carhart/duck cloth vs cactus?

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Got to thinking about bringing my older boy out for a day of lope hunting this fall but I do have one concern for him which is the cactus needles. He'll make a big damn deal if he gets some of those stuck in him, esp. the fine ones that take weeks to work out. Good chance he'll have to lay down or crawl at some point if he's with me and I inevitably pick up some needles myself. Sued palmed gloves will handle the hands fairly well. I don't forsee him wanting to wear knee pads around. How much protection would carhart or other duck cloth type pants offer against cactus needles? My other thought is just pick up a cheap pair of pants and sew on some thin leather or maybe even rubberized material on the front of the knee zone.

Momma will be irritated if I bring him home looking like a pin cushion...

 

[cuerro viejo]

The bush pants from Columbia, carhatt, cabelas etc help but they still get through.

Knee pads help most. Take some gorilla tape with you to pull out needles. No way around them really unless you go full snake chaps but they are hot!!!

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Okay if those cloths on their own don't cut it, I presume a rubberized flexible fabric with a bit of thickness to it would likely do the trick if sewn on as knee patches?

 

[Gumbo]

I think you are underestimating the prickly pear. I personally don't wear knee pads but I am very careful. About the only thing that works in my experience are hard knee pads.

 

[gelton]

I would start with Snake boots of some sort, its the only thing we wear in South Texas, handles the cactus just fine...

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[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I'm not underestimating anything, those SOB's always get me out in lope country. Heat of the moment I just don't care about it too bad (I do wear sued palm gloves, I tend to deal with it in other places they find me). Yes I bring duct tape to rip out what I can. Never really had issues with feet to require snake boots, I tend to get hit in the knees mainly. Occasionally thighs/elbows if I lay down.

Mainly looking for a flexible layer on the knees that will fend off the majority of them if that exists.

 

[maninthemaze]

I have only hunted antelope once, so my experience is very limited. But when I was a kid hunting rabbits here in Kentucky, I was often the one running through the briars to jump the rabbits. My dad always had me in Carhart briar pants. They were the standard brown color on the with something on the front. I could walk through the thickest nastiest briars and nothing would make it to my skin. I don't know if they still make them or not. It looks like Cabela's carries something similar. They might be worth checking out.

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I hope I've helped some. I do know from first hand experience that they are pretty darn tough when it comes to green and red briars.

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[MTHunter20]

I get stuck by thorn bushes here when I'm wearing carhartt duck pants. Not sure about cactus needles but would think those would be even worse than thorns.

 

[topher89]

I wear Mountain Khakis and they do fine repelling stuff while walking around but don't hold up to crawling. I was pulling out cactus needles for a long time after a crawl to get my first antelope buck