What would you buy with $200 at FL

[jmav58]

Socks. Spend all $200 on socks. And some sick ass decals.

 

[idahohikker]

Baselayers

 

[JeremySheppard]

I helped a buddy out on a project the other day and he got me a First Lite Gift card for $200 and so I'm trying to figure out what would be the best thing to spend it on. My current set up is a FL Fuse top base layer, a cheap set of bottom thermals, Eddie Bauer or Duluth Trading Co pants, a Patagonia Down Sweater, a lightweight marmot rain jacket and a pretty good set of gloves for various temps.

I rifle hunt deer in western Colorado with short hikes, backpack rifle hunt Colorado Elk in the high country, pheasants in Nebraska, and am trying to get into antelope eventually.

I'm not tied to FL and would like to build out my hunting clothing slowly (fix the worse issues first) and would like to get the "best in class" as much as I can so if a certain item is better from Sitka/Kuiu/Kryptek/etc then I might as well get something else from FL this time around. I'm also fine with adding some cash to get something more than $200 if necessary.

Things that have caught my eye thus far are the Brooks Down sweater to replace my current Patagonia which is way too baggy to layer nicely and the FL Brooks adds better wicking and DWR coated down. A pair of more rugged hunting pants, maybe the Sawbuck or Corrugate. A softshell of some type (I don't currently have any softshells)? More base layers - those zip-off boot cut bottoms look pretty great.

What would you pick up if you had to pick the thing FL does best?

As I'm in the market for rugged pants, trying to decide between the corrugate pant and the Obsidian merino offering. They both seem really versatile. Obsidian perhaps more all around comfort in different temperatures, but on the phone they advised that for bashing around in thick timber the Corrugate might be the better choice. Good luck.

 

[CoffeeGoat]

Socks. Spend all $200 on socks. And some sick ass decals.

My wife asked me what I wanted for fathers day - I told her socks, lot and lots of great socks.

As I'm in the market for rugged pants, trying to decide between the corrugate pant and the Obsidian merino offering. They both seem really versatile. Obsidian perhaps more all around comfort in different temperatures, but on the phone they advised that for bashing around in thick timber the Corrugate might be the better choice. Good luck.

Maybe check out the Sawbuck brush pants as well, (if you're staying with First lite). They're just the corrugate with some additional nylon panels on the front to help with abrasion resistance.

 

[JeremySheppard]

My wife asked me what I wanted for fathers day - I told her socks, lot and lots of great socks.



Maybe check out the Sawbuck brush pants as well, (if you're staying with First lite). They're just the corrugate with some additional nylon panels on the front to help with abrasion resistance.

Definitely! I got as far as putting them in my shopping cart...but taking my time to research all my needs (jackets, pants) and selling some UA hunt gear to fundraise! I am a big fan of the merino that I do have from other companies, so the Obsidian is still in my thoughts...

 

[Sturgeon]

I didn't care for the Sawtooth jacket at all. They show up all the time in good condition here or on the First Lite Facebook B/S/T for $120-$140. I like my Corrugate Guide pants and would really be interested in adding a set of the zip off bottoms so that's what I would recommend. I used to have the Patagonia down sweater and thought it was really warm, just not durable and now have the uncompadre which is similar warmth, more durable, but a little heavier. I know the Brooks is considered pretty lightweight.

 

[CoffeeGoat]

I used to have the Patagonia down sweater and thought it was really warm, just not durable and now have the uncompadre which is similar warmth, more durable, but a little heavier. I know the Brooks is considered pretty lightweight.

My problem with the Patagonia isn't the weight or the warmth, it's how baggy it is on me. Trying to layer over it, or move easily through brush is a hassle. I'd like a much slimmer cut which is why the brooks looks interesting, it's down + synthetic, light, and cut well. I think the Sitka's Primaloft Gold Down (Kelvin Lite) would perform similarly.

 

[tgus59]

Kiln hoodie is #1, and the Sawbuck pants are bomber for upland, thick timber etc.

 

[Adammn]

the Sawbuck pants are bomber for upland, thick timber etc.

I love my corrugate guides so I bought a pair of the sawbucks planning to use them for upland and Arizona desert hunts. But, I never wore them as the fit was really baggy and long. Im 6' and 180 lbs and the 34s looked like extra long hammer pants on me, lol. I didnt measure them but I am guessing they had a 35" + inseam. Which is an easy enough fix if they weren't so loose every where else. It's a shame because the material looked perfect for my intended use.

 

[Not Vegan]

Furnace. Best damn shirt made.

 

[Jn78]

My problem with the Patagonia isn't the weight or the warmth, it's how baggy it is on me. Trying to layer over it, or move easily through brush is a hassle. I'd like a much slimmer cut which is why the brooks looks interesting, it's down + synthetic, light, and cut well. I think the Sitka's Primaloft Gold Down (Kelvin Lite) would perform similarly.

You will not get the most out of your down if you are layering over it and therefore compressing it (assuming you are not just talking about a light rain coat). Also, moving through brush will trash any decent down jacket fast. Your system is missing an active insulation layer. Unfortunately I think other companies offer better active insulation pieces - the uncompagre is just too warm most of the time. Would your down fit well over an active insulation layer? If so, i wouldn't be looking at the brooks?

I would definitely get zip-off base layer bottoms. They are a game changer.

Which Eddie Bauer pants do you have? If you have the EB Guides pants, you are fine. Sure the Corrugates would be an upgrade, but the EB pants will work and last.

I would not get more wool upper layers. A wool baselayer is great, but wool stacked on top of wool gets heavy, doesn't dry fast, and doesn't last nearly as long as synthetic.

Finally, those neck gaiters are really damn nice and puffy pants can make a world of difference on a cold day.

 

[CoffeeGoat]

You will not get the most out of your down if you are layering over it and therefore compressing it (assuming you are not just talking about a light rain coat). Also, moving through brush will trash any decent down jacket fast. Your system is missing an active insulation layer. Unfortunately I think other companies offer better active insulation pieces - the uncompagre is just too warm most of the time. Would your down fit well over an active insulation layer? If so, i wouldn't be looking at the brooks?

I would definitely get zip-off base layer bottoms. They are a game changer.

Which Eddie Bauer pants do you have? If you have the EB Guides pants, you are fine. Sure the Corrugates would be an upgrade, but the EB pants will work and last.

I would not get more wool upper layers. A wool baselayer is great, but wool stacked on top of wool gets heavy, doesn't dry fast, and doesn't last nearly as long as synthetic.

Finally, those neck gaiters are really damn nice and puffy pants can make a world of difference on a cold day.

@Jn78 you're right on point - just finished my Colorado third season rifle out on the western slope and have an update on how everything performed. I ended up picking up the Sawtooth based on general recommendation and I picked up a few other goodies. Here's how it went.

Temperatures were mostly <40 F with a pretty stiff wind and a fair bit of moisture, probably only 4-5" of snow accumulation because it melted off during the day, but plenty muddy, wet, and cold for the entire trip. I had purchased some SG De Havilland pants and paired with the FL Zip off boot length bottoms my legs felt pretty invincible. They were always just warm enough even when crawling through the snow and muck and they were surprisingly clean after 3 days.

Upper body was a mixed bag, I used the Fuse quarter zip (long sleeves) as the base layer and tried a few different combinations over that. I had the Sawtooth jacket, a Swazi "the hood", my patagonia puffy, and a thin marmot rain jacket. As a few of you noted laying the sawtooth over the fuse just didn't work well, it got clammy and cold and didn't move the moisture well enough to stay warm and dry. The sawtooth over a really thin shirt (wool or synthetic) worked well, but the double thicker wool layers just didn't cut it. The Swazi worked much better in combination with the fuse and had no problem keeping the base layer dry. The marmot rain jacket did a good job cutting the wind, and breathed fine, but the patagonia puffy continued to be a hassle. The puffy is just so baggy that you get folds beneath your bino hardness and restricts movement, I think a better cut would help, particularly under the arms.

Ancillaries, worked pretty well, I used the FL Talus gloves when it was warm enough and they were great. I bumped up to the FL Catalyst when it was a bit colder and they were fine, not as nice as the talus but a bit warmer. When it got really cold I brought out my Giv'r mittens and they were bomb proof. Unfortunately they were snug enough that I couldn't get a liner underneath them, it didn't matter unless I needed to pull them off. This would be great for skiing but I'd size up for hunting work to allow easier on/off and some room for a liner. I used the FL neck gaiter and it was great, and I tried that brimmed beanie for FL and it was OK, the weave was a little loose for my preference, I think what I really need is a blaze orange buff and just use it over my hood.

Next up I think will be some sort of active insulation - soft shell type jacket. I think that way I can leave the down out entirely unless I'm fully unloaded and sitting somewhere the bagginess doesn't matter.

 

[Block]

The new Zip Off merino bottoms are awesome