I am off to Quebec for another Bou hunt next Month. Any suggestions for a warm hunting parka? I have been looking at the Browning 4 in 1.

Check www.mec.ca. It's a canadian company, but they make good stuff at reasonable prices. A lot of their stuff is geared towards mountain climbing and other outdoor sports, so they might have what you are looking for.


SS

Comet-I got a jacket from Cabela's it is fleece, wind stopper and has a hood. It comes in a camo pattern. I could look up a product number if you need.

Also their line of Berber is awesome and they now make a hooded one. That is what I would look at if I were you. I've got the Fall 2005-Edition 2 in front of me. Whitetail buck going over a farm field fence. Give me aminute and I'll look it up.

Page 60 is the one I'd take a close look at, the pull over one. Also that vest on the next page is one of top best garments I've ever owned!

Let me know if you need any more help

Mark D

lastly and you most likely know this but layering is the key

Cabelas had a huge closeout markdown on a herters big game 4 n 1 parka in the spring. I picked up the parka and bibs and saved alot. I'm really pleased with it for the $$. The berber fleece looks really nice.

I would buy a "Dolomiti" jacket with hood from www.integraldesigns.com; this is a light, reasonably priced and very high quality mountain parka. You can combine it with a "Logan" vest and this combo with appropriate underwear/shirt will take you from +55F down to -40F in real comfort. I cannot recommend this company's products too highly and use this gear myself with total satisfaction.

For a December caribou hunt I bought a Cabelas TechDown with gore-tex. This is the warmest coat I have ever worn. Too warm for above 20 degrees probably. The product that was very nice was the Codet Wool bibs which were one of the layers, very warm and very dry. How cold will it be next month? November I assume?

I am headed up for the first hunt Nov 15. I went last year and it was not too bad (about 5 degree F) However the guys we went with last year said that it was -40 F the previous year. That is cold! I want to be ready....just in case. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Rivers West!

A hearty second to Rivers West!

I don't know why these folks don't get a lot more exposure, other than a lack of advertising budget and competition with the biggies like Cabela's, Bass Pro, etc.

Rivers West offers some of the best hunting clothing I've used. I currently have the Ranger parka and a couple of pairs of pants (don't remember which one). I've used them in Alaska, Colorado and New Mexico and am thoroughly happy. Ya just don't have to worry about it.

I just bought a pair of RW pants an hour ago and am awaiting the arrival of the jacket to match. This is very nice gear, but, it is a tad heavy for backpacking or keeping in your daypack. I want it for late season Whitetail hunting where I walk a little and sit in stands a lot, this in cold rain, sleet and snow. It depends on where you are going and how much motion will be involved, but, a "Logan Vest" over Smartwool or Ibex LJs covered by RW will keep you warm and dry.

"Northern Outfitters" makes some high tech stuff that'll keep you warm enough to sleep in outside - in a snow storm. Pricey - but worth it. Nothing else I've ever bought comes close...

I bought and used RW gear this year, and in the future, will be alot more selective in it's use. Forget about breathability, I felt like I was wearing a Glad Trashbag, it brings to mind the military polypro expedition weight underwear, slick with sweat continuously. To be fair, this weather was warm (50s-70s), and I was moving. I'm going to try it next sitting still in rain/snow (not likely in my neck of the woods), maybe that's it's niche. For me, if any walking in weather above 50 is in the picture the RW has been ruled out. Please hold the flames, I'm just reporting my experience.
Don

Yup, I have found that with just about any "breathable-waterproof" clothing, you sweat like a draughthorse. But, here in B.C., the best Whitetail hunting is in November and the weather is just foul, far worse than the deep cold of late Dec./Jan/Feb. This is when I see this stuff being really worthwhile and with my longjohns and I.D. vest, pullover or fleece, I can adjust to the changing weather easily.

I thought about buying the gear Brian mentions, but, I am primarily a backpacker and it seems too heavy and warm for my needs....good on a sled or snowcat, though. One thing is that as much as I love and use highend down products for much of my outdoor stuff, I find Primaloft synthetics to be better for hunting clothing.

Kutenay,
I have followed your lead to Integral Designs for several products. I found in Alaska this year hunting north of Bettles that the ultralight smartwool long john, with their eVent rain jacket handled most anything, with much better ventillation. I wore the Ibex backcountry pants, and liked them, although also a little heavy for the temps.
Don