Up until this year Ive always worn Cabelas Red head brand stuff. Its the devil I know. It's cheap and I can count on it for 1-2 seasons before it tears up too bad. My mother in law is always sowing patches etc. Its fine. Well this year someone gifted me one of those 50% off sitka pro coupons. So I bought the Timberline pants (in subalpine cam0- wished I has just bought the gray one instead, but ok) and a Grindstone work jacket (just brown color). All im saying is- how the heck have I been wearing red head all these years. The pants actually protect me from briars (important here in the southern TN thickets) and the jacket is totally windproof yet breathable and water resistant for several hours of rain. don't know what magic they used but it freaking works. Hasn't gotten super cold yet here, but ive done several sits in high winds with wind chills in 30s and have been snug as a bug vs the red head stuff Id be up in my tree trying to control shivers as prime time arrived. Im not saying Sitka is it- more so just saying paying the price for high end clothing has turned out to be 100% worth it! And ive been using merino wool base layers for years. have not changed that. still the best. good luck in your search NB!