camo pissing me off

[Spikorbust]

As a rifle hunter I've have never felt the need to wear camo but I do feel that some of them have some great qualities for hunting. I recently purchased some Kuiu pants and shirt just for the reason they fit the bill for what I'm doing. Some of these companies are making great products to suit the needs of the hunter and not just a camo fashion statement. So there is some good in finding a company that makes a product that will help your hunting enjoyment whether it be fit, function, or looks.

[Heredoggydoggy]

As a rifle hunter I've have never felt the need to wear camo but I do feel that some of them have some great qualities for hunting. I recently purchased some Kuiu pants and shirt just for the reason they fit the bill for what I'm doing. Some of these companies are making great products to suit the needs of the hunter and not just a camo fashion statement. So there is some good in finding a company that makes a product that will help your hunting enjoyment whether it be fit, function, or looks.

I think Strategy is more important:  Don't skyline yourself, use brush to break up your outline, etc.  I like fleece because it is soft and doesn't shine. 

[WoodlandShooter]

Honestly, I am interested in the high dollar stuff for multi-use...general camping/hiking/backcountry use..

[CAMPMEAT]

Mfgrs need to get on the stick and make some nice 3-4xl camo. Their are a lot of guys that aren't the little small - 2xl types. 

[KFhunter]

I'm just a little feller with my XL 

[Heredoggydoggy]

Mfgrs need to get on the stick and make some nice 3-4xl camo. Their are a lot of guys that aren't the little small - 2xl types. 

I don't suppose you'd consider shrinking to 2xl?    

[KFhunter]

I'd like to shrink to a L   

[CAMPMEAT]

Mfgrs need to get on the stick and make some nice 3-4xl camo. Their are a lot of guys that aren't the little small - 2xl types. 

I don't suppose you'd consider shrinking to 2xl?     :hello

I've actually went from a very large 4xl to a small 3xl since you saw me in Moses Lake at the Predator Hunters meeting 3 years ago.


Oh no. Then I'd look like KFhunter, can't have that................nope, no way.



I use all black. That's probably the best " camo " out there. 

[RadSav]

I like the SITKA forest camo pattern, but unfortunatly that stuff doesn't fit the need I have.   It's all designed to be sat in not hunted in.

Really?  Far from the truth there, reguardless which other high end brand you choose.

Yeah, I was quite taken by that myself.  Not sure what products the OP was thinking of.  Maybe if you are talking their winter wear

I chose Sitka for the sole purpose of humping it up mountains and off the other side.  And I continue using Sitka for the simple reason it is, for my build, the very best at doing just that.  I hate their camo patterns, but the performance under extreme active hunting makes up for having the worst camo patterns available.  Although the forest pattern doesn't completely suck on the west side and it is a rather good snow pattern.  30 elk at 35 yards last Sunday had no idea I was kneeling right there in the middle of the snowy clearcut.  Dang coyote figured it out though

I've given a lot of time wearing Kuiu, Uncomfortable Armour and Kryptek.  For my build not a one of those came close to giving me the comfort and performance I demand in hard mountain hunting wear as did Sitka.  Now if we could just get them to stop making everything with high collars and hoodies and add a decent camo pattern...

[KFhunter]

I like the SITKA forest camo pattern, but unfortunatly that stuff doesn't fit the need I have.   It's all designed to be sat in not hunted in.

Really?  Far from the truth there, reguardless which other high end brand you choose.

Yeah, I was quite taken by that myself.  Not sure what products the OP was thinking of.  Maybe if you are talking their winter wear

I chose Sitka for the sole purpose of humping it up mountains and off the other side.  And I continue using Sitka for the simple reason it is, for my build, the very best at doing just that.  I hate their camo patterns, but the performance under extreme active hunting makes up for having the worst camo patterns available.  Although the forest pattern doesn't completely suck on the west side and it is a rather good snow pattern.  30 elk at 35 yards last Sunday had no idea I was kneeling right there in the middle of the snowy clearcut.  Dang coyote figured it out though

I've given a lot of time wearing Kuiu, Uncomfortable Armour and Kryptek.  For my build not a one of those came close to giving me the comfort and performance I demand in hard mountain hunting wear as did Sitka.  Now if we could just get them to stop making everything with high collars and hoodies and add a decent camo pattern...

Well basically it all boils down to I didn't know what I was talking about.

I had read somewhere while doing my research that the forest camo patterns was all made for mostly tree stand hunting.  One reviewer (or several it's been a while) had stated they don't last long if you're hiking many mile in the forest pattern and you needed the open country stuff.

I wanted the durability of the open country in a forest pattern.   Make since?

[littlemac]

A few years back (6 or 7) a buddy and I were hunting in the Yukon, him in his latest hot rod get up from Cabelas or wherever and he realized our guide was in a pair of jeans and a wool coat.

After that whenever we hunted he wore jeans and a jacket (never camo) sometimes Filson wool if cold enough.  Funny, he did better without the camo than he ever did with it.

Personally, I think it's hard to find quality hunting stuff that isn't camo anymore.  Seems the manufacturers are all about the camo now.

[KFhunter]

I'm wearing Columbia expedition ridge or something like that



the jury is still out but so far so good.  wool does gather a lot of snow but I been wearing the Columbia wool as a middle layer in the snow with game hide over top

[jasnt]

I use m2d fleece. Its a grass pattern but good luck finding me in the woods. Im mainly a predator hunter so cammo does matter! If they can't see me (even sitting in the open)im sure elk couldn't either. super quiet!!!!; 

[Heredoggydoggy]

I've actually went from a very large 4xl to a small 3xl since you saw me in Moses Lake at the Predator Hunters meeting 3 years ago.




I use all black. That's probably the best " camo " out there. 

I remember that meeting.  Kept wishing we would have another one.  No matter how much you lose, you're one of those people who will always be a big guy.

According to what I've read about coyote vision, black is on of the colors that they CAN see.  That's why a lot of the tan boots also have tan soles.  What looks like a brown rabbit in a green field to us, looks like a black rabbit in a white field to a coyote. 

[RadSav]

Well basically it all boils down to I didn't know what I was talking about.

I had read somewhere while doing my research that the forest camo patterns was all made for mostly tree stand hunting.  One reviewer (or several it's been a while) had stated they don't last long if you're hiking many mile in the forest pattern and you needed the open country stuff.

I wanted the durability of the open country in a forest pattern.   Make since?

To some degree "Yes" that makes sense.  The OF Forest pattern was made for treestand camouflage.  But in evergreen timbered areas I find it still outperforms open country for concealment. Very good in broken snow and evergreens!  The durable Mountain pants and the Timberline pants are not available in OF Forest so in that regard the offerings in OF Forest are not as durable.  While the Ascent pants don't hold up well to briars I have yet to wear out a pair in nearly five years.  Granted I don't hunt as much and as hard as I used to.  And, if briars and rain are in the forecast I spend a good amount of my time in Cabela's Gore-Tex bird pants (as in my last two avatars).  But my old pair of Mothwing Ascent pants are probably my most cherished piece of early season hunting wear I have.  And the newer pants are even better from a fit and function comparison.*  I just wish I could still get them in Mothwing.  It is so much better and versatile than OF.

*One thing to note is that the 2013 OF Forest lineup changed the pant options and they no longer offer the Ascent in OF Forest.  Now offering only the ESW pant for warmer weather.  Basically the Ascent with a bunch of unwanted or needed pockets and draw strings similar to the old Ascent pants.  Stupid dang shame IMO.  But, there are still plenty of the OF Forest Ascent pants out their if you look for them.

For eastside guys hunting a lot of rocks and sage the OF Open Country is a very good option.  I had three deer this early season walk within feet of me.  So close I tried to reach out and slap one on the arse.  And I was standing in the middle of a trail not even trying to hide.  I also had a group of 11 young bucks feed past me while I laid in wheat stubble.  All of them at one time or another were less than five yards away.  It wasn't until the rising sun hit my glasses they took notice and bugged out.  But, I have never seen deer on the westside bust me from such distance as I have when wearing the OF Open Country in evergreens.  I mean does were coming unglued at over 100 yards away.  I can wear blue jeans and a white t-shirt and get closer than I could with the Open Country in evergreens.  Two days wearing it on the westside and I will never ever do it again.

One place where the OF Forest really fails is in raingear.  The fabric and Gore-Tex grades found in the Open Country are far superior to what you find in the OF Forest Downpour.  And the Downpour is not what I would call a "lightweight" rainwear option either.  Then again, if your build will allow it (fit for fitness freaks and human mountain goats) the KUIU Chugach rain gear is impossible to beat.  Unfortunately I fit into neither of those fitness categories' so that means Uncomfortable Armour or Browning stuff on the wetside and OF Open Country on the eastside or in the alpine.

The only OF Forest garment I really do not like is the Fanatic.  Which is odd because I designed the exact same thing back in the eighties with Duke Savora.  But the difference was we didn't make it with that ridiculously high collar that has to be zipped all the way up or it gets in the way.  I despise collars for bowhunting unless weather is extremely bad.  And then I want the option to zip down the collar as I wish.  No can do on the Fanantic.  I like the Status quite a bit, but the first thing I did was get out a pair of scissors and cut that stupid hoodie off...WAY better now!!!  For a system designed for layering they have way too many hoodies and high collars.  That's really my only gripe about Sitka beyond the limited camo patterns.

There is a lot of good camo out there these days.  KUIU for the fit and trim is a great option.  Kryptek is another great product even though the arms on the ones I tried were too baggy for my taste when shooting the bow. I've seen some pictures that lead me to believe I might have got a bum jacket   Cabela's MicroTex is extremely good as well.  Can be hit and miss as far as stitching and sizing goes, but when it fits it's as tough and quiet as good camo gets.  I was thrilled with it until I tried on my first pair of Sitka Ascent pants and found out what real performance wear should perform like.  Sitka is no longer the only premier gear on the block.  For some things the new kids on the block have done it better.  And for the Westside they definitely have done camo patterns better.  But if you are looking for me in the woods tomorrow I'll be the guy in Sitka Gear.  Surely complaining about high collars and no Mothwing or Mossy Oak, but fat and happy with my threads nonetheless.