early season backcountry clothes

[vandeman17]

What kind of clothes do you guys wear when hunting the early season backcountry? I am looking for some gear that will keep my warm on the chilly mornings but won't make me burn up by mid morning when I start to strip down. I also like the tighter fitting, less bulky stuff because I like to cover many miles and it makes it feel easier. I have looked at Sitka Gear and a few like that but they are pretty darn pricey. I am looking for a few shirts, maybe a light jacket and a pair of pants or two.

[dreamingbig]

If you have to pick and choose, I suggest Kuiu or firstlite merino wool base layers.  They are the perfect backcountry shirt.  You can wear them into the 80s F and they stink much less after 4-5 days than anything else will.  I also love the firstlite kanab pants or Kuiu attack.

Happy shopping!

[hughjorgan]

I would give first lite merino wool a look. It works great at thermal regulation and does not smell.

[JPhelps]

I just bought the sitka mountain pants.  The ascents are lighter but I liked the knee pads, belt and cargo pockets.  They are made out of the same material.

Up top I have the core, traverse, Jetstream vest and 90% jacket for layering.  I should be covered.

I will also use icebreaker Marino as a baselayer.

If you are looking to save some money the cabelas microtex and microtex lite perform awesome for their price (I used it last year).

[JackOfAllTrades]

Hunting or hiking in warmer weather, I wear light layers. Athletic cut polypro/fast wicking shirt for a base. Sometimes a cotton tee over that, (choose your camo/color), and a wool button up shirt. If I'm on the move right out of camp, the tee and wool are in my day pack until I stop to glass. I started wearing shorts instead of long pants too.  I'll duck down behind some saige or a tree to slip on the warmth before I slide into my glassing spot that I could be in for quite some time. I try really hard not to get over heated/sweaty any time. I'd rather be a little chilled.
 
-Steve

[wildmanoutdoors]

I wear Cabelas Microtex. Its great stuff and very affordable.
Especially if you get it after the season in the B cave.

[Shawn Ryan]

Layers.  I use Ice Breaker merino wool for the warmth and it doesn't stink, even after several days use.  My 1/4 zip, 150 weight top gets worn all day.  Its black, not "camo," and I don't care--plenty of black in the woods.  Merino is expensive, but one piece is more versatile than most other clothes.  Much better than the polyester clothes because it retains less odor.

Convertible/zip-off pants.  You can vent the knees or drop the lower leg for the warm parts of the day.  Mine are REI poly/cotton (yeah, I know--"no cotton"--but they are great pants).  Harder to find camo zip-off pants, but I have a few. I carry lightweight, packable rain pants, but hardly ever use them on that hunt because wet weather is not that common there in September--maybe 10-20% of the days. 

I use a Gore-Tex shell parka/jacket and a down vest under it for the real cold mornings.  Since the down vest is never used as an outside layer, mine doesn't need to be expensive, camo, or weather proof. I purchased one for $3 at a used clothes store.  Very compactable and lots of warmth for the weight.  It doubles as extra warmth on the nights I bivy out. When you are covering lots of ground, you can remove the down vest and it doesn't weigh down your pack.

Take some baking soda and a gallon Ziploc or a small tub with you and wash your clothes part way through the hunt. That will extend the usefulness of your clothes during your week.

You'll have plenty of room in your paniers for a variety of clothes, so take a pair of your heavier, weather-proof pants and parka. That way you have more choices if the weather turns.

You don't have to have the best brand-name clothes for that hunt. If you can afford them, that is great.  You will have a great time with some cheaper, basic clothes, though.

[JLS]

Good advice above.  Think lots of layers.  Fleece is heavy and bulky relative to hollofill or down.  Your raingear can double as a shell to block the wind.

Merino wool 1/4 zips are very versatile.  I usually carry some long underwear in my pack.  When I leave the truck I'm rarely wearing anything more than a t-shirt so I don't sweat it up too bad.  If I'm going to be stopped for a while glassing, I'll layer up. 

Once you get a system down, it's pretty quick and easy to know what you need to wear, and add or subtract layers accordingly.

[Broken Arrow]

Anything and everything that is quite. Removing layers is just part of the process.

[BULLBLASTER]

Merino wool and sitka have been my choice. I have both the ascent and mountain pants and dither would do well. They aren't the same material the mountain pants are slightly heavier material and not quite as.stretchy as the ascent but very minor differences. I would say microtex also if on a smaller budget. Or maybe the cabelas hunt tec.
I started gearing up with sitka and firstlite last year and it still amazes me how might better I like that gear than anything else I've used. Its spendy but worth it IMO. 

[jjhunter]

Ascent pants and merino or synthetic 1/4 zips. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Not surewhat size you are but there's some good deals here...

 http://www.mountain-archery.com/closeouts.aspx

I ordered some about a month ago.

[JPhelps]

Merino wool and sitka have been my choice. I have both the ascent and mountain pants and dither would do well. They aren't the same material the mountain pants are slightly heavier material and not quite as.stretchy as the ascent but very minor differences. I would say microtex also if on a smaller budget. Or maybe the cabelas hunt tec.
I started gearing up with sitka and firstlite last year and it still amazes me how might better I like that gear than anything else I've used. Its spendy but worth it IMO. 

Don't want to derail the thread but the ascent and mountain pants use the same exact textile (same weight and material).  The difference is the cargo pockets, built in belt and sewn in pockets for knee pads.  Thus making the mountain pants heavier, slightly warmer and less stretchy.

[BigTines]

What do you guys think about the under armour evo long sleeve t? It's super lightweight and suppose to help with staying cool.  I was also looking at the cabelas microtec but it seems like its pretty heavy for early September where the temps hit 80's where I live. Any input? The only concern I had was the durability of the material of the under armour.

[Forks]

Sitka Ascent and Kuiu Attack pants, Kuiu 185 tops, Kuiu vest work great for me. Any merino top should treat you well.

[dreamingbig]

What do you guys think about the under armour evo long sleeve t? It's super lightweight and suppose to help with staying cool.  I was also looking at the cabelas microtec but it seems like its pretty heavy for early September where the temps hit 80's where I live. Any input? The only concern I had was the durability of the material of the under armour.

Okay if day hunting. If you are going to go out for 3 or more days than you would be better off with merino wool.  The odor reduction is amazing!

[Johnb317]

I use the kuiu merino wool top, and just bought a pair of their Tiburon pants. 
(Same cut as the attack pant but lighter and breaths).  Supposed to be excellent for early season and considering I've been using army bdu's for everything I'm guessing these will do fine even a little later in the season.

[BULLBLASTER]

I was at cabelas yesterday and found some hiking pants that are forest green and almost feel itentical to the sitka ascent. They are a bit different in cut and pockets but material is very similar. Think they were $55 or 60$. Could be pretty good. If I didn't have plenty of sitka pants I'd have triedthem out.

[huntnnw]

My girlfriend bought a pair of hiking pants made by Koppen, Ill tell you right now these pants are better than my Sitka pants and less than half the price. They almost feel the same ans stretchy, the huge difference was out shed hunting, I was soaked thru in minutes, her pants were bone dry shedding water, super quiet too

[Instinct]

I bought some core4element clothing this year, this last weekend i put it to the test. I went in w/ marino wool bottoms, marino wool 1/4 zip top, the switch back pants, pivot long sleeved, element vest, assault long sleeve, and the torrent rain gear. When i was on the move just had the switch back, vest, and pivot shirt on. Was warm around the core but wasnt sweatin like a pig at 6am. As the day moved on had to remove the vest but for the most part i was comfy, kept cool.

[jackelope]

I wore my Sitka Mountain Pants yesterday on a +/- 5 mile on and off trail hike in the e-wa heat and they were awesome.

[Bullkllr]

What do you guys think about the under armour evo long sleeve t? It's super lightweight and suppose to help with staying cool.  I was also looking at the cabelas microtec but it seems like its pretty heavy for early September where the temps hit 80's where I live. Any input? The only concern I had was the durability of the material of the under armour.

Microtex comes in regular and lite. I have both (pants). Lite is better in warm weather. It is good stuff; best unlined/non-insulated pants I have used.

They're on sale:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Lightweight-Camo-Clothing/Mens-Lightweight-Camo-Pants|/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104431680/i/104017680/Cabelas-Microtexreg-Lite8482-Six-Pocket-Pants-mdash-Regular/730743.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmens-lightweight-camo-pants%2F_%2FN-1100950%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104017680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104791680%253Bcat104748480%253Bcat104431680%26gclid%3DCOnm5fDsn7gCFXLLtAodoVIAvw%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds%26pcrid%3D14422933036&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104791680%3Bcat104748480%3Bcat104431680%3Bcat104017680

[Olympics777]

Sitka is way cheaper if you get it in the beginning of Jan, if you don't mind waiting. It is also WAYYY worth the price. But, if you haven't got the dough, then no matter how worthit it is it might in fact NOT be worth it, get it?

[sboada]

Another vote for Core4Element. Used their stuff exclusively last year and it worked out really well.  And their stuff can be had for alot less than Sitka on Camofire.com and BlackOvis. 

[trophyhunt]

I love my bdu's lightweight army pants, no burr's, light and fairly cool on hot days.

[SWiley]

I just bought some Kryptek gear for this upcoming season. I haven't had a chance to test it yet but it seems like good gear.

[CAMPMEAT]

Whites Smokejumper boots, Levis and a hickory shirt. Orange too, when needed. That's all you need. 

[Sliverslinger]

If you have to pick and choose, I suggest Kuiu or firstlite merino wool base layers.  They are the perfect backcountry shirt.  You can wear them into the 80s F and they stink much less after 4-5 days than anything else will.  I also love the firstlite kanab pants or Kuiu attack.

Happy shopping!

ti

 :yeah:100% best options

[Paxer]

Thanks for the heads up I had not thought about base layers, and http://us.icebreaker.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-IB-US-Site/en/Home-Show?Locale=en&gclid=CM_6wMWb77gCFUfZQgodhDEAwA

is on sale right now 40 percent off , just ordered the Mens Tech Long Sleeve Half Zip top and Mens Bodyfit 150 Leggings w/Fly. 110 shipped can't beat that

[jackelope]

Whites Smokejumper boots, Levis and a hickory shirt. Orange too, when needed. That's all you need. 

Till it rains. Or it gets hot. Or it gets cold. Or you start sweating.