Any other suggestions on wool pants?

As I have stated before, I cannot afford the Filson Whipcords. I tried the Cabelas version recently, for about an hour. I just couldn't warm up to them. I found them too baggy and loose fitting. Not that I was trying to emulate Robert Plant back in Zep's Hey Day, but I wanted a more close fitting pair of trousers.

Are there any other options? I have 2-3 pair of wool MilSurp pants. I paid $20 of M1951 US pants. Invested another $25 to have them tailored, and I still do not like them.

And it's really not very cold here in the desert. I just wanted a decent pair of knock around hiking/hunting pants.

I am not opposed to any other MilSurps, but all look to be very baggy and "universal" in the fit department.

Anyone have experience with Codet?

I also have the Columbia Gallatin ShirtJac, and it seems very warm and I would guess the matching pants are very warm as well, but they seem too bulky.

I would second or third a vote for Cabelas Microtex in a non-camo pattern for general wear, but doubt my vote counts.

Maybe Sitka gear will be my next try. Too bad Cabelas has to be different and not carry the Mothwing pattern to match my upper toros stuff.

I realize your mind may already be made up regarding whipcord pants, but I'm still going to give 'em one last pitch.

I've had mine for a few years now, and while they don't look "new" anymore, they're close----------other than the two big snags from a clumsy barbed wire fence crossing which is MY fault, not the pants.

Mine are size 40, and I normally wear 36, so I know all about baggy. If ordering another pair I'd go 38 next time though. Having some extra roominess isn't a bad thing IMO, as it allows room for longhandles and freedom of movement when climbing over stuff. By wearing them with and without longhandles, I can comfortably wear them through a wide range of temperatures.

If treated by Nikwax they repel water quite well, and even if wet, don't get as cold for me as Microtex. And even if you don't want the Robert Plant/Dwight Yoakum look, you can have your britches tailored by a nice old local lady (every town has one), and get the exact fit you're after.

I've also got some German ski patrol pants from the '80's, as well as Filson mackinaw bibs. Both are good for really cold, snowy conditions, but not as versatile for everyday fall hunting conditions. My only dealings with Columbia wool aren't very favorable. It feels like recycled wool and pills like crazy. It's better than nothing, and on sale may be OK for a while, but I don't really like it.

You know what they say about opinions, so take mine for what they're worth.

Orvis makes a nice wool pant. They're a lighter weight wool than Filson or Cabelas. I was able to pick up a pair on ebay for about $30 a couple of years ago. There's a member or 2 on this board that like to use wool dress slacks bought from thrift stores. And as 222Rem mentioned, you can have them tailored for a small fee.

I had a guide once swear by the USPS wool pants that he picked up second hand.

Does anyone have any experience with these?

http://go-armynavy.com/index.php/wool-pants/swedish-wool-whipcord-pants.html

The price is pretty good!

Try the 4 pocket Bean pant. Shouldn't be as baggy as a 6 pocket.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...gory=4296&feat=4296-tn&cat4=2110

NH Hunter, that's what I was going to suggest. Plus, the camo version is a lighter fabric than the green and you can't beat their return policy.

Guys, that's a wonderful pant, no doubt but it's a VERY heavy wool pant compared to a whipcord... I suspect it's far too heavy for what Jesse is looking for.

Jesse, in your shoes, I'd skip right past wool pants for the use you describe and get a good nylon supplex or stretch pant... look at Dobers thread on lightweight pants for a lot of good suggestions.

We've had a mild fall here and I was up in snow yesterday to 8800' chasing elk in the snow... I wore a pair of supplex nylon pants and a pair of Expedition wt. Capilene underneath. The beauty of nylon is it's so versatile and can be layerd with any weight underwear (or none at all) to adjust for temp variants.

IMO, whipcord is just too warm for your described use...

Mr. Jesse Jaymes;
I have a pair of Codet wool/nylon pants that must be something like 12-15 years old. I see that one of our larger mail order outlets here in Canada still sells what looks like the same pants for $50 Cdn, which is about what I recall paying for mine.

I had some surplus wool pants before them, though I�m not sure whose army they were made for. They are the older type fit where hockey suspenders are a must and the waist comes up to my ribs, which is tough to get used to.

Anyway, my Codet pants are if anything a bit heavier than the mil-surp pants. They have also proven to be extremely tough and are only now showing signs of wearing through at the inside of the cuff. I can�t stress enough how extremely resistant to tearing their wool/nylon fabric blend is, as I hunt a lot of blow down country, and at 5�6� I don�t clear the downed timber with ease - or grace usually!

We are in the northern part of the desert here, so generally I begin to wear them when it is within a few degrees of freezing, as they are scratchy enough to necessitate a full length long-john for me to wear them.

I hope that helped a bit and I wish you good luck with your quest for hunting pants.

Regards,
Dwayne

Of course I am torn to some degree. I've heard great things about Rail Riders nylon pants. I may give them a try. Hard not to find something in Cabelas due to having free points and such.

I guess the "torn" part comes from sooo many great reviews of the Filson pants. I would certainly have to try them on personally to see what the fit was like. I cruise Ebay often enough, and the Filsons do show occassionally, but still $140 is not much of a bargain.

I am strapped paying $1000 a month for kids I do not get to see, so it's a whole nother story trying to scratch together money, and you can see where the correct choice is paramount.....

Sitkas are still appealing.

Also, I understand the need for layering and such, but with the Cabelas Whipcords, the crotch was between my knees and I could have fit 2 legs into each hole. Too loose for my needs.

Guess I am looking for pants that I can travel in and not worry about breaking. I generally "baby" all of my gear and clothing. I want a do-all pant that I can just sit down anywhere and call predators in, or glass for an hour. Easy to clean, shade some wind, and provide some warmth.

Military BDUs fill the bill nicely, but after being preached to in Mountain Operations School, Cotton Kills. So I am looking for an alternate...

Thanks for the help so far. And sorry this has been hashed out, but I am still not happy.

free points in Cabela's ????


I'd take Brad's suggestion and get the nylon pants, I wear them here for everything but coldest winter and for early Aug. -Sept. hunting the Cabela's version are my faves. they're in the fishing stuff under supplex guidewear IIRC


you may not like them, but you won't be out any $$$


I bought my first two sets years ago from STP (when they had a paper catalog with no pix instead of the current glossy version) for $15 each, dark forest green. been on many a sheep and or moose hunt and while having to be sewed up once in awhile they are both going strong.


but have bought more over the years, cause I like em


and like Brad I love em, don't know his brand preference I've tried a bunch of differing brands and the C's get my nod followed by the Columbia brand for boating.

you get the picture


I like em for hunting

I wore my mil wool pants the other day, which fit perfect in the waist, but they have low-crotch syndrom and feel like they are falling off or something.
I have the cabela's and columbia nylon too and agree with Brad that they are so versatile as a single, or a layer, and pack away tiny when carried, especially the supplex. I use them for float trips too for a good sunblock and they dry so quick that I'm wearing them in camp an hour after takeouts. I think the supplex blocks the wind better than Columbia's poly so you get a good combo with the supplex and a base layer.
But to answer your question; it sounds like the Filson's are the way to go. My experience with the other woolies are that they are too bulky or camo'd, etc.

Thank you much. I do think that maybe Nylon or similar are the way to go. I am guessing that cotton is just plain cheaper and easier to use, as far as making clothing, but why is there not more Nylon type options for hunting clothes???

Cabelas has a billion pants in their catalogs, and about 94% are made of cotton. Guessing we all have been cold, wet and waterlogged with cotton pants before. Blue jeans such when you cannot get them off because the cuffs are frozen ice blocks...

Do I need to make my own pants and patent them, and turn my(our) delima into a fortune?

Yes!

How's about some whipcords with zip-off legs? Combined with longhandles, you could wear them all year, and adjust to any temperature.

As far as non-wool pants go, I really like TNF Paramount pants. Nylon, zip-off legs, just the right fit and number of pockets.

Jesse, If tou want to try railriders I got a e-mail stating a sale. I wear them, and like them, the sale is like 30% off
Coop

Since this is part 3 or 4 I'm not sure how many times I've commented over the years, but for the use you mention, if you want wool, go to a St. Vincent DePaul, Value Village or other thrift store and buy the highest quality light weight wool dress pants you can find. My all time favorites were custom tailored Pendleton wool, in a light thin fabric that wore like iron. I have two pair at present, and customize mine by threading light 1/8 inch diameter bungee cord around inside the cuff/hem and tying it off so that it grips my boot top snugly, keeping out debris, etc. It's not as good as gaiters but works far better than I anticipated.

Get light, thin pants that are cut free enough for easy lift of leg on steep ground without binding. If you tear them or wear them out, toss them and buy another pair, or burn them in your last campfire of the hike. They used to sell for 50 cents but now you may have to pay $5.00.

I wore such pants several days last week pursuing whitetails in temps ranging from balmy rain to snow and heavy frost. A 4x4 buck departing through the woods turned around and came right back when I grunted at him with my nose, at least till now I thought that's why he came back. Maybe it was my pants, 100% virgin wool, classic cut from a name brand men's store.

For your application however, I'd go for supplex nylon as Brad, 1Ak et al have suggested.

I was just thinking about this wool-dress-pants idea today after reading this post. For some time now I have been researching wool shirts and jackets in an attempt to get away from synthetic camo stuff but the cost of making this change was making it difficult.
So I went to the thrift store and in 10 minutes had a nice Pendleton shirt, in tan plaid, and a wool jacket, green/blue plaid, for $25. The jacket was lined and insulated and I tore all of that out so now I have a nice, thin, wool jacket good for layering. With a merino wool base, the Pendleton shirt, and the jacket, I should be in pretty good shape.

Now I'm going back to look for these pants that Okanagan suggests....makes perfect sense.!

1akhunter,
Some great trophies there, thanks for sharing!

Brad is right on the mark here IMO. Been doing the same thing for over 10 years and it works great. Supplex pants and silk long johns for me.

Since others have mentioned nylon I will throw out an idea that has worked for me. Here in North Georgia I have bow hunted in Septemper when temps have been 100+ and by January temps can be in the single digits in the mountains. I use the military BDU's that are 50% cotton and 50% nylon. I have 2 pair in OD green that are light weight and cool in hot temps and fit loose enough to wear heavy long underwear underneath in cold weather. I have never gotten cold if moving or still hunting with this combo. If it is windy I slip a pair of nylon wind pants on over them while on my stand.

I'm sure they would not dry as fast when wet as the 100% nylon but they are 50% nylon and light weight so they do not absorb moisture as bad as the 100% cotton camo pants I see most hunters wear.

To me at least they fit well, are comfortable and are not expensive. They sure look as good as some of the surplus wool pants I have seen. There is a rather large surplus store near where I live that sells 2nds for around $12 and first quality for $25.

If you go with the supplex nylon, the lightest ones I've tried with the most comfort and freedom of movement have been Gramicci climbing pants. I've hunted in them, slept in them, flown halfway around the world in them, done presentations to large groups while wearing them, tore the seat on a splintery log bench in Africa, patched them, and when they faded from sage to ash white, I dyed them a darker shade of green to keep hunting in them. Between the patched seat and huckleberry stains, they are no longer suitable for polite society. I flat out love them, though for quiet and hunting in wet, I go to the wool dress pants.

I've been blessed to stumble across a few critters while ambling about God's country and I am truly grateful for those life experiences.


the point of the photos though IS


the hat changes, the boots change, the shirts change, the PANTS stay the same.

there's a reason for that.

if it helps someone else use their outdoor money wisely it's thanks enough and the only way I really know how to repay the guys that taught me how to get around in the Alaska Bush, with confidence, comfort and sheer enjoyment.



OKanagan have you used the C's guidewear fishing pants?

am amazed if the Grammici (sp?) are lighter than those!


I've done some late fall hunts for bear and had an old river guide express amazement that I had no wool trousers. "No woolies?" he asked

Nope, have taken them outa my go to hades bag (bag with warm coat, mad bomber hat, heavy gloves etc. for when the temp just lost the bottom) replaced with expedition poly's those under my supplex and I better be sitting in really cold weather to notice the difference.

don't feel I've ever suffered for it.

even going to the cabin in extreme temps I don't wear wool anymore.


though I do dote on my Merino wool longjohns, Smartwool socks and a lt wt. wool sweater

the wool sweater I just can't give up on, it seems warmer than fleece to me, and when it gets cool enough to don it, I just feel like I'm really hunting, and in good meat hanging weather.

god but I'm thankful I've lived in a place where I could hunt.

but I think I'm going to start going back to see family in November again now to extend my hunting season with whitetails and quail if there any left.

I harbor a bit of envy missing whitetail season and so enjoy the pix folks share, god didn't make many critters prettier than deer.

Call us traditional, but virtually every forester up in these parts wears woolies every day when in the field. Wide suspenders too. There's nothing warmer in a working pant. Nothing more trusted.

The pant of choice is usually Woolrich Malones. Followed by Codets. But it is said that Codets are make from "recycled wool lint that comes up with the spare change from loggers pockets."

Craig

No, haven't tried them but will take a look as the Gramicci's need replacing and they seem to be shifting to selling cotton to the fashion crowd rather than synthetics for hard core climbers. There's a Cabela's 3 1/2 hour drive from here that I get to once in awhile and will definitely check on the guide pants.

Ditto on the whitetails. The older I get the more I enjoy hunting them. I suppose this is heresy but there is something proper and even dainty pretty about whitetails and the country where they live, even the big old bucks. I didn't break a sear on one this Fall and won't hunt them any more this year. I brought home the image of a modest 4x4 engraved in my mind. He was standing broadside inside of 50 yards with my crosshairs steady on his shoulder, finger on trigger, crossbreeze on my right cheek.

tha's way cool OK

imo&e it is when you finally figured out that you've arrived as a hunter, when you've decided that when opportunity presents itself that you still have options.

I use to hunt with a fierce bloodlust, not so much anymore, and it makes me wonder if I'm as good as I once was. But I do find myself enjoying my field time even more, taking more enjoyment from the other creatures that are not my quarry but still part of the environment I place myself in.

don't know your reasons for doing so, and it really doesn't matter

if it makes sense, I'll just say congrats, sounds like a fine hunt to me.


will be interested on your take on the C's pants weight vs. Gramicci's

1ak...which pants exactly are you and Brad talking about? Have a link?

JJ, as far as whipcords go I like these quite a bit from orvis. Got 'em on clearance at the store, but see them on sale online also. wool marsh pants

1AK,

Nice pics mano. Great attitude also. I'd partner up on a hard hunt with you anytime.

So if I wear them magic pants of yorn will I bag those trophies?

Please rephrase that "gettin in his pants" stuff, willya?

grin, Mikey gotta yank my chain


sorry guys I lost this thread and didn't realize I'd been asked about the specific pants I like.

this is a great deal for you big boys, I ain't seen em this cheap in a looooonnggg time.

they'll have L sizes on down for regular prices I'm thinking, bout $50

oh and thank you for the kind comments, well 'ceptin for that danged old ironbender, grin.

hope to cross trails with more campfire folk in the future, the ones I've met to date have been top shelf.


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=Q2GT3KXXC5NIXLAQBBISCOVMCAEFEIWE?id=0054311903872a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=cabelas+guidewear+supplex+nylon+pants&Ntk=Products&sort=all&Go.y=14&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Go.x=18&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

AK, those really are some great pics of fabulous country and fantastic critters!

Totally agree about the "feel" of wool... no fleece or nylon stretch-whatever can take the place of the "handle" of wool IMO. Wool pants certainly have their place for sure, and right now with cold temps setting in and bulls living up high in knee-deep snow I've switched back over to whipcord. If the temps really dip I'll dig out my Surplus Six Pocket German Military pants! They're my all-time favorite pants when the temps really drop!

Here I am fully clad in wool, with the German Pants and wool sweater... temp was -12* F when I left the truck in the morning and 0* when I hammered this bull at 1:00 in the afternoon... no Supplex this day (grin):

.06 Mac?

Great pic, obviously taken while in "pred mode"...

Dober

338 WM Dobe.

Self timer strapped to a lil' tree...

I was Tom Selleck's stand-in at the time (grin)

210 Nozzie or was that the 300 SMK bull?

Dober

ah yes...the Selleck years...lol...

Nice bull! I get chilled looking at that pic though...I need to cover my neck once temps get down into the teens. Usually use a fleece gaitor.

yep great pic Brad,


your sweater sports the kind of camo that appeals to me!


I've been lucky enough to have hunted my share and bag a few critters that made me happy to be in that place at that time.


but I can see the hand writing on the wall, I'm not going to live long enough to do ALL the hunting I want.


sooooo a pic of a beautiful elk like that makes me as happy for you as a jealous man can be. (grin)

I've only dined upon elk one time and I thought it was delicious, and they are so majestic looking from my view.

I do believe it's time to change that, I've a pard here that traded out some hunting with some CO boys and went down there and shot a nice elk.

I think I'll have him see if he can hook me up.


life is too short to not at least try and bag one of those and make room in the freezer for a different taste.


oh yeah wool pants! I do keep a pair at the cabin, probably should have worn them Thanksgiving morn when the temp was -30, but I had smartwools on, Carhart flannel lined jeans and snow bibs for the ride out.

they'll last longer than the supplex, but is one of life's amazing surprises to me how tough and wind resistant that paper like material is.

I find that odd as the Filson Whipcord pants are 17 oz./sq. yrd. and the L.L Bean 4-pocket wool pants are 16 oz./sq. yrd. and 12 oz./sq. yrd. for the camo.

Dober, he took the 2:10 Nosler Nap (grin).

Ken, yeah but it's a "dry cold" here (grin).

AK, the only animals I want to hunt besides elk here in Montana (with an occasional antelope or deer thrown in) all reside in AK. I hunted once for moose on the Kenai and would still like to connect on a moose. One day I may draw here (sure). Aside from moose, sheep would top the list. Dall sheep is without doubt the best tasting game I've ever had, with elk and moose jockeying for second place.

No desire for shooting goofy looking African critters for this kid... Big Game begins and ends in "Northern" North America for me.

Totally agree how tough Supplex is... pretty deceiving. My pair of North Face Supplex pants are six or seven years old now and have been hunted and BP'd pretty hard but they sure don't show it.

I have worn Filson's whip's for years in all kinds of weather but I'm intrigued by RailRiders pants. They have two synthetic pants, a Weatherpants and a Winter Weatherpant, 13 and 18 oz respectively; $79 and $84 respectively. The first is their original syn adventure pants and has quite a resume, having gone on treks around Everest and on other adventure such as the Bornea Eco-challenge. The first is a nylon pant and the second a newer four-ply Supplex Taslan with reincorced seat and knees.

Anyone use these or know about them? I just may spring for the Winter pant and try them here in an Iowa winter. These may work for mild to cold hunts with layering underneath with quick-drying ability and being quiet to boot.

www.railriders.com or 1-800-437-3794.

s'pose there are different versions of Taslan nylon????




but my only experience with them doesn't even put them in the same ballpark as supplex.


caveat though I purchased them from Sportsman's Guide, ime that place is like a Chinese flea market, lots of bullchit to wade thru to find an occassional good deal


they were cheap enuff, but they ended up being cabin fodder, good in a pinch to have there, but didn't make the grade for hunting

i highly recoment beagle wear. look at their website. i wont wear anythign but now

I use lots of different materials and styles for my out door pants.
Frankly, for dry weather, even when it gets pretty cold, as in below freezing, the Desert Camo BDU's work quite well. I like my hiking pants loose fitting and durable. I've also used lots of nylon pants. The last ones I got I bought from Cabela's. Zip off leg options are nice to have when it's really warm. I'm probably as fearful of hypothermia as anyone, but I'm not worried about using a cotton blend in a dry climate. I really like the big side pockets as opposed to using front pockets.
I, too, have literally lived in my Nylon and BDU pants for days. Very flexible in a wide range of temperatures.
I've got two pair a Cabela's Whipcords. Bought them in my usual waist size and found them too restricting. Bought another pair two inches larger and they are nice and loose fitting. So one gets used for casual wear and the other for the trail.
For cold weather, below freezing for much of the day, I favor heavy, 24-28 oz. wool. With the minimum of base layers. Capeliene of course. That way, when the day gets warmer or I'm on the sunny side of a ridge, they aren't too warm.
I buy them long as well. When I raise my leg, the boot top stays covered. Or I get extra material under my gaitors for additional warmth.
All I can really suggest is buy what you think is good and try them out. Sometimes what you think won't work well does and vice versa. The first, tighter pair of whipcords I bought were like that. Thought I 'd like'em and found them too tight. My first expereince with BDU were just the opposite. Found they worked much better than I thought they would. E