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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 14
New Member
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OP
New Member
Joined: Dec 2015
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What type of pants would you suggest for elk hunting in cold and snow? I was thinking about sometype of softshell pant and gators. Don't think I would want wool pants and have been told waterproof/hardshell pants get hot/sweaty. What do you say?
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,819 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,819 Likes: 4 |
I just bought a pair of wool pants from Cabela's.. Had a good friend, now gone, but he said he dressed in good down clothing for outdoor stuff. On one trip he and his pals got soaked to the skin.. They had wool and soon were warm, his remained cold, wet and miserable.. After the trip, he bought wool...
Molon Labe
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 563
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 563 |
Why no wool? Wool will keep you dry and warm, but not overly warm. . I have a pair of waterproof, wind proof synthetic pants. Wind proof is good, but too warm to move ar any pace faster than a crawl.
YMMV
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,738
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,738 |
Wool is the only thing I bring on my cold weather elk hunts. There is nothing better! King of the Mountain and Sleeping Indian (closed down) are some of the best. There is always someone selling one of these two brands out there. Both are expensive but you get what you generally pay for. My stuff is over 25 years old and still going strong.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,984
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,984 |
I bought a couple pair of LL Bean heavy wool slacks that work very well; around $100.00 or so a pair. I've used them in sub-zero temps with a thin layer underneath.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 247 Likes: 1
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 247 Likes: 1 |
http://go-armynavy.com/military-surplus/collectibles/australian/australian-military-wool-pants.htmlThese are the best hunting pants I have ever used. In my opinion, they are the perfect weight. Change up the type of long underwear you use and they will take you from the 50s or even 60s down to below zero. Warm when wet, absolutely silent and that button gaiter on the the hem really works well; no gaiter necessary. They have a double seat for durability and seem to wear very well; I've had mine for over 20 years, though my hunting has tapered off recently. They are getting hard to find in all the sizes so if you find a pair that fits, just buy them (buy them a little long). At fifty bucks they are a steal...
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,882
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,882 |
Wool is the only thing worth a sch......!!!!! 49 yrs of experience say so!
"The more I am around people the better I like my dog." Mark Twain
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,887 Likes: 1
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
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Merino wool long handles and wool mil surplus pants.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651 |
I have three wool pants purchased form a surplus store. A Canadian pair is lighter weight and not scratchy, the others are heavier. In any case, poly long johns take care of any scratchiness. In warmer weather (15F or more) I wear the Canadian pants, colder weather gets the heavier ones.
Wool will keep you warm even when wet.
Although I wear jeans a lot in decent weather, there is a lot of truth in the saying that "cotton kills".
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,120 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,120 Likes: 6 |
I wore wool for years. Then I bought a set of soft noise free bibs that Dick's had on sale for 1/2 price. When it is warmer,I wear poly long johns, blue jeans and a rain pant. Colder,I wear then bibs and poly long johns.I was never as warm in the wool as I am in the bibs.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,089 Likes: 9
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,089 Likes: 9 |
We use wool (mostly military surplus,much cheaper). However, it doesn't stop the wind that effectively and can get a little heavy when wet. But, IMHO it's still the best thing going! Billions of sheep can't all be wrong. memtb
Last edited by memtb; 02/03/16.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,985 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,985 Likes: 2 |
These are wool army surplus (German I think) six-pocket trousers. I've used them for years. They are warm and durable but kind of heavy. They are too warm for mild weather. These are cotton U.S. Army surplus six-pocket pants. You don't want to use them if it's going to be cold and wet. I'm the guy on the left wearing Sitka Gear trousers. The are a pretty good compromise between too warm/heavy and cotton. But they cost $190. KC
Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,406 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,406 Likes: 3 |
I've been very happy with my kuiu attack pants. Unless I was sitting in the cold all day....they just work well, layer up underneath as needed, nice and lightweight with no extra bulk. I like wool for sitting in the deer stand in Mn. but otherwise it's the attacks for me.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,325
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
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Depends what you call cold. This calf was killed by my lady friend on a fairly chilly -35°C dawn. I was wearing heavyweight German army wool cargo pants, and heavyweight synthetic Polypro underwear. We were walking fast for three or four KM before the shot. I had on polypro top, wool shirt, down vest, down parka with hood, outer polyester orange shell parka, and balaclava. My clothing was barely adequate. Hers was inadequate. My Bro. in Law ( with rifle) also nearly froze up. We had to light a fire before we could attempt the field dressing.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,852 Likes: 21
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,852 Likes: 21 |
Surplus wool when it's cold, Levi's when it's not.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,259
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
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I love the OTTE Gear patrol trousers for snowy weather. They have loops inside the cuff that let you run a cord under your boot to keep the legs down as you walk. I've found that to be about 90% as good as a pair of gaiters if you have tall boots. I also have some FL wool pants that are good, but they absorb moisture much more quickly.
RLTW
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 330
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 330 |
Various kinds of wool pants from surplus for lighter weight to L.L. Beans and Cabela's camo, to Malone wool. If really cold, merino base layer or even two layers. If I expect cold and wet, virtually all my clothing is wool. There is no doubt that even when wet wool insulates better than any synthetic. And down is great if you can keep it dry, but if you can't: wool. If you need lighter wear, surplus wool with a silk base layer is a great combination.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,581 Likes: 26 |
For cold and snow there are two choices - wool and the inferior stuff. High priced or milsurp wool pants work about the same: long lasting and warm when wet. At least 10 years ago I bought a couple pairs of milsurp from Cabelas for under $10 each and they're still in very good shape. The only problem was that they had button flies that were very hard to get buttoned. I installed zippers. They're ugly but I'm out there to get elk, not girls (I have a perfectly good one at home).
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,766 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2013
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Gaiters and wool. I use fleece gaiters.
"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Wool in various weights most of mine are eBay, surplus store, cabelas purchases. I spray camp dry on the knees and seat. Gaiters in the snow and light waterproof pants in the pack to put on over the top if it is pouring rain or in high cold winds. For warm days light wool, for sub zero heavy wool with heavy polypro base layer.
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