I'm an avid whitetail hunter in Wi. that hunts a large variety of terrain from cedar swamps to hardwoods, ag fields etc... I'm going to do my first elk hunt in northwest colorado in 2012. I'm looking for help in purchasing a clothing system that will work best for all I do in one type of camo and one type clothing. Temps are from -10 to +70. I'm not wealthy so price is of concern. Any ideas?
I suggest buying a light weight leafy jacket and pants. You can throw them on over anything and you have instant camo.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/2008%20Elk%20Trip/P9220368.jpg)
What Kentucky said and then you won't have to buy alot.
I live and elk hunt in Idaho every year and Colorado is probably quite similar. Make sure you have good lightweight, waterproof boots and that they are broke in, with you carrying the weight you will be packing on your back. An extra trade out pair of boots for cold weather is advisable. I always have some wool clothing top and bottom and poly-prop undergarmets. The weather can really change so layering is your best bet and bring lightweight gortex rain gear for inclimate weather. Camo patterns for timber and sagebrush mix should be considered and I mix them up. I agree with some lightweight clothing, otherwise you will heat up on the warm days, just be prepared for those Fall storms that can hit and hit hard. Bring several types of headgear for warm days and in-climate, cold and stormy weather. A lot depends on how you are going to access your area and have the ability to pack in the amount of gear you bring. I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it, but pack in conditions, may limit what you can bring. Best of luck to you.
Another route is to research some of the backpacking forums out there, read the reviews, and look for good used technical gear (the stuff that Sitka and Kuiu is based on) that is non camo. There are some great manufacturers out there like Arc'teryx, Marmot, TNF and others.
Gear made out of Schoeller and M3, as well as some of the other quality mountaineering fabrics are excellent, and with a set of leafy's over the top you are good to go.
Tradshooter is right though, boots, boots BOOTS!
Howdy Ken,
Planning on going to Co. myself this fall and I'm saving up for the Kuiu gear. Spendy, but the way I figure it, I've worn the same old predator cotton pants for 12 years now so these should last me awhile! Also, if I can drop several hundred dollars on a bow I can certainly spend some on quality clothes. Camo is overrated but their camo pattern looks like it would work well in our Wisconsin trees also. I don't believe there is a one set of clothing to do it all but this stuff looks hard to beat for chasing elk. Good luck in your decision and hope to see you at some shoots this summer. P.s. "you can't have the Legolas bow back!"
wow tj....cool idea,thanks for the idea.makes perfect sense to me.wonder why i never thought of that.hmm..i'm slippin.. :help: :goldtooth:
With what I'm hearing, some guys are buying and using under garments that wick the moisture away from the body that doesn't have to be hunting clothing, then using an outer layer of camo. I understand this for warmth and comfort, what about scent. The scent-lok clothing more hype than reality or not? The thing I worry about at least as much as anything is it has to be quiet. I freaked out when I bought a Rancho Safari ghili suit, I drew back and all I could hear was stuff moving. Some people swear by them. I pulled back a day with no wind and said,"NO WAY". I sold it. Kept the shield as it is portable and easy to use if your on the ground.
If you are REALLY elk hunting and not sweating, you aren't hunting hard enough.
If you sweat, YOU SMELL. Especially after five or six days in the back-country.
Wind in face, be aware of the AM/PM thermals, and hunt hard.
Really no need for any fancy camo clothing, look more for functional clothing. By this I mean clothing that is light weight and will dry fast, that is quite. Light weight wool is hard to beat not only for it's weight and warmth, but for it's ability to stay somewhat stink free. Elk hunting in Colorado is somewhat physically demanding, and you will probably sweat. Play the wind, and try to keep movement to a minimum when around elk, and you will find out that solid colors will work as well as fancy camo patterns. Keep in mind that temps in the day can reach as high as 80 degrees in some areas of the state; stay lightweight and layer.
1screagle, I hunted for Elk in Colorado in 2007 and am headed back this year if all goes well. We camped out on the mountains at 10,000 feet so it was a little chilly first thing in the morning but warmed up to 60 in the afternoon. I wore some light weight polypropolyne long underwear and Scent Lok Savanna EXT in mossy oak breakup over that. I carried a small backpack with some light rain gear and a sweatshirt and a wool camo vest in case I got cold. Also carry some good scent eliminator spray like Scent Away Fresh Earth scent. I had several small bulls within ten yards and shot a P&Y 6X6 at 30 yards. Hope that helps you out. Enjoy yourself it is a blast!
I have hunted elk 5 times in good weather and bad. I use the same clothes as I do for hunting here at home. Base layer of polyprops, mid layer of poly/wool duofold, cotton tees, fleece vest, wool parka, wool pants. You don't need anything special. Save your money for the tags and gas. You ain't climbin' Everest here. September elk hunting temps will not get much below 20 even at 10,000 feet. If they do, hunker down until it warms up. Take a PVC poncho for when it rains. Never leave camp without it.
For the budget minded hunter I think cabelas microtex in outfitter camo is about as good as it gets. Not necessarily as cheap as a cotton set but great in all weather, good all around pattern, and wear like iron, yet comfortable.
Nathan
Boy I second the Microtex-have not found anything better! If it gets cold an underlayer of polyprop uwear works great.
I'll add this about your question. You said money is a concern, as it is for most of us. I would just say this: I've found that IF you hunt a lot, money spent on better equipment that will LAST a long time, will in the end be cheaper than buying bargain stuff. My .02.
I've been elk hunting in CO every other year atleast for the last 12 years. When I first went I wore what I did in the northeast during whitetail early season. I never sweated as much and then froze as much as i did back then. When Sitka first came out I bought a set of the first years gear and was never so comfortable busting my a$$ chasing the mighty Wapiti. Have bought a few more pair of pants and shirts since then. Gonna get some Kuiu this year to add to the arsenal and maybe if it works as good replace the Sitka. You can go cheap and still kill something or you can get the best gear and enjoy it more. Just my opinion. I would suggest a pair of pants and a couple shirts to try this year if you can afford it. Whatever you choose have a blast and get in shape. Nothing makes you feel old and out of shape as elk and sheep!
Cotton kills in the mountains.
Camofire has great deals on camo, lots of Sitka too.
Layers are key. But really, mountain hunting comes down to boots, beanie, and gloves and making the best of whatever opportunities present themselves. Solid boots, a warm wicking beanie, and solid waterproof warm gloves can make a humongous difference.
I too will be looking to test kiui...
If i were to spend any money, First buy some merino wool for a base layer. Nothing has been invented yet that matches mother nature for regulating body temp, keeping you dry and controlling scent. You'll be more comfortable with whatever you wear.
All the dry fits shirts can't match it for moisture wicking. I've been a runner for years and swore cotton off long ago but merino is so much better than technical fabrics its crazy. INVEST IN A WOOL BASE LAYER FIRST! Let me make the mistakes for you and take my advise.
Cotton has its place for me. It is the most comfortable during warm, dry weather. I can't stand wool or synthetics in those conditions. I have not been in the mountains when I didn't have at least a few days when these conditions were present. A T shirt and light cotton pants or shorts save the day for me. In 2008 in Idaho, it was warm and dry the entire week. I wore my wool only on the pack out when it finally rained and turned cooler :)
I'm with John here. I hunti n the mountains every year, for the past thirty some-ot years. I am by no means an expert, but I layer and use cotton (gasp) with a fleece outer shell. I only wear cotton pants, they may be layered. I've not died or been that uncomfortable. Layer, layer, layer! You will be moving a lot and storms appear out of nowhere. I always carry a poncho for when it really rains. You never know about the weather out here, and you can have all the different clothes in the world, but I don't think you can wear them all, all the time. Eventually you will get caught in weather. Be smart and use your head :)
As far a scent goes, keep the wind in your face, and try to stay clean.
Oh and have FUN!!!
QuoteOriginally posted by Wary Buck:
I'll add this about your question. You said money is a concern, as it is for most of us. I would just say this: I've found that IF you hunt a lot, money spent on better equipment that will LAST a long time, will in the end be cheaper than buying bargain stuff. My .02.
I'll second this big. My first venture into quality clothing resulted in a set of Sleeping Indian Wool that has lasted for over 15 years. Even the good stuff can be found at more reasonable prices.
Good luck.
John, I agree cotton has its place on warm days it breathes great, allowing air through. When your really putting in a demanding effort is where it falls short. I think were are talking two different methods of heat transfer, through air and through moisture. The moisture wicking isn't very good. If your out in 95 degree heat sweating your but off a technical shirt will keep you a lot dryer than cotton which takes longer to wick and release the moisture through evaporation. The same goes for merino wool in that it is superior to cotton in drying time. The High end Hiking clothing suppliers sell wool t shirts for this very reason.
I can't help but being reminded of the Seinfeld episode when George gets the Yankees to switch from wool jerseys to cotton.
My recent discovery is a wool base layer under polypro keeps me much dryer.
You might want to think about two very different patterns for your pants and jacket. It just helps to get rid of that vertical predator look they seem to lock on to.
I use camo because it's the best material for hunting. Wife sews all my hunting clothes, but camo is vastly overrated.
I think the leafy suits would be better than plain.
Layers are the answer so use polypropylene next to the skin to wick away moisture. Any earth tone colors will work for your outer layer, but if you want camouflage then check your local army / navy stores or local gun shows. For the old school look check the second hand stores for wool flannel plaid shirts and wool pants. For store bought camo, check out the outfitter style camo that Cabela's sells. The outfitters camo is a fairly versatile pattern that works in a lot of conditions.
You stated cost is an issue, so get a poly windbreaker to go under your mid weight layer or to be wore between your mid layer and your heavy insulating layer. Also, buy a rain suit and light weight tarp for those sudden mountain storms. There are some cool ultra-lite tarps being made now.
Next, don't skimp on your footwear. You will be depending on your footwear the most.
Good luck!
I sometimes like to have a tad slower evaporation rate when it is warm and dry. Evaporative cooling is great. I'd hate to wick all that cooling moisture away from me too quickly.
I used to be a product developer for a emergency response company. We worked very hard to source the best PVA chamois material because it held its moisture longer, evaporated longer and therefore cooled longer. Here is the product I developed: http://dqeready.com/productdetail.aspx?p=339
I promise you that if you have this in sub 80% RH, it is going to be cool. Competing products were basically cotton and did not work as well but still worked. My cotton tees do the same thing. As do my synthetics, just not as well. Plus synthetics stink.
The same reason cotton ain't worth a dang in cold, wet conditions make it great for warm dry ones.
First, I have not been to "the Mountians" hunting in over 8 years. That being said Boots are my number one.. that being said.. I am not "eat up" with all this "new market" specialized, way pricy developed stuff.
Poly prop and mer. wool there is your base and perhaps an extra light weight mer. wool top and a good poncho. Now, like TJ and John said, you can build what ya need with what ya want without spending a billion bucks on this "new hunter/mountian climber built and approved" stuff... I guess if I was 30 years younger I'ed be right there with em...LOL
There are several who posted here that fit this bill. They all seem to have stated the same thing.. Layers, poly and wool and then whatever ya want... nuff said. Save your money
No doubt, don't skimp on the boots. If they are less than $150, you are probably not getting the right ones :) I bought some Lowa Banffs a few years ago. They are about as good a boot as I've owned. But boots are very personal so try several. Go to a high end camp store and find what you like.
Wait for Cabela's microtex in outfitter camo to go on sale (though it may be too late this year). And then avoid fires in it. Use the money you save to buy a light merino top and bottom and good socks (I have several kinds and have never paid close to retail for any, but the stuff keeps my comfortable over a far wider range of temps and exertion levels than any synthetic). Mixing patterns and using the leafy stuff are excellent tips. Nothing wrong with used Pendleton or Woolrich plaid shirts, either, but heavy wool gets pretty weighty in the mountains.
i agree with wary buck quality is the best route vs quality
I'm a native Idahoan, and have worked many months in Colorado. In my less-than expert experience, polypro skivvies are the best, maybe find you some of that extra nice military grade wool outergarments---warm and quiet.
BOOTS, BOOTS, BOOTS!!! SOCKS, SOCKS, SOCKS!!
Grampa always said wear a hat to keep your feet warm, too. Swanndri has a REALLY Bitchin' beanie--I couldn't imagine going out there without mine.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I love my Swanndri bush shirt is the cats meow.
Did I mention that I love Swanndri?
I know several guys that use one leafy outer layer and then layer underneath it. It works pretty well. Personally, I don't like the sound of synthetic leafy suits. Then again, I'm pretty anal about noise when bulls are in close. I've been elk hunting for a couple of decades now in Sept and the following are the clothing items I pack year in year out.
1)Silk base layer tops and bottoms: 1 set for ultra light, 3-4 if weight is no issue(buy it cheap from Sierra Trading post) I avoid poly because it stinks so bad you have to throw it away after one hunt. (or maybe I'm just a stinky goat) :)
2)Merino Wool underwear. 1 set(Sierra trading post again, doesn't matter the make or maker.. you can spend nothing or a Ufronte fortune) You can wear it by itself but I mostly wear it with silk underneath for less than 50 degree highs. I don't care what they say it feels a little itchy after a day or so of not bathing. Silk is soooo comfortable next the skin.
3)Synthetic pants and button up shirt (You can go high end or very cheap. (Cabelas microtex is a great, quiet, cheap fabric) I like synthetic pants for 60 or above mid day highs.
4)Wool Pants (Sleeping Indian high end... Army surplus olive on the low end. Also Columbia makes a mid range that isn't too bad) If its wet or colder I wear wool lowers. We hunt with wood stoves so if it gets wet we dry in with a hummer of a fire in the evening. Its a funny sight to see two guys next to a rocking wood stove steaming their wool. :)
5)Fleece long sleeve coat. ( Again you have endless options) I always pack this with to handle mid day squalls or cold temps. Even on warm days, I nap in the shade snuggled up in my fleece jacket. I like fleece because its light weight in my pack and doesn't absorb moisture.
6)Good gaitors and good boots!!!!! Can't stress this enough. Hell wear carharts.. but buy good gaitors and the best boots you can afford.
7)Rain Jacket (packable camo quiet fabrics if possible) Mine packs down to about six inches square and about a pound or more. I again always have this in my pack. Its a safety item.
8) Ball cap with a stocking cap that I wear over the cap to cover my ears. I have a wool overhat that I bought last year from GWW that is awesome! (but not essential)
This system will take care of you from 25 degree snow days to 80 degree afternoons.
Most Days I wear silk with synthetic, gators and take the fleece jacket and rain gear with me in my pack. I make the morning hike with only my silk shirt on. You should start out freezing. Don't worry you'll be sweating 5 minutes into the morning climb.
When weather rolls in, I just layer as needed.
The second day of the season last year (sept 5th I think) I had every layer on(silk,merino,synthetic shirt,fleece uppers and silk,merino, and wool lowers with rain jacket as a wind blocker) and bucked a blizzard in comfort. The next day it was 70 again mid day. As many have said before me...Its better to take many light layers rather than one or two heavy layers. Hope that helps.
Jeff
merino wool base layer and then light weight wool. I second the guy who said Cabela's outfitter camo...my favorite here in the west.
Another $0.02! Agree with Montanawidower!
I have been doin Colorado since'95 using silk unders, Army wool/poly blend trousers, 65/35 poly /cotton shirt, layering a wool shirt on top, wool vest and Woolrich Stag shirt jacket over all when in 'teens. I carry Cabelas Spacerain for the wetstuff--which will literaly fit in a pocket!
Smartwool socks and leather lightweight uninsulated hiker mid height boots (Merrel or now Lafuma). My pard uses Microtex but my stuff costs a lot less and I have most of the same gear since starting back then. Army pants were $5 last summer in surplus shop! As others said layers the key and for me weight--when covering 10 to 16 miles per day at elevation. Drop camps or from truck/base but usually a week or more before return to a town. We hunt 8 to 11 k feet! Tough on southern flatlanders! PS --I don't buy the scentlok hype! Sponge bath, shower, wetwipes (1 or 2) per day and wind in your face! Send a PM if you want my equipt list!
Check out thrift stores and military surplus stores in your area. I have found Wool sweaters for as little as $3.00 at thrift stores. Surplus stores have cold weather gear from various countries who have downsized since the cold war ended, Much of this is wool and it is cheap. I have noothing against high tech or high quality hunting clothes, I just cant afford them
I thank you all so much for your help. While considering different types and manufacturers I came accross this website for merino wool clothing. http://www.firstlite.com/
I am listening and hearing lots of great info. Thank you!
Thoughts about this first lite stuff?
Anyone using it?
First Lite is fantastic. High grade wool, great pattern, good guys. All I have are a couple of the zip neck shirts, but they are tops.
Any other Firt lite users?