First Lite for Elk Hunting?

[Grayson_Everett]

Planning for my elk hunt in Utah last September...Buying gear I need or think I need, looking for input. Most of my hunting gear that fits me is for cold weather so I need some moderate weather stuff. Planning on buying a pair of cheap cotton BDU pants/jacket for backup. I know cotton kills, it's in case it's really hot. I'll probably bring my Michigan November "cold" wool stuff in the case as well. But I was planning on first lite corrugate jacket and pants. I'm a cheapskate, so I'm having a hard time justifying dropping almost $300 on clothes. I know the good stuff is important and I can afford it, I'm just cheap and have trouble spending money I don't have to. I do 1-2 western hunts a year and hunt here in Michigan a ton, so it'll see use. Tell me what you think.

[NW SURVEYOR]

Buy once, Cry once.
Don't be cheap, cause cheap ain't cheap.

[Tim in Wa.]

For pants you can get Eddie Bauer lined guide pants for about $75.00 right now.
I have a hard time paying a premium for hunting brand pants when they get thrashed so fast

[MtnMuley]

For a Sept elk hunt on a budget, I'd buy the Wrangler Comfort Tech pants for $20ish and a merino top from Black Ovis for $30ish. Both in the lighter brown color. You can kill just as many elk in these that any First Lite, Kuiu, etc. Save your money for more important things like boots and calls.

[cougforester]

Either follow the routes described below, as there is good quality stuff out there for a relatively good deal, or go all in on Sitka or Kuiu. First Lite has a pretty notorious reputation for being comfortable but incredibly short lived.

[trophyhunt]

Either follow the routes described below, as there is good quality stuff out there for a relatively good deal, or go all in on Sitka or Kuiu. First Lite has a pretty notorious reputation for being comfortable but incredibly short lived.

used to be a big fan of firstlite, but after having to send multiple items back due to complete failure, I'm done with them.  I really hope steve R can have some impact with quality at first lite.  My go to, warm, comfy and durable clothing is Kuiu.  But the most important thing you can do is layer up right and have some good rain gear.  Your idea of having a set of cotton BDU's is spot on, by far the most durable clothing on the market!! BUT, not for any kind of bad weather, which you already know.  Go kuiu and spend some money, you'll find you really only need about two sets.  couple different weights for under shirts then a jacket, under pants, socks, and guide pant or similar pant.  You'll see that you can wear those clothes day after day and they just don't stink, even the socks after days of hunting still smell fine.  You won't be disappointing with kuiu.

[Alan K]

I've shredded most of my outer layers of First Lite. The under layers are good. They just aren't made for the brush we've got here on the west side I guess.    I've since moved on to Sitka for outer layers and it has held up great through the first two seasons of use. Time will tell. I've got buddies who are into Kuiu and have similar feedback, quality stuff.

[Jonathan_S]

I've shredded most of my outer layers of First Lite. The under layers are good. They just aren't made for the brush we've got here on the west side I guess.   

that's generous. First Lite is definitely comfortable but falls apart in pretty much any environment.

[teanawayslayer]

Keep an eye on camofire. They have been selling some Sitka stuff recently. I’ve never tried first lite and don’t plan to. Perfectly happy with Sitka and kuiu.

[Karl Blanchard]

For a Sept elk hunt on a budget, I'd buy the Wrangler Comfort Tech pants for $20ish and a merino top from Black Ovis for $30ish. Both in the lighter brown color. You can kill just as many elk in these that any First Lite, Kuiu, etc. Save your money for more important things like boots and calls.

  sound advice. Id add prana zion to your pants list. Ive got 2 drawers full of hunting and hiking pants from all the known brands and the prana's are what I usually reach for.

As with every hunt layering is key. The black ovis merino stuff is pert good. A light weight quarter zip hoodie is about my most favorite piece of clothing made. Add in a heavier top, possibly a vest, a soft shell and a puffy and you can tackle just about anything. Good luck on your hunt 

[fishngamereaper]

For a Sept elk hunt on a budget, I'd buy the Wrangler Comfort Tech pants for $20ish and a merino top from Black Ovis for $30ish. Both in the lighter brown color. You can kill just as many elk in these that any First Lite, Kuiu, etc. Save your money for more important things like boots and calls.

  sound advice. Id add prana zion to your pants list. Ive got 2 drawers full of hunting and hiking pants from all the known brands and the prana's are what I usually reach for.

As with every hunt layering is key. The black ovis merino stuff is pert good. A light weight quarter zip hoodie is about my most favorite piece of clothing made. Add in a heavier top, possibly a vest, a soft shell and a puffy and you can tackle just about anything. Good luck on your hunt 

 

For early/ mid season I love my prana zion's. Have 3 pair and they all have taken some abuse ..
I've had great luck with Kuiu as well. The attack pants are well built as are the Talus...you don't need $300 Kuiu pants to get good Kuiu pants for early/ mid season.

[Stein]

I had bad experiences with First Lite, it was buy once, cry once and then cry again when it fell apart, then cry again when I had to buy something else to replace it.  It's kind of like the adage about cutting fire wood, except it makes you cry three times.

The name brand $$ stuff is awesome, but you can get 80-90% of the performance for 1/2 to 1/3 the cost. I have stuff I bought from the bargain cave at Cabelas that has 8 seasons, both big game and waterfowl and it's going strong.  Camo Fire wool is affordable and relatively durable.

Shop sales and store brand stuff and you can get quality stuff for reasonable prices.  There are also guys that like to have new stuff every 1-2 years and sell their lightly used stuff here and other places for reasonable prices as well.

[Sundance]

First Lite Guide Lite Pants are on Sierra.com right now for $50
Kuiu I'd look at the Attacks or the Kutana's, I have both and the Kutana are good for warm weather.
Camofire usually runs Sitka on Saturdays, so check Friday night at 10PM when they reload, the good stuff goes fast.

[vandeman17]

I have pieced together a full line of sitka gear over the last few years and never paid full price for a single item. I have watched for sales and also bought a couple things lightly used. Even on sale, they are spendy but well worth it in my mind because of what they offer. I don't spend a whole lot of money on random crap throughout the year just so that I can have money to put towards hunting trips, tags and gear.

Whether hot or cold, when you are out in the mountains, the last thing you want to do is be kicking yourself for going cheap on gear. I can think of many times sitting in a stand freezing my butt off and thinking to myself "I would pay $100 for a warmer jacket right now" Ironically, the jacket I was wearing was probably $100 cheaper than the one I wanted. Go figure

[Sunbkpk]

SKRE gear has there Mountain Stealth pattern on clearance right now. Only used there pants so far but like it.