I stick with KUIU, so I don’t keep up with what else is out there. For the person that doesn’t want to spend that kind of money, what are some affordable alternatives?

snow or no snow?

if the hunting is in September, really anything will work if the person has good footwear.

If snow is involved, then i would stick with technical hunting clothes. I've never found anything as good as Kuiu or Firstlite. Cabelas and Basspro share a pretty decent offering though that is purported to be close, but I can't speak to the price.

Nothing you buy at Wal-Mart, Academy, Dicks, etc, is gonna comepare.

October/November. Usually not much snow, but there can be.

Most of mine was purchased years ago but I think Bobo recently posted a list of clothing that was more reasonable. I wore lightweight Prana pants and a relatively cheap Eddie Bauer puffy for my last late October hunt in Wyoming.

I stick with Kuiu as far as outer wear goes but never buy at full price. I always wait until they have a good sale going or out of their outlet store. You almost have to plan ahead a good ways to get what you think you'll need and test it out.

Born primitive
Kings camo
Kreptek
Black Ovis
Cabela’s outfitter label
Skre

I still can't believe all the elk I have killed wearing a pair of Wranglers and a flannel shirt. Guess my elk never knew you had to wear special clothes. As a matter of fact the biggest bull I ever killed growing up in CO was taken when I was wearing a pair of wranglers and a white t-shirt under my orange vest. Seemed to work just fine that day.

Not every one has a unique skill set or experience from the military, especially survival training or even rewarming knowledge. With that said even military uniforms have changed their clothing set to more technical textiles.

Sleeping a pair a wranglers dry in your sleeping bag suxs as cotton has no thermal properties and absorbs water, I’ve sleep my synthetic pants dry many times. Point of better clothing is being comfortable, more comfortable you are, less likely you are to tap out. Lots of cheap clothing options out there, just have to know your layering. And then shop per the layer

My favorite pants I buy for $45 on sale all the time. They will dry out from you body heat in a synthetic sleeping bag in +-2 hours

People used to deliver freight with a horse and carriage too…

Oh speaking of wrangler, they make a full synthetic pant, durability isn’t peak but price is right and performance better than cotton.

Wrangler Men's ATG Relaxed Cargo Pants Are $25-36 at target

Good stuff. Thanks.

The only item I haven’t found a cheap alternative for and really it’s a luxury item is zip off wool and synthetic base layer. Light weigh wool: pick best deal from Kuiu or First lite and heavy synthetic- the stone glacier Helios. But when you have time to watch sales you can pick them up really cheap 30-40% off.


Also if you buddy is a vet. Sitka has the best vet program. 40% off and they will also have special sales where they give an additional 10-15% off

I gotta ask then, what do you wear now, still jeans to hunt the mountains?

Seems silly to say we used to wear just jeans, that could get someone in trouble in very cold weather. Had a BIL do just that when the spouse went with him and a friend on an elk hunt in Colorado. We told him leave your cotton clothes at home, it was 2nd season I think.
They didn't listen and were miserable all the hunt. He even said I though you were kidding?? WTH man !!
Spouse took an elk , they did not see one. Stayed in camp to stay warm most of the hunt, lol.

By the way back in the day, we had no technical clothing for hunting. Way better options for mountain hunting now.

Check out the Black Ovis stuff they have some budget friendly alternatives on zip off merino, can find them on camo fire sometimes. Same with their midweight down puffy jackets/pants. They have welded seams on those down products which is quite nice I have noticed a lot fewer lost feathers!

Sneaky the spouse hunted elk 2 weekends ago in some of the Wrangler ATG pants and was comfortable he said. It was cold, about 30 ish degrees with a nice stiff breeze. He is warm blooded as they say so he only worn light underlayer pants, I think he said his silks.
As BOBO stated get some merino wool under layers and some heavier weight, I have fleece under pants too.

Find a neutral color, they don't have to be camo pants. His are the brown ones and he does think they are too dark but I tell him you don't notice those dark pants at a distance like a dark shirt.

They newer materials are so much lighter weight and flexible compared to jeans and the old cotton stuff we used to have wear for camo.
The more expensive stuff may last longer, may not but you don't have to spend a lot to get comfortable hunting clothes.
Look for sales and close outs, I buy stuff on Ebay- sometimes new with tags for cheap.

Make sure your pants fit well, I know the spouse complains if he gets rubbed the wrong way with ill fitting pants. Too long a rise or just too baggy can cause "issues" I guess.
Too short an inseam and they ride up and show your socks when you sit down.
He also wears longer legged boxer underwear during hunting season, merino or sometimes cotton.


Sorry QMC, didn't meant to be so snarky with my response above.

Black ovis has really upped their game. They bought out the core4 line from Easton and transformed in a lot larger line.


Kryptek just posted a bunch of 60% off close outs.

https://kryptek.com/collections/black-friday-deals

Elberstock just sent email blast. 60.% off

Elberstock

I have a bunch of sitka, kuiu and cabelas stuff, and almost all of it was bought on sale of some sort to amount to near 30-40% off.

I am a vet, so I get good discounts on most stuff, but there are deals to be had if you are patient and don't need things in a juffy...meaning next hunting season.

There will almost always be black Friday sales that go on for a bit of time. Post Christmas sales are always a thing. Fourth of july sales are a thing. Memorial day sales are t hing....etc. etc. Lots of ways to save money on decent sale thru the year and not only that, but they also sell sitka regularly on camofire.com at around 30-50% off and other brands such as Kryptek and black ovis.

So lots of ways to get good stuff for less than retail.

I dont know if you are interested but, right now the entire catalogue of Sitka gear at Euro optics is [b]heavily discounted as Euro Optics are disassociating themselves from Sitka

True, but those were real men not like the castrated ones now. That should stir up the sh*t.

I wear the trousers of my BDUs from when I retired from active duty and flannel shirt. I also wear my old Russell's boots I have had for over 20 years, carry a Rem 700 ADL in 7mm Mag that I have had for over 40 years and dress my elk and deer with the same Case XX Trapper I have carried since I was 15.

He is, actually. That’s handy.

Anyone who get's 20 years out of a pair of boots elk hunting never hunted elk the way I hunt them.

Same here. I have a couple pair of different high end boots, and there’s no way I’ll get 20 years out of them where I hunt.

I have had them resoled 4 times. The boots in question are the same ones in this photo. The goat was taken on 9/12/2001 and I am still using the same boots.

Russell's have a really good system where they will completely refurbish a pair for about $100 including restitching and resoling. Perhaps you should check into them.

I've got 25 year old Pronghorns I still elk hunt in, very year.
My Russell's are hardly broke in, Sheep Hunters as well.

I'd like to know where this boot eating elk terrain is? We hunt granite country.

central and southern NM will trash boots quick. All that lava rock. I hunt there every year, and it is where I see my most wear. My buddy goes through a pair of year with that said he is an extreme example, as he a hounds man and guide. In NM that means 365days a year, he can walk out any brand Zamberlan, kennetrek, crispi etc

End of the day most people aren’t good at taking the dedicated time to care for their boots to last that long. my hawangs are 10 years old and been resoled 4 times, I oil them 2-3 times a year, had inside leather liner fixed twice. They are retired after my Dec NM hunt, assuming they make it through.

As usual you miss the premise.

Why tell someone(or online reader) that most likely has 100th of the field craft experience of the retired Navy chief, to go wear clothing textiles that can be liability instead of an asset, when confronted with every changing high altitude weather. Especially when the alternative is same price.

Like telling a fireman they can fight fires in non-flame retardant clothing… sure they can …right until something bad happens!!

I guess Don K has a bunch of elk under his belt? Let's see them sir.
By the way I am not castrated, are you?


Yep BOBO, I forgot about that lava rock country, it will eat boots.

They were resoled. That’s not that same as “the same pair of boots.”

Sure it is. Do you claim to have a new car when you replace the tires? The sole of a boot is no different than the tires on a vehicle. Your problem is you just doubled down on dumb and I just proved it.

Sure thing, dude.

Checkmate. You can go outside and play now Child.

This kind of childish crap is why this place is dieing. Where will the whack-jobs go?

So much for an adult conversation.

Sneaky folks tried to help and you coma back with this, have a nice day.
By the way they are the same boots with a new sole, yeah adults my azz.

So what did I do that’s so wrong? It’s just my opinion. I didn’t call anyone names, did I?

Try joining Camofire, one shot gear and mountain archery mailing list. They have some really discounted high end gear like Sitka.

Thank you.

Camofire is addicting. Watch out.