1 step up from Walmart gear?

[dyl]

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!

[jimbob86]

I wish they were in a dark color rather than gray.

Deer don't care what color they are, and couldn't tell if they did.

Just don't use any detergent with UV brighters in it ... not likely for wool, anyhow....

[HiBC]

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.

[FairWarning]

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!

[JoeBeach]

What is so strange is that not one post answered the original question. Everyone just went on about this store or that. What are your recommendations for a BOOT not a store.

[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

[kraigwy]

Just an observation, but I see more camouflage clothing at Walmart then I do out hunting.

[Vermonter]

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.

[1hogfan83]

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.