I'm looking for opinions on camo materials. I'm sick and tired of wearing cotton pants and shirts to just have them rip on a branch or fade after washed, etc. Now it doesn't bother me much only spending $29 a pop for pants, but I'm ready to take advantage of some of the new materials and technologies, etc. Before spending $50 a shot, I wanted to see what people suggest? I'm looking for lightweight, durable and will take a beating, yet stay quiet. We hike alot and cover alot of territory. Camo patterns don't matter, just looking for materials opinions.

Cotton is the absolute WORST thing that can be put in hunting clothing - be it camo or undergarments. As stated cotton is the quickest to fade but more critical is the fact that cotton absorbs and holds moisture. Wet or damp cotton clothing is tough to dry out and can quickly lead to hypothermia in cool weather. Personally, I absolutely won't buy any hunting clothes with cotton in it. IMHO, the best materials for camo are the microweave polyesters like Wolfskin or Microtex. These materials won't fade, dry very fast (they don't aborb water like cotton does), won't hold burrs, wear like iron, are quiet, and are fairly wind resistant.

Well, I'm an oddball of sorts...I'm not into all the latest high-tech materials...saddlecloth, bucksuede and the like. IMO, these fabrics are too noisy..not neccessarily the surface, but they "crinkle" (is that a word?) and otherwise make noise when you move. Also I find these fabrics create a glare in sunlight. I was given a jacket last year as a gift made with a saddlecloth low nap type synthetic and I'd never wear that thing in the woods...way too noisy even after repeated washings.

When I used to have an early season to hunt in, I prefered good quality brushed twill or chamois fabrics...super quiet, comfy, and they don't reflect light.

For the later season I prefer good 'ol high nap fleece and wool. Fleece is a pain with burrs, but it's the quietest fabric out there and provides great freedom of movement.

However for your needs, you should check out the newer high tech low nap fleeces & saddlecloth types.

For super high quality clothing in a variety of material types I would check out Day One

Not sure what you are looking to spend but I'll give my two cents...

I came upon a company last fall called Grey Wolf Woolens. They make custom, Predator camo clothing in either wool, or this stuff they call Wolf Skin. I just bought a set of clothing from them in Wolf Skin and I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, its the very best fabric I have seen to date. (and I used it all) ITs kind of like a microfleece, but its very tightly woven. Tight enough that it is water resistant. Burrs do not stick to it and it is extremely tough fabric. But here is the best part, NO noise at all. Its as quiet as anything I've tried, including regular fleeces and wool. Also, the stuff wont shrink or fade. I'm very impressed with it

I purchased my stuff with what they call Comformax IB, a water proof, wind proof layer sewn into it and Thinsulate Ultra 200. I am a avid fan of Cabelas clothing, but nothing they have comes close to the stuff. Very, very high quality.

Take a look at their website and read about it. I'll think you'll be impressed.

http://www.graywolfwoolens.com/