Am I getting wiser in my old age?

[regulat0r]

At the ripe old age of 31, I think I might be getting wiser. After 7 seasons of the same pair or outerwear camo pants, I decided it was time to treat myself to a new pair. I have used my old ones for both bow and gun seasons and they were full of rips, tears, and frays. I have a Dicks and  a Gander Mtn right near me so I went to both. I was shocked at some of the prices of outerwear these days. I actually saw a pair of Under Armor outer layer pants selling for $289!!!! I saw other pants and jackets for over $200 each! After browsing the racks, I saw a pair of heavy duty camo cargo pants for $29. I bought them. I figured during early season I can wear the pants by themselves and when it gets cold I'll put my thermals and sweats underneath. If it rains, I have a plastic pair of camo slicks that I pull over. I also saw layering gear and thermals made by Scent Lok,  Under Armor etc that looked super cool but had outrages prices. Is it because I have my own house now? or perhaps that my wife and I are expecting a baby? but are there people out there that spend $289 on a pair of camo pants? As I make my plans for this season, Im really trying to get back to basics with common sense strategies and that includes buying gear. When I was younger with no big responsibilities, I might have splurged on this gear. To the older guys...did this happen to you? 

[Mr VJP]

Yes, some people have more money than brains.  I'm 59 now and I'd never spend that kind of money on outerwear.  I didn't buy the expensive stuff when I was 30 either.  There are other options, for far less, that are just as good.

 

Edited September 23, 2014 by Mr VJP

[Paula]

My jacket was $60 or $80 16 yrs ago. I have 1 rip, no reason for a new one. A few yrs ago I needed pants and couldn't see spending $150. At walmart they had came clearance camo men's fleece pants for $4, they are a bit big and they were long. I layer so they are pretty warm.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Paula

[wooly]

My only pair of camo cover alls are ripped from the crotch to the knees.

They still smell like last years deer, so I'll try to squeak another season out of them.

I haven't made much of a fashion statement in the woods in a long time,lol

[mlammerhirt]

Just pay attention and look for sales at the end of the hunting season. Most of the time those Under Armor pants for 289.00 will go on sale for 70.00 bucks and unless you beat the livin snot out of them I am guessing they will last well over 10 years for ya!! That's 7.00 or less a season, not to shabby.

[ants]

I try to buy good stuff, but never just before or  during hunting season. Wait till around Jan. or Feb. and most stuff will be 50%+ off. You might have to look hard for something in sizes other that XXXXXL or XXXXXsm., but deals are out there.

 

"Ripe old age of 31?" I have boots that are almost as old  than you !! LOL!

[nycredneck]

I remember not spending a nickel on hunting clothes, wore my regular jeans, killed deer. Now I have a crazy assortment of bargain camo, it doesn't really match like a set would, but I still shoot 4 or 5 deer a year with my bow. I also have a house two new cars and twins. 

[Red]

I have 3 old pair.of camp pants all paper thin. And full of holes and snags I wear them for bow and gun season I just wear old long sleeve shirts and old work clothes under them. My wife keeps telling me to but new hunting pants and shirts but I'm to cheap I won't even spend $20 on new camp.pants at Wal-Mart she's always busting my.balls about not buying.clothes

[Dom]

Thats alot of money for pant's.Also this is not the time of year to be purchasing these item's my opinion,the two above mentioned stores are out of my budget I do like browsing and seeing what is new but I have no need at this time for new hunting clothes I have my set of treebark that my dad purchased me 23 years ago and they blend in better than the realtree pattern.I think for that kinda money they should be warenteed for atleast one season.As Paula said Wallmart has some good bargains and of same materials as the season is here.GoodHunting

[Zag]

There just comes a point in life were things that use to be important aren't so much anymore. I did the same thing a couple yrs ago, all excited to upgrade my old hunting cloths. It just wasn't worth it to me to pay that much for hunting cloths. So I've upgraded my hat and gloves.

[philoshop]

When it's really cold out, I still use a pair of wool pants that my grandfather bought in the 1940's. Ugly as sin and heavy as a wheelbarrow full-o-bricks when wet, but they work.

[NFA-ADK]

I tell all the newbie hunters to not spend a bunch on clothes but it usually falls on deaf ears.  Sometimes you can get deals with coupons from mailing lists and certain items.  I usually hit the stores after December and find some good clothes on sale but you do have to search. 

 

I use parkers and fleece when its cold with packable raingear.  The new under garments are nice for moister wicking that for sure, well worth the price when on sale.  The prices are pathetic I have to agree.  Happy my old clothes still work but some are really worn, thankfully I have enough for a few years more. 

[mbucks27]

This is one area I don't skimp on. I have a few of the Sitka suits and the quality is awesome. Highly Breathable will keep you warm and dry and have a ton of pockets in all my the right places. Also merino wool cannot be beat for under layers even though its a bit pricey. You can wear the same stuff for days and it will not smell. Really lightens my load as opposed to going away for a week and bringing a different set of base layers for each day.

John

[WNYBuckHunter]

I buy after the season is over, or at the tail end of it. The prices drop like a rock, but you have to keep your eye on the stuff and get it at the right time before its gone. Look online too, can find the same gear for much less.

Oh, and dont kid yourself on the Under Armor. Ive tried the cheap knock offs, and theres no comparison really. Just get it when its cheapest.

[BizCT]

I don't have any UA out wear except hats. However, I do swear by their underwear. I have the cold gear 2.0 and 4.0

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[AaronBlaine]

hey man im 30 and expecting a child. We are actually finding out the sex today I cant wait!  I am still rocking my torn up old cammies from the Marine Corps however I cut the name tags off out of respect.  They are really beat up at this point and I want to try and find a new pair of cammies.  SO FREAKING EXPENSIVE!

[thphm]

"Ripe old age of 31?" I have boots that are almost as old  than you !! LOL!

Mine are 45 year old Sorrel pack boots,with 3 pair of felt liners and still like new.So for some things it pays to spend a little more.Nothing worst then cold feet at the freezing temps.

[genesee_mohican]

I live to hunt, so I buy clothing on sale but purchase high quality items that will keep me warm, dry and will last a long time. For example, my Rocky Bear Claw boots are over 10 years old have seen a few hundred miles but are still in great shape. Now a days you can search on line to find the lowest price for just about anything, which can save a few bucks and have it delivered to your door.  Just sayin'.

 

 

[growalot]

My first set of camo outer wear was made by me 99 cents a yard no name woodland  camo ...no pattern just laid out a shirt and a pair of jeans and drew an out line bigger than them. wore a bunch of fleece. 3 fleece jackets and 4 pants on a cold day under it and my head gear was a camo bandana and wore pack boots.....Deer didn't much care what I was wearing...like the guys said after Christmas and during the summer. Look for sales on the net and in bargain bins...I enter contests and gear give aways...I have won 2 outer wear suits one for me and one for Mr. B., Game Hide and another brand...great water proof gear.

Wish finding deals in the grocery store was as easy....

[Jeremy K]

Thats why i switched to the thin outer wear or rain wear , i just put them on over regular not made for hunting clothes , Price of that stuff is crazy.

[Merlot]

Expensive yes, but I had to upgrade my hunt outfit ten years ago and bought weather resistant Browning bibs and jacket with removable inner insulated lining. Pretty versatile, but cost $300. But I figured it would be my last outfit. So if I get 25 years out of it, It cost me 12 to 14 dollars a year. Not too shabby for being warm and dry. 

[phade]

Just because something cost $300 doesn't make it a bad buy. If you get a long usable life out of it and it does the job you want it to do, then it is worth it. Maybe you can get the same from a $100 jacket or pants, maybe not. Only you can decide what the likelihood is.

 

I have an IWOM that cost be around $300. I'll probably use it 1-2x a season most years. Last year, I hunted with it more because of unusually super colder temps in gun season. It was brutally cold. I could have layered every single piece of hunting clothing I had and I still wouldn't have been able to hack it. I slipped that thing on and hung out for 6 hours without so much as a thought of being cold. I could have shot several does had I wanted to, an opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise. If I wear it 25-30x in ten years, that's a minor cost investment for those conditions in my mind. Heck, I'd spend about that much just in gas getting to the hunting spot.

[fasteddie]

As many have said , the time to buy is at the end of the hunting season . Stores would rather get rid of stuff rather than have to pack it up and store it .

I don't shop at Gander Mountain but the 1st year they opened up in Henrietta my wife had my son buy a Scent Lok outfit for me for Christmas . They had the stuff marked at 1/2 price with another 30% off . I wear it every bow season and have had it for several years . I think a lot of the push to wear Camo is BS but I go along with the crowd .

Check out some of the hunting gear at Tractor Supply also . They carry a bunch of stuff .

[ATbuckhunter]

Im 18 and I wont buy those 200 dollar pants or jacket clothing. I buy them severely discounted or i wear the same cargo pants your talking about until it really starts getting cold after the second week of gun season. 

[blackradio]

My bow hunting outfit is a pair of $5 camo jeans from Walmart and a $5 sweatshirt from Walmart. Underneath I wear light thermals on bottom and a 2 shirts underneath. For winter I up it to a $50 water resistant coat and $40 water resistant pants.