Down pants vs long underwear

[BigCountry344]

What do you guys think if you had to go with only one or the other in your pack? Pros and cons of each?

 

[Ryan Avery]

I switched to puffy pants two years ago for the ease of use. I won't be switching back.

 

[cmahoney]

Down pants for sure, especially if you are going to be glassing.


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[Wrench]

I like the hell out of my down pants. I actually bought a pair for work because they are that awesome.

 

[Spoonman]

I was thinking about this the other day as well. What brand/model do you guys like?

 

[BigCountry344]

I’m currently looking at either the kuiu merino zip off that weigh 6.7 oz or the insulated full zip down pants that weigh 8 oz

 

[cmahoney]

I have the zip off kuiu’s, but I have seen the goose brand on Massdrop for about half the price



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[AK Troutbum]

This is a tough one for me, as I use both often, but since the down pants often pull triple duty with sleeping in them, wearing them around camp, and sometimes glassing in them, I guess they would get the nod. I have a couple pair (Kuiu, and Goose Feet), and strictly for the warmth to wt. and overall comfort, the GF would be my choice. Although they don’t have any zippers, so they’re not as easy on/off, they are lighter (7 oz. vs. 10.5 oz.), warmer, and much more comfortable than the Kuiu’s.


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[*zap*]

I wear long bzse layer bottoms every day of the year so I would have those anyway......light and warm pants are a no brainer for a comfort/warmth option.

 

[5MilesBack]

I have to have a base layer to absorb/wick the sweat. So there's no way I could go with the down pants only, especially since down makes my skin clammy. I can't even use a down pillow.

 

[WYCFM1]

Synthetic base layers for me. I love when I can feel all the sweat evaporating out of my clothing and drying up in about 20 mins. Bring dry is my number one. And no I don’t care about being smelly it’s not a fashion show or rose festival. I can completely wash my bases in a creek on my hike back to camp and they are hung dry 2 hours after I get back and ready to go the next day. That’s if I even actually wash them. Stay dry guys can’t beat it

 

[fishforsmallies]

So, showing my ignorance here, do these down pants get worn under your regular pants... replacing long underwear? I was under the impression they were worn over your pants... much the same as you bring a puffy jacket to wear while glassing.

 

[BigCountry344]

So, showing my ignorance here, do these down pants get worn under your regular pants... replacing long underwear? I was under the impression they were worn over your pants... much the same as you bring a puffy jacket to wear while glassing.

Yes exactly over your regular pants like a down jacket or just the pants themselves when around camp or sleeping in

 

[fishforsmallies]

Thanks friend!

 

[5MilesBack]

Synthetic base layers for me. I love when I can feel all the sweat evaporating out of my clothing and drying up in about 20 mins.

I actually stay drier with merino. When I'm really sweating chasing elk, synthetic can't keep up because it doesn't actually absorb any of it. With merino it absorbs it off my skin and evaporates it. No matter how wet my merino gets, I've never gone to bed that night with wet merino base layers.

 

[GunsAreFun]

I have some of those M65 surplus pants...the long version.

They cost like $13 and are very warm and durable. The material is similar to a woobie but denser I think. They weigh more than down, obviously, but can’t beat the price.

 

[WYCFM1]

I actually stay drier with merino. When I'm really sweating chasing elk, synthetic can't keep up because it doesn't actually absorb any of it. With merino it absorbs it off my skin and evaporates it. No matter how wet my merino gets, I've never gone to bed that night with wet merino base layers.

Yeah I had first lite kiln hoodie that def kept me warm but just wouldn’t completely dry out my whole hunt. So I would wake up in morning with a colder damp feeling sweater than my Sitka heavy weight hoody. For me it made me feel colder. But after I hike for a couple hours then sit for an hour my Sitka is faster drying and warmer feeling against my skin than my merino first lite. It goes the same with the legs too for me. What is weird to me is how you stay drier with merino. My Sitka heavy hoodie drys sweat much faster than merino heavy hoodie


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[mcseal2]

I use both a lot. I use FL Aerowool long jons if I'll be leaving them on all day, the Kuiu synthetic zip off ones if not. I also have down pants in the pack for long glassing sessions. I rifle hunt and am out in later seasons. I'd often rather wear FL 150 Aerowool long jons and a lighter pant than a warm pant and no long jons though. I dry faster and it's more wind resistant to me. Plus I have less pairs of expensive hunting pants.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I like both, I am not going to ditch my layers but the down pants are great around camp and sitting in the tent or glassing.

 

[BigCountry344]

What about those Torrid Apex pants from enlightened equipment? They just don’t have side zippers which I really like.