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Thoughts on hunting pants?

Southern Sportsman

Southern Sportsman

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I have a good pair of insulated pants I wear on cold mornings. But typically I have worn a basic pair of thick-ish cotton camo pants early in the year, and a pair of thin Ol' tom lightweight pants when it's hot later in the year. My cotton pants are thoroughly worn out and I ripped the crotch out of my ol' tom pants late last year. Wasn't a huge fan of them anyway.

I'd like to get a good pair of hunting pants. Just something comfortable, thick enough for early-mid season (with a base layer if needed), and durable. I've been looking. Kinda sticker-shocked. I don't mind paying for quality if I need to, but they're just pants. Not ruling it out, but I can't imaging what my dad would think if he found out I bought hunting pants approaching $100. Anyway, what do you wear? What do you like?
 
The most comfortable and longest-lasting ones I've found are made by 5.11
They aren't cheap $ wise, but will last for several years.

(I'm not sure what camo patterns they've got.)
 
you WILL find that quality pants that are made to last with quality material and design are going to cost more. Now worth and cost is in the eye of the user, I grew up dirt poor and bought what I could with what I have. Now that im older and make a tad more money I have invested in higher quality gear and I personally find it much more "worth" it then buying cheaper gear more often.

if we are talking true light weight pants that are for late season hot days I can get buy with a lot of different options because all Im looking for at that point is something that really wicks the sweat off my legs and can breath. I even run solid colors sometimes in the real heat of the season. Eddie Bauer actually makes some casual pants you can find online or at thier outlet stores that are great for warm weather if you dont mind solids.


now getting into actual medium weight or earlier season pants there are some really good options out there depending on what you want and what you want to spend. I personally am a First Lite guy so I run mostly their stuff. What I found works best for me is to limit the weight of the pant and use wool layers to regulate warmth which helps on those mornings its cold early and then warms up. The wool will keep you warm in the morning and help keep you cooler in when it warms up, plus you can just shed the layer if it gets really hot. First lite is now offering zip off base layers that make that even easier now to shed a layer off
Their Catalyst pants are great as well as their Corrugate (my personal favorite) or the Guide lite pants. One thing to remember on some of the higher priced gear is it generally comes with a lifetime warranty (sika, kuiu and first lite for sure do) so yes it cost more upfront but if something happens 5 years later you can send them back and they will fix or replace them.

Kryptec makes some great true medium weight pants as well but they are very warm and better suited for less mobile mornings. Sitka has some very good options as well but them and Kuiu are more on the higher side of the cost spectrum and some dont love the camo pattern.

i get it that some dont want to spend $100 on a pair of pants but you have to remember that is a long term investment and generally they will fit, feel and be designed MUCH better then a $30 pair and they have a lifetime warranty on them
 
prstide":2wsbll5c said:
First Lite Obsidian
Click to expand...


the issue I find with the obsidian is they do nothing in the wind and they are not very durable if you are breaking through brush. They are very good pants but I personally dont find them to be a great option for turkey hunting, at least the way I turkey hunt,.
 
I Always get cheap turkey hunting pants. Cross too many fences, creeks, fall down too many ditches, wade through too many briars and all. Expensive stuff gets ripped just like the cheap stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
REN":2n4th4fp said:
you WILL find that quality pants that are made to last with quality material and design are going to cost more. Now worth and cost is in the eye of the user, I grew up dirt poor and bought what I could with what I have. Now that im older and make a tad more money I have invested in higher quality gear and I personally find it much more "worth" it then buying cheaper gear more often.

if we are talking true light weight pants that are for late season hot days I can get buy with a lot of different options because all Im looking for at that point is something that really wicks the sweat off my legs and can breath. I even run solid colors sometimes in the real heat of the season. Eddie Bauer actually makes some casual pants you can find online or at thier outlet stores that are great for warm weather if you dont mind solids.


now getting into actual medium weight or earlier season pants there are some really good options out there depending on what you want and what you want to spend. I personally am a First Lite guy so I run mostly their stuff. What I found works best for me is to limit the weight of the pant and use wool layers to regulate warmth which helps on those mornings its cold early and then warms up. The wool will keep you warm in the morning and help keep you cooler in when it warms up, plus you can just shed the layer if it gets really hot. First lite is now offering zip off base layers that make that even easier now to shed a layer off
Their Catalyst pants are great as well as their Corrugate (my personal favorite) or the Guide lite pants. One thing to remember on some of the higher priced gear is it generally comes with a lifetime warranty (sika, kuiu and first lite for sure do) so yes it cost more upfront but if something happens 5 years later you can send them back and they will fix or replace them.

Kryptec makes some great true medium weight pants as well but they are very warm and better suited for less mobile mornings. Sitka has some very good options as well but them and Kuiu are more on the higher side of the cost spectrum and some dont love the camo pattern.

i get it that some dont want to spend $100 on a pair of pants but you have to remember that is a long term investment and generally they will fit, feel and be designed MUCH better then a $30 pair and they have a lifetime warranty on them
Click to expand...

Did not realize they had warranty. That changes my tune some on worrying about them getting torn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
woodsman04":24h3gmfv said:
REN":24h3gmfv said:
you WILL find that quality pants that are made to last with quality material and design are going to cost more. Now worth and cost is in the eye of the user, I grew up dirt poor and bought what I could with what I have. Now that im older and make a tad more money I have invested in higher quality gear and I personally find it much more "worth" it then buying cheaper gear more often.

if we are talking true light weight pants that are for late season hot days I can get buy with a lot of different options because all Im looking for at that point is something that really wicks the sweat off my legs and can breath. I even run solid colors sometimes in the real heat of the season. Eddie Bauer actually makes some casual pants you can find online or at thier outlet stores that are great for warm weather if you dont mind solids.


now getting into actual medium weight or earlier season pants there are some really good options out there depending on what you want and what you want to spend. I personally am a First Lite guy so I run mostly their stuff. What I found works best for me is to limit the weight of the pant and use wool layers to regulate warmth which helps on those mornings its cold early and then warms up. The wool will keep you warm in the morning and help keep you cooler in when it warms up, plus you can just shed the layer if it gets really hot. First lite is now offering zip off base layers that make that even easier now to shed a layer off
Their Catalyst pants are great as well as their Corrugate (my personal favorite) or the Guide lite pants. One thing to remember on some of the higher priced gear is it generally comes with a lifetime warranty (sika, kuiu and first lite for sure do) so yes it cost more upfront but if something happens 5 years later you can send them back and they will fix or replace them.

Kryptec makes some great true medium weight pants as well but they are very warm and better suited for less mobile mornings. Sitka has some very good options as well but them and Kuiu are more on the higher side of the cost spectrum and some dont love the camo pattern.

i get it that some dont want to spend $100 on a pair of pants but you have to remember that is a long term investment and generally they will fit, feel and be designed MUCH better then a $30 pair and they have a lifetime warranty on them
Click to expand...

Did not realize they had warranty. That changes my tune some on worrying about them getting torn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


yeah just check with each one cause some are different. I know I have sent back a few wool items I had for over a year that started getting holes in them to First Lite and they sent me a new pair of each. I know guys that have sent back rain gear for leaking and they replaced it as well as guys that had an old pair of pants zipper break and they fixed or replaced it for free. I dont know about tears from a fence but I have also not had that issue to ask about.

I also know Sitka has a very good warrenty as well. I had a pocket come apart on some grinder pants and they just overnighted me a brand new set no questions asked.
 
having said that I dont agree fully on expensive rip just the same as cheap ones. THat is where material type and quality of material matters IMO. I have had a set of Corrigate pants from first lite for a LONG time and I am very very hard on pants during turkey season. Never had a single issue with rips or tears busting through briars and nasty stuff. its a pretty durable nylon type material and they actually have a new set of pants out just for that type of hunting with a chaps like front on them for added durability. again just my experience

Note: I dont want this to come out as me saying First Lite is the best or anything or that cheap cloths are junk. Not at all, I have more experience with First Lite and Sitka gear is all vs some other companys like nomad or kuiu etc. Any of them will have stuff happen to them and nothing is bulletproof or flawless.
 
Setterman":lw1lmeec said:
Love the mossy oak cotton mill pants all season
Click to expand...

I like these and their old tibbe stuff. But the tibbe stuff tears easily, and the cotton mill in my experience faded even without washing. I do not wash my turkey hunting stuff ever. If I get wet and muddy or bloody I just let them air dry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I wear $15 cotton woodland camo BDUs with ripstop. On cool mornings, I wear some polypropylene legging underneath. On cold mornings, I wear heavy bibs over. Camo pattern doesnt matter much in pants because you are sitting and very little is visible to an incoming Turkey. I do try to mismatch pants and shirts intentionally.

I may look like my stuff came from the Salvation Army, but it works just fine, and most importantly is comfortable. It hasnt cost me a bird to my knowledge.

I spend my money on optics instead.

Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk
 
I've got underarmour storm pants that I've worn deer and turkey hunting for many years that are still in great shape. They are tough and don't fade. Not to mention, I can commonly find them on eBay for $30-40.
 
I pretty much bow hunt and turkey hunt in exact clothes. I typically wear the lightest weight pants I can find, regardless of temp ( >35 degrees). My legs never really get cold enough to affect my hunt, especially turkey hunting where I'm rarely idle very long. Like some others, I'm rough on pants due to long legs (busted crotch), barb wire fences, briars, thorns, vines, etc. I've got some old lightweight zip off Redhead 6 pocket pants that look like they should've been in the trash years ago. Several quarter to golf ball size rips/holes in them, but the crotch is still intact and man they are comfortable and breath well. I love hunting in them, but they're almost embarrassing to wear inside a local store at lunch. They have been a part of a lot of good hunts and memories over the years.
 
Andy S.":1oz7tvve said:
I pretty much bow hunt and turkey hunt in exact clothes. I typically wear the lightest weight pants I can find, regardless of temp ( >35 degrees). My legs never really get cold enough to affect my hunt, especially turkey hunting where I'm rarely idle very long. Like some others, I'm rough on pants due to long legs (busted crotch), barb wire fences, briars, thorns, vines, etc. I've got some old lightweight zip off Redhead 6 pocket pants that look like they should've been in the trash years ago. Several quarter to golf ball size rips/holes in them, but the crotch is still intact and man they are comfortable and breath well. I love hunting in them, but they're almost embarrassing to wear inside a local store at lunch. They have been a part of a lot of good hunts and memories over the years.
Click to expand...
:rotf: I've got some of those. Love em. They are usually the talking points when my wife is explaining to friends how I'm a hoarder
 

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