Dumb clothing questions about packing in.

[Chris in TN]

Do you guys pack all your clothes to the trailhead then choose what actually gets brought in, based on forecasted weather conditions, or do you try to bring it *all* in with you? I realize that I should always plan for contingencies but is there some point where you say 'I can leave this at the car'?

For example, I have a pair of very heavy Columbia wool pants. They're decades old and still in great shape. I could sleep in an igloo wearing those things, they're great, they've kept me warm on cold rainy days when I was soaked but stayed in the woods, but they're a bit on the heavy side for anything less than wet/cold weather; not what I expect to need in 1st rifle.

Do I leave those things at the car unless the weather forecast (minus ~15-20 degrees to account for altitude) tells me otherwise?

Is 'pack everything you expect to need for the coldest/wettest day and leave the rest in the car' a good basic strategy here? Obviously we'll have a raincoat with us and I'll have gaiters that may or may not get left in the car depending on forecast (and I know to deduct 20' from the local forecasted lows and look at anticipated fronts/rain/snow closely before I leave the car).

Our plans (highly subject to change based on what we learn scouting before season opens, of course) is to be ready to stay away from the car up to 6 nights with the actual plan being for no more than 3-4. It's hard to imagine a circumstance where we were committed to staying in a camp after day 4 - unless we had a 4-day cat and mouse game with a herd of elk. I don't expect that. I expect us to either kill one or exhaust all the spots we'd hunt from our camp then return to the car to move elsewhere by the middle of day 3. Again, this isn't me making a fixed plan; this is me making contingencies and being prepared for whatever. We might get out there and camp at the car. I just want to be prepared to leave the car and be gone a while and have everything I need and only a very little extra.

At the end of the day it seems like I simply cannot fully pack, from here at home, for the actual trip in. I have to pack for the trip out there then finalize packing for the pack-in on the day we walk away from the car, with some stuff left behind based on the most recent wx. Right?

 

[180ls1]

I just pack for what I think I'll need right before the hunt. If I get a touch cold I can suck it up or break out my thermal blanket.

You'll probably over-pack if you're new to it and that is OK. If you have a sat device you can get weather updates, or just learn how to read the weather.

 

[NEPkaspot]

We use the tuck as a basecamp and spike in or use an ATV. I have extra gear at the truck but only wear and carry what I expect to use. Always have a puffy and rain gear in the pack, maybe puffy pants just in case. As John Barklow says "what if weighs a lot." But with more experience, you will get more comfortable.

 

[atmat]

It depends what kind of hunting you’re doing and where you’re doing it.

I always bring puffy pants/jacket and rain gear, as they could be life saving. I just got back from archery hunting, and even though we had some very warm days, we also got drenched and had some cold days. Enough that I was grateful to have the puffy and rain gear.

Heavy, one-off pieces of clothes I’d leave at the trail head.

 

[Elkhuntinfool78]

I usually leave the what ifs at the truck. They can add up quickly and make a miserably heavy pack. Puffy jacket and pants with rain gear is typically always in my pack. I'm definitely not carrying much if any wool clothing on a backpack hunt as it gets heavy fast.

 

[justinspicher]

I have a duffel bag with extra base layers, socks, shirts, pants and boots. I take out what I think I’ll need and leave the rest. There’s also a couple of meals and some water bottles in there.

I generally do day hunts so it’s nice to have options and really nice to be able to change into clean and dry clothes for the drive home.

 

[Blowdowner]

Did I hear raincoat but not rain pants?

 

[bowhunthard88]

Weather forecast depending. I can tough out some discomfort, even if it comes down to using my sleeping bag lol. I would pack for your anticipated weather ahead of time, and maybe take stuff out of my pack at the truck, but I don't pack stuff in AT the truck lol.

I ALWAYS bring a sun hoodie, Brynje Super-Thermo base layers, rain jacket, wool beanie, puffy hooded jacket, and a set of knee-high gaiters. Most of my pants are fast-drying DWR treated, so unless rain is in the forcast, I usually don't pack rain pants. Same with puffy pants, unless the forecast is cold, I usually don't pack them. The rest of the stuff packed is tailored to the specific hunt. Learning to layer is an art perfected by knowing what your body can handle!

 

[Chris in TN]

Did I hear raincoat but not rain pants?

No. You heard a southerner colloquially refer to a rainsuit as a raincoat. We each have a complete rain suit plus various other things that'll be nice to have if it rains.



ETA: But thank you all for the replies. This more or less answers my question. We will probably make packs with middle-of-the-road clothing levels and add or subtract based on the weather forecast.