Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Cargo Pockets.....What do you Put in Them?

I know a lot of guys say they need pants with cargo pockets. However, I've always been afraid of losing whatever I put in there as most of them don't have zippered pockets. For you guys that use cargo pockets a lot, what do you typically put in them?

Stay afraid. I don't buy them, won't wear the one pair I have.

I put bandannas or glove liners in there. I like having them handy. I'll put other odds and ends in there to. Nothing expensive though.

I have a pair, I bought them cheap from Wal-Mart so I am not afraid to tear them, get the dirty, and so on.

I keep my tag, four extra rounds, and a pad/pen in my right cargo pocket. In my left pocket I keep a lighter, compass, and odds and ends. I figure if I drop my pack somewhere I have the basic stuff on me all the time.

Lifting the knee higher than the waist is a loss waiting to happen (ask me how I know). That means- no sitting on the ground.

(Not to mention, I'm not accustomed to the feeling of having bulk and weight on the thigh. It just feels weird.)

I'm a jeans guy.

I plan on packing mine full with ammo and other dense items on my flyout for dall sheep this fall. Mine are velcroed at each corner and i usually put a neck gaiter or hat in them while hiking.

Velcro sounds good. A doggone full zipper sounds even better, to me.

I don't do cargo pants. I'd tear the pants and or pockets so fast.

I use mostly military fatigues in various colors to hunt in. I keep gloves, face mask, a little toilet paper for emergencies, compass, turkey calls, etc. They have buttons, never lost anything.

A load banging on the side of my leg drives me nuts (a very short drive I might add).
I have a pair of zip off leg pants that my wife got for me several years ago. The cargo pockets on those are a nightmare & are about to disappear entirely. They made them as double pockets, with inner and outer compartments. Then they decided to divide each one top to bottom. They did all this with velcro. The result is a 1.5" thick wad of velco down the middle of each. You can't get them open because of all the velco and you can't get anything in or out of them.

usually a bandana and my liner gloves when i'm wearing glomittens.

I don't care for bulk in my cargo pockets even though I can't hunt without them. I usually just have my topo for quick access. What can I say, I'm a slow technology adopter. I have a gps, but it's an old, non-mapping magellan that let's me know where my tent is.

Generally the only thing that I'll put in them is folded up paper towel and/or a bandana or face mask. I hate having stuff bulging on the sides of my legs.

I avoid them like the plague.

I just use cargo pockets for a quick place to put things. Like my gloves if I have to take a piss or something. Only things I actually carry in them are my sweat rag and a can of chew.

One of these.

with EDC stuff...

If you're carrying anything with any kind of weight to it, having the pockets smack against your legs and chafe the hell out of you gets old fast...

That being said, cargo pockets are great for the "layering" concept. Usually I'll carry a touque (stocking-cap for you Yanks) and gloves in the pockets, and swap them on/off depending on temperature/distance hiked; touque gets swapped with a ball cap. Spare socks and a topo map go in the other one. These soft items don't chafe you to bits, and you can easily swap the gear on or off/look at your map without having to stop.

Hoochie Mama elk call. I operate it right in the pocket of my buttoned up Microtex pants or zippered KUIU Attack pants cargo pockets. Muffles the sound and works great.

Sometimes gloves go in as well.

I have been wearing pants with cargo pockets since the 60's so I am not sure how good they are compared to other methods. They avoid digging in my other pockets for frequent use things and dragging more important stuff out and losing it. Also, They are good for getting to stuff when sitting a stand with minimum movement.

I keep the following in them; Bandanna, TP-Paper Towels, Balaclava, Gloves, Map, Headlamp,etc. Soft stuff mostly.

I tend to use thin sandwich baggies to keep the stuff in. It doesn't seem to rub as much and is quieter. Freezer bags are way too stiff and soud like potatoe chips are in there.

I use BDU's and those pockets keep things in pretty well. I do stitch down the rear of the pocket like the front to keep things in better.

Most of the civilian stuff I have to add buttons to and sew down the edges of the flaps like a BDU pocket.

I love cargo pockets. Never lost anything out of 'em(knock on wood) They're great for map and compass. Sometimes I'll drop a water bottle or even a little snubbie. 38 in there. The weight never much bothers me. I just bought some lightweight tactical pants for hiking because of the pockets.

I wish you could find some affordable wool pants with cargo pockets.