The cost of hunting clothes

W

WW

New member
Mar 3, 2014
1,397
I have always wondered just how much some people were willing to pay for a set of camo clothing. And is the quality that much better, does it last any longer, and most importantly, does it make you a better hunter?

So I got out my new Cabela\'s catalog and totaled up what they seemed to think was a complete hunting clothing system and I got the shock of my life.

I always knew the Sitka brand stuff was expensive. And I want to stress that I\'m only using it as an example here. I totaled up five different outfit packages from the catalog and was amazed. Below is a list of what each package totaled up to as listed in the Cabelas archery catalog.

1) Whitetail Seeking package - $1214

2) Whitetail Rut package - $1247

3) Big Game Extended Exposure package - $2415

4) Big Game Light And Fast package - $1763

5) Big Game Late Season package - $2316

I don\'t know about the rest of you, but I need more than just one set of hunting clothes. So, the price could double or even triple.
 
OOPS! I intended this to go in the Gear or Off Topic threads. Move it if you want John.
 
Hell, just look at the cost of clothes, period.

I\'m with you WW. I do have some of the more \"higher end\" stuff ... most recently, a pair of First Lite pants I got on sale. (I very rarely buy anything that is not on sale.) I really like them, and they are more comfortable than jeans or BDUs. They also tag me as being in the \"In Crowd\", and so I like that. :haha:

One thing I will say in favor of some of the newer stuff is that they really do save a lot of weight and are generally more durable. But I don\'t think the benefits are equal for all items.

Good Merino wool is, IMO, worth a little extra. Gloves? Not so much. Rain gear? Maybe. I\'m also willing to pay a little more for weight savings. I suspect that if I made a living living in a particular set of clothes (as a guide, or some sort of special ops person) I\'d insist on spending more. But the fact is that I don\'t spend a whole season out in the woods, and I don\'t need something that is designed for such use.

It\'s not just hunting clothes, \"buy\" the way.

Take a look at the Patagonia, Ibex, or other mountain wear. Or, for that matter, have you ever wondered what a female professional (say, a business woman in a suburban area) spends on clothes. A couple grand looks pretty good if you do the comparison, I bet. (Of course, her \"season\" for those clothes is year-long, and elk season is a week.) Even look at the Cabelas-brand stuff ... not \"cheap\" at all.

Just about any brand (not just Sitka) is pretty pricey today ... so I try to buy non-camo versions that I can use and abuse year round. But I haven\'t had to buy new clothing for quite a while, and don\'t anticipate doing so, either.
 
it is a little scary on price! Essentially what you are paying for is your comfort level IMO. I\'m sure the high end gear is nice but it is not necessary and in no way makes you a better hunter it may mean you can stay out in harsher conditions longer (maybe) but if you work in upwind of the herd of elk doesn\'t matter if your in a loin cloth or decked out in the highest end stuff probably won\'t kill many elk. :dk: I know I can\'t pull myself to paying that much, some places i\'ve read they make it sound like a death sentence for wearing cotton i laugh just think a little ahead and prepare for rain or ect you will survive just fine. most my stuff is from the end of season sale at walmart you might even say I could be sponsored by walmart
 
It is crazy WW, but a guy sure looks good to the deer and elk wearing the latest camouflage. They know you are very sincere when they see a hunter all decked out in the newest fashion hunting clothing line. I go for only the best, tailored by a specialist in Thailand or China. Imported by the fine clothier Mal-Wart. Like tdiesel. I wait until early January when the hunting clothes are on close out. When I need something specific, like rain gear, I go to Cabelas. There are several items in my outfit from garage sales too. There is nothing too good for the elk I hunt.
One thing I can say in defense of camo is it is often soft and quiet. In addition I may modify the shirts to fit tighter when I shoot my bow. I could do that with a good hickory or plaid shirt and it would be fine too.
 
It is a little crazy how expensive things have gotten. I have accumulated a bunch of Under Armour hunting gear over the years, mainly through the outlet store here in Colorado, although they haven\'t been carrying near as much camo the last year or so. It is crazy to look and see that a 1/4 zip shirt is $100 these days. I just try to keep an eye out for sales and, occassionally, scoop something up. It\'s either that or get a nice gift for Christmas, a birthday, etc.
 
Well, it\'s not really that things have become more expensive ... the inexpensive stuff is still there. You just have more options on the high end now -- but no one is forcing anyone into them by eliminating the lower-end stuff.

In fact, much of the lower-end stuff if both less expensive and higher quality than ever, IMO. I got a pair of BDUs for $30 recently. Not bad at all. Just got a $3 pair of work gloves that bested some $20+ gloves that I had from a year ago during a patio project last week.

But you do have more options now in the clothing world, just like the phone world. I wonder how many of the people who complain about the high cost of Sitka (I don\'t own any, BTW) have a smart phone and pay MONTHLY for it. (At least the clothing is a one-time purchase).

(Oh, and I have to admit ... I am starting to think about an iPhone. But I have the same problem there that I do with Sitka ... It looks nice, but will I use it enough to get that much out of it?)

Or, another analogy ... it\'s like optics. Just because Swarovski makes a rangefinding binocular for >$3000 doesn\'t mean that \"things are too expensive\" ... you can still take your Simmons or Bushnell out, or go without.
 
Ugh...I definitely hear you. It\'s almost as bad in women\'s hunting clothes. The fastest growing demographics in hunting are women and children, but you wouldn\'t know if you tried to find clothes for them.

That said, there are finally decent-fitting hunting clothes for women now, but they can be extremely hard to find in stores, and the prices do get kinda crazy. I\'ve managed to scavenge most of mine from sales and clearance racks. What really chaps my hind end is that so much of women\'s hunting wear involves PINK... :evil:
 
Almost all that clothing, including Sitka, is made in China, which tells me it\'s no better than anything else. I could paint myself as a rainbow and if I find the right tree, rock, or skyline I could blend in. But I\'m a sucker like everybody else. :crazy:
I see no mention of Scent Bloc clothing. Do you guys wear it for elk?
 
\"Deertick\" said:
Well, it\'s not really that things have become more expensive ... the inexpensive stuff is still there.
Click to expand...

You are right John, and I should have phrased it differently. I guess I am amazed at the cost of the \'high end\' stuff. Like I said, I have some Under Armour gear, but only if I get it for cheap. You would never see me in Sitka gear unless you could find it for over 50% off somewhere.

I have definitly found some other \'off brand\' names for gear over the years, but I will say that the breathability is not as good as Under Armour, which is why I have continued to add that stuff. I also picked up some \'Scent Lok\' gear a few years back that was on sale...impressive stuff.
 
\"ABQ_Chica\" said:
Ugh...I definitely hear you. It\'s almost as bad in women\'s hunting clothes. The fastest growing demographics in hunting are women and children, but you wouldn\'t know if you tried to find clothes for them.

That said, there are finally decent-fitting hunting clothes for women now, but they can be extremely hard to find in stores, and the prices do get kinda crazy. I\'ve managed to scavenge most of mine from sales and clearance racks. What really chaps my hind end is that so much of women\'s hunting wear involves PINK... :evil:
Click to expand...

I can imagine how difficult it is to find stuff for you ABQ_Chica. I will say, however, that the women\'s clothing area at the new Cabelas in town is pretty impressive. They have a ton of options! Maybe it\'s time for a road trip :D
 
\"cohunter14\" said:
Like I said, I have some Under Armour gear, but only if I get it for cheap. You would never see me in Sitka gear unless you could find it for over 50% off somewhere.

I have definitly found some other \'off brand\' names for gear over the years, but I will say that the breathability is not as good as Under Armour, which is why I have continued to add that stuff. I also picked up some \'Scent Lok\' gear a few years back that was on sale...impressive stuff.
Click to expand...

You like that UA stuff? I always found that it sort of ... stinks, after a while.

\"sojourner65\" said:
Almost all that clothing, including Sitka, is made in China, which tells me it\'s no better than anything else. I could paint myself as a rainbow and if I find the right tree, rock, or skyline I could blend in. But I\'m a sucker like everybody else. :crazy:
I see no mention of Scent Bloc clothing. Do you guys wear it for elk?
Click to expand...

Scent Bloc ... didn\'t they get sued recently about false claims?
 
if you frequent thrift stores, you can occasionally find a great deal on decent stuff. In the past couple years, I\'ve bought two pairs of mens wool pants (brown and green, but neither camo) that I\'ll be hunting in this fall. :) Cost <$5 ea. Just gotta look and be patient.

Consider it \"disadvantage camo\". :)
 
\"cohunter14\" said:
I can imagine how difficult it is to find stuff for you ABQ_Chica. I will say, however, that the women\'s clothing area at the new Cabelas in town is pretty impressive. They have a ton of options! Maybe it\'s time for a road trip :D
Click to expand...

You read my mind, cohunter14. Believe it or not, I was just in the Denver area. Just for kicks I hit both of the Cabelas plus the Bass Pros in Denver and Co. Spgs. I don\'t mean to burst your bubble, but I was really disappointed. Granted, I went on a weekend, so maybe everything had already been picked over and there wasn\'t much left...? On the bright side, however, there was far less pink! :clap:

A few years ago, I did talk to someone (can\'t remember who) at the Grand Junction Cabelas. They said they never carried my size because it doesn\'t sell so I should just buy kid\'s clothes. Kinda soured me on them, but to be fair, that seemed to be the attitude everywhere at the time.

Oddly enough, I\'ve had the best luck finding hunting clothing at Gander Mountain in Denver. Haven\'t been there recently, but have found some awesome bargains on their clearance racks. Go figure...
 
my favorite pants are denim (cotton) predator green pants. i have torn them and sewed them back up. looking pretty frankenstein at this point. but it took my clumsy self negotiating a barb wire fence to do it. $27 each!! i own two pairs.

but i have been wet in them and they are miserable. performance fabrics have their place.

crazy seeing the price laid out like they are above. crazy!!! you could buy a landowner tag for that kinda money..in new mexico!!
 
Heaven forbid Cliff! You where cotton?!?! Haven\'t you heard that cotton kills? Maybe we should go halves on a burial plot. I wear cotton also. LOL!
 
\"Deertick\" said:
Scent Bloc ... didn\'t they get sued recently about false claims?
Click to expand...

Yes, but they apparently proved their case in a federal court. Sued by hunters in Michigan, they could have just asked for a refund.

<!-- m --><a class=\"postlink\" href=\"http://www.archeryhistory.com/advertising/newsdownloads/2011ALSLawsuitPR.PDF\" onclick=\"window.open(this.href);return false;\">http://www.archeryhistory.com/advertisi ... suitPR.PDF</a><!-- m -->

So, does anybody use it for elk, or is scent control not as critical as with deer?
 
\"Deertick\" said:
You like that UA stuff? I always found that it sort of ... stinks, after a while.
Click to expand...

I hunt rifle seasons, so typically I have the compression-fitting \'long underwear\' stuff on underneath. I change that on a daily basis and don\'t wear it multiple times. The pants and 1/4 zips I wear a couple of times each, but I\'ll give them a day to air out in between use. I have never noticed it stinking in these situations, but maybe the compression gear soaks up a lot of the \'stink\'. The thing I like about it is how it breathes. I have tried other brands that were less expensive and they just soak up the sweat and stay wet a lot longer. Other pants that I have tried don\'t breath at all, so your lower body begin to feel like they are in a sauna after a while...not too much fun.
 
That list is ridiculous. I\'m not sure I spent that much in 60 years of hunting. I still wear some wool I bought in the 50\'s-60\'s.

I think some guys get more into hunting gear than the hunt itself.
 
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