Must have gear for western hunts

**bbhntr48** · 07-20-2020, 09:55 AM

Mainly elk hunting, so clothes and gear from 5000-10000 feet. Are the high end brands worth the performance gained for yearly hunts?

**duckfrye1** · 07-20-2020, 09:58 AM

Early or Late season???

**Carlisle** · 07-20-2020, 10:01 AM

I killed an elk with my bow at 20 steps wearing a pair of Carharts.

I don’t spend money on Kuiu and Sitka but that’s just me. I hunt with plenty of guys who do.

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**huntinghagen#12** · 07-20-2020, 10:13 AM

I like good base layers and a good heavy outer layer.

I have good base layers from Sitka and First Lite. I wear some cheaper khaki/cargo pants as the top layer, I have a nice puffy jacket for glassing, and a couple of mid layers from Sitka that do well. I could do without the expensive mid layers if I needed too, but the puffy jacket is worth every cent when I put it on to glass and it's cold. Get some decent rain gear. Shoes are pretty important to me, they need to be comfortable. I usually wear gaiters for being able to go through some water if needed as well as keeping stuff from getting in my shoes.

**MolliesMaster** · 07-20-2020, 10:19 AM

Are you going guided or DIY?

**Glenn** · 07-20-2020, 10:27 AM

Spend money on good glass and better boots.

**duckfrye1** · 07-20-2020, 10:28 AM

+1 on the Boots!!!!

**Smilee** · 07-20-2020, 11:11 AM

Buy the best boots you can and have 2 pair. Its all about fit and comfort. I change socks midday while eating.

I hunt in carhartt rigby flex. Sometimes its cold enough for a base layer that is off by noon. I walk a lot. This is for September in NM and CO.

Spend your money a damn good rain jacket and pack wrap.

**bbhntr48** · 07-20-2020, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by duckfrye1

Early or Late season???

Second week of October

**bbhntr48** · 07-20-2020, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by MolliesMaster

Are you going guided or DIY?

DIY

**murraywader** · 07-20-2020, 11:19 AM

Backpacking or road hunting?

**bbhntr48** · 07-20-2020, 11:21 AM

I have good mountain boots, will probably upgrade the binos and definitely purchase good base layers. Some many fanboys on the Sitka/Kuiu bandwagon. I know it is good and if I lived out there and could hunt regularly I would not have an issue purchasing it. But when your 1500- 2000 miles away and the way points are, hard to plan on more than a yearly trip.

**dubs** · 07-20-2020, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Glenn

Spend money on good glass and better boots.

And don't buy your boots a couple weeks before going on any type of arduous terrain. Get them suckers asap and wear them everywhere. My go to every day boots have been Oboz and I'm in the woods pretty much every week. I've had three of the same pair over the last 10 years and they haven't let me down.

**FLS** · 07-20-2020, 11:34 AM

Good boots, good binos, good pack. Sept and October have big temp swings 80s to teens. I wear a T shirt and pants that will dry quick. Lots of dew in the mornings. Carry a fleece jackets and rain jacket in my pack. If you want to buy Sitka,First Light etc, you can buy last years patterns and designs for a fraction of the cost on EBay. New old stock that still has tags. I bought a set of $ 150 Under Armor pants for $29. Still had tags on them. They’re actually worth about $29. Polyester is polyester.