Anyone use surplus wool pants for cold weather hunting? If so, where can I buy reasonably priced gear online?

How does this stuff compare to Filson, Woolrich, Johnson Mills etc.?

Thanks in advance.

I just wear wool and have had good success with surplus clothing

They work very well and are very durable. I've been using one pair of US surplus wool pants for going on 25 years now. Like any wool clothing you need some kind of under layer. In the Army back in Germany we had wool long johns but any of the wicking poly blends today are probably a bit more comfortable.




Just don't let them get too near a propane heater, though, they stink when they burn...

Any thoughts on the Codet Big Bill Woodsman pants? I found these online.

https://secure.armysurplusforless.com/productView.php?id=382#Charcoal Plaid

$85.00 for 28 oz. 100% wool pants seems like a great deal. Anyone have any experience with this brand? Thoughts?

I bought E. German wool pants for hunting 25 years ago from Sportsman Guide. Loved them wonderful.

I used to buy surplus GI wool pants and shirts at the local Army/Navy surplus
Nowadays that is a little harder
Sprortsman's Guide sell foreign wool stuff
Worth a look

I've used US military surplus and that of other countries as well. It has always been an excellent to good value for the money. I've never regretted a purchase. Like others have said, Army-Navy stores and Sportsman Guide have been good sources for me.

Rolling Thunder - I guarantee those will be good pants, but that is depending on what kind of hunting you're doing. Those 28oz pants are going to be very thick and very warm. If all you're doing is sitting in a stand and it's cold, they'll be great. If you plan on walking much, you will overheat and be sorry for wearing them. I'd look for a lower weight pant. The military surplus pants are great and very durable. Most places have an Army/Navy surplus store somewhere close that you can actually visit and feel the material to judge how heavy you want them. You should be able to find something for much less than $85 at the surplus store. You also probably will want to try them on since the sizes are not always the most accurate as they are labeled.

I have wool Army pants that I bought 10 or 15 years ago for Elk hunting that work great. I really like them and they were CHEEEEAP!!! (I think I remember paying about $20 a pair) Haven't looked for them for years because the 3 pairs I have are still in great shape and will probably out live me. You can overheat in them if it isn't pretty cold or you hike too hard.

It's hard to beat Filson whipcord for the active hunter. If its really cold or I'm not going to be moving much I pull out West German Milsurp cargo pants.

Quite a few years ago Cabelas had milsurp pants for like $8/pair. I bought 3 pair and haven't broken in the 3d pair yet. The biggest problem was that they had button flies that were almost impossible to get buttoned. I gave up and replaced them with zippers.
Check out Sportsmans Guide. They have all kinds of milsurp pants for really cheap.

I prefer the lighter weight ones, maybe dress pants. They're wool so they're durable and warm when wet but they aren't so hot in mild weather. If it gets real cold, I wear polypro long johns under them.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful info. Much appreciated.

I have the Big Bill pants and they are great. You may also want to look at johnson wool pants and jackets, they are made in vermont. I have had the johnson's as well and they are very well made also.

The Codet brand wool clothing is very high quality at a reasonable price. It's quite popular here in the frozen north. I own several pairs of various weights and also the bibs.
the pants are available in various weights so you needn't necessarily buy the heaviest weight available. I highly recommend them. A pair of quality suspenders is almost a must in my opinion. I don't see the logic in layering up and then tightening a belt up around your midsection.

I still have three pair that I got about the same time. Love them.

I have a pair of Codet pants and a jacket. I like em.
I have had them for 20 or so years and they have held up well.

I was smart enough to buy 2 pair of West German surplus wool pants when they were dirt cheap. One pair to wear and another pair to grow into, I am hunting in the grow into pair now.

Doc

It's the price of the milsurp gear that got my attention. Anything under $50.00 for warm, rugged pants that will last a lifetime is a steal. For that price I don't see why I wouldn't buy several pairs if I could find the right size.

Foreign sizes don't always match up with US sizes. You might find that mail order stuff has to be returned.

They work great for cross-country skiing. But mine have all shrunk around the waist vs. 40 years ago.

The only clothing I've hunted in for over 25 years. Some bought at a military surplus store, some bought at Sportsman Guide (I think). memtb

Finding genuine original U.S. military surplus clothing still in decent usable condition can be near impossible in the larger sizes.
Small and medium in short and regular lengths is fairly common but not so in large and tall sizes.

In my internet travels tonight I was able to purchase a new (without tags) pair of Woolrich Malone wool pants in my waist size for $20.00 plus shipping. Those pants go for $175.00 in stores. This is the second pair of of Woolrich Malone pants I've purchased on ebay for $20.00 plus shipping - these are Adirondack Plaid and the prior pair was black and red plaid. Either these pants do not sell all that well on the second hand market or some sellers don't know the value of what they are selling. These are 18 oz. 85% wool.

Check ebay once a month for good gear in your size and you'll be surprised what you will find.

Field trousers, wool M-1951, US Army. I grew up in, arguably the coldest place in the lower 48 and became obsessed with staying warm. If you put these trousers over garden variety long johns and under 1000 cordura chaps, you will be warm and protected from wild rose bushes. If it is too cold for this, check into a mental hospital, you have a death wish.


Wear your Filson whippies to church, they're too expensive for the bush.

The cheapest way to get good lightish wool pants is at the local Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Just go to the dress pants/suits section. Great quality, lightweight wool for a couple of bucks.

I googled those pants and found that they can be found for $20.00 and in virtually every size. Don't know how heavy they are but based on the photos they look thick. Nice find.

They are plenty heavy, but the real value is in the TIGHT twill weave that makes them virtually wind proof. I love their thermal properties without the bulk of the Malone style pants. Risk $20, you won't regret it. ;-{>8 I bought a rubbermaid tub full of them for about $8 a pair, twenty plus years ago and haven't worn out a pair yet. Grandkids will inherit them.

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...urplus-uniform-field-pants-new?a=1886860
For the price worth a shot.

In my limited experience I have come to prefer thinner wool dress pants combined with Kuiu merino zip off 145 bottoms.
Good for me down to about 25 degrees.

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/productlist?k=wool+pants

When really cold I prefer the windproof cabelas wooltimates pants with the same merino bottoms.

These two setups cover everything I will see here in the northeast.
I have a Johnson Woolen jacket and weave is not that tight.
I have a Filson mackinaw vest, nice tight weave and weight. Would be nice for cold weather but would not be windproof.
---Just my opinion

I got a pair of German or such, for around $10, that I wear snowmobiling. You have to choose the correct long john. I wool is tough and quite. But it tends to need the correct layer underneath. The stuff I have is not that thick. I wear alot of wool. I like buying old stuff on ebay that is American made.

Obvipusly different grades of wool. Some of it is very soft and needs no base layer.

Be sure and take a bunch of b3 vitamins when u wear them...keep u warm ...call me....mr helper !

17 years ago I bought several pairs of the Swedish army wool trousers. They have cargo pockets, which I like, and have yet to wear out.

I prefer wool dress pants like these unless it gets real cold. They won't roast you in higher temps but are still warm and very durable. I'm comfortable in them up to about 70F. A pair of good long johns under them will be warm to way down there. I've been comfortable in them down to 0 with just a pair of polypros under them. I wash them in cold water and hang dry. Put them in a drier and they won't fit your daughter's Ken doll.
WOOL PANTS

NOTE: One of the reviews says that on the L size, the waist is 35" and inseam 32".

Same here. Still have them.

Codet makes a solid bit of gear. It is a bit on the heavy side. Comfort and durability are quite good. Milsurp wool gear is a trip to the Fleet/Farm away here in NE WI. Most of it is anywhere from good to excellent, especially given the price.

It needs to be on the heavy side for late November deer hunting in New York State. The trick is not to get sweaty on the way to your stand. It takes me an hour to get to mine and no matter how slow I walk I'm sweating pretty good. Most of the terrain is fairly steep and uphill. No way around it.

I have them and a pair of bibs. They're tough, quiet, and I don't usually hunt without them unless its in the 40's.

100% wool in that thickness for just $85.00 is a tremendous bargain.

You'll definitely like them then-my Dad from Cazenovia was the one that introduced me to the brand. We both own a pair, and find they work great with a light base layer. Coincidentally, we hunt the driftless zone,about 6 miles south of Cazenovia, WI.

The M-1951 pants are 17 oz. whipcord and are the same weight as the discontinued Filson pants. They are cut weird to me, think 1950 Abbot and Costello high waist, and I had a tailor lower the waist to a more modern style. They are bullet proof and quite warm without a lot of bulk.

When I'm in the woods and it's brutally cold I want the high waist. Especially if I'm sitting on the ground as is often the case. I tried bibs for this very reason by never did like the way they felt.

I still can't get over the $20.00 cost for pants that will outlast the wearer. With several pairs there's no need to worry about wearing yesterday's wet wool pants.

I'm glad I started this thread. So much good info.

Two more features on the 1951s. They have a waist adjustment straps and all of mine have buttons for braces.

Bought my military surplus wool pants 20-something years ago from Sportsman's Guide, IIRC. Now I can't recall if they're Swedish or German or whatever, They're great even though I reserve them for when I'm doing a lot of sitting when it's really frigid and they still look like new. At that rate they should outlast me.

I've tried on some of these euro-trash mil surplus woolies.

Seriously, what sort of freak sizing and body shapes can actually fit into those things?

Bought some U.S. Army pants years ago and they were great, but can't get my big butt in them any more. I replaced them with "German Wool Pants" from Cabela's, when they had a Surplus section. The origin is unspecified, but they are brown, heavy wool with canvas pockets and suspender buttons. I have yet to unwrap the second pair because the first pair is still like new. The zipper tag is a funny little ball-on-a-stick thingy, unlike any I've ever seen. I got these big, to go over heavy longjohns. I think they were $20 or so. These are really excellent winter pants.

I also bought some Swedish pants that had cute little leather belts around the cuffs, which were canvas. Heaviest wool I've ever seen in a garment, but even way back then, they were a little snug, so I only wore them a couple of times. Might make something out of the cloth someday.

I always liked Nazi uniforms.

Yeah,say what you will about National Socialism, those fellas did know how to dress. Even Lemmy said so.

Used wool surplus (1951s) for 20 plus years until I tried my first pair of modern synthetic pants 10 years or so ago (Marmot Screes) ... game over.

I have a pair of Cabela's Legacy 24 oz 100% wool pants that are machine washable and seem to be pretty well constructed. I also have a pair of Canadian-made Bill Bill's Codets that are 75% wool pants that are also well constructed. Both pants are very warm and their seams and buttons are holding up well. The Codet's appear to have a tighter weave and I wear them more often as they are a bit lighter. I will be honest, I cannot wear either these pants comfortably unless temps remain below freezing, especially when I'm active. I have warn the Codet's in a couple of minor snow storms while elk hunting in CO, and they shed the moisture nicely. Both pants are worn with merino wool base layers and a good pair of suspenders.

I don't recall the exact price I paid for the pants but both were purchased for well under $100 each. I think either pair of pants would serve you well.

I've asked myself that many times. Maybe that's why they're on the market now. All of the well fitting ones were worn out years ago. These are the ones that were never worn.
OTOH, remember that the guys who wear those have the same European ancestors as many of us.

Surplus isn't always used. The used surplus I have bought US or Europe, has not been worn out. Great prices. I lke Filson, but I am fine with some surplus pants.