Search for the best camo layering system...

romiogt

romiogt

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Well I've been on somewhat of a mission to try and find the best camo layering system... so far my search continues. What follows are some of my findings as always comments and suggestions are welcome.

I am off for a October hunt this year and thought I would pick up a new camo layering system... i am of average height and slightly above average size (basically im like everybody else). I dont need super fitted clothing, in fact i would prefer something a bit loose so that i may layer it.

So, I started my search off fairly naively buy picking up some cheap no-name 'crap' from Cabelas. Learned the lesson early that you get what you pay for, so needless to say I instantly returned it.

Lesson #1: You get what you pay for. Dont be cheap.

Not having learned my lesson bought some Cabelas branded Microtex fiber clothing. The fit was horrible, as the clothing barely fit - it was super wide and cut super short which made my belly hang out. I can only assume that big box stores like to cheap out on matterial costs or they sell to teenage girls. Needless to say returned this crap too.

Lesson #2: If it doesn't fit, you must return it.

At this point im starting to get a bit angry with myself. So do some additional research and come accross some Kryptek clothing which is apparently technical and decently priced. I enjoyed the mountain pattern and the clothing wasnt all that cheap. Big mistake. Apparently this is manufactured for the same cheap company, Cabelas, and the fit stunk! Clothing was cut super short to save on material costs again, even though I was guaranteed by the company that the quality was superb. Returned this crap too and vowed never to buy anything from those fools again.

Lesson #3: Dont buy anything made by or for Cabelas.


So this is where I am at now. My search continues and I have a few more clothing lines to try out. I'm upping the game a bit price wise, but I'm ok with that.

Option #1: KUIU
Option #2: Sitka
Option #3: Russel Outdoors

Each of these has had great reviews, the price does vary as the Sitka stuff can get pricey... If you have any experience with any of these I'd like to hear it. Items that are important to me in these lines are i) ability to layer ii) must fit perfectly as i plan to spend weeks in this clothing and iii) keeps me dry and warm but doesnt need to be totally water proof.
 
I agree with #2 except that some stuff made for cabelas is good. I bought a pair of hiking boots made by Meindls for cabelas are they are the best hiking boots I have ever worn.

Also, does the clothing have to be quiet as well?
 
I use herters and cabalelas dry wear and love it

Gortex is great stuff but can be noisy

When I need full camo I wear a burlap earth tone n green ghillie suit. Quiet effective adaptable keeps most blackflies n mosquitoes out. Only con picker bushes are a no go zone. A tree suit can be worn over any warm cloths or shorts and a t shirt
 
Varmit said:
Also, does the clothing have to be quiet as well?
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Yes, while its not technically necessary I prefer it.

Has anyone tried Russell Outdoors? It appears to me that Sitka and Kuiu gear has an atheltic cut (i may be wrong), and that the Russell gear fits a bit loose which being a bigger guy I would enjoy.
 
scott_r said:
You can get some great prices on Sitka gear of dealers on Archery Talk. The Canadian prices are absolutely stupid vs the U.S on that stuff.
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Sitka gear is made in China so importing it from anywhere into Canada get 20% tax added to it.

I thought it would be made in the US and if it was there would be no duty.
 
By far the best fitting and best performing stuff I have used is under armour.. ya I didn't beleieve it either lol.. Great fitting, tough, warm and dry.

A huge bit of advice... Whats most important for comfort/warmth is your base layer.. I forget what its called exactly but most places like cabelas, wholesale sports, marks work where house sell this stuff.. It bascially kind of looks like long underwear tops and bottoms, but its far better. I got my set from marks work where house.. coyote hunting in -35 didn't even touch me! exacept my face and hands lol..

On the subject of face and hands.. get a wool hat, mitts, belaclava for those really cold days..
 
Good advice on the base layer - I use merino wool for that and thanks to my girlfriend who is a gear junkie too I got some of that. I agree its good stuff.

Thanks for all the advice, I considered the UA gear but again was a bit concerned that it was athletic fit? Unfortunately my athletic fit days are mostly behind me...
 
Kuiu, best of the three. Good product good costomer service and some of it is made in Canada. I have been impressed with all the Kuiu gear I have used from the raingear to the attack pants , guide jacket and I just got a set of gaiters.
 
Wear Sitka for all over top of smartwool merino wool base layers. I love the Gore Windstopper fabric andd choose it over almost anything else as you can truly change what you wear if you remove wind from the equation. Sitka is very expensive but you do get what you pay for.
 
I feel your pain my friend. I went down the same sort of road. One year I bucked up for the Remington Gortex jacket and pants. It was ok the first year and then went for a poop. Retreated ect ect..... Bottom line, out in the middle of no where and wet to the bone again. Thought about hiking high tec clothing. All too pricey and too noisy.
Bought American woodland pattern army surplus Gortex jacket and pants off of ebay and never looked back. It works! It's reasonably quiet. It's inexpensive for excellent used gear. Lots of room to layer. Lots of sizes. I take medium regular at 5' 10" 190 lbs. Make sure if you buy that you get the "real stuff". The copies wet out in no time.
Good luck in your search!
SRSA311
 
For base layers you can't go wrong with under armour cold gear or Halley Hanson. I've tried a lot of different gear and they are deffinately hands down the best base layers for cold weather.
 
I tried on the Scent Lock jacket and it fit me very well for a bow hunter. It felt VERY warm!

The whole scent free thing is B.S and drives that and Scent Loc up so much in price.. The camo i currently have is not so much waterproof anymore and baggy as hell. I may bite the bullet on the jacket this fall just because it fit nice and felt warm. Plus it has layers for early hunting.
 
Great stuff guys... I'm leaning towards Kuiu at the moment for a couple reasons as others have stated above. Pairing that with some wool base layer may just do to the trick. Only draw back I see is a possible lack of pockets; we'll see how much of an issue that is.

When I first saw the pattern I didnt know which way I would make up my mind, but after looking at some photos in the wild it looks like it performs very well.

The Russell gear also caught my eye, but so far very few reviews on it and unless I can get a hold of some and try it out I'm unsure if i want to pull the trigger on an internet purchase.
 
Kuiu vias is my favorite camo pattern out there. It flat works in open country and in the high mountains.

What's not to like about it? It's sewn in Canada it's better than sika, it's cheaper than Sitka and it holds up to hard use.
 
I agree Sask, on paper seems like an obvious choice. But the gear has to fit and from what i've read is that Kuiu gear has an atheletic fit. While my mind thinks i'm atheletic, my body says otherwise...
 
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I just use the remington camo packages, i have been out in some pretty miserable weather and have yet to get wet.

There is undoubtably better stuff out there but with the way clothing tends to get ripped, torn and abused hunting i don"t see the sense in spending 3-400 dollars for a outfit.
 
About underarmour fit.. I'm 6'2" and anywheres from 270-300lbs.. I have their cold weather camo hunting pants and they fit awsome.. size 3xl.

For a jacket I have a browning expensive one. Fit sucks on it. Size 3xl.

I would have bought UA jacket but they were completly sold out in my size. I might pick one up this year.
 
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