Down pants vs long underwear

[BigCountry344]

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

I saw you have some EE Apex pants for sale how do you like them or not?

 

[5MilesBack]

What is weird to me is how you stay drier with merino. My Sitka heavy hoodie drys sweat much faster than merino heavy hoodie

I only use merino for base layers.......lightweight.

 

[Mike 338]

Never wore down pants. Can you climb from the bottom of the mountain to the top without wetting them out?

 

[AK Troutbum]

Never wore down pants. Can you climb from the bottom of the mountain to the top without wetting them out?

Yeah, but only if you’re wearing flip flops and cotton underwear. Really, what does climbing up a mountain and getting wet have to do with this thread??


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[5MilesBack]

I can't imagine anyone wearing down pants, or even a down jacket while actually on the move while hunting. I'm sure they are for after stopping. But that's also why I'm a little perplexed as to the original question. Base layers and down pants are two totally different pieces, with two totally different purposes. I would never give up my base layers, with or without down pants.

 

[*zap*]

Get Down!

 

[Blockcaver]

I never go on cold weather hunts without my COSTCO Paradox merino/poly blend base layers top and bottom, nor without KUIU Superdown jacket and pants for glassing, camp use and augmenting the sleeping bag as required (bet they lower the bag rating 15* F for me). I also have heavy KUIU zip-off long johns for really cold morning hiking/hunting....really like them.

 

[willfrye027]

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.

Those look pretty sweet. Any idea what the weight is? Are they breathable at all or do you get pretty clammy? I have Kuiu down pants but these look perfect for whitetail hunts As a base layer.

 

[ljalberta]

I like to sleep in my long underwear. Mainly because I don’t love the feeling of my skin on the shell of my bag if I get real warm.

I am debating trying a hunt with only the puffy pants though and leaving behind the long underwear and seeing if the feeling bothers me less as I put more nights in like that.

And I don’t think it’s a crazy idea at all. The guys at meat eater (Steve and Janis at least) talked on an episode about how they were debating the very same thing. They mentioned they may start going with only puffy pants and skipping the long underwear on backpacking trips.

As for hiking in down. In my opinion, there’s definitely a place for it, but it’s on those incredibly cold days. Obviously mountaineers hike in down suits for the coldest climates. I’ve hiked in my light down jacket during cold November hunts or during the surprisingly cold and windy day in April or May scouting or in late September or October - usually in an exposed area. Outside of November though, it really is pretty rare I’ll be hiking with a pack in anything other than a base layer and maybe a shell. It’d have to be a wildly cold day for me to put in some serious miles in puffy pants.

 

[ljalberta]

Those look pretty sweet. Any idea what the weight is? Are they breathable at all or do you get pretty clammy? I have Kuiu down pants but these look perfect for whitetail hunts As a base layer.

Mine weigh 13.8 oz. they’re the long size and I’m not sure what waist (I’m a 34 and they fit fine). They’re breathable for sure, but that may be less due to the materials and more due to the fact the legs button up and essentially have gaps the whole way up. I’ve enjoyed them most while sitting waiting for white tails in November myself. However I always pack them in and put them on once I stop hiking, so I have no experience actually hiking in them.

 

[GunsAreFun]

Those look pretty sweet. Any idea what the weight is? Are they breathable at all or do you get pretty clammy? I have Kuiu down pants but these look perfect for whitetail hunts As a base layer.

ljaberta covered it. Same experience as him. I am also a 34 waste and the medium long fits perfectly. There are two or three waste buttons and elastic so they fit many waist sizes.

Seriously can’t beat the price of $12.

 

[willfrye027]

ljaberta covered it. Same experience as him. I am also a 34 waste and the medium long fits perfectly. There are two or three waste buttons and elastic so they fit many waist sizes.

Seriously can’t beat the price of $12.

Well shoot. Maybe I should have done more research before I plopped down two Benjamin’s for the Kuiu down. Although I did shoot my biggest whitetail ever while wearing them so maybe they were worth the premium price

 

[Kevin Dill]

Base Layers (merino or synthetics) are mandatory on hunts.

Down overpants are optional.

That said, my choice in down pants would definitely be Goose Feet Gear. How nice to select color, fabric weight, side zipper options, down fill weight, and all dimensions. Essentially custom down pants for same of less money than KUIU or others.

 

[Mike 338]

Yeah, but only if you’re wearing flip flops and cotton underwear. Really, what does climbing up a mountain and getting wet have to do with this thread??


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Glad you asked. Most synthetic long johns and even wool will dry reasonably quickly when wet from sweat. They'll also retain much of their insulative properties. Down, not so much, or so I've heard. Are down pants suited more for sedentary stand/ambush hunting or versatile? Maybe it's just me but I've pretty much never hunted without a heap'a climbing either to or from.

So what do flip flops and cotton underwear have to do with this thread?

 

[AK Troutbum]

So what do flip flops and cotton underwear have to do with this thread?

They only work in combination with down puffy pants, when you’re using them to climb mountains.

Yeah, most people using down pants for mountain hunting purposes use them exclusively for lounging in, be it glassing, hanging out in camp, sleeping in, etc. they have no place really for hiking purposes unless it’s super cold out. The OP was asking what people’s choices would be if they had to choose between one or the other, puffy pants or long underwear, in your pack.



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[fngTony]

They only work in combination with down puffy pants, when you’re using them to climb mountains.

Yeah, most people using down pants for mountain hunting purposes use them exclusively for lounging in, be it glassing, hanging out in camp, sleeping in, etc. they have no place really for hiking purposes unless it’s super cold out.



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I’m starting to follow your logic but do I wear socks with the flip flops? Also should they be cotton?

 

[AK Troutbum]

Socks are totally optional, but most people find them unbecoming.


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[5MilesBack]

The OP was asking what people’s choices would be if they had to choose between one or the other, puffy pants or long underwear, in your pack.

Well, if "in my pack" is the delineating factor, then it's easy. Down pants would be "in my pack" over base layers because I'm always wearing my base layers while hunting in hot or cold weather, so they'd never be "in my pack".