Hey everyone,
So I will be going on my first hunt this year, and as I was looking for what I might need, it quickly occurred to me that it's a bit overwhelming. So much gear and so many brands. So I wanted to ask of you all, what are you wearing out on the hunt?
I have picked up a Kuiu Superdown jacket and Peloton hoodie. What do you like or look for in jacket, pack, boots, quiver, etc.? And what is your must have item that you cant go out there without?
Look forward to reading what you all go with and cant go without.
Best,
Bramos
In cool weather , I like a flannel shirt and an Asbell vest with a wool stocking hat .
QuoteOriginally posted by Graps:
In cool weather , I like a flannel shirt and an Asbell vest with a wool stocking hat .
I have been very interested in the Pathfinder Hoodie. Just think it looks amazing. Asbell has some awesome wool.
Bramos
It's hard to answer your question because it depends on what I'm hunting, how I'm hunting, and what the weather is like or will be like during the hunt.
For turkeys, in a ground blind, I wear what is comfortable on the lower half of my body and something black on the top. Depending on the temps the black part could be anything from a long sleeved tee shirt to several layers topped off with a black hoodie.
For deer, I'm not big on camo or brand. Usually it's wool plaid layered to suit the weather. I do have some camo bibs and some Cabelas Wooltimate camo, but I buy camo for functionality rather than color or pattern. As long as the pattern is pretty open, I have no brand loyalty. Generally speaking this is for tree stand or still hunting. From the blind, see turkey hunting above.
As far as footwear, usually it's a pair of Alpha Burley boots. If it's super cold, I will switch to military surplus "Mickey Mouse" boots. Early fall or spring turkey in dry conditions it will be leather lace-up boots. Wet conditions means some sort of waterproof footwear of your preference. Never had anything stare at my feet no matter what I was wearing, lol.
What do you plan to hunt? Where do you plan to hunt?
For most of my hunts (Hogs, Deer, and Turkeys) i dont put any thought into it. I grab pair of pants, sometimes camo, sometimes carhart type pants and a Tshirt (once again sometimes camo, sometimes not.) and a ball cap turned backwards or hoo-rag. I figure if the animal can tell what brand of clothes im wearing i havent done my job correctly :rolleyes:
That being said, as soon as i wrap up my studies and get a steady "day" job teaching im sure my adventures will migrate west, and my clothes stand a chance of becoming more technical.
But right now, im just a "whatever" type guy!
Depends on what you are hunting for and when.
What ever and where ever I'm hunting, I put on a cheap moisture wicking tee shirt and definitely grab something wool, made by Teresa Asbell, of course. For boots, LL Bean Maine Hunters or some Lacrosse Burly boots. I just picked up a pair of Danner Boots that I haven't used much yet. They were the most expensive hunting wear I have purchased. For pants, I usually just wear a pair of cheap, old Army BDUs. Wool pants, though, when it gets cold and I am sitting.
I have a bunch of the moisture wicking tees that I bought on clearance from Wally World (3 bucks each).
Not that fussy, as long as it is quiet. I tend toward wool pants and shirts and don't like printed camo. I do wear my KOM boonie hat whenever the weather allows it.
I have some Sitka pants that I really like with reenforced cuffs, knees, suspenders.
Maybe they were called Mountain pants or something like that. Best hunting pants ever in my opinion. I have worn them deer, bear, and elk hunting. Worn them in MN, ND, CO, Ontario, and Manitoba. Expensive but worth every penny.
I have one Asbell wool pullover that gets a lot of use, in conjunction with various vests. Usually either a short brimmed cap or a wool stocking cap. Then merino wool long Johnson.
For really cold weather, (posting on a stand) a Heater Body Suit is tough to beat.
For ninety percent of my hunting, I wear Muck boots. In the mountains, Meindl Perfekt boots have served me well on four elk hunting trips.
QuoteOriginally posted by 30coupe:
What do you plan to hunt? Where do you plan to hunt?
Upstate New York, Long Island will be the most likely. Turkey and White Tail, ground blind.
Thanks everyone for the insights. If nothing else, wool seems to be on everyone's list.
Bramos
In cooler weather, I love my First Lite merino wool. It provides great warmth with little bulk.
Bisch
Asbell wool,green ,gray,or brown cargo pants,Stetson hat,Danner boots and hopefully a little blood on my hands!
Terry
One word SITKA !
Black Wolf 68"57#@28"
Tall Tines 60"52#&45#@28"-------
I wear mostly Firstlite apparel out west. If it's really hot, I wear KUIU Tiburon shirt and pants. They are hands down a must have in hot weather. The pants have side zips that open to a light netting interior and the micro dot technology really works.
As far as other must have items: Marino wool base layers, good rain gear, some type of synthetic insulation fill jacket for layering (mine is the Uncompahgre puffy) and some type of soft shell jacket and pants. Last year in WY, I experience five days of 50 mph winds and one day it rained, sleeted and snowed in October. Thanks to my gear, I was toasty.
When it is below 50, I wear a wool pants from Sweden and a Filsen vest. When it gets below 40 I go to a Swaundri camo wool. When it gets below 25, i add lower wool longjohns, and wear a camo wool Filsen double mac, when it get below 10 I add wool upper longjohns and put the wool vest back on. When it is above 50, I wear cotton jeans and a Filsen wool shirt.
keep it simple. I know some guys don't believe it but deer are color blind. I recommend a leaf suit. Also any time you can take natural material like branches and leaves and use them to break up your outline.
Not really "trad", but get the best base layer you can afford for extreme cold--- I spent 80.00 on under armor shirt and it has been worth every penny--and I'm cheap...
Ps-- I'd rather be broke than cold.
QuoteOriginally posted by the rifleman:
Ps-- I'd rather be broke than cold.
Quote of the day for me right here.
Thanks,
Bramos
First lite for a base layer then it depends. Chestnut brown carhart pants seem to always find their way on me. They seem to work in a lot of different terrain.
I'm gonna go a bit against the flow here.... absolutely no reason to drop a couple grand on the Nuevo fashionista 'big name' hunting gear... put on enough clothes you won't get cold, make sure they are quiet, more earthy tones NO NEED AT ALL for camo patterns...and go learn how to hunt. Spend your time/energy/money on getting out in the woods and learning how to be a bowhunter. A first class woodsman in wal mart plaid will outhunt and bring home more game than a duffer in brand name hunting 'gear' any day of the week.
I can, do, and have, spent whole deer seasons in 95% stuff from wal mart and goodwill....I do OK on trophy whitetails, too ;)
Wool is good, cotton is good when its warm out, 50/50 poly cotton is good too early season.... guys out west and in Alaska say "cotton kills".... but here in the east/Midwest you ain't likely to die of hypothermia when your jeans get wet....
You may not be the cool guy in the newest variation of polypropylene that someone smacked a new camo pattern on and advertised in the hunting mags on a model that has never shot a bow, but show 'em your pics of dead critters and guys generally clam up :)
Go hunt.... don't overthink it....
R
Vintage Soo Woolen pants and Asbell pullover.
I'm with Ryan on this!! for hunting Deer and Turkey in the local wood lot's you don't need the latest Whiz Bang clothing, not saying they don't have there advantages on backcountry hunts.
I work outside so i just buy drab coler work clothing and i'm ready to hunt a couple hours before and after work.
So many of the new products have a "gloss" appearance to them, maybe ok if your in a tree. That's one of the reason wool and cotton works so well. They absorb the light, not reflect it.
And I also like the quote of the day.
Cargo pants, flannel lined according to weather. Always a long sleeve T shirt, wool vest and flannel shirt jacket. No camo, no brand names. Usually waterproof boots sometimes snake boots. old favorite Fedora or baseball hat.
Great quote Rifleman :laughing:
Deno
QuoteOriginally posted by Ryan Rothhaar:
I'm gonna go a bit against the flow here.... absolutely no reason to drop a couple grand on the Nuevo fashionista 'big name' hunting gear... put on enough clothes you won't get cold, make sure they are quiet, more earthy tones NO NEED AT ALL for camo patterns...and go learn how to hunt. Spend your time/energy/money on getting out in the woods and learning how to be a bowhunter. A first class woodsman in wal mart plaid will outhunt and bring home more game than a duffer in brand name hunting 'gear' any day of the week.
I can, do, and have, spent whole deer seasons in 95% stuff from wal mart and goodwill....I do OK on trophy whitetails, too ;)
Wool is good, cotton is good when its warm out, 50/50 poly cotton is good too early season.... guys out west and in Alaska say "cotton kills".... but here in the east/Midwest you ain't likely to die of hypothermia when your jeans get wet....
You may not be the cool guy in the newest variation of polypropylene that someone smacked a new camo pattern on and advertised in the hunting mags on a model that has never shot a bow, but show 'em your pics of dead critters and guys generally clam up :)
Go hunt.... don't overthink it....
R
I 100% agree. As long as it's quite .
The first time I hunted deer, I had a tan and thin safari jacket,brown jeans and a flannel shirt. I was 14 and man was it cold for October one, I had built a perfect stick blind, suspended with a net. By legal shooting hours, I decided that I was going to die from hypothermia. Thank God, I remembered my lighter. I started a little stick fire from sticks off my blind. After a while, I took that net and rolled up in it, it wasn't holding any sticks up anymore any way. The last two sticks that I threw on the fire were the ones that were holding my Pearson recurve in a ready to shoot position. A very curious little six pointer bolted before I could get unwrapped and pick up my bow. I have been guilty of over dressing more often than under dressing ever since.
For deer, it really doesn't matter too much. Just dress for the weather and be comfortable. If it's hot, dress lightweight and breathable. If it's cold, bundle up. Just make sure it's quite and doesn't interfere with your shooting.
Turkey are a different critter entirely...full camo, face mask or paint, gloves etc. And in all honesty, you are still subject to get busted. Still amazes me that something with a brain the size of a peanut can outsmart me so frequently lol.
Quotewhat are you wearing out on the hunt?[/QB]
In a nutshell...wool. I have moved away from most camo using just neutral colors and plaids. I have a couple pair of Army Surplus wool pants that are about 30 years old and still going. Last year I bought my first Asbell Pathfinder 1/2 zip pullover and LOVE it. First layer, however, is poly...no cotton. I layer depending on temp.
QuoteWhat do you like or look for in jacket, pack, boots, quiver, etc.? [/QB]
Quiet, comforable, performs/functional and good value. I like knee-high insulated rubber boots for crossing water and scent control. Bow or side quivers. I don't use any kind of pack, but I do have an Asbell wool "possibles bag" that is very functional for whitetail hunting.
QuoteAnd what is your must have item that you cant go out there without?[/QB]
Well...besides what I consider the absolute essentials of bow, arrows, quiver, tab, armguard, and knife, I don't go out without my binoculars. My entire early bow season is spent hunting mature whitetail bucks and I need to size up what's coming from a distance. Plus, it' just enjoyable watching wildlife in general with binocs while on stand.
I can patch together about any combo of cotton, synthetic, wool or burlap for whitetails here in Ohio...at least when the weather is decent. Camo, plaid or solid...I've taken deer wearing all of them and I'm pretty sure success is more about the king than the king's clothes. When the weather goes cold, windy and negative I'll be found adding good outer stuff like Predator Stealth Fleece, Cabela's Wooltimate, Sitka (whitetail line) and others.
Backcountry fly-in hunts are another matter altogether. Clothing must be very limited, physically light and not bulky. It also needs to be worn all day every day without getting stinky or absorbing moisture. For those hunts I'm all about careful combinations of layers and outerwear. Base layer of merino followed by synthetics is how I always roll. Favorite gear is by KUIU or Sitka. I'm sure I would like First Lite, Kryptek and others but a guy only needs so much of the high end stuff.
My favorite insulation for COLD days is goose down. I own quite a bit of it. I wear it hunting whitetails and anything else. I love the light weight and instant warmth. If it wasn't for getting cremated I would likely ask to be dressed in a nice down jacket by Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering for my final salute.
For turkey Black top and my regular hunting pants; for deer either my ghillie or Predator camo (ASAT is good too).
I'm partial to First Lite products. Really like their Fusion Camo and their Merino Fabric is first rate. If you are going to hunt in really cold weather, the battery powered Gerbing Heater Vests are really nice to have. And if you want to hunt whitetails and are able, treestands are the way to go!
Didn't mention it in my last post but my son bought me a leafy jacket and it amazes me every time I wear it. Took a little bit of trimming but would recommend one for turkeys with out blind hunting. So many green briars around here I pack it until set up.
Wool is God's gift to hunters. One thing I always told guys who worked for me, "always have one more wool sweater or vest in your rucksack." Just KNOWING you have one more layer will keep you warmer.
T4
Never wear cargo shorts for spring turkey hunting.
First lite merino wool for me, ASAT pattern. It's good stuff.
Tom
Warmth and comfort is integral to your hunting performance and enjoyment. Clothing choice depends on terrain, climbs, distance traveled and how you plan to hunt when you get there how long you plan to stay. A lot of whitetail hunting consists of walking across a cornfield to an already hung stand where an armful of sweatshirts and an old varsity jacket will work just fine. But that can be drastically different than some other hunters situations. I hunt on public land with 1-2 hour mountain hikes while carrying all my gear and tree stand on my back. A thin deer herd and a change of plans can add additional work through the hunting day. The high end Kuiu type clothing can reduce my load weight and load size considerably. Even in moderately cold mid 20s temperatures a few hours of sitting can create a situation where you are unable to shoot accurately. That has cost me a few deer. After 40 years of using everything else, being dry and warm with lightweight modern clothing is a luxury I thouroughly enjoy. Plus my entire season's worth of clothing fits into 1 tupperware tub about 24" square. I can pack everything I need for a whitetail hunt in wyoming in a small bag. The modern clothing will allow a lot of layering while maintaining free movement without out extreme bulk that can impede the string. I wearing one of the t-shirts right now and it's the most comfortable shirt I own. Also since switching to Firstlite and kuiu socks it takes a pretty cold day for my feet to get cold. Kuiu comes in two versions, wool and synthetics. I use the synthetics. With synthetics you can hunt many days with limited oder retention which is great for extended or out of state hunts where you can't wash your gear. But it can easily washed in the machine after each weekend if you desire. I think I washed mine 9 times last year. It all looks brand new and will likely last me longer than anything I have owned. The cut and fit is so that seams aren't stressed increasing the life of the garment. I just got a second pair of pants for scouting because the fit makes walking effortless and I don't want to stink up my on stand pants.The price tag is steep, look for the specials. Or in my case ask for it for christmas. I read this to my wife and she said my wife said "wait...you know how to use the washing machine??!!
Tedd
I agree with the guys that suggest wool, especially socks. To me, snake boots are indispensable. Coming from down south, I am not much help on the really cold weather stuff, but in my few forays to colder climes, I have found several light layers to be the best solution. On outer garments, I would suggest a lot of attention be paid to the quietness of the fabric. I can't suggest brand names, because I still primarily use military surplus.
I have always tried to spend my hunting money on adventures rather then spendy equipment. I do have some decent base layers because I do live in MN but mainly use surplus BDUs and surplus wool. I do have a Day One fleece pull over with wind stop that is 15 years old that has served me well. That was 200.00 other then that I haven't spent over 20-30.00 on a clothing item for hunting.