and trip is different. You didn't say what kind of trip you are going on or what part of the state you will be in.

LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-10 AT 05:02PM (MST)[p]I have lived here my whole life and found that its not a question of if you will get wet when out hunting but more of a when. So for me when looking for pants waterproof is of little concern that is what my rainpants are for. I am more interested in pants that dry quick when wet after I wade across a stream or walk for several miles in rain soaked alders.

Initially started wearing pair of Columbia Aruba III zip off pants 5 years ago and know own several pairs and have only had to throw one pair away recently after they simply wore out after that many years of use hiking and hunting all summer/fall here in AK. They are lightweight and dry faster than any other pants I have tried.

I got sucked into buying both Sitka gear Mountain pants as well as ascents and as camo isn't of importance to me as much as dry time I found the Columbia pants much better suited for my needs. Plus on nice days is nice to zip off the pant legs and use my white legs to signal a plane if in distress.

Seriously though, for $40 you can buy several pair for the price of one of Mammut Champs, Sitka Ascent, or the like. All of which I have tried and still come back to the columbias. If its cold out I'll throw a pair of merino wool base layer underneath them and I'm good to go.

Just something to consider:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...en/common/search/search-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=0

Are those 3SP XC pants like a training pant? Like a fitted sweatpant or something? So you would kinda use those for your base, and put on the Cabela's pants or the MT050 over that, depending on conditions? I have some pretty good base layers, which might suffice for that. Which polyester pants do you wear from Cabela's?

Oh yeah, we'll be in the Kilbuck Mtns a few hours from Bethel, AK. My dad will be going for brown bear, and I'll be going for black bear and caribou. And for my first time to AK, I'll be rifle hunting.



"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

Great info fellas, thanks. It seems as though you both agree that camo/waterproofing isn't as important as quick drying when it comes to everyday pants.

Have you guys been to the Bethel/Kilbuck Mtn. area?

"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

What do you guys think about a Cabela's Legacy Fleece/Silent Suede pant? Or even Microtex? All are polyester, so they should breath/dry pretty well. I mention Microtex; because i already have a couple pairs, so then I wouldn't have to buy anything!



"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

The 3SP XC pants are the most comfortable pants I have ever worn. They are kind of like a fitted, stretchy sweatpants. I wear them as base layer and only put my raingear on if it gets really wet, or I am glassing and need to cut the wind to stay warm. It would have to be really cold to walk any distance with rain gear over your clothes and not sweat to death.

I actually have hunted the Kilbuck Mtns in September a few years ago. The wind blew constantly but it wasn't that cold. We only wore long johns to sleep in, and spent most days out in just regular fleece hunting clothes.

If you bring a couple of pairs of microtex fleece pants and rain gear, you will be fine. You are not hunting the arctic! I bring two pairs of pants just in case one pair gets wet.

If you are still worried about being cold while glassing then bring some chemical hand and feet warmers for your gloves and boots.

BGbasbhat, I don't think you mentioned where you will be going in AK nor time of year? Those 2 factors are HUGE when deciding what clothes to bring. If you are going to be hiking through the thick, jungles of SE AK vs sitting on a boat in SE AK vs dall sheep hunting the Brooks Range in early Aug you would likely bring along a totally different set of clothes.

Also, if you are dall sheep hunting where you need to stay mobile and carry everything on your back will be different than being in a boat all day and spending the night in a cabin.

I've been on several AK trips in a variety of areas in AK over the years...and each has been a little different..although there wasn't 1 trip where it didn't rain at least 1/3 of the trip!

One conclusion I have is cheaper gortex will soak through after a few days of steady rain in AK. Do yourself a favor and don't buy cheap gortex! About the only items that are 100% rainproof are rubberized but all gortex is not created similarly! If you are in a boat in SE AK the Helly garb is great but on a dall sheep hunt...no way!

I spent 2 1/2 weeks in central AK this past fall dall sheep hunting and was super glad I invested in Sitka raingear. I never got wet once and my buddy was soaking wet the entire trip with his cheap gortex. He finally borrowed some of my backup raingear and finally stayed dry!

If you are doing much hiking I would make 100% sure you buy a rain jacket that has pitzips! This allows ventillation and was a lifesaver! I now have pitzips on my rainjackets as well as regular hunting jackets..boy are they nice!

There are definitely clothes available that aren't near as expensive as Sitka. Several of them have been mentioned above. I did quite a bit of research and was thrilled with what I used on this years trip. You may want to do some searches on the Alaska hunting website....there is a lot of great advice there from guys that have lived there their entire lives. Some of the backpacking websites are also good.

jims
My dad and I will be flying into Bethel, AK and should be around the Kilbuck Mtn range and/or the Woods/Tikchik State Park. We'll be in the field from Sept 1-Sept 14, and going for brown and black bear, and caribou.

As far as rain gear, I have the Cabela's Alaskan Guide suit with Pac-Lite GoreTex. I thought of the MT050; but decided on the Pac-Lite, as it doesn't have the outer layer of fleece, which can get soaked after while. It was cut the same and has the same taped seams and Gore-Tex as the Sitka Stormfront.

Knowing where I'm going and when, any recommendations on a mid-layer pant? I was looking at some of the polyester based pants the other posters had recommended. I also have some Microtex stuff that I used here in AZ, which I might utilize too.



"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

I wore Sitka 90 pants every day on my dall sheep hunt. When it got colder I added a pair of Patagonia capelines. The capelines come in different thickness. When it got windy and/or rainy I put on my Stormfront Pants. All 3 layers dry incredible fast and are pretty darn durable.

I bought a pair of the heavier weight Cabelas microfleece pants and returned them because they were super stiff where the cargo pocket was in front of the leg and above the knee. If you put anything in the cargo pockets you would have to lift everything in the pocket on every step...pretty dumb construction if you do a lot of climbing! Also, the pocket material is so thick that it wasn't very flexible...unlike the stretchy Sitka 90 material.

I used the heavier Cabelas microfleece shirt on colder days. I read a bunch of rave reviews on it and as far as I'm concerned it is one of the best values out there for the $! When it got cold, windy, and wet I'd put on Sitka baselayer top, heavy microfleece shirt, and Nimbus rainjacket with pitzips. I also brought along a windstopper vest..but never used it. I can't remember 1 time on my 2 1/2 week trip that I ever got wet nor cold.

jims
What area and time of the year did you go on your hunt?

Yeah, i'd love to get some Sitka 90 pants; but dang even the old stuff is $100+ per... REI was running a sale on Patagonia and their MTS stuff, so I think i'm pretty solid on base layers.

I appreciate the input on your layering. That's almost exactly what I'm bringing. I have my Patagonia/REI bases, windshear vest, shell, and still debating on a microfleece shirt.

Thanks jims


"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."