Hunting Clothing

[NolanOsborn]

Like Ardent mentioned, Kuiu is some pretty solid stuff. For Ontario in December you might find something like the guide jacket, and an insulated under layer like the Kenai or Super down jacket on those cold days will work quite well. Merino or a polartec fleece like synthetic for a base layer. Costco often has 100% merino Long and short sleeves in the $20 range. They are thinner than a 200 weight ice breaker but also way cheaper. Haven't used sitka's rain gear but my Kuiu Yukon stuff is keeping me happy and dry.

 

[rsp1761]

I just ordered some Kuiu gear as well and will report on it once it arrives. Looks great also...

 

[phinton81]

My biggest issue with Kuiu is not being able to try it on before I buy. I have a Guide jacket and its awesome but the Chugach rain suit was a little too light and a little big in the legs, I was not confident it would hold up to brambles, thorns etc. I also wear non-hunting brands like Arcteryx and Patagonia and they are great as well. All depends on what/how I am hunting,

As far as Gore-Tex goes, it is not a panacea for all things wet/rainy. How well it works depends on the quality/construction of the garment/footwear and how the user has layered underneath it. Some of the guys I hunt with, buy a nice Gore-Tex jacket, layer underneath with a cotton sweatshirt and then moan about how useless Gore-Tex is because they are sweaty and cold. Same with boots, if you don't treat the leather properly and they soak up water you will get cold/clammy feet.

If you are hunting in swamps or constant driving rain, rubber boots and rubber rainwear is better. I wear knee-high Lacrosse boots for most of my deer/moose hunting and insulated versions of the same boots for stand hunting.

Most others have nailed it but when you think about hunting clothing, you have to think about dressing from your underwear on out. Synthetics and merino are wonderful next to your skin, down is the warmest insulation and outer shells with proper venting like armpit zips(A MUST!) complete the system. I have also recently started using items like hand muffs, neck gaiters and fingerless gloves as I find they help seal things up when I am sitting or stalking.

Patrick

 

[rsp1761]

My biggest issue with Kuiu is not being able to try it on before I buy. I have a Guide jacket and its awesome but the Chugach rain suit was a little too light and a little big in the legs, I was not confident it would hold up to brambles, thorns etc. I also wear non-hunting brands like Arcteryx and Patagonia and they are great as well. All depends on what/how I am hunting,

As far as Gore-Tex goes, it is not a panacea for all things wet/rainy. How well it works depends on the quality/construction of the garment/footwear and how the user has layered underneath it. Some of the guys I hunt with, buy a nice Gore-Tex jacket, layer underneath with a cotton sweatshirt and then moan about how useless Gore-Tex is because they are sweaty and cold. Same with boots, if you don't treat the leather properly and they soak up water you will get cold/clammy feet.

If you are hunting in swamps or constant driving rain, rubber boots and rubber rainwear is better. I wear knee-high Lacrosse boots for most of my deer/moose hunting and insulated versions of the same boots for stand hunting.

Most others have nailed it but when you think about hunting clothing, you have to think about dressing from your underwear on out. Synthetics and merino are wonderful next to your skin, down is the warmest insulation and outer shells with proper venting like armpit zips(A MUST!) complete the system. I have also recently started using items like hand muffs, neck gaiters and fingerless gloves as I find they help seal things up when I am sitting or stalking.

Patrick

Great advice...the gear needs to be used thoughtfully to achieve its maximum potential.

 

[Harris26]

I like quality under layers that contain some wool. For outer garments I like something that I can throw into the washer and wash in cold water. I always get covered in blooded when I field dress the animals.

 

[OPA Extreme]

I agree with most here about wool blend socks and clothing. Good base layering is important and a waterproof coat and boots. all should be breathble at the same time..
One guy said gortex is not waterproof, but most of us would disagree... my hiker shoes with gortex, have been waterproof for years, stepping into low creeks, etc...and no water gets thru...now after many years, its possible it weakens and is less waterproof, but mostly Gore-tex stuff is the best, but some other version do pretty good job too.

Here's some base layers I can get you thru tru-spec.

http://www.opaextreme.com/category/Extreme-Base-Layers/0

I sell other coats and stuff too, but you want to stay away from things with velcro pockets,...as you want more silent feature apparel... of which I don't think I have.

gortex is king, but others work well too, as I wear one of these and tested it hiking in snow in Algonquin...smaller puddles.. haven't tested heavy yet, but great boot, very comfortable for long day use !

http://www.opaextreme.com/product/Ridge---9000-Ultimate-Zip

or this new model with composite toe and puncture resistant base.

http://www.opaextreme.com/product/Ridge---8108CTZ

I do sell a waterproof boonie hat:
http://www.opaextreme.com/product/TRU-SPEC---H20-Proof-Adjustable-Boonie

Some folks like to wear electronic hearing pro when hunting, so they can hear them coming from further away and get ready.... and they keep your ears warm too..... may I suggest high quality model from Pro Ears, that has compression technology but at low price, the Pro 200 series. other higher end models available too, if want.

http://www.opaextreme.com/product/Pro-Ears---Pro-200-Highlander

And awesome eye wear: Clarity and Ballistic protection !

http://www.opaextreme.com/category/EXTREME-EYE-WEAR/0

And while I have no shame and throwing all this out there... I can order most brands of knives, for your EDC or hunting needs.....just inquire, but here's few I show on my store.

http://www.opaextreme.com/category/Extreme-Knives/0

I have a promo, that if one orders multiple items from all my categories, they'll get 5% off already reduced pricing, and free shipping.
There's tons of cool and quality stuff, but I do recommend your pants and coat being more silent type materials...which I don't have..

 

[Ardent]

Gore Tex and its substitutes' main problem is once wet, they are utterly impossible to dry out in truly wet conditions. I wear a gore tex substitute (Toray) as my clothes, with rubber (HH) as required on top to prevent getting soaked through. Pull the rubber every chance you get to air out, it's a good combo for north coast / deadliest catch weather.

 

[Dogleg]

For the Ardent style rain its important to go with layers.

A base layer.
A light synthetic fleece.
Heavier synthetic fleece if needed.
Rain Gear.
A house.

That last one really pulls it all together.

 

[TrevorMack]

First Lite, awesome stuff. Pricey but worth it.

 

[Rayleigh_Scattering]

Can anyone recommend a good approach to footwear for the winter?

I can layer up everything else to stay toasty regardless, but it doesn't work for the feet. If I oversize the shells enough to fit a useful amount of insulation, the my feet swim around in them and chafe. I can't put insulation outside the shell, because the branches etc will wreck them.

Am I looking for felt-lined boots? Or does one buy super-large boots and put in felt liners?

Ulrich

 

[carverk]

Snowmobile Boot at least one size too big and realy good wool socks and Boma socks
Actually Most time you don't need Insulated boots If you invest in quality wool socks (not the cheep Walmart bulk socks )
After all hunting becomes poor when I gets colder then -30

 

[bjake]

I use Merino wool underwear with Cotton boxer shorts that I change out every day and I've gone back to my stanfields and wool pants that I wore many years ago and outer upperwear to suit the weather of the day. most of my life was spent in the interior of bc and here on the coast I still think the wool the best way to go and as far as I'm concerned you still can't do better than a lace up pair of felt packs and spare liners for most hunting conditions.

 

[Rib]

100% wool everything with the exception of your outer layer on windy/wet days.. For that I use goretex.

 

[Trimmer 905]

I just wear good work clothing
A wool stanfiled over flannel shirt , flannel lined jeans good boots

Yep! What he said. Every once in a while,we have a guest that comes with $3K worth of the high end "trendy" stuff that's pretty much destroyed before the end of the hunt. We call him "comedy relief." The three key words are warm,waterproof and tough....heavy on the tough. Mark's gear is the best stuff going.

Can anyone recommend a good approach to footwear for the winter?

I can layer up everything else to stay toasty regardless, but it doesn't work for the feet. If I oversize the shells enough to fit a useful amount of insulation, the my feet swim around in them and chafe. I can't put insulation outside the shell, because the branches etc will wreck them.

Am I looking for felt-lined boots? Or does one buy super-large boots and put in felt liners?

Ulrich

Good quality snow mobile boots OR the Baffin line will keep your feet warm.......along with a good insulated hat or wool toque.