I am heading to Co this Sept and thought I had things lined out on clothing situation but I'm just not comfortable with my pants situation, HA!
I have camo pants that I just don't think are going to be comfortable for trekking around for 7 days straight as far as fit and comfort go. So here's the question- I work in EMS and have very good pants that will do everything I want them to do and am very comfortable with the performance and how they react in different climates. Tough as nails, water resistant, dries fast, fits great and won't stretch out after several days buuuuut....... They are navy blue. An Issue if worn with camo pullover shirts and gaiters? I have zero experience with these things you call Elk. I know people kill their prey with blue jeans and everything else. Your imput
I were some od green wool pants from WW11 I picked up at an army surplus. Cost about 12 bucks 10 years ago. Kinda wide legged so I like to wrap electrical tape around the ankle to keep the draft out. When it gets hot I roll them up like shorts.
I love em, killed alotta elk with them. But probably wont get on the cover of a bowhunting mag with them. :~)
What are they made of, cotton? Leave them home. You need to think of two things: weather, and quiet. A secondary consideration is blending with the surroundings. A quick study of the predominant colors found in the landscape will tell you it's mostly gray and muted browns. If you have an "athletic" build, my number one choice would be Sitka; either the Ascent pant or the Mountain pant. I have several pieces of their camo, and find-surprisingly-that it does exactly what they claim it does. Russel APX would be my second choice, and is quite a bit less expensive than Sitka, but it doesn't come in shades of gray. if it's Sitka, you want their Optifade open country.
Derrick,
If you don't like the camo go to sitkagear.com and click on "solids". Try a pair of Ascent pants. You will never want to climb another hill in anything else!
That's my problem, nothing fits a fire hydrant and I mean nothing. Either they are to loose in the waist to fit my legs or to tight in the legs to fit my waist. Irritating really. It's usually not an issue but with so much walking coming up it is going to drive me nuts I know.
If your completely happy with the pants you have now, except the color, why don't you go to a craft store, get some dye and change the color of them?
Just read Steve's post. I have the Ascent Pants from Sitka, and I love them.
I would give two thoughts.
First if you like what you have a pair of 3d net type pant change anything your wearing to really good camo.
Two Steve O is right on the ascent are great.
Rocky Silent Stalker, very comfy! Not the Broadhead model either, those are too hot! Much better fitting than the Russell's I tried on, the waist band design is best I've ever worn!
If they are that good try dye them.
I always used to use German Army pants but since trying the Sitka and Kuiu Attack pants. The Attack pants have to be the best iv ever used. Used them last year in CO. Its hard to go back to anything else now that Iv used them. Light, flexible, comfortable.
QuoteOriginally posted by tradtusker:
I always used to use German Army pants but since trying the Sitka and Kuiu Attack pants.The Attack pants have to be the best iv ever used. Used them last year in CO. Its hard to go back to anything else now that Iv used them. Light, flexible, comfortable.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I'm betting if they make the pants you like in navy they probably make them in Tan. I've got several pair of cheap rocky camo fleece pants I really like.
Go buy cheap quick dry pants in a tan/brown/olive color. (I found mine for 20 bucks) Use a belt to keep em up, and don't worry about spending a ton. Believe me, elk hunting in September can be HOT!
If your pants are cool enough to run around in the mountains with em, don't worry about the color. Elk key on movement far more than color.
Where's mr. Shedrock? Think he kills his critters in carhart pants just what I've gathered from pictures
Quote
Kuiu Attack pantsX2, don't own a pair yet but will be getting some here soon. Hard enough lifting your knees climbing a hill, awful when you pants are pulling you down as well. Light with a perfect fit, fast drying, fits the bill!
Good Luck
Kris
Kuiu attack pants.
I'll be rockin the KUIU attack pants this year as well. Love em!!
Sitka gear has a new pair out-whitetail hunters they might be called. I got a pair and they will be winners for sure. Gonna check them out on my elk hunt.
I've backpack hunted elk in all kinds of weather 6 times. All I have ever worn was cotton BDUs or camo jeans. I have a couple pairs of long along if needed. Not saying there is anything wrong with spending $150 on new pants but you sure don't have to. If you like what you got, just wear them.
Layers, no matter what, LAYERS. Any and all forms of weather and temperatures can occur in CO during the bow season, sometimes all in one day. Want to go cheap, dying what you have and then layer with another camo pant/ shirt or surplus wool pant and a wool shirt from ARK store or other 2nd store. Got lots o cash to spend, many of the above ideas are spot on. Middle ground budget, look at Day One Camo. Good products, good service. American business. Or, the bigbox outdoor stores too.
Layers, versatile for weather and for matching the surroundings you hunting in. LAYERS.
my .02
I'll be wearing Kuiu Attack pants this archery season. I think the Kuiu, rail riders, cabelas microtex, or first lite would all be great.
Great ideas by everyone but until this boy can try something on, I'm not spending the big bucks. Every time I head to Cabelas, they don't have Sitka in stock and say they have to order it in. My local shop has Sitka but only the whitetail pants. I did find some under armour performance field pants that felt very similar to a Sitka type pant. They were close to fitting.
Check 46 Rail Mildot pant as well I think you would like that
Kuiu Attack pants.
QuoteOriginally posted by Stixbowdrew:
Where's mr. Shedrock? Think he kills his critters in carhart pants just what I've gathered from pictures
It's hard to beat a good pair of Carharts. Camo or brown or green even.
I just ordered some First Lite Kanab pants in asat Camo. I'll let you know how they work out.
I have a couple pairs of Cabela's microtex lite and they are cool and fit well and will not break the bank.I also have a few pairs of their cotton six pocket camo pants and they are also pretty good.
John
In early season I wear olive green cotton pants that convert into shorts. Great for warm weather or packing in or out. I just pack a light weight set of merino wool bottoms with me in case the weather turns. I love hunting in shorts!!
I don't think there is anything wrong with navy blue pants. I'll be wearing navy blue Dickies when the season opens here in a couple of weeks. I have always thought it was an advantage in the dark timber to have darker colored pants.
Anything soft and quiet like fleece or wool.
Stone Sheep, I like your thinking. It has crossed my mind more than a couple times to have some shorts.
Kuiu Attack Pants
I would try to have two pairs of pants- one like you described but in black and a tight woven wool pair.
With thick and thin longjohns you have every weather possibility covered.
Yes, it will and can be warm but don't buy into the you dont need to have your bases covered in the highcountry.
I just picked up a couple of 511 tactical pants at bass pro. Tan and dark green. They seem like a good solution.
Wool is great but is very heavy when very wet!
COTTON KILLS!!!!
You may or may not have heard the stories about ungulate vision and blue uv reflection. I'm satisfied from experience that blue is a big no no!
You don't need camo, just muted colors and plaids work fine with no blue!!
And, one final caveat; Avoid blue!!
The 5.11"s are great but even better is the ones made by proper. I wear them on duty in blue but have some in the coyote tan. They come in OD green, sand (kahki) and several other colors they are very comfortable and dry quick, if you don't get the cotton. They are also quiet once washed a few times. You can get them from L A police gear for about $35. They also have regular BDU style pants in those colors as well as their own brand of tactical pants. Don't know about the durabiltity of theirs though
Don't buy into the cotton kills mantra. It isn't the fabric of choice at all times but in warm, dry conditions it can't be beat. It is affordable, sustainable and comfortable. Paired with good partners, like polyprop and wool base layers, it will get you through the conditions you'll face in bow elk season.