Camo pants - whatcha usin?

I've been using a pair of knock-off CADPAT pants I got off e-Bay. So far, the durability has been amazing. Tons of pockets.

I think I got lucky.
 
I have had great luck with the camo wrangled jeans. They come lined for cold weather and just denim for warm weather
 
I would say from experience the high end expensive clothing begins to shine in it's endurance to last. If I was hunting where I was living out of a tent and I was dependant on my gear to keep be warm reasonably dry and comfy. Then it would not come from Walmart. Due to health issues I hunt from a nice camp or home. Which means I can get soaked to the a$$ and have a major clothing malfunction and 10 min later I am in a warm heated camp or house. Wussy hunting, but at least I am out doing my thing. I would say over the years Goretex has been a huge disappointment. It is a whole lot better than cotton jeans, but if you absolutely want water proof Goretex is not your material. I have had about half doz pairs of goretex boots over the years and not one boot has ever been water proof right out of the box. Highly water resistant yes, water proof dry definitely not. Pants the same experience. The biggest test for goretex footwear and pants is to walk through knee high wet grass. For me none has passed that test yet. Wet damp feet and wet knees. Or sit your butt on a wet stump for a an hour, I bet your but is damp or wet afterwards. And my experiences were not with the Walmart elcheapo stuff.
 
mrgoat said:
I would say from experience the high end expensive clothing begins to shine in it's endurance to last. If I was hunting where I was living out of a tent and I was dependant on my gear to keep be warm reasonably dry and comfy. Then it would not come from Walmart. Due to health issues I hunt from a nice camp or home. Which means I can get soaked to the a$$ and have a major clothing malfunction and 10 min later I am in a warm heated camp or house. Wussy hunting, but at least I am out doing my thing. I would say over the years Goretex has been a huge disappointment. It is a whole lot better than cotton jeans, but if you absolutely want water proof Goretex is not your material. I have had about half doz pairs of goretex boots over the years and not one boot has ever been water proof right out of the box. Highly water resistant yes, water proof dry definitely not. Pants the same experience. The biggest test for goretex footwear and pants is to walk through knee high wet grass. For me none has passed that test yet. Wet damp feet and wet knees. Or sit your butt on a wet stump for a an hour, I bet your but is damp or wet afterwards. And my experiences were not with the Walmart elcheapo stuff.
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And yet, the most expensive fishing waders are made with Gore-Tex and keep fishermen completely dry whilst being submerged well beyond the knees.

Patrick
 
Most of my gear is second hand or more. I'd rather have good second hand gear than new cheap gear. Lot of times old stuff is better made than new stuff
 
phinton81 said:
And yet, the most expensive fishing waders are made with Gore-Tex and keep fishermen completely dry whilst being submerged well beyond the knees.

Patrick
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Yes sir you are correct, and the good dry suits we wore when white water canoeing and kayaking were also Goretex. However waders and dry suits are manufactured to different standards than the duds sold to hunters. Even the high end goretex expedition wear used by mountain climbers is manufactured to a higher standard than hunter clothing.
I have wore Goretex dry suits without issue and still have some expedition clothing I used in my skiing career that I also kept dry in. The stuff generally marketed to hunters is not high end gear and like I said before I never did find pair of boots cheap or expensive that were water proof. I have no reason to exaggerate or lie. A wet a$$, and feet don't lie and either do I. My experiences over the years.
 
I have two pairs of Sitka pants. One has been through hell and back twice, hunting, hiking, skiing, climbing, SAR training and Ops.
The other one I mostly use for mountain hunting but have also used for Wilderness SAR.

Very happy with both and once the one wears out will replace with Sitka. Sitka gear has been good to me.

My pants are Open Country camo, have jackets and pack for bow hunting in different patterns.
 
mrgoat said:
I would say from experience the high end expensive clothing begins to shine in it's endurance to last. If I was hunting where I was living out of a tent and I was dependant on my gear to keep be warm reasonably dry and comfy. Then it would not come from Walmart. Due to health issues I hunt from a nice camp or home. Which means I can get soaked to the a$$ and have a major clothing malfunction and 10 min later I am in a warm heated camp or house. Wussy hunting, but at least I am out doing my thing. I would say over the years Goretex has been a huge disappointment. It is a whole lot better than cotton jeans, but if you absolutely want water proof Goretex is not your material. I have had about half doz pairs of goretex boots over the years and not one boot has ever been water proof right out of the box. Highly water resistant yes, water proof dry definitely not. Pants the same experience. The biggest test for goretex footwear and pants is to walk through knee high wet grass. For me none has passed that test yet. Wet damp feet and wet knees. Or sit your butt on a wet stump for a an hour, I bet your but is damp or wet afterwards. And my experiences were not with the Walmart elcheapo stuff.
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The only time I get wet in my goretex rain wear is from sweat. Sitting still in my Sitka rain gear I stay bone dry.
 
Wentrot said:
I use Sitka and first lite. First lite being the better of the two.
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Surprised no one else mentioned First Lite. Picked up some corrugates for this season, haven't put them through the paces yet but they're probably the comfiest pants I've ever worn. Sitka ascents are also nice but more money.

The north branch bibs/pants were amazing, I beat the hell out of mine and they held up beyond my expectations. Not to mention the zipper design is awesome.

Sitka status and Kuiu guide are great shell pants as well. I wish Kuiu didn't get rid of Teton series, the Teton pants were a really nice pant for the money.

Biggest factor for me is proper fitment, which alot of cheaper stuff lacks. I also prefer anything with stretch, the more the better. If I only had $50 to spend on a pair of hunting pants, I would buy some decent hiking/outdoors pants in an earth tone over some poor performing camo pants. Anything cotton is out as well.

I realize many people have killed big game for millennia without camo, but I strongly prefer to wear it, I think it also depends on how/what/where/when you're hunting
 
I tried the walmart stuff. It more or less fell apart in under a year.
I tried under armour boots. They came apart in under a year.
Badlands pants lasted 3 seasons before a zipper failure, but they got LOUD last season.
Going to try out first light in (gasp!) A solid colour thia season.
Lowa boots have also lasted 3 seasons with no complaints.

In my experience, buying quality gear is worth it. On the other hand, I have shot a lot of deer with a Remington 710, and have an 870 express in the safe. Then again...there is also a model 70 featherweight and a cynergy in there.
I don't write stuff off based on price, but careful research and testing is valuable too.
 
As much as I’d love to buy high end Camo pants. I just spent $27 on my new “waterproof” Camo pants from Walmart. They will be good enough for the local season for me. If I need extra protection, I’ll wear them over my Wetskins.
 
Ive been wearing American army BDU;s for the past 30 years, they are very comfortable, and very durable. Im due for another set of pants and I should be set for the next few years.
 
5.11 tdu or taclite for the last few years with a cheap green nylon over cover for wet weather.

I did have a set of the CF cold weather clothes with the gortex inner membrane which were very warm and dry however they were always too baggy ... they went quick on the EE.

im looking now for a new set.. okanagan valley and east. Not usually very wet, lots of wind. Lots of hills. Potential for being cold very high

Thoughts?
 
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