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New Hunting Wardrobe Advice

Nutterbuster said:
I haven't really bought hunting clothes since...ever. I picked up a few odds and ends when I worked retail sporting goods, but never consciously bought a system. Kinda have always pieced stuff together and made do. Most of what I bought 5-6 years ago is getting a little rough around the edges. Losing weight, and when I hit target I'd like to buy some clothes for that weight.

I have the following criteria:

  • Must let me be comfortable walking or sitting in 15-60 degree weather.
  • Must be light and compact enough to be either stuffed in a daypack or strapped to it.
  • Must include a water and wind proof jacket with hood
  • Must be reasonably quiet
  • Must be multispecies (deer, duck, turkey, small game)
And the following preferences:

  • The more pieces that can be worn as street clothes, the better (ie, camo not preferred)
  • Durability and longevity is being considered
  • Strong preference for companies that give a damn about their people and the environment.
More info:

  • I hunt by boat more often than not.
  • I do not plan to travel extensively, and if I do it will be for just a couple of nights.
  • I don't care at all about scent control
  • I generally have purchased synthetics (particularly fleece) vs wool. But I've never owned quality wool except for socks, which I love with my rubber boots.
I don't need footwear, but I'm open to suggestions on everything else. I kinda want a wardrobe that lets me sit around the house, go camping, camp out on a rut sit, wear under waders at the beaver pond, walk around with the .22lr, or stay warm on the boat if I decide to fish instead of hunt.

I've never paid much attention to the clothes I hunt in, so don't assume I know a thing. Happy to read any threads on the topic you care to link to. Open to wool, synthetics, whatever. Thinking I'd rather piece together stuff than buy a system, but not against a really good system if one company has figured this thing out.

I also have tried on a lot of sitka and never been super impressed with anything but their fanatic jacket, which I've been off-and-on intrigued by over the years.
Click to expand...
I luckily grew up poor woth hand me down walmart camo all of my life, a year ago i bit the bullet after alot of research and debate and stocked up on sitka gear, mostly fanatic and stratus systems. IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY!
 
15 is pretty darn cold for me but I can get down to freezing pretty light and packable. I tend to run warm, so I get hot when moving but get cold easily if I'm not. This is what works for me though.

I use smartwool base layers because that's what was on sale when I was looking and they are very comfortable. 250 weight if say 45 or less. If warmer it's not as critical, could use 150 or a poly pro layer, or none.

Kuiu attack pants and first lite uncompahgre pants to pack and put on if sitting when it's cold (They are quiet enough pants for bowhunting IMO). The attack pants are super comfortable and water resistant but not bulletproof, they hold up just okay to briars/rose patches. Not to mention anything with thorns will poke you right through that stretchy fabric. Side zips are priceless though.

Then up top I'll use some kind of fleece or synthetic mid layer if I need it. I always carry a mammut puffy to wear under my jacket if needed. I found a great deal on it, I think it's 800 fill, and it packs into it's own pocket. It's a must to get down to freezing. Then I have the kuiu guide jacket on top, although I think there could possible be better options. I just love the pit zips and don't know if I could live without them now lol. It's a little stiffer and noisier than I'd like it to be but serviceable. Again slightly water resistant but only good for a minor temporary drizzle.

The head is super important. I have a first lite "tundra" balaclava and a sitka "blizzard" beanie, as well as a merino balaclava. I mix and match these as needed.

For feet I use poly pro liners and wool socks usually with muck boots, sometimes a hiking boot.

Gloves not as critical, personal preference.

If you're patient and willing to accept what is on sale you can find a lot of great stuff on moosejaw, backcountry, and rei outlet. If you're not patient some of that stuff is just as expensive as the high end hunting clothes.

Now if you're truly getting down to 15 degree hunting, at least for me, that's where getting the colder high end gear is gonna pay off. Even if it's only for a couple hours 15 degrees is pretty darn cold. I have the first lite sanctuary, and it is big and bulky but it is like wearing a nice warm sleeping bag. Sitka has some great options too I think, just not the route I went. Either way, there's a point at which you need something that's purpose built for COLD weather and it's not going to be as versatile. At what point is obviously going to vary by person. My guess is in Alabama you probably don't need to go that route or at least it probably wouldn't be worth it for the 1 or 2 days a year where it would be nice.
 
Nosaj said:
I only had Minus 33 brand merino for a long time so I thought the pulls and holes were due to the merino wool and not the construction of the garment itself.
Click to expand...
Interesting! I have had the same issue with Russell Athletic APX, Minus 33, LL Bean Merino wool. None of my darn tough or smartwool socks though. I really thought it was moths causing it, so I started storing them in gallon bags.
 
I started watching some of @bowhunter15 videos and he really likes thlete clothing. The ones that I got excited about were the lightweight briar pants (Zodiac) though the price tag $179 was crazy for my cheap tastes and I would prefer neutral colors, versus camo or green.
 
I love my scentlok gear. Middle of the road pricing when you are looking at drake and sitka.
 
FL makes the best merino I have found but for my lighter merino (190gsm) I use the Drake stuff and can provide a discount to anyone wanting to try out a set. Just shoot me a PM and Ill generate you a code.
 
My buddy gave the Code of Silence stuff a big thumbs up. He is extremely hard on his stuff and used Sitka prior to this year.
More budget friendly is Natural Gear and Game Gear.
 
I've found the scentlok savannah coveralls are great in a range of temperatures, and work almost as good as a thermacel for mosquitos if paired with glasses and gloves. You can do 35 to 90 degrees just adjusting merino base layers but i only wear this when mosquitos are out. I've found it to feel cooler in the coveralls if i wear merino underwear, t shirt and socks, instead of just underwear. And below 40 degrees gets a bit marshmallow like under that suit.

Around 35 and below I use scentlok fortress bibs and jacket bought on clearance at the end of the year for 50% off. The fortress I've only had for a year and a few hunts but so far has been extremely warm but bulky and camo. I was completely unzipped on bibs and jacket last night for 4 hours at 31 degrees and 20mph gusts and was still a bit too warm.

So far firstlite merino has been a favorite and durability seems good but ive owned less than a year. Minus 33 and smartwool fall apart quick, Black ovis holds up well but is scratchier than the other mentioned but they are 3 years old with some pilling and no holes and i wear them the most. That scratchy feeling goes away once i wesr them for a bit.

For most the season (40-70 degrees) though I use a solid ranger green 350g merino hoodie, merino shorts, stretchy wrangler walmart pants, darn tough socks and a 150 to 200g merino leggings or underwear. Overall I would recommend start with merino. And use street clothes most of the year and buy a dedicated cold weather set.
 
Reviving this thread with some changes in criteria.

I pulled 10 years of historical weather data for January (coldest month) in Bham, AL (about 4 hours north of me and the furthest north I'll likely be hunting in the future). I found the following:
  • If you averaged the lowest low temps, you end up with the average coldest morning of the year being 17 degrees.
  • If you averaged the average low temps, you end up with the average "cold" morning being 36 degrees
  • If you averaged the average temp, you end up with the daily average temp being 45 degrees.
  • If you average the highest high temps, you end up with the average warmest afternoon being 74 degrees.
So, to get really specific with what a day in the woods looks like, I need to be able to tough out 17 degrees for a few hours a couple of days a year, be really comfortable in mid 30s to mid 40s, and be able to strip down to a tshirt and carry all the layers in a small daypack for the pack out.

I'm dropping the ethical/sustainable criteria because I honestly just can't afford to be moral there right now. I can also get a deal on Drake and Cabela's/Basspro brand stuff, and with a crotch goblin on the way that's probably the way I'm going.

I've shopped around and mulled it over, and I'm thinking of buying the following:

I'm open to suggestions. But this would be affordable and neutral colored and I think may work.

The Cabela's Instinct stuff has my attention too. Their Superwarm Puffy looks/feels pretty good. Don't like the camo or the hood, but I can fix one of those things...
 
For pants, I actually have several pair of the Wranglers mentioned. I figure with wool under them they're probably fine for all but a handful of days. For the days closer to 17 degrees, maybe this?

www.drakewaterfowl.com

MST Fleece-Lined Camo Tech Stretch Pant

Made from lightweight, 100% polyester, the versatile MST Fleece-Lined Camo Tech Stretch Pant keeps you warm without the weight. Use it as an outer layer when you are walking to your favorite hunting spot, or as an insulated under wader layer to keep warm in the coldest and the most harsh...
www.drakewaterfowl.com www.drakewaterfowl.com
 
For your cold weather pants I'd get the UA puffy pants. You're only going to need them in your saddle or sitting, not when hiking, so the fact that they're not a brush pant doesn't matter.
www.underarmour.com

Men's UA Storm Ridge Reaper® Alpine Ops Pants

Shop Under Armour for Men's UA Storm Ridge Reaper® Alpine Ops Pants
www.underarmour.com www.underarmour.com
 
Nutterbuster said:
Reviving this thread with some changes in criteria.

I pulled 10 years of historical weather data for January (coldest month) in Bham, AL (about 4 hours north of me and the furthest north I'll likely be hunting in the future). I found the following:
  • If you averaged the lowest low temps, you end up with the average coldest morning of the year being 17 degrees.
  • If you averaged the average low temps, you end up with the average "cold" morning being 36 degrees
  • If you averaged the average temp, you end up with the daily average temp being 45 degrees.
  • If you average the highest high temps, you end up with the average warmest afternoon being 74 degrees.
So, to get really specific with what a day in the woods looks like, I need to be able to tough out 17 degrees for a few hours a couple of days a year, be really comfortable in mid 30s to mid 40s, and be able to strip down to a tshirt and carry all the layers in a small daypack for the pack out.

I'm dropping the ethical/sustainable criteria because I honestly just can't afford to be moral there right now. I can also get a deal on Drake and Cabela's/Basspro brand stuff, and with a crotch goblin on the way that's probably the way I'm going.

I've shopped around and mulled it over, and I'm thinking of buying the following:

I'm open to suggestions. But this would be affordable and neutral colored and I think may work.

The Cabela's Instinct stuff has my attention too. Their Superwarm Puffy looks/feels pretty good. Don't like the camo or the hood, but I can fix one of those things...
Click to expand...
That all looks like good stuff. And that’s how I layer as well with one exception which I’ll recommend now. Merino, fleece or microfleece, puffer, soft shell. You’re going to want that fleece between your base layer and puffer. Depending on how cold it’ll be you can change out the microfleece for a thicker fleece. Then a medium to heavy weight outer layer jacket of your choice.

I learned this layering stuff from my FILa few years back when I started skiing and I have applied the same concepts to my hunting and I’ve not had a problem with cold. The coldest days I’ve seen in N Alabama I would just bring hot hands and that was the little difference I needed. The coldest days are the windy days but the puffer saves the day.

You probably know this but make sure that outer layer gives you enough space as to not completely compress your down layer.
 
For skiing it would be merino, micro fleece, puffer, Shell. The hard shell I use for skiing is water and wind proof. For hunting I go for soft shell because I’m not dealing with snow, and the puffer handles the wind.

For pants I wear merino then outdoor pant similar to wrangler. I can walk in and not sweat as well as handle sits down to 40. At the tree I put on the winter pant before climbing. I never thought I needed more wind protection for my legs.
 
If you can get past the camo portion the Badlands Venture Jacket will cover a wide range of temps and packs nicely and has a quiet material. Waterproof, wind proof and unbeatable warranty. Basically you’ll never have to buy another one again.

www.badlandsgear.com

VENTURE JACKET

The Venture Jacket is 100 percent waterproof and windproof, yet the microsuede fabric is incredibly quiet. Ideal for bowhunting, or any hunt.
www.badlandsgear.com www.badlandsgear.com
 
I wanted to add that a puffer with a hood may be desirable. I thought I would hate mine, but on really cold and windy days It really does a lot to keep wind from going down your back, as well as keep your head warm.
 
Those are all good pieces of Drake gear but I would modify it a little bit personally.

-The merino wool is a great choice!

-That puffy is going to be warmer, but not near as packable as the non typical puffy they make. I would never hunt with a puffy as my outer layer for noise and durability issues so Id go with the non typical puffy. (Order a size up on this one)

-If you are purchasing a puffy for insulation I wouldn't choose that heathered windproof piece. Id be choosing something to go over the puffy to reduce noise and keep the puffy protected such as a silencer jacket or standstill jacket (windproof version of the silencer).

-Now is want something Under the puffy outside of the merino for when it warms up and you put the puffy in your pack. That heathered windproof could be good here if you really want windproof for this layer but id be looking at the new non typical grid fleece hoody, because when you layer all of it together, stacking multiple windproof layers is going to suck for breathability.

Just my .02. Not sure if the deal on drake you are referring to is through me but that option is always on the table and Id be happy to answer specific questions about any of their gear.
 
I hunted with a puffy for a couple seasons because of the warmth to packability ratio. The one problem for me was the noise of the puffy material. I was able to quite down the noise by wearing a light weight oversize merino hoody over the puffy.
 
Timberdonkey_059 said:
Those are all good pieces of Drake gear but I would modify it a little bit personally.

-The merino wool is a great choice!

-That puffy is going to be warmer, but not near as packable as the non typical puffy they make. I would never hunt with a puffy as my outer layer for noise and durability issues so Id go with the non typical puffy. (Order a size up on this one)

-If you are purchasing a puffy for insulation I wouldn't choose that heathered windproof piece. Id be choosing something to go over the puffy to reduce noise and keep the puffy protected such as a silencer jacket or standstill jacket (windproof version of the silencer).

-Now is want something Under the puffy outside of the merino for when it warms up and you put the puffy in your pack. That heathered windproof could be good here if you really want windproof for this layer but id be looking at the new non typical grid fleece hoody, because when you layer all of it together, stacking multiple windproof layers is going to suck for breathability.

Just my .02. Not sure if the deal on drake you are referring to is through me but that option is always on the table and Id be happy to answer specific questions about any of their gear.
Click to expand...
I agree. I would and did add and heavy merino layer too.

These pieces are worth consideration imo.

naturalgear.com

Winter-Ceptor Windproof Fleece Camo Jacket

The windproof fleece jacket from Natural Gear retains your body's natural heat. Our windproof fleece is feather-light for ultimate performance and comfort.
naturalgear.com naturalgear.com

naturalgear.com

Windproof Fleece Camo Vest

This camo fleece vest is great for wearing over a tee on a warm day or layering with hunting clothes for warmth.
naturalgear.com naturalgear.com

My current kit other than light weight early season stuff is a mid weight merino, heavy merino, the vest above, the jacket above and a OR transcendent down puffy I got used for $80. It works for me for any conditions from more than lightweight down to low teens-high single digits.
 
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