This year I retired my first pair of Big Bill wool pants after about 10 seasons, I have another pair that are about 5 years old. Just after this season, I ordered a pair of Filsons and a new pair of BB's, I sent the Filson's back. The Filson's were better constructed, I think, but the BB's have done everything I need them to do.
I wear the 24oz pants, I would stick with that. They shed water for the most part when fresh washed but if you hunt in them for 3-4 days they won't shed as much water. I wear a pair of UA long bottoms and I never get cold in them, ever. This year in Montana it was 24 below when I left the truck, I was just fine. They work well in the early season too, they don't get too hot, that's what wool does.
They have bigger side pockets that I really like over the Filson's, I can put both gloves in one pocket and a range finder in the other with plenty of room to spare. They will pretty much dry overnight in a hotel room. The only reason I retired my last pair is that the crotch is so thin after all the miles on them. I have always washed mine on a gentle setting and dried them outside when it's warm or inside near the stove when it isn't. Their green color will moderate and turn more of a forest green after a few washings. Even on week long backpack trips I don't carry a spare pair, I go with what I have on and that saves a lot of weight/space.
The downside is how heavy they are when really wet and water logged, I never notice, though, until I take them off at the end of the day. Of course with wool they still stay warm when wet. Burrs love them.
The main thing... I know that I can spend the night outside literally in anything I have been in.
