1 step up from Walmart gear?
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johnwilliamson062
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I have the lightest pair of scentlock overalls i could find. No matter the season i dress as needed then throw those on top. They were just under $100 on sale from cabelas.
I am not sure they work all that well. I would likely just buy regular overalls of the cheepest variety if i had it to do over.
As far as scent, the smartest hunter I know just wears a cheap undershirt for a weekend working outside then ties it to his deer stand. The deer get used to it before season starts.
I am not sure they work all that well. I would likely just buy regular overalls of the cheepest variety if i had it to do over.
As far as scent, the smartest hunter I know just wears a cheap undershirt for a weekend working outside then ties it to his deer stand. The deer get used to it before season starts.
Thanks for the replies- I've been "away" because i now have a muzzle-loader. A tc impact. It is much more enjoyable to shop and research a firearm than clothes isn't it? I appreciate the responses. Walmart is now full of camo clothes and there is a Goodwill just down the street from it. But as you all suggested the importance of them, I think I'll look up boots next. I found some used military boots that supposedly aren't available to civilians but something didn't sit well with buying a nOn-insulated used soldier's boot soaked with who knows what from the Middle East to hunt in...
Where will you be hunting? If it's cold you will want to take that into consideration. I do most of my hunting in Maine and I prefer Johnson wool pants and jacket in dark green. Cabelas 8-Point boots work really good at keeping out the cold. If you go with wool make sure you layer. Wool doesn't cut the wind very well.
IMHO two critical items are boots and outter wear.
Outter wear is usually a jacket and I think it is as critical as a good boot.
I want my boot and jacket to fit well and be comfortable for long hunts. I want them both to be waterproof (not water resistanat) and breath to let out sweat to keep me dry.
I would not think twice about paying $200 for a good boot or good outter wear as they will last for many years.
Outter wear is usually a jacket and I think it is as critical as a good boot.
I want my boot and jacket to fit well and be comfortable for long hunts. I want them both to be waterproof (not water resistanat) and breath to let out sweat to keep me dry.
I would not think twice about paying $200 for a good boot or good outter wear as they will last for many years.
Countertop
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Maybe it's a regional thing, but Im always shocked on the brands/stores that come up on these kinds of internet discussions and never include mention of LL Bean, which not only sells some of the toughest, most fantastic Hunting and outdoor clothing anywhere (the wilderness of Maine is every bit the equal of Alaska - I've been a 10 day hike removed from a road crossing there), but their prices are fair (indeed often times much much better than anywhere else), and they stand 100% behind their product.
It doesn't matter how old it is. In what shape it is. What you did to it. If it fails you (ie: if the seam on your 25 year old daily boots breaks) they will repair or replace it no questions asked.
Only brand I would ever swear by is LL Bean.
I've worn their duck boots, the greater hunting shoe ever, nearly my hole life. Upland, I wear their upland hunting/hiking boots. Both pairs of boota I have from there are 20+ year old and still going strong (I also have a pair of Merrell Wilerderness off piste hiking boots that are bomb proof which I our got from LL Bean but they are overkill in 99% of situations, sadly Merrell Boots today are a distant relation to what they once where).
I'd strongly urge you to get their hunting catalog or check out their web page.
You won't see much in the latest sucker camo fashions or BS scent control technology that cabelas tries to waste your money on, but you see everything you actually need.
As far as Wal mart goes, the others are mostly spot on. Don't get boots there. Anything else is fine, in nearly 90% of situations you find yourself in hunting in. Some may wear out sooner than others, some may fail utterly, but that's all part of the learning experience.
I have a couple pairs of dickey jeans from Wal mart I wear hunting a lot. I pick up random other stuff there. Some local stores carry better selections than others. But at the end of the day the only way to know what you want, what you need, and the reliability and durability of that is by your own experience.
It doesn't matter how old it is. In what shape it is. What you did to it. If it fails you (ie: if the seam on your 25 year old daily boots breaks) they will repair or replace it no questions asked.
Only brand I would ever swear by is LL Bean.
I've worn their duck boots, the greater hunting shoe ever, nearly my hole life. Upland, I wear their upland hunting/hiking boots. Both pairs of boota I have from there are 20+ year old and still going strong (I also have a pair of Merrell Wilerderness off piste hiking boots that are bomb proof which I our got from LL Bean but they are overkill in 99% of situations, sadly Merrell Boots today are a distant relation to what they once where).
I'd strongly urge you to get their hunting catalog or check out their web page.
You won't see much in the latest sucker camo fashions or BS scent control technology that cabelas tries to waste your money on, but you see everything you actually need.
As far as Wal mart goes, the others are mostly spot on. Don't get boots there. Anything else is fine, in nearly 90% of situations you find yourself in hunting in. Some may wear out sooner than others, some may fail utterly, but that's all part of the learning experience.
I have a couple pairs of dickey jeans from Wal mart I wear hunting a lot. I pick up random other stuff there. Some local stores carry better selections than others. But at the end of the day the only way to know what you want, what you need, and the reliability and durability of that is by your own experience.
Well,lot of good info,but where are you hunting,and what time of year?Where I live,winter starts to show up during hunting season.I suggest researching the weather conditions you will enjoy.
A lot of the fine clothing mentioned is not so good if it gets wet.
If you are hunting a place that gets cold,and you need to go low-buck,there are some european military surplus wool pants that are a bargain.If you do not have a local surplus store,look to Cheaper Than Dirt.Even the US Army class"A" pants represent a lighter weight pair of wool pants of good,durable construction.You can also find good wool dress pants ,like from a suit,at Goodwill.A fellow named Harry Roberts used to be the editor of Wilderness Camping magazine,wrote a couple books about winter camping and gearing up."Moving Out" and "Moving On".He describes converting wool dress pants to mountaineering pants.Wool is still warm when wet,dries fast,and is very quiet.
The brown GI polypro underwear is great! Cheap,too.If you can find the green elastic figure 8,across the back suspenders,GI,they are pretty good.If you can find the rivet-on metal buttons from Duluth or Carhart,you can set your britches up for some serious button in suspenders.
I have to go with good,heavy merino wool sox.Not cheap!! but good,oh,check Sierra Trading Post catalogue,Cheyenne,Wyo.
Somehow,have something you can sit on that will keep your butt dry.I have a square of the close cell foam camp mattress.You can use a folded GI poncho,
Last time I went,we backpacked up to 8000 ft plus in the Flat Tops Wilderness in Colorado.I'll try to post a pic of our camp later,but we had a blizzard with lightning on top of us all night,snow higher than my knees in the morning.It was dry pine needles the day before.
Some scenarios,its no big deal,wear anything.If you go to remote high country,it matters.
Good luck!
That pic is me.As I said,dry ground the night before.My two brothers and I back packed up there.We had planned horses,but the friend who was to be our wrangler had chemotherapy to deal with.We did fine,but,given our resources were quite limited,keeping dry was a big deal
A lot of the fine clothing mentioned is not so good if it gets wet.
If you are hunting a place that gets cold,and you need to go low-buck,there are some european military surplus wool pants that are a bargain.If you do not have a local surplus store,look to Cheaper Than Dirt.Even the US Army class"A" pants represent a lighter weight pair of wool pants of good,durable construction.You can also find good wool dress pants ,like from a suit,at Goodwill.A fellow named Harry Roberts used to be the editor of Wilderness Camping magazine,wrote a couple books about winter camping and gearing up."Moving Out" and "Moving On".He describes converting wool dress pants to mountaineering pants.Wool is still warm when wet,dries fast,and is very quiet.
The brown GI polypro underwear is great! Cheap,too.If you can find the green elastic figure 8,across the back suspenders,GI,they are pretty good.If you can find the rivet-on metal buttons from Duluth or Carhart,you can set your britches up for some serious button in suspenders.
I have to go with good,heavy merino wool sox.Not cheap!! but good,oh,check Sierra Trading Post catalogue,Cheyenne,Wyo.
Somehow,have something you can sit on that will keep your butt dry.I have a square of the close cell foam camp mattress.You can use a folded GI poncho,
Last time I went,we backpacked up to 8000 ft plus in the Flat Tops Wilderness in Colorado.I'll try to post a pic of our camp later,but we had a blizzard with lightning on top of us all night,snow higher than my knees in the morning.It was dry pine needles the day before.
Some scenarios,its no big deal,wear anything.If you go to remote high country,it matters.
Good luck!
That pic is me.As I said,dry ground the night before.My two brothers and I back packed up there.We had planned horses,but the friend who was to be our wrangler had chemotherapy to deal with.We did fine,but,given our resources were quite limited,keeping dry was a big deal
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Thanks again hunters,
Muzzleloader and firearm start in November, firearm goes til January 5th so I suspect it might get a little chilly. I don't think it snows much in this area though, central VA.
I'm having a Heck of a time finding military camo wool pants. I did see the east/west German surplus and they look like a good deal but I wish they were in a dark color rather than gray. I was considering wool overalls in a dark brown camo I saw for ~$30. I also considered standard camo military pants but they were all in cotton even if they were "tweed" or "ripstop".
I'll check out the latest suggestions you've sent my way, thanks!
Muzzleloader and firearm start in November, firearm goes til January 5th so I suspect it might get a little chilly. I don't think it snows much in this area though, central VA.
I'm having a Heck of a time finding military camo wool pants. I did see the east/west German surplus and they look like a good deal but I wish they were in a dark color rather than gray. I was considering wool overalls in a dark brown camo I saw for ~$30. I also considered standard camo military pants but they were all in cotton even if they were "tweed" or "ripstop".
I'll check out the latest suggestions you've sent my way, thanks!
I would not get too wrapped up in the "camo" thing if you are trying not to spend a lot of money.Military clothes are of subdued,drab colors.They aren;t shiny.They will do fine.Being still and using your surroundings is more important than a camo pattern.Charcoal grey pants and a GI field jacket work pretty well standing in trees.
Outer pants about like the class "A" military dress pants or some good winter suit pants make a decent outer layer.They will be thin and light.Put the polypro long johns under.I have a pair of the German pants that are heavier,about like PolarFleece but wool.(BTW,polar fleece can be reasonably priced).If it gets windy,cheap nylon jogging pants worn over will stop wind.(not the sealed waterproof ones,you'll sweat)
Another excellent piece is the GI field jacket liner,the one that is about like a poncho liner.
If it is not wet out,the desert storm hooded parka is a nice shell,green/black checked night vision camo.They had a liner a little longer than a field jacket liner,I think.
All this stuff is pretty light,cheap,and packable.Swing it around over your head and you can get it near dry enough to wear.
Don't forget your hands and your head.
Outer pants about like the class "A" military dress pants or some good winter suit pants make a decent outer layer.They will be thin and light.Put the polypro long johns under.I have a pair of the German pants that are heavier,about like PolarFleece but wool.(BTW,polar fleece can be reasonably priced).If it gets windy,cheap nylon jogging pants worn over will stop wind.(not the sealed waterproof ones,you'll sweat)
Another excellent piece is the GI field jacket liner,the one that is about like a poncho liner.
If it is not wet out,the desert storm hooded parka is a nice shell,green/black checked night vision camo.They had a liner a little longer than a field jacket liner,I think.
All this stuff is pretty light,cheap,and packable.Swing it around over your head and you can get it near dry enough to wear.
Don't forget your hands and your head.
FairWarning
New member
I have to smirk a little when I see the price tags on some of the jackets/cold weather clothing at places like Ba$$ Pro Shop$. 
Must seem tempting if you don't want to bother doing research, but it is simply not necessary to spend a fortune on clothing.
There is no shortage of fine surplus military gear for SUPER cheap in surplus stores or on various gun/hunting websites, or even ebay and amazon. If you buy a Czech or Swedish or Russian parka for example, you are getting gear that has been well proven to perform in very cold environments. Nothing against Evil-Mart, uhhh, I mean Wal-Mart, but I like to have gear that is a bit more unique than what you see there.
I'll also vouch for LL Bean quality, but it's not necessary to spend that much to more than get the job done. And again, you can find LL Bean gear lightly used on ebay or amazon also. LL Bean tends to be on the expensive side, although I am very, very happy with my double front jeans (flat out cheap at $44!). They are right up there with Carhartt for toughness. If you are in a truly cold area, a thermal layer such as Underamor, then either a heavy flannel shirt or Norwegian style wool sweater and a slightly large (to allow layering) military style parka on the outside will stop almost anything. Just remember to protect your most vulnerable area, your head!
Must seem tempting if you don't want to bother doing research, but it is simply not necessary to spend a fortune on clothing. There is no shortage of fine surplus military gear for SUPER cheap in surplus stores or on various gun/hunting websites, or even ebay and amazon. If you buy a Czech or Swedish or Russian parka for example, you are getting gear that has been well proven to perform in very cold environments. Nothing against Evil-Mart, uhhh, I mean Wal-Mart, but I like to have gear that is a bit more unique than what you see there.
I'll also vouch for LL Bean quality, but it's not necessary to spend that much to more than get the job done. And again, you can find LL Bean gear lightly used on ebay or amazon also. LL Bean tends to be on the expensive side, although I am very, very happy with my double front jeans (flat out cheap at $44!). They are right up there with Carhartt for toughness. If you are in a truly cold area, a thermal layer such as Underamor, then either a heavy flannel shirt or Norwegian style wool sweater and a slightly large (to allow layering) military style parka on the outside will stop almost anything. Just remember to protect your most vulnerable area, your head!
Depends where you are.
I am not sure what part of virgina or what your climate is like.
For me in Vermont I will spend a premium on gear that I believe will keep me warmer and dry. This goes for camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, skiing, and working in the outdors. This is not snobbery so much as If I believe something is heads and tails better than the alternitave I will pay a bit more. I bargan shop and I tend to always get things on sale.
I don't obsess over all my camo matching but I want it comfertable and warm. Also to me I like technical clothing that keeps you warm with out adding so much bulk that you look like the pillsberry dough boy.
As for boots I have a pair of pack boots from cabelas and frankly I spent all last hunting season in a pair of camo colored knee high rubber boots that were completely water proof and are 1000 grams of insulation. Those and a pair of socks were perfect and allowed me to hunt some areas that I had not previously because of stream crossings.
Nothing wores than seeing a fella in a brown carhart jacket during deer season with no orange on BTW that is just asking for a bullet. Exceptions being if you are on your own land and expecting no other hunters. Even then I wear no brown during deer season.
Regards, Vermonter
I am not sure what part of virgina or what your climate is like.
For me in Vermont I will spend a premium on gear that I believe will keep me warmer and dry. This goes for camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, skiing, and working in the outdors. This is not snobbery so much as If I believe something is heads and tails better than the alternitave I will pay a bit more. I bargan shop and I tend to always get things on sale.
I don't obsess over all my camo matching but I want it comfertable and warm. Also to me I like technical clothing that keeps you warm with out adding so much bulk that you look like the pillsberry dough boy.
As for boots I have a pair of pack boots from cabelas and frankly I spent all last hunting season in a pair of camo colored knee high rubber boots that were completely water proof and are 1000 grams of insulation. Those and a pair of socks were perfect and allowed me to hunt some areas that I had not previously because of stream crossings.
Nothing wores than seeing a fella in a brown carhart jacket during deer season with no orange on BTW that is just asking for a bullet. Exceptions being if you are on your own land and expecting no other hunters. Even then I wear no brown during deer season.
Regards, Vermonter
I think your correct
Kraig,
I beleive you are exactly correct. My point is that I don't want to see unsafe colors out there. That means brown during deer season and black during bear and turkey. Blaze orange is your friend and one of the el cheapo safety vests only costs $10.
Kraig,
I beleive you are exactly correct. My point is that I don't want to see unsafe colors out there. That means brown during deer season and black during bear and turkey. Blaze orange is your friend and one of the el cheapo safety vests only costs $10.
Arkansas requires orange for all seasons except turkey so safety colors should be a given. Two things I might mention, someone may have already so forgive me if you have. Number one, rubber boots! Leather carries smell so bad, if your going to throw down $100 on boots, buy muck. They are very comfortable and do not smell bad after a while. Take all the showers you want, if what hits the ground stinks, nothing else matters. My hunting pants have adjustment string that drags the ground so I just dip them in fox urine. Number two, get a wool type fiber or something that doesn't sound like a WalMart bag in the dryer when you move. Two very important things, just think about it.
The_Alpha_Dog2017
Moderator
If you're looking for cost effective upland hunting pants I would suggest getting Wranglers from Amazon. They'll hold up for 5-10 years if you treat them right (I just upgraded to Filson chaps after wearing Wranglers for 15 years) and you can typically get a pair for under $60.
They also come in a huge range of sizes, so you're almost guaranteed to find your size.
They also come in a huge range of sizes, so you're almost guaranteed to find your size.
No, it's the donuts on the way out to your hunting area that do that.
I will echo what others have said. There is nothing specifically wrong with WalMart hunting gear, but you can do a lot better for not much more money. I buy wool sweaters from the Goodwill, wool pants from garage sales, but I wear good boots with wool socks and wool long johns and wool gloves and watch cap. Just keep your eye out for the good stuff. Cabelas and Bass Pro Shop may have some really cool gear, but you don't need most of it. $300 for an insulated camo snowsuit, or $40 for a gray 0 degree freezer suit from the work wear store. $400 for insulated boots imported from Germany or $150 for uninsulated GoreTex boots on closeout at MidwayUSA. $150 for insulated GoreTex gloves from Bass Pro Shop, or $25 for ragg wool gloves and a pair of $40 GoreTex mittens from the fisherman supply shop. Just know what you are looking at and what you need and you're gonna be OK.
And learn how to sit still or move slowly when you are in the woods.
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