Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Hunting garment recomendations

I posted this on the Big Game board as well, but wanted to know what the writers use. I'm looking for your recomendations as to hunting clothing. Specifically wanting to know if any of you have any experience with "Rivers West" coats / bibs. They claim it is the best. I would like to know how it compares to Cabelas MT050, or Revolution fleece. All are supposed to be water proof. The Cabela's products use Goretex or Dryplus. Rivers West uses their own product.

I do not hunt in a rain forest, but it does rain / snow during hunting season and there's nothing worse than being wet and cold. It can get very cold in Nebraska during hunting season. Rivers West claims that their product will also keep you warm without a lot of bulk.

So sound off on what you use and why.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />After being in a lot of differing conditions around the world, and hunting extensively here in the US, I like the Filson system of clothing. They use all natural fabric, and it seems to me that nothing breathes quite like it. Gore-tex and the like always leaves me damp and clammy. I think you should look at anything you buy as part of a clothing system of layers. One item by itself will not work in all conditions.

Wool is well known as the best insulator in cold conditions. It will absorb moisture, and still insulate. Filson jackets, in combo with the wool will keep you dry and warm. I've hunted in the rain many times using Filson products, and it's always worked out well. I don't get the clammy feeling that I got in the past when using synthetics.

If weight is a consideration, then synthetics are lighter, and probably less bulky. But you must remember that any insulation is related to bulk, as insulation is related to the pockets of air trapped in the layers of whatever, be it wool, down or synthetic fibers. The more air pockets (bulk) the theoretically better the insulation.

For full weather protection I'd recommend a Filson Tin Cloth Packer shell lined with their zip in wool jacket/liner. For more extreme conditions you could layer under the jacket with longjohns, wool shirt and a wool sweater over that!! Get a hood for the shell, and use a Filson insulated billed cap under the hood for full rain/snow protection.
I use a pair of Filson double Tin Cloth hunting pants over regular pants and long johns for extreme cold and/or rainy condtions. Filson hunting boots are also very warm, and will keep your feet dry. They are insulated with wool.

Layering is the key to any system to keep warm so you won't overheat. You don't want to sweat excessively, as moisture is the enemy of warmth.

Any way that's what I use. I'm going to South America next month. It's winter down there, and while conditions are not extreme where I'm going, I'll take a Filson Cover Cloth shell with a 18oz wool zip in vest liner. This stuff's not any bulkier than my old synthetic rig of fleece and a NorthFace Gore -Tex shell. But it does breathe better.

Clothing is a very individual decision---YMMV. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've used lots of wool much of my life. It does keep 50% of it's insulative value when wet. It is heavy, and seldom stops wind much. In a hard rain it simply soaks through. Fleece is much lighter and works better if it breathes well and stays dry.
I use a Gore-Tex like shell. But the secret to staying dry is not some super breathable membrane. What really works are pit zips that are plenty long.
I've found a big difference in how warm and dry I am based on my activity level. Sitting in a cold, clammy duck blind is far different than hiking up a mountain, carrying a pack, in the rain.
The bottom line is always keeping the outer strom out and getting rid of the "inner storm." Your body is constantly passing moisture. With it goes some of your body's heat. You need to trap some of the heat and allow the moisture to escape. It is a matter of degree.
I stiil use wool pants for those special conditions. I still use Cabela's fleece for light weight, outdoor activity. But for serious going anywhere outside, I use Patagonia's synthetic clothing. Their base layer, called Capliene, work better than anything I've ever used. It does more to keep me dry, than anything else I've ever used. Much better than wool. Their fleece, called Regulator, passes moisture better than anything from Calabela's I've ever used.
They make several shells that work to varing degrees. I tend to use their "hard" shells with pit zips for bad weather and their very light "soft" shells for iffy situations. If the colors aren't what I need while hunting, I use a cover suit.
Other companys in the mounteering/back packing bussiness make stuff that others tell me work quite well too. I really don't know how well many of them compare or who make the best. Patagonia does guarantee their stuff. If it fails you, or falls apart, they fix or replace for free. You only buy it once. Not a bad long term investment. E

filson seems to have the best wool for the money. I have other wool, none of the quality stuff is cheap, but the filson stuff seems to be the best value. I have tried it all, fleece, goretex, cotton and simply went back to wool. even in GA, 30 degrees with some humidity is COLD. I use the filson bibs with various filson outerwear depending on the conditions. used synthetic coveralls in the past but you boil over if you have to walk at all.

I also like and use wool. But also use different Cabela's synthetic waterproof outer jackets/parkas with both Goretex and Dryplus linings.

In the wool dept, I love Woolrich wool shirts. I have the Alaska series wool shirts, and a set of their wool camo shirt and matching six pocket pants. IMO, you can't beat wool for quiet. Although the Cabela's Revolution series fleece is also quiet. I like to wear the wool stuff in late Oct during the archery season up in Pa. where the mornings can be in the 20's or low 30's.

I bought the Weatherby wool jacket this past winter when Cabela's put them on sale and for the $100 or so that I paid for it, it was a heck of a deal. I wore it down in Alabama in mid Jan and it performed great. (got in the 20's a couple of mornings).

In very cold weather, I start of with a synthetic moisture wicking underwear. Then a zip-top fleece turtleneck (great for venting out when you start to sweat while walking or climbing), then a wool shirt, fleece vest, then top is off with the Wool or Cabela's jacket or parka, depending on the precip/weather.

I wear the Cabela's Extreem fleece bottoms, then a pair of wool pants or Revolution Dryplus fleece pants, again, depending on the weather. The wool pants only shed rain/snow to a point, the Revolution dryplus pants have always kept me dry, no matter how hard it has rained (so far anyway !!)

This year for my trip up to BC in Sept, I will be packing all of the above, plus am going to try out the Underamour Cold Gear, for a first-moisture wicking layer. Since I will be hunting Mt Goats, I will be wearing the lightest gear I have while climbing the Mts chaising the 'goats. I'll put a big emphasis on lite weight, moisture management and wind blocking over the heavier stuff. Probably stick with a Goretex or Dryplus uninsulated shell with a light wool or fleece shirt, and the Revolution Dryplus fleece paints.

After the 'goat is out of the way, we will be chasing moose, elk and bears down low. Probably be on horseback most of the day. Then I will be dressing in more layers and more wool.

Tony.

I am a huge Filson fan. You could throw a dart at the Filson catalog and I will absolutely love it. In fact, I tell my family if they are looking for a gift for me, just pick anything out from Filson and be done with it.

All that being said, I completely agree with Eremicus' comments about fleece. It is a miricle garment. The range of conditions and activity levels that a simple fleece upper will cover is amazing.

When I mountain bike in the winter, all I need is a thermal shirt and a light fleece pullover and I am good from the mid 50's down to the mid teens. Like Eremicus said, a few well placed zippers on the shell greatly increase the utility of the garment.

With my wool clothing I have to be more exacting in my selection for the weather and activity level. Some of my hunting conditions would be near suicidal if I wasn't wearing wool. On a hunting trip to the Panhandle of Texas I actually slipped into some quicksand up to my chest. It is funny now, but it was a little unnerving at the time. The tempature was around 35 degrees and a moderate wind. I was uncomfortable and my pride was bruised, but I continued on with the hunt instead of fighting for survival.

The pants that I had on was the Swedish surplus wool pants. They are great! Cost me a whole ten dollars on the web. My hunting partner says that I look like a Nazi war criminal in them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I've spent most of my life working in snow up to my waste in the winter months.I use wool as the others do but I've found out some of the surplus wool is just as good and much cheaper than the fancy stuff.With it beeing hard to get a whole season out of any pants or tops without getting them ripped off I had to take the cheaper approach to wool and warmth and found out the Surplus wool works just fine for me and sometimes last longer.

I have wool everything for the winter months and hunting now even some one piece long johns w/the flap.Heavy but warm.........

Best of luck......Jayco.

Thank you for the replies.

I am familiar with wool and its properties. I have used wool myself for a number of years, but when it gets wet it gets heavy and it takes a while to dry out. It can also load up with beggars lice, and other weed seeds.

Rivers West is a Seattle WA based company, and since there are a number of folks on this site from that part of the world I thought that someone here may have used their products. For those of you unfamiliar with them: www.riverswest.com

If anyone has any info or opinion on this product vs. Cabela's MT050 or Revolution fleece please chime in.

Thanks.

Mark

Sorry, I haven't used the Rivers West clothing.

My own hunting clothing is such a mish-mash of various stuff that I hesitate to even mention it. Unlike some here, I haven't found one company that can provide everything. For instance, I wear a lot of Filson, but some I find too heavy, stiff and cold, especially most of the waxed canvas. I do love their wool and, for warm weather hunting, their lighter cotton stuff, especially in Africa or Texas where the light synthetics tend to get ripped up by thorns. I also love their waxed canvas chaps both for bird hunting in brush, and horseback riding in wet weather. So you see I try lots of things and pick and choose what works best for me.

Generally for hunting here in Montana during cold weather I wear a bunch of layers, starting with Patagonia polypropylene and ending with Windstopper. In between can be wool long handles (from Filson), wool pants (from various makers, ranging from military surplus to heavy Woolrich bibs), wool/synthetic blend shirts, fleece from all sorts of makers.

I prefer tightly-woven wool pants for most cool-weather hunting, as they pick up fewer seeds and thorns, and the few they do pick up can be easily removed. Have given up fleece outerwear for the most part, especially pants, because seeds and thorns tend to burrow into it so deeply. Have had to cut a lot out of fleece!

My favorite hunting jacket/coat for November big game hunting is really old now, almost 20 years. Got it from LL Bean but believe it was made by Woolrich. It's a tight-weave wool jacket that's has elastic around waist and wrists, and a zipper front. Underneath the wool is Thinsulate, how much I couldn't say. It will stand up to wind pretty well down to about 40 degrees, but below that I layer it with Windstopper both inside and outside, which seems to do the trick.

MD

gundog
I have gon ehtrough a lot of flavors of outerwear, also, and have found some good stuff and some real dogs.

Tundra Fleece is a brand being put out by a local shop, Boondocks in Eagle River. It uses a membrane between an outer of heavy fleece and an inner of some hard-woven looking stuff.

They are cut full in the chest for covering your optics and have a lot of well-thoughtout features. I have been using a set as my primary hunting clothes since '98. Would not know where to go to find their equal. I tried many big name brands and there was nothing I liked about them.

The bad news is the stuff is being discontinued because they cannot find a manufacturer...

The fleece is a little deep and it is warm, but it dries fast enough to go from drenched to dry by morning on my boat so I love it. Have given up on wool, much as I loved it and used it for so long. It cannot compete with fleece in serious wet. For lighter weight, wet country hunting I used waxed cotton pants and really like them. Got some baggy enough to fit anything under them!
art

Gundog, I don't live all that far from the Seattle area but I haven't heard of River's West. Maybe they have been marketed more toward bowhunters. I'll try to find some of their clothing to look at. I couldn't seem to get their website to work this morning but when I find out what stores they're selling their stuff in I take a look at them.

I usually where wool pants and a fleece jacket with goretex when deer/elk hunting. I have been thinking of trying to find lighter weight pants and maybe some of River's West pants would work.

Mule_Deer,

The wool jacket you mentioned wouldn't be the infamous red and black one that you are wearing in many mag. articles would it ? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

It's a Classic for sure.

It really reminds me of back in the day when I was growing up in Pa., when everyone wore the classic Woolrich red and black hunting outfits.

I still have the Woolrich red and black outfit that my father bought me when I was 12. Which my younger brothers wore, my son wore and now when my youngest brothers sons get of age, they will probably wear.

Tony.

hicountry--

Yeah, that's the one. It has worn really well over the years, and thanks to the Thinsulate is a lot warmer than plain wool. I like the traditional look when rifle hunting, but sure stick out in a crowd of camo boys!

MD

Sitka, never thought of the waxed cotton, how is it for noise, and how does it fare in the serious rain?

I wear the surplus wool pant and a woolrich wool coat and fleece layers, and it works great almost all the time. But it SUCKS when it really rains hard. If its light rain i never get wet if i treat the wool. This elk season i hunted the coast range and it poured rain hard. I was wearing a fleece hunting coat with goretex lining. When i got back to camp i was wet head to toe, had standing water inside my goretex danner boots, guess the water ran down my long johns.

So whats the solution when it is really wet? Is good raingear like helly hanson the only way to go, or is there another solution that is really waterproof?

I know some of you guys hunt the rainforest too. Cold hasnt been a problem, ive worn my gear less than 10 deg and thats about as cold as it gets, i was comfortable. What i need is something that is waterproof....

The experience I have had in SERIOUS rain with waxed cotton has impressed me like nothing else. I started using it because surveyors I know that work SE swear by it for the really nasty rain.

Broken in a little, it is very quiet. I use nothing but beeswax soaked into my leather boots as dressing and it continues to impress me... so the waxed cotton has always struck me as right...

Helly Hanson is what I left to go to the better stuff... too loud, heavy and uncomfortable...
art

Waxed cotton is good, but I would only use it in conjunction with a woolen liner. The 12.5 oz Filson is extremely stiff, and I would not consider it quiet. Pretty waterproof, however. The lighter stuff they have is much more supple and quieter.

The reason I would only use it with a liner, is that to some extent it's waterproof like your old canvas tent or your old flax waterbag.. No water will penetrate, but it will absorb some, and you need the wool for insulation, and to keep your other garments dry. I really like the Double hunting pants that I have. They combine Tin cloth toughness with the flexibility of the lighter Shelter Cloth. Very bulletproof. Biggest selling point for me on Filson stuff, is the breathability. I've always used synthetics before, and it's much harder (at least for me) to control inside body temperature and prevent moisture buildup. So I've become a convert to natural fabrics. In some cases they're a little heavier, but not always.

Filson stuff is not any more expensive than comparable quality synthetics. Re: fleece. I have it. But whoever commented on sticker bushes, weeds, grass, etc. clinging to it is certainly correct. It's a real pain to take care of.

Sitka,

The Rivers West product is two layers of fleece with a waterproof membrane between, but the outer fleece is a very short nap. I spoke to one of the owners of Rivers West yesterday (Matthew) he of course had a little bias toward his products, but overall I like what I have seen and heard thus far. They are a brand new product, just started selling last year.

In their catalog they include a piece of their fabric. It is tough, very reistant to tears, snags, and seems to be water proof, although its a small piece of material (approx 6"x8") so testing was very limited. Seems like a very good product. I am going to try Rivers west myself. Hunitng season is a few months away, but I will report back as to how it performs for me.

GI Joes', Sportsman's Warehouse, and Sportco are listed as retailers in Washington.

Mark.

Mule Deer,

Your camo comment reminded me of a hunting trip. I agreed to take a buddy's (from Minnesota) friends on a bird hunting trip.

I pulled up to pick the guys up in my old rig. I was wearing a Codet wool jacket, baseball cap and blue jeans. They all walked out and were in matching camo outfits!

I thought it was a little strange and then noticed that they were all using 870 express shotguns. I was using my A-5.

Turned out that they had all shopped at the same sporting goods store.! I teased them but we had a great time shooting birds south of Brockton.

last season I tried something new. I started with heavy polypro long sleeve t-shirt, heavy weight fleece over that, then a ultralight fitted cycling jacket to break the wind with a wool jacket over that. on the bottom, I wore filson wool bibs. the cycling jacket made a great wind breaker, held body heat, was weighless and made a great liner for my jacket as I did not get any the sleeve/elbow bunch up that you can get with too many layers. a filson vest works well for this also as you get another layer without the sleeve bunch up. and yes, 30 deg is GA with high humidity feels very cold.

I'm takeing my filso double macinaw bibs, and parker to sask in nov. Bought the weatherby bibs to try also. i want to buy differnt shirts. I have used insulated camo shirts from cabelas for the last 4 years. They are always wet on the inside.