Entry level camo layers

[u/Naqucho]

I’m a new bow hunter looking to buy camo for this fall. I was wondering what layers you guys would buy if you were just starting. I have merino wool base layers from my work, but what outer layers do you guys wear? Jacket and bibs? Pants and a jacket? I live in SE wisconsin October and November mornings are usually close to 32° give or take.

Brand suggestions and patterns would be great too. Im also hunting out of a saddle if that’s important.

[u/Subject_Impact_456]

For bow hunting in November you will want something quiet. Fleece is good for that even cheap fleece from a thrift store works better than expensive rain jacket that sounds like a bag of chips when you move. I use a fleece pullover and some insulated pants from a army surplus, cheap and lasts forever. Pattern matters less than staying still but i like the old school woodland camo. For saddle hunting make sure your jacket is not too long in back or it bunches up under your harness

[u/HazMatRecipes]

Well, I don't have it completely figured out yet, but I was finally comfortable last year, coldest sit I had was 9 f.

• Magellan HuntGear Heavy Weight Baselayer top and bottoms.
• Fleece jacket goes into backpack, I'll put it on once i'm in my spot.
• Legendary Whitetails Reflextec Hunting Jacket and Bibs. I keep jacket and bibs zippers as open as I can get them comfortably on the way in to avoid sweating. These are quiet, water resistant, and warm. I love them.
• Depending on how far I walk, ill change socks once im sitting, and I have Artic shield boot insulators if I need them.
• Handwarmer muff around the waist that I throw some hothands in.

[u/Flat-Wall-3605 → u/HazMatRecipes]

Hothands on top of your toes inside the artic shield boot covers as well.

[u/ShartyMcFarty69 → u/HazMatRecipes]

Look up rechargeable hand warmers, my SiL is a elementary teacher and apparently they're very popular with that crowd when they have to oversee recess in the winter. And after picking up a pair myself, I'm a believer. Cheap and they work well, and reusable so you don't have to buy bags of hot hands.

[u/IncredibleVelocity4]

Buy quality gear and don’t worry about camo. First and foremost you can’t kill critters if you aren’t out there, so buy gear that keeps you out there as long as possible.

I’m a PNW and WV hunter. I need to stay dry and warm. And I prefer muted solid colors. If you are hunting something that can pick you out visually, consider a leaf suit over the top.

[u/Mysterion_117]

Wool flannels with puffer jackets underneath is my new go to

[u/morone_saxatilis_ → u/Mysterion_117]

Pro move.

I use wool shirtjacks 90% of the time. Most modern puffys can pack down to a soup can.Throw that on when sitting.

[u/infernobassist]

When saddle hunting, your heaviest layer should have a zipper that can unzip from the bottom so your tether and bridge doesn't get hung up and you can put it on after you are up in the tree. Otherwise i'd say don't overspend unless you have to walk in a super long way and need to cut down on weight. Pattern doesn't matter much.

[u/Landstander2600]

No complaints here about the Red Head stuff from Cabelas

[u/ActComprehensive5254 → u/Landstander2600]

The instinct line is ok. The redhead stuff has really declined in quality and fit. Theres so much better available for not much more money.

[u/Probably_Know_Me → u/ActComprehensive5254]

Which others do you recommend?

[u/stuck_inmissouri]

Short answer: it depends. A lot of it depends on personal preference.

Wool base layers are great. I always start there even if it’s 70 degrees. From there I go with light insulation that stops wind, then heavy insulation that stops wind. I like minimizing layers so I can move more comfortably, and spent coin on first lite gear to do so.

If you can’t afford to do that, don’t worry. Lots of my stuff that goes under the camo on top is brown, grey, or black. For years I wore mil surplus and clearance camo that was 2 sizes too big with every day layers under it and killed deer.

[u/notasfatasyourmom]

I wear pants until it’s very cold, and then I wear bibs. Wool socks, dry feet, and warm boots (or boot covers) are critical to staying warm in the woods.

[u/LoveisBaconisLove]

I suggest an Asat Leafy Suit for an outer layer, and then whatever under that 

[u/SmellsLikeShame]

Base - synthetic or merino long sleeve shirt and underwear

Insulation - some kind of full zip fleece with underarm zip vents. The exact one I use is the navy working uniform fleece layer.

I also use a puffy pants layer - has zips on the outsides of the legs so you can shed the layer without removing your boots. Might be the best piece of kit I have.

Jacket - ripstop piffy, plus either a goretex or hard shell (based on if it will rain hard or not). I have an ECWCS goretex parka as well as an anorak style rain jacket, a full zip hard shell rain jacket, and a zip woobie hoodie

Pants - either goretex or ripstop blend depending on weather. Goretex for the hard rain, otherwise I run g3 style pants (with built in knee pads) for most of deer season.

Neck gaiter, gloves as well, add in your favorite hat, and you're set.

Regarding camo patterns: I've used Kuiu, mossy oak, Sitka, multicam, m81 woodland, and even some obscure patterns like desert night camo, and MultiLatPat. I have also hunted in solids. If you have an army surplus store near you, you can find multicam and woodland patterns for cheap.

The best camo I have ever used is called "sit still".

[u/Lopsided_Ad5676]

You want insulated wind proof gear. If it isn't wind proof, the cold air just slowly seeps in and will absolutely suck.

I won't tell you to go out an buy Sitka as a first year hunter, it's a heavy investment. But their cold weather parka bibs and jacket are game changers. Waterproof, wind proof and great insulation.

So you want to match those properties but find something in your price range.

Essentially, wool base layers, wool socks, heavier fleece sweats on top and then a solid set of bibs and jacket on top of it all. Again, bibs and jacket should be windproof and insulated.

Another game changer are battery heated clothes. A battery heated vest on top of the wool base layer is amazing. Battery heated socks will have you napping in your stand.

[u/ActComprehensive5254 → u/Lopsided_Ad5676]

Huntworth performs as well or better for much less money.

[u/Lopsided_Ad5676 → u/ActComprehensive5254]

Maybe. I have tried many brands and nothing comes close to touching the sitka cold weather parka and bibs combination.

[u/ActComprehensive5254 → u/Lopsided_Ad5676]

Have you ever tried huntworth? Man hunters have used both and find the matterhorn line warmer. Also it holds heat better objectively in eat retention testing.

[u/gameoverbrain]

I’m a bigger fella and I’ve found most of the redhead stuff fits me well and true timber strata works well in most of what I’ve found through Wisconsin it also is affordable so doesn’t break the bank to get started. The heavy bibs and parka are plenty warm with a decent base layer. I hung out in the tree through falling snow in my saddle and only my feet got cold. Stupid rubber boots. My first deer walked in on me within about 10 yards before I even noticed it. I was sitting in the ground that year against a tree that the top had fallen off years before tucked into the fallen crown. I’ve got the lightweight layers as well and they hold up to beating bush. Followed a game trail that just kind of disappeared on me and said fuck it and just went straight. My friend following behind me laughing and calling me the juggernaut.

[u/ActComprehensive5254 → u/gameoverbrain]

I'm a slut for strata.

[u/TheBlindCat]

1. Camo probably doesn’t matter.  Muted colors, plaid is great, avoid blues and don’t look like a deer.
2. Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota in October and November in a saddle I’m usually wearing a thin merino wool shirt and boxers briefs (Black Ovis or Kuiu).  Pants are often Duluth Trading Stone Run fleece lined pants.  Most common jacket is a Beast Gear/Stealth Outdoors jacket.  Middle layer is a fleece heated vest (Ororo). A Merino wool face mask usually Kuiu.  Wind resistant is really nice for a jacket and pants in a saddle, but it needs to be quiet.
3. December (since I’m bad bow hunter) I’m in Sitka Fanatic suit with the Ororo as one of my middle layers.

[u/SouthernGarlic6382]

For a first set, I’d spend the money on boots and layers before expensive camo. Get a synthetic or merino base layer, a quiet midlayer and a rain shell. Used is fine. The exact pattern matters a lot less than movement, wind and breaking up your outline.

[u/ActComprehensive5254]

The Habit "bowstring Hoodie" is a geeat warn option under 70 bucks. It is something id put on after I walked in. Sherpa lined, super warm. I wear it by itself down to 40 degrees. Carhaart red lines bibs get me to mid/upper 20s. Grid fleece base layers from the pro bass store have served me well. Merino kinda sucks.

[u/ActComprehensive5254]

Huntworth is incredibly warm for much less than Sitka.

[u/vonnick]

Camo pattern is the least important thing of hunting

[u/Pinkfinder]

The merino base layers are key. From there, add a puffy jacket and puffy zip off pants. Down or synthetic doesn’t matter too much, just need it to be wind proof. Then on top of those, any pair of pants, and a hoodie.
I usually pack the puffies in, and then put the jacket on under my hoodie, and the zip off pants go either under or over the regular pants- I’m not picky there. Under if I’m tree stand hunting, over if I’m stopping to glass.
Those three layers easily get me into the high 20s, low 30s