Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Kuiu Guide pant vs heavy wool pants?

For those that have used both for late season deer hunting, which do you prefer? I’ve been using heavy wool pants for a lot of years for deer hunting in cold, snowy sometimes wet weather and now I need to replace them. Not sure if I should go with wool again or try the kuiu guide pant. Deer hunting for me is lots of walking/still hunting, and sitting as much as the cold will allow me. I like wool for the warmth, durability and how quiet it is, but it is very heavy when wet so maybe a change would be nice. I also use the wool pants for lynx hunting in the winter- snowshoeing then sitting over a call, then more snowshoeing and sitting. Wondering if the Guide pant might be better for this to. Thanks

I like the Guide pants better for the kind of hunting you describe, with lots of walking and the possibility of getting wet. Or any qualty synthetic pants.

I think the key is getting a synthetic that's thick enough for the warmth you need for sitting.

Guide pants are great, I don't wear much wool anymore.

Kuiu is built around layering your wear - you're going to want a layer you can add and remove as your activity level changes.

If you are going sit, in clothes that are comfortable (not over-heating) when on the move, you are going to be, or are cold, - JMHO.

The Guide pant is good for walking and hiking if you spot and stalk - the hip vents actually work better for me than I expected.

It does shed light/medium rain/snow water well in my experience, but I'm not hunting deep Alaska or in Georgia swamps.

Kuiu makes several layers that you can take on and off with out having to take your boots off - which I like, I'm sure there are just as options in other brands.

I use the Kenai puffy jacket and pants as my sitting layers, they are in the day pack and go on before I sit in the stand.

The pants are full side zip, so they can taken off easy and fairly quickly - aka "The Stripper Pants" - several bad jokes there in our camp.

The Guide Pant is my favorite late season pant (better than the Sitka Timberline, IMO, which is another good pant).

As AH64guy said, you can layer up Kuiu base layers or insulation layers under the Guide if needed. You can also throw something like a Mountain Hardwear Compressor Pant over the top, which I do often.

Synthetics are much better than wool, IMO.

Tag.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I’m going to go with the Guide pant. Placed an order this afternoon.

Good choice. Found out last month they are reasonably water repellent if you need to sit in snow for a bit.
Cut loose enough for a good layer beneath.

No problem sitting on the snow, I always have a sitting mat with me in my Day pack. I use a badlands ultra day pack and I slide the mat into the ventilation space against my back. That way I always have it. I’m looking forward to using them. Hopefully they don’t take too long to get here.

I'd love to hear what you think of the Guide pants after you get them. I'm also looking for a late-season pant that can handle some snow and hold enough heat to keep you comfortable for some sitting.

Guess I am just old fashioned, but for 'normal' deer hunting, I prefer wool or Berber type fleece. Main reasons are quiet and durability. I have trashed a couple pair of light weight synthetic pants busting through blackberry bushes in clearcuts that really don't do any damage to wool or fleece. If you are an extreme hunter, meaning lots of elevation changes and 10+ miles of hiking per day, maybe the few ozs. will make a difference to you. Synthetic stuff really shines on trails and in open country above treeline...

If you are planning to remain stationary a long time in below zero conditions, wool still can't be beaten. If you are moving occasionally, spotting and stalking, then a Guide pant with a thinner layer will work. I have both and use both applications.

I used both on a Wyoming sheep hunt last year. Deep wet snow, wool worked best to keep me warn. Little or no snow guide pants was great. They dry fairly quick if they get wet. They do not hold the heat like wool. I never been able to layer the lower body effectively as I can the upper body. Yes I had one of KUIU best rain top and bottom sets. I have used wool for many years in Canada, Alaska and US Rockies. Last year was my first use of the guide pants. I bought a second pair this year but will not be used in mountain snow and similar weather this year.

I highly recommend their rain gear. Really great.