I have always gone cheap on gear, even when I lived in the midwest and was sitting up in treestands in below freezing weather, or hiking 5 miles trying to kill pheasants, I went cheap and somewhat uncomfortable. I live out west now and backpack hunt, usually in dry areas. Last year (in a normally dry area) I got rained on hiking in, and it was a fairly miserable trip after that lol. I have a real job and decided I shouldn't be so cheap anymore. I'm also hunting in a wetter area this elk season.
I splurged on FL merino baselayers, upper midlayer (the origin hoody), and corrugate foundry pant. I also went with a Marmot Eco Precip Pant/Jacket for rainwear. What to do for an "outer shell" or layer is where I get confused. Some of my questions are:
1. If it's wet, is there any point in a "hybrid" or softshell jacket, seeing as how I'll probably throw on my rain gear anyways? I mean yeah, having something that is "tough" and provides a bit of warmth and water resistance is great...but my $50 coleman jacket from 2010 hasn't done terrible in that regard.
2. Does an outer shell exist that is breathable, tough, water resistant in a light rain? Since I was doing FL, I tried the Sawtooth Jacket and granted I could have gone up a size, but it fit WEIRD. I just don't get these garments sold as outer layers that don't seem that tough, don't seem that water resistant, and are $200 or more.
3. Not bragging but I'm a pretty jacked dude, 235 lbs/10% bf. Finding things that fit without tailoring is not an easy task. I'm open to any suggestions on hunting clothes that might serve my build.
Can any of ya'll educate me on this? THank you!
I splurged on FL merino baselayers, upper midlayer (the origin hoody), and corrugate foundry pant. I also went with a Marmot Eco Precip Pant/Jacket for rainwear. What to do for an "outer shell" or layer is where I get confused. Some of my questions are:
1. If it's wet, is there any point in a "hybrid" or softshell jacket, seeing as how I'll probably throw on my rain gear anyways? I mean yeah, having something that is "tough" and provides a bit of warmth and water resistance is great...but my $50 coleman jacket from 2010 hasn't done terrible in that regard.
2. Does an outer shell exist that is breathable, tough, water resistant in a light rain? Since I was doing FL, I tried the Sawtooth Jacket and granted I could have gone up a size, but it fit WEIRD. I just don't get these garments sold as outer layers that don't seem that tough, don't seem that water resistant, and are $200 or more.
3. Not bragging but I'm a pretty jacked dude, 235 lbs/10% bf. Finding things that fit without tailoring is not an easy task. I'm open to any suggestions on hunting clothes that might serve my build.
Can any of ya'll educate me on this? THank you!