Thought experiment- complete budget clothing system from scratch

[Erussell01]

Since its raining and I'm stuck at work on mindless meetings today.... I did a little thought experiment.

I had a person at my gym ask me about what she would need to hunt deer this year. I borrowed her everything she would need to enjoy her time in the woods and she shot herself a really nice buck which was super cool.

So I got to thinking
How much would it cost a brand new hunter not using a single thing they already own to get a clothing system that would be versatile enough to hunt most things in most conditions.

Without using a single thing already owned, what would it take to kit out an average hunter for the season.

So I hopped on google and used only things I could find in just a few seconds of searching. Using brands like 32 degrees, columbia, sportsmans warehouse, eddie bauer and amazon I came up with this list

Budget layering system
Poly base long sleeve T- 32 degrees 6.99
Poly hoodie -17.99 magellen
Puffy vest. 32 degrees 13.99
Rain shell or softshell - 35$ columbia
Poly bottom, heavyweight- 14.99 heavyweight guide gear
Soft shell pant- wrangler 27$ or eddie bauer 35$
Bibs or rain pants - midwayusa 51$
Gloves- 4.92 sportsman
Neck gaiter- 9$ amazon
Hat-9$
Wool socks- 12$
Boots- 30.92 sportmans

231$ for total startup with gear that is well vetted and not going to fail.

231$ would get a person everything they would need to hunt in the midwest, elk, mule deer, field waterfowl, upland birds etc.

I mean I'm sitting here in my sitka boxers, sipping coffee from my kuiu tumbler, wearing a first lite merino quarter zip, but a guy could really do just fine for a lot less if they were just starting out.

If you had to make a budget list, what would be on yours?

 

[Choupique]

I like the list, but I'd have to spring for some wool base layer. Can be had on sale for pretty cheap. I think my midway brand stuff was $30 top and bottom on sale for heavyweight merino

 

[Team4LongGun]

I like the idea, you got some good stuff on there. The only one that stands out for me is Eddie bauer/wrangler pants WILL fail. I wear them daily at home, scouting but never again on a hunt. Not familiar with 32 degrees-will check it out.

 

[Erussell01]

I like the list, but I'd have to spring for some wool base layer. Can be had on sale for pretty cheap. I think my midway brand stuff was $30 top and bottom on sale for heavyweight merino

I just got some midway merino in and it really wasnt bad at all!

 

[Erussell01]

I like the idea, you got some good stuff on there. The only one that stands out for me is Eddie bauer/wrangler pants WILL fail. I wear them daily at home, scouting but never again on a hunt. Not familiar with 32 degrees-will check it out.

I personally don't wear them hunting but people sure vouch do seem to like them!

I guess for the price if you blow out the crotch you could get another. Or spring dor something just a bit more money and beefier like black ovis etc

 

[yfarm]

Have worn wrangler performance and eddie bauer guide for work,leisure and hunting for the last 10 yrs without a failure. Before that Patagonia Quandary, gave those up for lack of stretch and slighter light weight but worked fine.

 

[Erussell01]

Have worn wrangler performance and eddie bauer guide for work,leisure and hunting for the last 10 yrs without a failure.

I wear them daily, are your back pockets ginormous on them?

 

[yfarm]

Not that I notice but almost never use aside from sticking gloves in. I don’t own a pair of jeans, got rid of my Carhartts. My Wranglers all came from Walmart ,even have a pr they made in woodland camo. Wrangler sells a pr in a different camo currently online but only fleece lined that last time I looked. If I have to wade thru huisache I put a pr of Dunns chaps on.
My favorite low budget hunting item is the ECWS Level 4/5 ACU jacket and pants off ebay.
South Texas brush NM arid brush, Wyoming sage flats it works as well as NM mountains. Warm,cool or blizzards.

 

[Erussell01]

Not that I notice but almost never use aside from sticking gloves in. I don’t own a pair of jeans, got rid of my Carhartts. My Wranglers all came from Walmart ,even have a pr they made in woodland camo. Wrangler sells a pr in a different camo currently online but only fleece lined that last time I looked. If I have to wade thru huisache I put a pr of Dunns chaps on.
My favorite low budget hunting item is the ECWS Level 4/5 ACU jacket and pants off ebay.
South Texas brush NM arid brush, Wyoming sage flats it works as well as NM mountains. Warm,cool or blizzards.

I have a ton of wranglers and my favorite upland pants are actually the double front work pants they have. Super affordbale and have held up amazingly for all the miles I've worn them. My wrangler outdoors nylon pants have been decently durable, but I have blown out a crotch on 2 pairs and the pockets on the back are so big on a bunch of mine I get worried wallet will fall out

 

[Erussell01]

Not that I notice but almost never use aside from sticking gloves in. I don’t own a pair of jeans, got rid of my Carhartts. My Wranglers all came from Walmart ,even have a pr they made in woodland camo. Wrangler sells a pr in a different camo currently online but only fleece lined that last time I looked. If I have to wade thru huisache I put a pr of Dunns chaps on.
My favorite low budget hunting item is the ECWS Level 4/5 ACU jacket and pants off ebay.
South Texas brush NM arid brush, Wyoming sage flats it works as well as NM mountains. Warm,cool or blizzards.

Thats a great point too, mil surplus type stuff should be a first stop for a budget conscious person for sure.

 

[fngTony]

I was wondering around Costco last week thinking about something similar. I think you’re list is pretty good the only thing I would expand on is the boot budget just to ensure people get a good fitting boot.

 

[5MilesBack]

All of my hunting clothes are "budget" clothes. I've just spent years collecting it all at budget pricing. It takes some time and experience to figure out what you really like and what works the best for you. Then you can target those kinds of items and buy them when they pop up for cheap. One of my favorites is my Columbia microfleece mock-T's that they discontinued some time ago. I have four of them that I bought off of Ebay for less than $20 total 15+ years ago. I wear those pretty much year round and every hunting season as a mid or outer layer. My camo shirts and pants are all Cabela's Microtex and Microtex Lite that I bought on clearance and have had for longer than the microfleece. As long as I'm comfortable in it, I don't care if it came from Goodwill. I have a lot of fleece that came from thrift stores. My favorite Zamberlan boots were on clearance for 70% off when I bought those in 2013. I'm still wearing them, but they need to be resoled.

 

[justinspicher]

I am a budget clothing dude as well. The oak brush where I live will tear shit up so I tend to buy used clothing all the time. I’m pretty lucky that I have an outdoor consignment store in town. I get everything from there.

 

[chindits]

I tried Wrangler ATG pants this year with no issues and great options for people who are taller than wide.

However, when it got hot third rifle and packing my bull out I was sure missing my original Prana convertible’s which I usually wear in the woods from scouting to 4th rifle. Not budget wear sadly and not tall and lean focused.

 

[Erussell01]

I was wondering around Costco last week thinking about something similar. I think you’re list is pretty good the only thing I would expand on is the boot budget just to ensure people get a good fitting boot.

Yeah for western hunting id double my budget just get boots for sure. I royally f'd my feet my first elk hunt with boots that just didnt fit me.

I think costco has some really great options and a guy could even go to the dark side and hit target or walmart for polyester bases and hoodies if they were on sale.