Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Best hunting wool pants/jacket

Boy, completely disagree with those who are still wearing wool. I've had every brand. Never wear it anymore.

It's heavy, sweaty, dirty, expensive, (except for Army surplus) cold when the wind blows,takes to long to dry, etc.

It is quiet though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I wear quality long johns, polar fleece over those. The weight of the fleece depends upon the temp. Over that I wear an outer pair of pants. The quietest I have are "Walls." Windproof, waterproof, not real expensive, and they don't pickup and carry burrs. For a coat, again fleece, weight depends upon temp. When the wind blows or it's raining, out comes a light "Walls" shell. Often I'll put the shell under the fleece and let it blow and rain. I have others too, but those "Walls" have seen the most use over the last few years. It's good stuff, and not overly expensive, and waterproof enough to keep me dry most of the day into the evening.

Absolutely no way I'd waste my money on expensive wool. I've worn a variation of the above from Alaska to Idaho. During September rain storms in Nome, to cold Caribou hunts in late October. Works fine during late November Whitetail hunts in Idaho too...

In Alaska I donned Cabela's Guide Gear as an outer garmet during Spring bear, and Fall Moose.

You can keep the wool <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

My hearing is far from stellar,but I regard fleece as being easily quieter,than wool.

I don't know a single dude who Commercial Fishes,works in the Woods or Guides Hunters,who prefers wool.

Same goes Mountain Climbers......................

If I'm still hunting, I have an old pair of fleece pants that I'll wear. True enough, quieter than wool.

I typically let my eye's hunt for me though...

Zeiss bino's oughtta be outlawed,for unsportsmanlike conduct..............................

I go home when my balls get wet. If my balls are wet, I'm too wet.

I weigh the condition of my bald-headed buddies.

When they ain't happy,the rest of me concurs.

They's barometers of evaluation,that I cain't dispute..................

That's good... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It's apt.......................

Mark me as another one voting for the Filson Whipcord pants: tough, warm, lightweight, not itchy. They're expensive but will last you forever.

I've lotsa Filson.


On the shelf..........................

And Codet,Pendleton,Woolrich,yada,yada,yada..................

I don't know how I managed to forget about the Army OG 107 stuff. As I've been haunting some surplus stores looking for decent specimens.
They were issued to us up at Ft. Wainwright back in the day before the Gore-Tex and bear suits.
I think the OG 107 pants are a little too light weight and dressy, but the shirts are perfect. They are comparable in thickness to heavy-weight chamois shirts.

Light and dressy?? They are as durable as any wool clothes I've ever seen and with the G.I. longjohns they are nearly bulletproof. The shirts are so heavy and tough that they stand up well as an outer jacket if you get a couple of sizes too big.

For woolies I'll take the Filson Whipcords and also my King of the Mountain for heavier uses.

At least in the land I wander these 2 work very well 4 me.

Mark D

Looking at the location of the people posting here, myself included. It seems you could make a graph of the opinions that would follow exactly with the amount of rainfall.

Where it's really cold and typically arid, or minimal rain the wool crowd is very strong. As you move towards the more moderate climates and the greaterlikely hood of percipitation the wool/synthetic users become a bit more divided. When you get to the fringe of the Pacific Northwest and further into the coast of Alaska wool becomes a non-functional option.

It's not really a debate about whats better in total, but rather what's better in the habitat each person uses it in. The problem is really easy to solve with enough money. A great wool parka and bibs or pants with a dry plus lining covers two of the three areas. Maybe even two ana half. For that coastal PNW habitat, there are better options. Some MUCH better. So you have fleece which is much lighter when wet, drys in very little time, and can be lined with windshear and either goretex or Dryplus.

I have a nice wool parka and pants, I use them east of the mountains for nearly every hunt. I love it! However I would not be using it west of the mountains or in SE Alaska, Heck I would not even tak it out of the closet to think about wearing it. For that the fleece dryplus is the clear winner.

On the coast where you may have brief sunshine or none at all, and you don't go home at night to have the luxury of drying things out with a furnace or tumble dryer for the next day. Wool will remain wet for a hella long time. Fleece will usually drip dry over night, or in a warm room at least be comfortable to wear again the next day. I have not expereinced too many more miserable mornings in my life then climbing out of a warm sleeping bag to slide on cold damp wool pants that still weigh a ton.

On the other hand I love that wool east of the mountains for sitting on a ridge and glassing canyons in a cold wind. It's as warm and comfortable as I could hope for.

This conversation is much like whats the best 4X4 truck tire? Depends what you drive in the most. Snow, mud, sand, rocks?

I bought a fleece jacket from Day One Camo and it is very warm, and windproof. It doesn't seem as durable as wool though. My two complaints with wool is it is heavy and stinks when you get it wet.

JJ--very well said, one thing that always amazes me is how some will respond with a "this is the best and or ultimate or this or that is useless" kind of comments when in reality the best and or ultimate and or what is good or useless is always gonna be different for most all.

"DWS" (darn well said) JJ

Mark D

Valid points. Here in CO, I only wear wool when it is cold and snowy. When it is moderate and potentially wet, I wear normal camos and good rain pants and jacket.

I worked with a guy that said you had to wear wool in the rain, not raingear. Good luck with that one, i cannot think of anything worse.

Warmth to weight,fleece crushes wool. It dries faster,is more comfortable and is easier to layer,while being quieter.

I've no issue driving my Filson Double Mackinaw downtown to a Sunday breakfast.

That don't reign it supreme,nor even close,for sneakin' and peekin' with rifle in tow.......................

All i use is fleece.It's lite warm and dries pretty quick.Gave up on my woolies 4 or 5 season's ago.