Hunting Jacket suggestion

[LCguy]

Hi all, looking for some suggestions for hunting jackets. For some background, I hunt muzzleloader seasons in New Mexico which means mid-october for elk and late october/early November for deer with the occasional early December for cow elk. I exclusively hunt units in central and southern New Mexico. Typically, weather-wise, this means pretty cold (mid 20s-40) mornings and warm (mid 60s-70s, sometimes 80s) afternoons along with the occasional rainstorm and usually at least a few days of very high winds. I usually run a first lite kiln base layer, challis fleece midlayer and then a cheap ski jacket I got from Costco as my outer. This has worked pretty well for me for my early morning/late evening glassing sessions but I've worn that poor $30 jacket out over the last two years and the water resistance is already down the drain, I got absolutely soaked on my elk hunt this year. I'd prefer something that's tough (a lot of thick and pokey brush walking between glassing points and I also quail hunt throughout the winter so lots of brushbusting there) and waterproof/resistant but doesn't really need to be super heavy. For reference, I usually run very hot hiking (typically hike in with just the kiln on unless its in the low 20s or teens) but very cold while at rest. Bonus if it can also double as a ski jacket.

 

[skip189]

Kuiu Axis Hybrid is probably my best softshell jacket as it is warm, blocks the wind well, and repels water pretty good. I have had better luck with this jacket then my old Sitka Jetstream.

 

[yfarm]

First Lite Corrugate shell my sons love just more than $30,
I use Eddie Bauer First Ascent Sandstone which is a very similar fabric but no hood, oversize it to wear over layers, ebay for $30

 

[Brian.243]

I have been super happy with my forloh allclima and it's US made