I am down to my last planning days and wondering if I should invest in a pair of wool pants for this trip I have 2 pairs of polyester pants I am taking but wondering if I might fair better with wool. I am backpacking so weight must be a consideration? This is a question? :confused:
I think wool is going to be pretty warm this time of year,even up there. We know people up there and used to go up there every year about this time.
I am currently testing, and may take along, a pair of First Lite Merino wool pants. They are very lightweight (they do not feel like wool). So far I like them. They are lighweight, durable (so far) and the only downside i have is that they are a little more itchy than cotton.
Might be something to investigate??
Rather than wool I would carry some lite weight fleece, and a pair of cabelas legacy series which was on sale with wind sheer, lite but warm, could wear a real lite weight cotton, under these and take them off if it got to warm, some used dress wool pants. I would take some promos silver teac soap to wash with. If I could I would take a pair of pads for my knees in case I had to crawl, oe the pants with the foam padding in the knees. Over all I would stay away from cotton, if it's hot you will sweat like crazy and cotton doesn't dry well. I would use cabelas silver tec socks they keep your feet from stinking and bacteria growth from being wet. I would use some kind of silver tec undergarments easy to wash and drys quickly.
I'm using the Kanab pant from first lite, you can tget the 2011 model fo $80 right now in moss oak infinity or real tree max1. Light and cool in warm weather.
I like my wool, even for early in the season.when backpacking you will not need rain pants or gators.down side is wools do take up room in your pack. go with as light of wool as you can. If you itch running tights might solve this problem. Good luck have a great time.
I used to wear the Army surplus dress trousers. They are wool, but very light and breathable. Whatever you do, don't wear jeans, because the cotton wicks water and you will be cold and wet for a long time if it rains.
if you're going high, the light wool won't be a problem.
I ordered some of the Kanab pants thanks for the info guys I'll let ya know how it goes.
Sticks
I agree with Scattershot EXCEPT for when its hot. Last time I hunted Durango it was 80-90 degrees all week even at 10,000 feet. Which meant I had to hike alot to find the elk. Hot weather is actually a good time for cotton. It absorbs sweat like Scattershot said and keeps your skin moist and cooler.
BUT, if it gets cool at night, get it off your skin. I'd take a pair if it might be hot.
Kanab pant above is something I'll have to take a look at, I havent tried many of the new warm tech clothing yet. I usually hunt cold with wool.
I don't know if the perfect one pair of pants exists. For early season they would be lightweight, stretchy so you can move easily, and would wick perspiration away from your body without staying damp. They would also be a bit weather resistant. Maybe SITKA or KUIU? Pricey, though. I would go cotton and carry some lightweight rain gear.
After hunting in the mountains for twenty five years you could not pay me to wear another pair of wool pants. Get yourself a pair of Sitka Ascent or Mountain pants. They move with you as you climb not fight you with every step. Add a pair of merino base layer bottoms and you are set for a large temperature range.
Steve O is dead on. I wear poly and have some merino wool long underwear for cold moments/sleeping. I've never thought I needed more.
I don't know how you could beat a pair of these;
http://www.sitkagear.com/products/open-country/pants/light-weight-pants/ascent-pant/
I just wished they came in something other then camo. the KUIU do...
http://shop.kuiu.com/attack-pant-p12.aspx
Cant beat advice from seasoned vets like about. Merino as a base is definitely fantastic.
What about hot weather? Are Sitka a good choice?
Hot is realative. Even when its hot out up there, its not more then 70. Yeah, the sitka and KUIU both are fine in hot weather. In fact, the sitka has an option to be rolled up an fastened if your scorching.
The KUIU to me is the ultimate hunting pant.
when are you going ? Early season Colorado is HOT during the day, especially at elevation. I would never wear wool pants or shirt during the first three weeks of the season.
I personally would wear a light, loose fitting pair of cotton 6 pocket pants. I would wear short or long sleeve cotton tops and also have the option of long john top, and a wool vest top layer. Both of these can be carried and taken off.
At night, it chills right on down and I have had the water bucket freeze, but during the day, hot.
I would also have some contingency for rain. A light parka works fairly well for me and my bow/arrows.
ChuckC
I have two or three different weights of fleece depending on the weather. I do have merino long johns if it gets cold enough but that is rare. I'd love to wear my wipcord merino wool pants but it is just too hot in the midday and afternoon. Many times I will hike up a thousand ft. in elevation in my shorts or even underwear and then put on whatever pants when I get up top (camp is at 9000 ft.)
In colorado, especially the high country one never knows. Be prepared for the hottest weather one minute and a possible early season blizzard the next.
Microtex with wool as backup
Originally posted by Steve O
After hunting in the mountains for twenty five years you could not pay me to wear another pair of wool pants. Get yourself a pair of Sitka Ascent or Mountain pants. They move with you as you climb not fight you with every step. Add a pair of merino base layer bottoms and you are set for a large temperature range.
:thumbsup:
Anyone try moleskin?
What Steve O said is right on.
I like a lightweight pant that dries fast such as Cabelas Microtex, Sitka, Kuiu, or First Lite Kanab. Layer those with some good polypro or merino base layer and your good to go.
When cotton gets wet and the temp drops quick you start shivering and your in a predicament pretty quick.
I pretty much wore out my microtex so just got a pair of Kanabs in ASAT and it looks like they will be perfect for Sept.
WOW!! I just looked at those first lite Kanab pants. I had never seen them before (I know, I live in a cave). I LOVE them, though I've never owned a pair. they have a suspender, and buttons to pull them up.
Has anybody worn them? do they have durability issues?
Geez, those are great lookin pant.
Steve O hit the nail on the head. I've used the Sitka Ascent pants with a light weight base layer to hunt Colorado in tempratures from the low 80s down to the mid 20s comfortably.
QuoteOriginally posted by elkbreath:
WOW!! I just looked at those first lite Kanab pants. I had never seen them before (I know, I live in a cave). I LOVE them, though I've never owned a pair. they have a suspender, and buttons to pull them up.
Has anybody worn them? do they have durability issues?
Geez, those are great lookin pant.
Just a word of caution: Order at least 1 size larger than normal and I would personally recommend 2 sizes.
I bought an XL pair of these that still had the tag on them off a guy (they would be the 2010 or 2011 model, I got them last fall). The website says they run a little small, and I normally wear a L in military BDUs (which these pants are kind of / sort of cut like), so I thought XL would be just right. I was wrong. They fit, but they were tight in the thighs and waist. So, again, I'd get at least 1 size larger, but from my personal experience, I need an XXL rather than a L.
Great pants though and they do come w/ suspenders (or you can wear a belt). The material is merino wool, but it is fairly thin; however, it is a RipStop material (has a grid-like texture to it).
5.11 shorts.
joe
If early season you mean the first 2-3 weeks of September no way on wool. Get some kind of modern, quick dry pants like others have suggested. I use a pair of Sika pants. I wasted a bunch of money on clothing before my first elk hunt. Really all you need is some light quick dry clothes that BREATH. Sure is cold in the morning but that's when yo u are hiking up hill and sweating like a pig. Once the sun comes up it is nice. I would suggest a short and long sleeve, loose fit, under amour type shirts, lightweight pants, light jacket, and some light weight rain gear. Great socks and hiking boots. No cotton.
No question, the new high tech pants are great. But I spent plenty of years hunting the mountains with cotton or whatever I had. And although I would have appreciated the good stuff, I was there, and did just fine.
Sometimes we get too carried away with what gear is needed to hunt effectively. If you can afford the best, no doubt about it - buy it and enjoy. But if you are starting out sometimes you make do with what you have and make these best of it. You can have a great time on an out of state trip regardless.
Sometimes people starting out on a first western adventure can get overwhelmed with all the gear that is needed to make it happen.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate good quality gear and have eventually accumulated more than my fair share. I'm just saying - don't think that if you can't afford to buy the best of everything right away that it is not worth going. Upgrade your gear as you go, but in the meantime - JUST GO!
As for me, I think this is the year I will finally break down and give either Sitka or KUIU a try. If it's as good as reported I'll probably wonder why I was so tight with my money before!
QuoteOriginally posted by SCATTERSHOT:
I used to wear the Army surplus dress trousers. They are wool, but very light and breathable...
Ditto. You need to have something for when it gets wet/cold along with a light evap pants or stretch fleece- something that can handle the heat.
I have hunted for a week in the heat and then its wet and cold right in the middle of the afternoon hunt- so don't think it can't happen or won't- it can and will and I feel sorry for those who don't have something that is warmer.
If weight is an issue take a thin pair of long thermal bottoms and add them under your light hot pants not much weight penalty and if it goes cold some afternoon just take them out and put them on under your pants, you're set...
I wear cotton alot during the CO season but not if backpacking. You need something that dries easily in a backpack tent. I think your poly pants with merino wool base layers (if it gets chilly) would be just fine.
DeCurry,
If you watch the video on the site he adresses those concerns. He even acknowledges that they had a problem. He said in 2012 the pants will be true to size, if not "slightly" large. They have changed manufacturers and 'say' they got it right this time. Reviewers online generally seem to agree.
We'll see!
For early season CO backpack hunts at above 10,000'...we have been using Cabelas Microtex for about 10 yrs now and it has performed perfectly. Get the Outfitter camo pattern if you're hunting high and pair this with either a pair of Smartwool Microweight or your other favorite lightweight base layer.
Personally I don't think you can go wrong with the Kanab or Microtex. I've used both in Co in Sept and they worked great. Microtex will cut the wind much better than the Kanabs though. If you cover a lot of ground, the Kanabs may be a little better for you. They're thin and lightweight and packed easily.
I'm taking one pair of Sitka 90% pants and a pair of the kanab pants along with some merino base layers. So far I'm really liking the first lite pants.
DeCurry,
You caught my attention with your comments. What size guy are you? I wondered how their chart related to the real world. If it's not insulting to ask, what's the height, weight, and waist size of a guy who found the XL a bit tight in the waist and thighs?
Feel free to PM me if you don't want to answer here... or ignore the question completely if you'd rather!!!
Like kadbow I wear a lot of cotton BDUs early season with a thin polypro underneath if doing day hunts from a base camp, if backpacking go with light weight and wicking like wool myself.
I like nylon "fishing" pants that zip off into shorts. Carry a pair of cabelas polartec ecwcs longunderwear if it gets cold...
Lots of good suggestions here, but what about the noise?
I'm with Whip.
QuoteOriginally posted by SCATTERSHOT:
Lots of good suggestions here, but what about the noise?
My Sitka Ascent pants are quiet as any wool I have worn. Gray Wolf, Filson, Pendelton, Woolrich, Cabelas, various army surplus...German, Swedish, can't remember others.
After hunting in the mountains for twenty five years you could not pay me to wear another pair of wool pants. Get yourself a pair of Sitka Ascent or Mountain pants. They move with you as you climb not fight you with every step. Add a pair of merino base layer bottoms and you are set for a large temperature range.
I agree 110% and have both. IMO, the KUIU Attack pants are a much better pant not to mention cheaper.
I wear sitka mountain pants.Very pricey but worth it too me.I wore them for the first time last year on a 11 day pack in elk hunt and loved them.I also bring merino wool base layers.Another good option is KUIU I have the guide vest and just ordered the spindrift jacket,jacket is on sale for $99 right now.Good luck on your hunt
QuoteOriginally posted by screamin:
After hunting in the mountains for twenty five years you could not pay me to wear another pair of wool pants. Get yourself a pair of Sitka Ascent or Mountain pants. They move with you as you climb not fight you with every step. Add a pair of merino base layer bottoms and you are set for a large temperature range.
I agree 110% and have both. IMO, the KUIU Attack pants are a much better pant not to mention cheaper.
With your experience, can you relate why you dont like the wool? thanks
I guess I`m on an island here, but I still always bring along one pair if wool pants on my elk trips. Right now I have King of the wallet bun lite pants & kuiu pants.
They cover most if not all weather situations & take up little room. I also always bring & wear leg gaitors.
I`m certainly not an expert like some on here, but this will be my 7th consecutive trip to Colorado, I think I have it dialed in now.
It think it does depend on where and when you hunt also. I have never camped or hunted below 9500 ft for a pack in elk hunt. 10,000 to 11500 ft is the norm.
Been caught in a few snow storms, wool came in handy. A rolled up pair of thinner wool pants takes up little room in a pack and is good insurance, for me anyway.
I don't go to 20,000 feet, but on numerous Colorado hunts up to around 8,750 and camping at 7,500, I never felt the burning need for anything other than my cotton pants up there. It was just too hot for anything else during the day. Sure you can get wet, but the normal air up there is dry as heck and warm or even dang hot during most days. So far I have yet to see any issues with the cold (my opinion), and actually, I am going the other way this year. I bought extra light weight, uninsulated boots, I am considering short sleeve camo tops, no felted brimmed hat, but rather a do rag. I get too overheated up there. Of course first thing in the morning is chilly, but half mile up the trail I am very warm. In the evening, when the sun goes below the horizon, you can feel the temperature drop. Yes, it gets cool, but a decent wool vest that was in my pack always seems to do it. On one occasion that I recall I got cold, and I put on my rain gear and solved it. Again. . that's just my experience.
ChuckC
I wear Microtex alone or with a light pair of base layer for all of September hunting. There is usually a day or two where wool would be the better choice, but elk hunting is generally pretty physical and staying warm is no problem.
I normally dress so that I am pretty cold as I get my breakfast and my pack ready. That puts me at comfortable when climbing the first ridge and usually strip an upper torso layer when the sun is up and the temps rise.
More than once when I wore wool in September, I ended up hiking around in my long underwear. Like stated earlier, we all wore jeans or surplus BDUs for many years without any issues.
If truck camping I usually have a pair of wool pants along, but not my choice when packing in.
Lived here for 56 years and hunted most of that time. Cotton + wind + wet = will kill you at higher elevations in Colorado if you don't have something else to change into - I've experienced hypothermia with wet cotton pants and won't be caught unprepared again. For early season I use synthetic mainly - I've used Cabelas Microtex in outfitter camo for several years now and am very fond of it. This may sound crazy to some but I wear polypro bottoms, predator camo shorts (cut from pants) and a light shirt most of the time. Early in the morning I'll wear an Under Armour 1/4 zip pullover and when the weather changes throw on a light weight hooded wind breaker (I like the REI - Taku jackets) when the wind picks up. I love wool but I only wear it in late October when I don't plan on walking much. If I'm hunting later in Colorado (Dec.-Jan.) I wear it exclusively whether sitting or walking. Keep in mind that the higher you go and the closer you get to timberline you'll be entering an environment (with changing conditions [literally minutes] from wind, rain, sleet, hail, lightning, sunny-hot, calm) very similar to the mountains of Alaska. My next purchase will be a KUIU pant - I like the looks of the fabric and cut.
Light wool for warm weather and heavy wool for cold weather plus wool layers. Only thing I will wear.
First Lite Kanabs are very light weight and breathable. I had never considered wearing suspenders before and absolutely loved them on the Kanabs.
I now wear suspenders with all of my hunting pants when hunting on foot, way more comfortable and functional than a belt in my opinion for keeping your pants where you want them.
And I always wear a poly base layer underneath regardless of how hot it is to wick the moisture.
outside of them being lightweight wool, looking durable and slick, and perfectly utilitarian Felix nailed my intrigue in the first lite;
"I now wear suspenders with all of my hunting pants when hunting on foot, way more comfortable and functional than a belt in my opinion for keeping your pants where you want them."
I cant help but think that someone who thinks this much like me must have created my perfect pant...
Last year I used fleece in Colorado and picked up about every burr on the western slope. They were comfortable, but I spent way too much time picking stuff off of them.
We backpack in so my quest was to find a good lightweight quality pants that would dry quickly if wet. I hope I've found it. I'm going next time with two pair of Cabela's "Made In The Shade" pants in Seclusion 3D. The shell is 100% nylon and will roll up into a very small bundle. I was concerned about having nylon as an outer shell for noise, but these seem very quiet. I'm anxious to give them a field test.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin