Hunting coat/ bibs for 2022 season

[Armored farmer]

After many years, I'm finally going to retire my old UnderArmour hunting coat and bibs. I have pictures dating back to 2015 of me wearing them as my primary deer hunting clothes.


The zippers are sticky and the pants legs are worn off at the bottom . There are holes in the pockets too. It's time...
Any recommendations for a not-too-bulky hunting gear?
I like mossy bottomland camo. Unless I hear a better recommendation , I'll probably go back to UnderArmour gear.
I like a coat with big pockets and maybe a safety harness system.

 

[WisBorn]

I have been eying the Cabela's whitetail extreme Gore-tex parka and bibs. They may be a little more bulky than you are looking for.

 

[Armored farmer]

I saw some interesting gear at cabelas in green bay.
It was RedHead IIRC

 

[Captcurt]

I saw some interesting gear at cabelas in green bay.
It was RedHead IIRC

Be careful. I went to Redhead.com looking for hunting clothes and that site was not clothing.

 

[Armored farmer]

Lol...

 

[Wolfshead]

I’m interested in this thread and how it goes.
I’m thinking about getting a new parka and bibs.
I most likely can get another year out of my current set, but they too are getting holes/wear, and they seem to be less warm as they’ve used to be.
I’ll be following this for sure

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've been using Carhart and Walls for years,(both hard to break-in), usually have to replace them because of them "shrinking" instead of wearing them out, they offer different insulation for different temperatures at reasonable prices. I use lighter color early season and darker colors late season.

 

[22250Rem]

I will be watching this thread. After this past season it's starting to look like replacement time for my old hunting coat. Looking forward to some real life feedback and suggestions, ( photos appreciated). This is an excellent after season topic for the hunting section of this web site.

 

[Armored farmer]

My son is obsessive hunter. He buys Sitka gear. He swears its the best and guaranteed. All I know is that it's expen$ive. I'm going to look at it.

 

[WisBorn]

Does the UnderArmour do a good job holding out light rain and wind?

I don't need the GoreTex high quality rain hold out and the price that comes with it. The RedHead gear has a nicer price
I need the tall / big size that it's available in.

 

[buck460XVR]

I saw some interesting gear at cabelas in green bay.
It was RedHead IIRC

I've have Cabela's insulated bibs, coat and pants.....all Gore-tex. I also have a set of their regular Gore-tex raingear. Have had them all for well over a decade and still use them regularly for deer hunting(both gun and bow) and for Spring Turkey. They have held up well and as of yet I have kept from any major damage when crossing fences, going thru thickets. Back when I was a kid, Redhead was an independent brand and a good "middle of the road" option for hunting clothing when there were not that many options available. I still have an old Redhead canvas hunting vest I bought from the local Holiday Station back in the early 70's. It hasn't fit me since the late 90's but I still have it and it's still in good shape. IMHO tho, since Cabela's bought out the rights to the Redhead name, it has evolved into more of an "entry level". But then, I haven't seriously looked at it for many years, maybe because of my opinion. I also have some UA stuff(their prices have come down as competition has increased) and some Scentblocker. All pretty good stuff and well designed. While I prefer to try stuff on in a store for correct fit, most online places now offer free4 returns along with free shipping. Sending it back is not the hassle it used to be. Right now, because of hunting season over or nearly over and the Christmas season done and gone, most online places have great prices on last years stuff(if you can find it in your size)., so now is a good time to buy if you are in need. Many proprietary types of imitation Gore-Tex out there, that work just as well. Same with Thinsulate. But IMHO, buying quality is important if one want's it to last under hunting type conditions. So is a design that fits hunting. Many great work coats/bibs like Carhartt do not offer the water-proofing, the light warm insulation or the flexible movement hunters desire. Been there, done that. While a Carhartt jacket is great and durable for climbing around a construction site, try twisting 180 degrees in a treestand and drawing your 70# bow....quietly. We are lucky to live in an age where we have products are built for hunters by hunters.

 

[Armored farmer]

The under Armour gear is good. It sheds drizzle very well, but not a raincoat.
It isn't bulky, with a fleece-like inner lining.

 

[WisBorn]

@buck460XVR one little correction. The RedHead gear label is a Bass Pro Shop brand. Bass Pro Shops bought out Cabela's a couple of years ago. BPS still uses the Cabela's brand for products and stores. Both store fronts and websites sell each others products.

 

[BigBlue 94]

My best recommendation is the Cabela's Wooltimate series. Hands down warmest pants ive ever had. Ive had my pair of pants for 15 years now, but they are worn out.

 

[Captcurt]

I learned that quality gear last for many years. I have a Columbia 3 in1 jacket that is still in use 15 years later and I even worked in it. Same thing with boots. I can buy a pair each year if I want cheap Wally World Chinese crap, or I can spend more for Danners that last several years. No more junk clothing for me.

 

[FL-NC]

I love polar fleece- lightweight and warm. And in my case, free. Just required a short swearing in ceremony and short haircut (thanks Uncle Sam). But it has been standard issue for a good while, and is available on the surplus market.

 

[Axis II]

I have the redhead elite parka and bibs. Last year I sat in snow, cold and pouring ran and stayed dry. Only complaint is the parka is heavy,

 

[Boattale]

My only comment is I have yet to find the equal to actual Gore Tex when it comes to waterproof, breathability and durability.

 

[jmr40]

My style of hunting is much different than yours. But I subscribe to multiple layers of lighter clothes instead of one heavy garment. My cold weather gear looks more like a hiker than a hunter. And I find less expensive alternatives that way. There is a premium on anything camo and I've found lots of options in green, brown, and black that are just as effective for big game hunting. I'm wearing an orange vest over everything so I don't see the point of camo for big game hunting.

I will often wear 2 long sleeve T-shirts under a fleece jacket like this.

Amazon.com: TRU-SPEC Men's Polar Fleece Jacket, Coyote, XX-Large Regular : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry

Then either a goose down vest of jacket over that if it is cold enough. I have some of the name brand stuff, but I've also found that places like Sams Club and Costco have alternate items selling for $20-$30 instead of $100-$150.

If it is windy I'll put on a waterproof shell on. I usually start out pretty light for the walk into where I hunt and carry the rest in a daypack.

I'm one who just doesn't seem to get my legs of feet cold. I usually wear good wool socks and good quality uninsulated boots even in temps down to single digits. I rarely wear long underwear bottoms, but if I do, I've never felt the need to use anything else on my lower body.

If I can keep my head warm everything else stays warm. A balaclava is a must have for me. And I usually double up with a ski cap and neck gaiter as well.

Gloves are usually pretty lightweight.

Amazon.com: Achiou Balaclava Face Mask UV Protection for Men Women Sun Hood Tactical Lightweight Ski Motorcycle Running Riding Black : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry

 

[Chuck R.]

I've got the older Cabela's whitetail extreme parka and bibs.

Definitely appropriate for stand hunting, both are warm, like -15 wind chill warm, but they are bulky. Not really appropriate for still hunting or stalking. I wear my normal layers and normal hunting pants/shirt underneath. IF I'm done sitting I shed both before moving. Getting to the stand I usually strap both to my backpack, rather than wear and work up a sweat.

I've worn both and my Sorrel pack boots in minus temps with wind chills that have been perverse and not been uncomfortable.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I mix and match outdoor gear with hunting gear. Usually layers involve North Face, Columbia, Patagonia, etc.

But for straight hunting gear, I've been recently using Nomad brand with Veil Camo. Big fan.

Also going to be adding some Killik from Sportsman's Warehouse, also I'm Veil. Seems to be very good value.

When it comes to Cabela's/Bass pro, I feel like much of my Redhead gear is more budget quality where the Cabela's guide stuff seems nicer.

So I'm summation, good value that's just below the Gucci Sitka/Kuiu...

-Nomad
-Killik
-Cabelas guide

 

[buck460XVR]

Getting to the stand I usually strap both to my backpack, rather than wear and work up a sweat.

^^^Learned this many years ago myself, especially when I was hunting the big woods areas where a hike into the stand was a 1/2 mile or more.

One of the other things I learned many years ago, is when you invest good monies for good hunting gear.......save that gear for hunting. Don't use the same coat/pants for cutting wood and other outdoor activities. While I am not a fan of Carhartts for hunting, you can't beat them for working outdoors. Even with the best of insulated gear, layering is still the way to go. Good wicking type base layers beat the 'ell out of plain old cotton. Waterproof is more than just shedding rain. Jackets that seal up at the neck, wrists and zippers go a long way towards keeping you dry when you are caught in a monsoon, or sitting under a dripping tree.

 

[Wolfshead]

I have gear for walking an gear for sitting.
One of my favorite spots to sit is on the east side of a large crop field.
The prevailing winds can come across that field and can be pretty chilly.
It is about a half mile walk to where I sit so I definitely carry my parka in on my pack.
As I mentioned before, my parka and bibs are getting to where they just don’t keep me warm enough particularly when those winds are pummeling me on the field edge.
I have some nice Kuiu for layering and walking clothes but I don’t want to spend $1400 for tree stand/sitting clothing when I can get something that will do the same job for $1000 less.
My current sit gear are approximately eight years old. I can certainly use them for another season or two. But I really would like something a bit warmer when it comes down to it.
I would love to be able to design my own gear as I think I could do it and have the costs come in around $500 for parka AND bibs.
Dream on I suppose!

 

[BigBore44]

Whatever you decide, I’d wait till March. Good/great sales. That’s how I’ve bought all my hunting clothes. I have probably $3.5k in hunting clothes and I guarantee I have less than $1k invested.

I do need to find some early season bibs and a jacket as I gave them, some wool socks, and winter gloves to a young homeless man about 2 weeks ago who was sitting outside a QT freezing. He wasn’t begging. Just sitting there freezing. It’s not something I’d normally do or have done before. But something kept nagging at me to do it. So, I did.

 

[Robert]

I wear Kuiu Attack pants and a Guide jacket over a base layer and maybe a sweater. I do a lot of walking, and a lot of sitting. But not in a stand. I've found Kuiu to be a great mix for keeping me from overheating when walking and warm when sitting. Though the day I took my doe last year it was cold and windy so a down jacket and pants would have been nice, but I don't have that kind of money. Kuiu has a big 40% off sale starting today, the 13th, but I doubt the attacks or the guides will be on it.

Edit:
Just checked the Kuiu site, while they have some good discounts on decent gear, none of it is the stuff I wanted to pick up. Oh well.