The Go To - Saddle Hunting Clothes

[K@rchery]

There are a few manufacturers that produce specific saddle hunting camo, Scentlok, Scentblocker, etc.
Anyone find a good setup for pants, baselayer, jacket / hoodie for early to mid season 35-60 degrees?
Looking for comfort, quiet, room in arms to draw bow, room in pants to move about.

Any recommendations for Kryptek, Sitka, KUIU, First Lite, Badlands, Nomad, etc. that work great for saddle hunting.
I have looked at quite a few, but wanted to see if anyone had tried clothing that worked great' before I made an investment.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Red Beard]

My quest for the perfect hunting outfit ended with the Kings camo wind defender anorak and pants.

 

[raisins]

I don't own any saddle-specific clothes, and I'm not really interested in it. I find that in anything but warm weather that bibs or overalls are a must. I have several pairs in various weights, including thin pairs that are basically camo farm bibs. With the bottom
of my torso covered, I can just pull a jacket over the saddle when at height and get a pretty good seal.

My base layers are all redhead synthetic with 4most antistink treatment. Most of my mid-layers are goose down and I pack them in and put them on in the tree. My goose down side zip pants go on over my saddle and bibs. I don't wear heavy boots and put arctic shield boot blankets with hand warmers on over my boots once in the tree.

A lot of times, my saddle is totally hidden except for my bridge sticking out between layers.

 

[Maverick1]

There are a few manufacturers that produce specific saddle hunting camo, Scentlok, Scentblocker, etc.
Anyone find a good setup for pants, baselayer, jacket / hoodie for early to mid season 35-60 degrees?
Looking for comfort, quiet, room in arms to draw bow, room in pants to move about.

Any recommendations for Kryptek, Sitka, KUIU, First Lite, Badlands, Nomad, etc. that work great for saddle hunting.
I have looked at quite a few, but wanted to see if anyone had tried clothing that worked great' before I made an investment.

Thanks everyone.

My "saddle hunting" garments are almost all exactly the same as what I wear in a treestand. I dress for the temperature (with the wind chill as the determining factor), not necessarily the apparatus I am hunting from.

With that said, about the only thing I have a preference for when hunting from a saddle is a zippered kangaroo pouch on the front of my jacket. I prefer having my hands go over the top of the bridge, and through the kangaroo pouch, with my forearms resting on top of the bridge, versus having them jammed downward into a pocket. It's a simple matter of resting my forearms across the top of the bridge (kangaroo pouch) versus having them jammed downward into a pocket (a normal jacket's pockets), where the bridge 'cuts' across my front of my forearms.

Having a kangaroo pocket requires either a half-zip hoody, a regular no-zip hoody, or a jacket with a diagonal zipper.
(Edit to add: I strongly prefer a diagonal zipper. Using a hoody is just kind of a pain - for me. Putting on a hoody at ground level, or taking it off at hunting height, is not much fun. I'm kind of a thick monkey - and also consider that I usually wear a base layer, the hoody, and then a bino harness over the top of everything, it feels like a whole lot of arm raising movement to me, which I find annoying. So, my personal preference is diagonal zippered jacket. You will see quite a bit of support on SH for the hoody, which is great for some. Not my preference though!)

So, specific to your question, at 35-60 degrees, I had Gray Wolf Woolens make me an uninsulated jacket, with the comfortmax wind barrier, to fit that temperature range. It was expensive, but fits my needs perfectly. (In addition to the kangaroo pocket, it is in a great camo pattern, is very wind resistant, quiet, and burr-free.) But again, that comes at a price likely twice the other garments you listed.

At lower temperatures the Sitka fanatic has a similar kangaroo pouch, as does the Kings camo wind defender, as mentioned by @Red Beard (I do not have any experience with First Lite's "Kit Link" system, may want to check on the temperature ranges and wind barrier options for their garments.)

Other than my personal preference for a kangaroo pocket, any of the normal hunting clothes will work fine, and have for years.

 

[Exhumis]

My goto for years has been scentloks Windbrace suit with merino wool baselayers. When the temps dip I throw my heated vest on underneath. I’m comfortable in temps from 30s to 50s. Scentlok is changing the Windbrace line this year by adding a bit more insulation to it along with a hood to the jacket. It’s absolutely windproof. The suit is fairly lightweight and easily to climb in. They’re also adding a hoodie to their lineup that’s Berber lined. It’s billed as being wind and water resistant. I plan on checking that out when it’s released.
like @Red Beard I really like the kings Camo anorak suit but my arms are a bit too long. It’s worth checking out.

 

[Tim0712]

Outer layers are outer layers in my opinion. I HATE bibs so much that I don’t even own a pair anymore I’m just not comfortable in them and no pair I’ve ever tried has fit me worth a damn whether it’s a 60 dollar pair from Walmart or a $350 pair of scentlok. Windbrace technology is amazing like @Exhumis said but before I had wind brace gear the one game changer was a 1 piece merino base layer. I will NEVER hunt without a one piece in cold weather again. The warmth stays in much much better and even if you do get a little draft through the back it’s nothing that’s not tolerable I got mine a few years back right on ll bean and I want say they were like 50 bucks.

 

[raisins]

Outer layers are outer layers in my opinion. I HATE bibs so much that I don’t even own a pair anymore I’m just not comfortable in them and no pair I’ve ever tried has fit me worth a damn whether it’s a 60 dollar pair from Walmart or a $350 pair of scentlok. Windbrace technology is amazing like @Exhumis said but before I had wind brace gear the one game changer was a 1 piece merino base layer. I will NEVER hunt without a one piece in cold weather again. The warmth stays in much much better and even if you do get a little draft through the back it’s nothing that’s not tolerable I got mine a few years back right on ll bean and I want say they were like 50 bucks.

interesting....bibs are no problem for me, but no way I could wear 1 piece anything (base layer, coveralls, etc). I probably need to try again, but I just remember being bound up in things like that.

 

[K@rchery]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Good information and will be researching your suggestions.
I do have camo coveralls, but haven't used them with a saddle. I wasn't sure if coveralls would be too bulky, but only way to find out.


For earlier season I will focus on quieter, breathable material. Pants, base, layer and quarter zip/hoodie..

 

[bowhunthard88]

Reddington used to make a bib-style fleece base layer with foot loops (Guide Gear and Simms have them now). Awesome concept, as I prefer to have the shirt separate for movement/shoulder binding reasons. I do like bibs in cold weather, but definitely not as packable lol, anything warmer than 35ish I pretty much stick to pants. I use pretty much a standard clothing setup for saddle hunting, other than I do like either chest/armpit location and/or kangaroo-style pockets, not a pants cargo pocket kinda guy. I've used a muff before, but not my preference... I also always have my saddle as my outermost layer, but I do own a Tetherd SBW Heater (rarely use) and a CGM Saddle Woobie (love) if it's REALLY cold and I need the extra warmth for my butt.

 

[Dsabhunt]

For mid to late season I love my pair of browning insulated hunting pants/bibs. They are windproof and water repellant. Have zippers on the sides that go up to the hips so I don't get sweaty walking in and my favorite thing about them is they have the longer back and suspenders like bibs but have the lower front like pants. The longer back and suspenders keeps your back covered and the lower front doesn't bunch up under my coat

 

[THill202]

My system is pretty straightforward but definitely involves a lot of pieces. Have one of every first lite base layers then add a Klamath. That'll get you down to about 60 alone then I add one of three layers depending on how cold it is. Natural Gear windproof hoodie if there's any wind and/or anything over about 50 degrees. Nomad has a windproof hoodie with a little bit more insulation and paired with the right base layer I can wear that down to about mid 30's. Beyond that I go to the Kings XKG Anorak. It's as close to a perfect saddle hunting outter layer as I've found, halfway cheap, and insanely warm.But if it's above freezing you're probably going to sweat in it a little bit. Also size up.

For the botoms I have a generic mid weight wool long johns and furnace long johns. The furnace long johns are too warm for any sort of serious walk in. The FL windproof solitude bibs are fantastic. I wear them with the mid weight long johns from the teens up to about 40. 40-60 it's catalyst with or without baselayer.

This system has thoroughly impressed me, the only piece I'm still looking for is the midweight hoodie spot that the Nomad serves as right now. Love the hoody, except the brushed polyester exterior is smoth and somewhat shiny. It could also be a little heavier, but all in all it's warm and comfortbale and I got it cheap on camofire.

 

[BTaylor]

The only static piece for me is the sitka mountain pant with the built in knee pads. Everything else is layers specific to current conditions.

 

[Iron_llama]

I don't have any saddle-specific clothing. I like wool bibs during hunting season because they keep drafts off my kidneys and lower back, and hoodies, because hoodies are great. If I come across a good deal on a police-type modular jacket (with side zips for holster access and zip-out mid layers) I might pick it up to see how the side zips work with a bridge or dump pouches.

I wear a bino pouch, and hang a hand muff from it, so I don't wind up using my hoodie pocket.

 

[K@rchery]

My system is pretty straightforward but definitely involves a lot of pieces. Have one of every first lite base layers then add a Klamath. That'll get you down to about 60 alone then I add one of three layers depending on how cold it is. Natural Gear windproof hoodie if there's any wind and/or anything over about 50 degrees. Nomad has a windproof hoodie with a little bit more insulation and paired with the right base layer I can wear that down to about mid 30's. Beyond that I go to the Kings XKG Anorak. It's as close to a perfect saddle hunting outter layer as I've found, halfway cheap, and insanely warm.But if it's above freezing you're probably going to sweat in it a little bit. Also size up.

For the botoms I have a generic mid weight wool long johns and furnace long johns. The furnace long johns are too warm for any sort of serious walk in. The FL windproof solitude bibs are fantastic. I wear them with the mid weight long johns from the teens up to about 40. 40-60 it's catalyst with or without baselayer.

This system has thoroughly impressed me, the only piece I'm still looking for is the midweight hoodie spot that the Nomad serves as right now. Love the hoody, except the brushed polyester exterior is smoth and somewhat shiny. It could also be a little heavier, but all in all it's warm and comfortbale and I got it cheap on camofire.

Looks like you put a lot of thought and time into your system and have yourself covered for many variables.
Great info and that King's Anorak has been suggested a few times.

 

[K@rchery]

I don't have any saddle-specific clothing. I like wool bibs during hunting season because they keep drafts off my kidneys and lower back, and hoodies, because hoodies are great. If I come across a good deal on a police-type modular jacket (with side zips for holster access and zip-out mid layers) I might pick it up to see how the side zips work with a bridge or dump pouches.

I wear a bino pouch, and hang a hand muff from it, so I don't wind up using my hoodie pocket.

I like that hand muff off the bino puch idea.
Sounds like it would be easier access to keep the hands warm

 

[K@rchery]

My "saddle hunting" garments are almost all exactly the same as what I wear in a treestand. I dress for the temperature (with the wind chill as the determining factor), not necessarily the apparatus I am hunting from.

With that said, about the only thing I have a preference for when hunting from a saddle is a zippered kangaroo pouch on the front of my jacket. I prefer having my hands go over the top of the bridge, and through the kangaroo pouch, with my forearms resting on top of the bridge, versus having them jammed downward into a pocket. It's a simple matter of resting my forearms across the top of the bridge (kangaroo pouch) versus having them jammed downward into a pocket (a normal jacket's pockets), where the bridge 'cuts' across my front of my forearms.

Having a kangaroo pocket requires either a half-zip hoody, a regular no-zip hoody, or a jacket with a diagonal zipper.
(Edit to add: I strongly prefer a diagonal zipper. Using a hoody is just kind of a pain - for me. Putting on a hoody at ground level, or taking it off at hunting height, is not much fun. I'm kind of a thick monkey - and also consider that I usually wear a base layer, the hoody, and then a bino harness over the top of everything, it feels like a whole lot of arm raising movement to me, which I find annoying. So, my personal preference is diagonal zippered jacket. You will see quite a bit of support on SH for the hoody, which is great for some. Not my preference though!)

So, specific to your question, at 35-60 degrees, I had Gray Wolf Woolens make me an uninsulated jacket, with the comfortmax wind barrier, to fit that temperature range. It was expensive, but fits my needs perfectly. (In addition to the kangaroo pocket, it is in a great camo pattern, is very wind resistant, quiet, and burr-free.) But again, that comes at a price likely twice the other garments you listed.

At lower temperatures the Sitka fanatic has a similar kangaroo pouch, as does the Kings camo wind defender, as mentioned by @Red Beard (I do not have any experience with First Lite's "Kit Link" system, may want to check on the temperature ranges and wind barrier options for their garments.)

Other than my personal preference for a kangaroo pocket, any of the normal hunting clothes will work fine, and have for years.

Thank you, another great point on pocket placement/zippers and access.
I will keep that in mind while looking.
I do have a bino harness and will need to see if it's going to be in the way.

 

[Exhumis]

I like that hand muff off the bino puch idea.
Sounds like it would be easier access to keep the hands warm

Muff is money. The kangaroo pocket is cool and all but once you’re hanging it can be hard to get hands in and out and bridge can get in the way. Muff just hangs on the top and can hang down between the bridge.

 

[woodsdog2]

@Iron_llama , @Exhumis, what muff and chest rig are you using? Marsupial or T&K? I’m not aware of any others.

 

[Exhumis]

@Iron_llama , @Exhumis, what muff and chest rig are you using? Marsupial or T&K? I’m not aware of any others.

I used to use an Alaska Guide Creations Kodiak, now I just use a Vortex glasspak as it fits my vanquish better. For muff I use a scentlok fleece muff. The ends are cuffed to keep wind out and it has some thinsulate insulation and a pocket. On cold days, say 40 and colder i'll throw a hand warmer in there which helps keep my fingers flexible. I also stow my release in there as well to keep it from creaking in the cold.

 

[shmelton]

I wear the following:

200g merino base layers or Sitka heavy base layer. Depends on the temps.

Sitka Traverse Pants
Sitka Fanatic Hoody
Sitka Celsius Jacket

I usually keep a Fanatic Vest in the pack in case it gets really cold at dark.

The top layers are easy to remove/add and they don’t impede shooting with a bow.