Pants for wet brush?

[Pete112288]

So I have hunted thick nasty brush my whole life. On the west side. So basically I just deal with being wet. For a while, when the weather wasn't too warm, I would wear long johns, then a cheap pair of the rubber type rain pants, the type that are not breathable, but are 100% waterproof, but they tear easy on brush. So then I would wear a cheap pair of Walmart camo cargo pants. Would keep my legs dry minus sweat, but can be a pain. Tried a couple different types of "waterproof" pants over the years. Some are ok. Most are fine for rain in open ground, but once you push wet brush or tall grass, they still soak through eventually.
My question is, has anyone found a pair of hunting pants that really keep out water even when pushing brush and tall grass that also won't tear on tough brush?
Thinking of just going back to the layering with rain pants under cheap pants when its really that bad. But thought id ask the masses to see if there is something else.

[pd]

I am sure that I am not the only one who does this.  Rubber rain bibs (marine grade), with summertime hiking pants underneath.  Just don't walk too quickly!

This is the best solution for heavy rain and blackberry bushes.  The rain suit is heavy, so you have to walk slowly to avoid sweating.  The good news is that you can sit on a log for a long time and not get wet or get cold.

It can be hard to take a leak, that's for sure.

[fowl smacker]

I've gone through Sitka Thunderhead, First Lite Seak and got wet busting brush in both.  Finally bought some Kuiu Yukon pants this yr and they actually kept me dry busting brush when it was really wet this season.

[ellensburgpo]

Filson double tin pants or single tin. I’ve worn my pair of double tin pants bird hunting for 30+ years.

[PsoasHunter]

I've torn up nice sitka rain pants, they're not durable enough to last multiple seasons, but they worked really well for awhile. Bought a pair of filson single tin pants, buy didn't use them much as I tagged out in eastern wa in the early season.  They seem like they will work well, but they're heavy for hiking in from the gate to my hunting area.

[TitusFord]

The only thing I've had luck with is the thick black bibs from the logging shop. But, thats working in the woods and busting brush involves a lot more brush and a lot more busting then you would want to do hunting. Non of the fancy rain gear lasts in the brush out here

[gallion_t]

Gotta agree with the Filson double tin pants.

[trophyhunt]

The first two days of late buck was as wet as it gets where I was hunting, went through waist high brush all day, then spent about 1/2 hour riding my quad in the down pour.  I was only damp in places from sweat, but mostly dry.  Kuiu Yukon jacket and pants!!!  Cry once and be dry!! 

[b0bbyg]

May not be in stuff as rough as others but bought some SKRE pants on sale to try 1-2 years ago. They have been great for wet days.  Pushing through some meadows in early elk season and ferns, small trees and oregon grapes in late deer and they stay dry.

Like I said bought to try because price was right and would try other gear based on how these have worked so far. Think they were hardscrabble pants?

[Bullkllr]

It's all a compromise between dry, durable, "breathable", sweaty, and quiet, and nothing's exactly perfect. If you don't need quiet,  marine grade rain gear or Filson tin would be great, but sweaty if you move much. If you have to be quiet, wool or thick fleece won't keep you dry, but you won't freeze.

[EnglishSetter]

Filson double tin pants or single tin. I’ve worn my pair of double tin pants bird hunting for 30+ years.

I wear the double tin chaps over my normal jeans or over my lightweight Frog Togg hip boots in marsh/ponds/boggs.

Do need to wax them seasonally for best water repellency.  I wouldn't call them waterproof, but quite effective.

Anything nylon/Cordura is noisy as hell.

[Humptulips]

Retired logger so I've about seen it all for rain gear. Currently wear Iron eagle by tingley. It's polyurethane over nylon and it is tough but a little noisy. PVC is more prone to tear. If your rain gear says breathable it leaks, might be good for the occasional shower but all day in the wet, you get wet. Here is the key to keep from sweating in waterproof gear, buy them big with a lot of room inside. Your pants should be big enough to easily slip them off or on with your caulk shoes on. Bibs with your coat unbuttoned and the air can circulate.
I never cared for tin pants because when you put them on you had them for the day even if the weather changed.

[KB88]

Take an old pair of waders and cut off the rubber boots. I use a neoprene setup for work sites and thick blacktail hunts.

[pd]

@Humptulips

Bruce, you are teasing us.  Ain't no way I am getting a pair of rubbers over my caulks.  I think I would throw out my back first.  Nice try. 

I agree with you about Filton tin pants--they have their place in sage brush country, but not in the wetside blackberry jungle.  Neoprene is also out for me--the blackberry stickers love to grab that material.

[Humptulips]

@Humptulips

Bruce, you are teasing us.  Ain't no way I am getting a pair of rubbers over my caulks.  I think I would throw out my back first.  Nice try. 

I agree with you about Filton tin pants--they have their place in sage brush country, but not in the wetside blackberry jungle.  Neoprene is also out for me--the blackberry stickers love to grab that material.

Just have to buy them big enough. I can look right down the inside of my rain pants and see my shoes.

[BigGoonTuna]

Grundens commercial bibs (the stiff dark green ones, not the stretchy kind) work well for me. I don’t like wearing rain gear of any kind while hunting but they keep you dry in the worst weather. If it’s really coming down you don’t notice the “swish” while walking.

An added bonus is that they’ll tell you if you’re moving too fast, if you start sweating it’s time to slow down 

[EnglishSetter]

I think there's a difference between "wet brush" and "raingear".

My Filson double tin chaps work well in wet brush over my jeans.  Using them over my lightweight hip waters handles bogs and such.

For actual rain, I've found a poncho works well for say thighs upwards.