Snow britches??

[1_pointer]

I'm posting this in the Fireside as I figured more would see it here. I have a couple of late season hunts that will probably find me wallowing around the hills in snow. This is not something I've dealt with for a few years. In the past, I had a pair of stretchy ski pants that I used for this time of year, but they've since been trashed and the company is out of bidness. I generally wear Microtex pants with varying levels of insulation underneath. This has worked from summer time to below freezing. I realize the above can work, but I'm not a fan of a wet backside or knees when I stop to glass. This I can remedy I think with a bit of closed cell foam or Tyvek. I have a pair of rain pants that I've in the past wore in the snow, but they are a bit noisy and don't breath too well so I get sweaty.

That said, I was curious what pants you guys use for late season/snowy hunts? Do you find 100% waterproof neccessary during this time of year? Will water resistant soft shells work? I'm eyeballing a pair right now that offer 4 way stretch, windproof and listed as water resistant. Other option I've considered is just wearing the microtex and buying a very cheap set of water proof pants. I'd take a pair of scissors to the pants to turn them into shorts that'd be worn underneath the pants. This'd keep my fine looking backside dry and provide better venting than the ones I have.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mdunc8]

I typically wear Filson's wool pants (http://www.filson.com/products/hunt...sProduct=mens/pants-shorts&fmetaProduct=1011/). They're expensive, but worth every penny. I'm sure there are some lighter synthetics that don't pick up burrs and such as much as wool, but they're probably my favorite article of clothing that I own.

 

[A-con]

Gators ?

Too late for option 2, but after ski season, most chain sporting good store put great ski/snow pants on sale for less than 1/2 retail. I got my kid a $150 pair for $47. This spring I'm going to find myself a pair.

 

[MTpubliclander]

I have the old woolrich wool pants, the big thick grey ones and those with a couple underlayers keep me warmer than anything, if you want camo I know that some companies make em camo too. But wool is what keeps me on the mountain rather than next to the heater in my truck.

 

[jimss]

I would advise against water resistent! Safety would be a definite consideration in fall/winter. If you don't wear waterproof outer you may gradually get soaked and wet..which can lead to exposure! I would advise waterproof outers similar to Sitka or Kuiu that are camo and breath well. If you can't afford those possibly buy a pair of Marmot Precip pants, jacket. I've worn Precip in Alaska for several weeks fishing and never soaked through. You can buy a pair right now on sale at Sierra Trading for around $100...incredible deal! I've used and abuse my Precip pants and jacket for years and they work just as well as my Sitka at a fraction of the price!

Which ever jacket you buy make sure it has pitzips or you may get wet from the inside-out! I always wear whites in the snow. Tyvek coveralls are light and compact but wear on brush after a while. Tyvek is somewhat waterproof. I have a cheaper pair of camo whites that I sometime wear over my raingear. As mentioned above, gators are nice. I would advise fleece, wool, or quiet cloth gators that aren't noisy.

 

[HighDesertSage]

I wear a heavy or lightweight wool pant depending on the temperature. I use rain pants over them as a waterproof shell if it is warm enough that the snow does not just brush off.

 

[jimss]

I looked the Marmot Precips up on the Sierra Trading Post website and they have them an additional 35% off their already incredible prices today with a coupon code. I ended up buying another pair because I've had such great luck with them. I got the jacket and pants for close to $100. If you look around most places sell just the jacket for $100 so that's a heck of a deal! As I've said before I've had just as good of luck with them as my Sitka raingear. It's too bad they don't come out with camo but I use them a lot for fishing...and hunting in a pinch.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

If you already like the cabelas stuff.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Layering-Clothing/Mens-Layering-Pants-Bibs-Coveralls%7C/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104428980/i/104834880/Cabelas-Instinct8482-Backcountry-Glassing-Pants/1838736.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmens-layering-pants-bibs-coveralls%2F_%2FN-1102445%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104834880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104797080%253Bcat104428980&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104797080%3Bcat104428980%3Bcat104834880

 

[jryoung]

I don't like the noise that nearly all waterproof pants make especially in snow when it can be ultra quiet...rain is another story, but I nearly always have a pair of ultra lightweight waterproof pants (Sierra Design or similar) in my pack.

For general hunting/stalking in snow I like softshell over wool for it's repellent ability coupled with some gaiters. The KUIU guide pants are awesome as they are much heavier weight. For sitting and glassing I just bring a trash bag to sit on as it can be handy for other uses in the field and carries no weight.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

For sitting and glassing I just bring a trash bag to sit on as it can be handy for other uses in the field and carries no weight.

A chunk of foam sleeping pad works good too, this insulates/pads for more comfortable sitting on cold/rough ground.

 

[jryoung]

A chunk of foam sleeping pad works good too, this insulates/pads for more comfortable sitting on cold/rough ground.

Good call, anyone want to go in on a group purchase of a Thermarest Z-lite and cut it up?

 

[Big Fin]

I wear the Sitka Timberline Pants, with gaiters, for exactly the situation you explain. They have a reinforced butt, keeping you dry when you sit and glass from wet ground or in the snow. They have removable knee pads that I love. They also have a waterproof fabric on the lower leg, stopping the moisture creep on days when the snow gets damp.

By far my favorite piece of Sitka Gear. I wear them starting October, adding base layers for the cold days of wolf calling in January.

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

I go with either the Sitka Timberline or if it's really cold I go with my old wool pants and a pair of suspenders. Wool has never let me down in cold weather and probably never will.

 

[Bambistew]

Good call, anyone want to go in on a group purchase of a Thermarest Z-lite and cut it up?

One pad will net you three seats. Therm-a-rest also makes a mini pad, but its smaller than the 1/3 of a Z Rest pad. Fold up to about the size of a 20oz coke bottle.

Depending on how much hiking, I will either wear gaitors and the same nylon hiking pants I always wear with thermals, or go with wool with and thermals... depends on temps. Below zero = wool.

Get a good set of gators and a foam pad and you're good for just about everything I would imagine you'd run into on a late season hunt.

I do pack a set of rain pants and put them on if its really windy or I'm sitting for an extended period in cold temps.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

That therma rest pad is pretty slick, Bambi. Might have to look into one of those when I eventually lose my current one.

I made mine out of a chunk of old Army sleeping mat. It is about 16"x16" that folds in half. I cut it in half and made a hinge with 100mph tape. Cost me $0.

 

[1_pointer]

Thanks folks! You have reaffirmed some of what I was thinking and made me want to spend money I don't really have... The britches with the waterproof seat/knees (Timberline and Glassing pants) do look like exactly what I'd want, just not sure I want to part with the $$ right now. Might spend $10 and try putting a DWR spray on the microtex...

I have a foam sleeping pad that's gonna get scissored soon!

I do have some gaiters that work super and I'll definitely be wearing them. Just wish they were quieter...

FWIW, here are the pants I've thought about getting.
http://www.rei.com/product/860952/sporthill-outdoor-pants-mens-special-buy

They'll offer more wind resistance than the microtex,stretch, and are at least water 'resistant'. Just not sure if that's worth $50. (Yes, I'm tight when it comes to things other than tags/trips).

 

[Bambistew]

Wash your gear in Nikwax Tech Wash... it will add a DWR coating similar to the "water resistant" coatings put on new gear. Works really well.

Also look at Duluth Trading Co. I'm very impressed with the flex dry on the fly pants. Very comfortable pants. I spent 12 days in them chasing sheep this fall, granted it wasn't snowy, but the wind blew 20-30mph every day and temps were in the upper 30s at some elevations, with a bit of snow spitting. I'll be wearing them on a few more hunts this fall... it will be wet and cold on two of them, and I have no doubt they'll work fine.

I've looked at every pair of pants that REI carries in the last two years. Most don't fit me at all, and usually bind up in the crotch area. The old REI Sahara pants were awesome the new ones suck. I really like the Kuhl pants, but the ones I liked are now discontinued... so I went to Duluth Trading Co.

Don't sweat the noise of nylon unless you're stalking whitetails in the brush. Most animals can't really hear much better than we can. As a test have a friend walk through brush at varying distances and see if you can hear the nylon scraping... I'll bet at 20 yards you hear nothing. I've yet to have a stalk blown by "loud" clothing or backpack especially on a rifle hunt.

 

[Wapiti Warrior]

I love my wool pants, grew up wearing wool. But I can't sit or kneel for a long time or my arse and knees get wet. Granted I have wicking under-layers on and the wool pulls the moisture away from my body too so it is just a comfort thing while I am on the ground.