2nd half of september central Colorado... CLOTHING

[Tejasbow]

Been reading a lot on this forum. Gear, packs, boots, clothing etc.

Do the majority of you guys actually have 12-18 hundy in clothes simply to hunt elk in?

No prostaffers, no bs... What is the bare min for hunting high elevation. What makes these clothes so great? I simply do not have 1500 in this hunting budget for clothes...

Thanks for any replies.

 

[worx53]

heres what I'd take in my pack for clothes:

merino short t
merino long t
kuiu attack or Sitka ascent pant
puffy
ltwt rain gear set
thin merino kuiu gloves
2- darn tough socks
2- firstlite underwear
ltwt merino long underwear

that's what I take in the backcountry and most of my gear is KUIU and used to be all Sitka.
on a budget I would take Kuhl ltwt pants and cheaper raingear (cabelas packable maybe) as u may not use it at all some years

 

[Bar]

Been reading a lot on this forum. Gear, packs, boots, clothing etc.

Do the majority of you guys actually have 12-18 hundy in clothes simply to hunt elk in?

No prostaffers, no bs... What is the bare min for hunting high elevation. What makes these clothes so great? I simply do not have 1500 in this hunting budget for clothes...

Thanks for any replies.

I sure don't. I'm old school, and have wool clothing i've been wearing for decades. I'm still alive, and have shot lots of elk.

Nice to have, and must have are two different things.

 

[TJB]

worx53 put up a good list of what you will want to have. But the short of it is no...you don't need to drop 1500 on clothes for an elk hunt. Check out the cabelas microtex line. For the merino that worx mentioned, check out sierra trading post. Some good deals to be had especially if you sign up for their daily emails with discount codes. They also have some good deals on rain gear, socks, and merino underwear. Also check out sites like steap and cheap and camofire for deals on all things hunting and backpacking. I run the cabelas switzer primaloft puffy jacket and it has become one of my favorite jackets. Just keep in mind to stay away from cotton clothing if possible. Merino wool is great stuff for keeping the stink down and keeps you exceptionally warm even when wet. If camo isn't a must have for you, then it can be done even cheaper.

 

[Tejasbow]

Thanks guys.

I am a duck hunter, and a bass fisherman most of the time. I know the kind that chase the latest, and greatest.

Bar I like your style.

 

[topher89]

Cabela's Microtex would be perfect for September in Colorado. You could pick up pants and shirt for about $180 and they go on sale all the time. Add in merino baselayers, a midlayer puffy and rain gear and you would be good to go.

With careful shopping and not buying "premium" hunting clothes, you could very easily spend around $600.

Now when you get out of the September Archery seasons and into the rifle seasons, you will need to spend more on warmer gear.

 

[Browtine]

There's a good deal on Cabelas Microtex in the classifieds right now depending on your size.

 

[GoatNuts]

There is a good deal in the classifieds forum right now

 

[5MilesBack]

Do the majority of you guys actually have 12-18 hundy in clothes simply to hunt elk in?

I must admit it took me a few times of reading this before I realized what you were asking here.......couldn't figure out what the heck "12-18 hundy" was.

I have several pairs of Microtex and Microtex Lite that I only paid $20-$30/piece for, brand new from Cabela's on clearance over the years. Beyond that, a pair of merino base layers and some fleece and you're pretty well good to go. I have a Walls 10x camo rain jacket that I paid $30 for new that I've used for a few years now. Add all that up along with my $30 Costco clearance 800-fill down puffy, and I'm right around $180 for a set of clothes.

Now I do have a few sets of this stuff, but I also will hunt most of the 30 day season, and then later seasons as well. But NO, you don't need $1200+ worth of clothes to hunt elk.

 

[dotman]

No way, just plan in advance and not a month or two before season, there are always smokin deals from nov-apr.

2 - merino socks $35 on sale total
2 - merino undies $35 - $100 sales
1 - light weight pant $75 - $100 used sometimes less new if you hit the right sale
1- base layer pant $50 - $80 used or new depending on time of year
1 - base layer merino like the llano $50 - $80 used or new on the right ale
1 - mid layer $50 - $80 new or used depending on the time of the year
1 - puffy $50 - $300 used and depending on sales
1 - rain jacket $60 - $300 used and sales
1 - rain pant $60 - $300 used and sales

If you spend $1200 - $1500 you just like paying retail and do zero research and just falling for the mfg marketing. Always look for last years close outs as the newest and greatest is just barely more refined.

FYI... Camo isn't needed and you can then wear it year round, I personally only wear camo hunting but only because Kryptek highlander is freakin a cool pattern, I wear it cause I like it not because the animals care, drab colors are just as effective. Also depending on where you hunt drop the rain pant and use gaiters instead.

 

[Bar]

No way, just plan in advance and not a month or two before season, there are always smokin deals from nov-apr.

2 - merino socks $35 on sale total
2 - merino undies $35 - $100 sales
1 - light weight pant $75 - $100 used sometimes less new if you hit the right sale
1- base layer pant $50 - $80 used or new depending on time of year
1 - base layer merino like the llano $50 - $80 used or new on the right ale
1 - mid layer $50 - $80 new or used depending on the time of the year
1 - puffy $50 - $300 used and depending on sales
1 - rain jacket $60 - $300 used and sales
1 - rain pant $60 - $300 used and sales

If you spend $1200 - $1500 you just like paying retail and do zero research and just falling for the mfg marketing. Always look for last years close outs as the newest and greatest is just barely more refined.

FYI... Camo isn't needed and you can then wear it year round, I personally only wear camo hunting but only because Kryptek highlander is freakin a cool pattern, I wear it cause I like it not because the animals care, drab colors are just as effective. Also depending on where you hunt drop the rain pant and use gaiters instead.

Have you added up the high end of your list?

 

[dotman]

Have you added up the high end of your list?

No but never paid the high end of the list either, closer to the low end on most everything.

 

[Warren1726]

Here's what I have.
Two pairs of smartwool merino socks-$20 sierra trading post
Two pairs of exofficio give-n-go briefs-$24 STP
Redram merino long underwear-$30 STP
Core4element long sleeve merino top-$35 Camofire
Kings camo pro hunter pant-$40
Russell APX Primaloft vest-$40
Russell APX Gale softshell-$70
Northface hyvent jacket and pants-$180 (est)
Mountain Hardwear Beanie-$30
I think that's $570. I never pay retail. Buy close outs, discontinued, used, whatever. Retail is for people who are both impatient and have enough money they don't have to worry about saving.

 

[Rucker61]

Been reading a lot on this forum. Gear, packs, boots, clothing etc.

Do the majority of you guys actually have 12-18 hundy in clothes simply to hunt elk in?

I think I do, but I didn't pay that much for it, and I sold a carbon fiber mountain bike for $3500 to pay for those and a bunch more of equipment.

 

[Arbutusbucks]

Been reading a lot on this forum. Gear, packs, boots, clothing etc.

Do the majority of you guys actually have 12-18 hundy in clothes simply to hunt elk in?

No prostaffers, no bs... What is the bare min for hunting high elevation. What makes these clothes so great? I simply do not have 1500 in this hunting budget for clothes...

Thanks for any replies.

A lot of the stuff is good for other activities too. If you just buy a $200 puffy just for hunting it may not seem worth it, but I wear mine all the time for hiking, skiing, and when it gets cold in the fall. Same with the merino stuff. I keep my rain gear under the seat of my truck year round just in case. Just because it has a camo pattern doesn't mean it's only for hunting. So I get where the OP is coming from for sure, Sitka, Kuiu, etc are spendy, but no one says you can only use it hunting.

 

[Bar]

That's why I use old school wool. I can wear my red and black plaid wool anywhere without looking like Rambo.

 

[topher89]

I just scored a Patagonia Micro Puff jacket for $80 because Patagonia is discontinuing them and dealers are selling off their stock. I got a Golite down hoody for $40 at one of their factory second sales.

Merino wool baselayers and socks from Sierra Trading Post for 50% off.

The deals are out there, you just need to have time and patience. If you wait until July to outfit for your September hunt you will be paying full price. If you spend a whole year shopping and looking for deals you can score some awesome gear for low prices

 

[Bar]

I just scored a Patagonia Micro Puff jacket for $80 because Patagonia is discontinuing them and dealers are selling off their stock. I got a Golite down hoody for $40 at one of their factory second sales.

Merino wool baselayers and socks from Sierra Trading Post for 50% off.

The deals are out there, you just need to have time and patience. If you wait until July to outfit for your September hunt you will be paying full price. If you spend a whole year shopping and looking for deals you can score some awesome gear for low prices

I tried to let this go, but I can't. Why do you say you can't score deals in July and will have to pay full price when you just did it? Then you show another deal at 50% off. I don't mean to bust your chops, but you're giving confusing advice.

 

[Tejasbow]

rumaged through Cabelas Bargain Cave today, came out with a pair of $100.00 pair of 100% wool pants for 32 bucks. Need to be taken in a bit as they were made for a fat man, but I think my wife can do it. Had several pair of Sitka base bottoms for 50ish but they were 40-45 inch waist. Not much for me.

Gonna keep after it.

 

[Buglebrush]

I will weigh in.

First of all Quality gear is awesome, and if you can go for it that is the best route. As for me I have spent almost twenty years hunting Elk in September, and still don't own top of the line gear. ( Cabelas raingear, etc...) I would get what you can afford, but not stress about getting totally outfitted your first year. Always have raingear that will keep you dry, and at least a shirt out of wool. Raingear, wool beanie, and good boots cover a multitude of clothing shortcomings. Also, avoid cotton if at all possible.