Let's face it, it's the revenues generated from these items that keep our sport healthy and gives us leverage as a group. The purchases made by people like us and the positive impact it has on economy is what maintains our hunting grounds, pays for our lobbies, and keeps the sport alive. In light of this, I'm not knocking anyone's choice to buy this stuff.

What makes me a bit sour is that since these ultra expensive brand name garments have hit the market, the selection on practical clothing seems to have shrunk disproportionately. Has anyone else noticed this? I was on a quest to find a nice pair of camo pants to replace the five year old Remington's I'd been wearing earlier this year. I went to Shyda's (a big local hunting clothes dealer), Cabelas (about 10 times), Gander Mountain, and a slew of bow and hunting shops to try to find a nice pair. What I found was a gross inflation caused inevitably by the eighteen brand tags on each of these garments. I literally could not find a well designed pair of pants for under 60 bucks.

Buttoned pockets, belt loops, and adjustable pants cuffs are nothing new, and it doesn't take a brand stamp or exceptional R&D to produce. My gripe is not being to find such features on anything but scent or rain clothing, both types of which were driven sky high in price by the tags.

I ended up with a pair of Natural Gear fleece pants for 30 bucks at a sports show. They leave much to be desired in terms of design, but they're warm, quiet, and kept me from having to lobby my wife and my own conscience to buy.

Anyone seen a good pair of lightweight, quiet pants for a reasonable price?