Opinions about buying camo...
 

I am wanting to get your opinions on buying your camo clothes based on what's most important to you personally along with what camo patterns & style you prefer...

What's more important to you when buying camo:
1. Price? (low cost or high)
2. Quality
3. Where it's made? (USA or Out of Country)
4. Any other??

With camo patterns, what pattern(s) do y'all like the most & do you prefer Digital print or 3D???

Thanks in advance, I appreciate your opinions!

Personally, I look at quality first. If it's not quality and 100% WATERPROOF, I won't even bother with it. I have a variety of brands ranging from Under Armour, Scent Blocker, Drake Waterfowl, etc. As far as patterns go, I have all types and use what is necessary for the conditions and time of year. I also don't skimp on the base layer. A good base layer is worth it's weight in gold.

If you are looking to buy some, in my opinion, spend the money on quality, not quantity. Depending on your financial situation, it may take you longer to acquire your collection, but it will be well worth it when you are out there in freezing conditions getting snowed on or pelted by freezing rain. Look at ebay, you can often get really good deals on some of the high end hunting clothing.

Under Armour seems to make a lot of women's hunting clothing and in my opinion, you can't go wrong with UA gear. They have a good variety of cold weather and scent blocker material. The storm front with inferred technology seems to work the best. It's pricey, but tough and will stand up to any condition.

I've found that I tend to buy camo according to what type of hunting I'm using it for and personal preferences. For me, considerations often include the below list. It's pretty rare, however, that a single piece of camo clothing piece will have all of these qualities. Generally, I find myself making compromises depending on what's more important for the hunt that day.

1. Terrain--does the camo pattern match or stick out and draw attention?
2. Warm or cold weather--I usually have to deal with both so purchase accordingly.
3. Burr resistant--Deer and bear hunting usually means lots of burrs. I like pants that shed burrs but am considering some chaps as another solution.
4. Waterproof--Sometimes it's needed, most times it's not.
5. Quiet--This usually means cotton for me which is a lot more comfortable.
6. Cost, Quality, where it's made--Quality usually involves more cost (not always) and made in the USA sometimes (sometimes not) involves more cost. I've found that made in the USA usually comes with better quality.

To work well as camo for you the most important thing is does it match the spot(vegetation) where you are hunting, next for me is it quiet, it doesn't matter how well it matches the vegetation if it makes skritching noises every time you move. I am not hung up on waterproof, I have a rain suit in my backpack if I need it.

Gillie (3D) if sitting or stalking in cover I can easily move through - one piece (jump suit) if I am moving through tight cover or just walking a lot - strong pack-able rain gear - white snow camo, but only if absolutely necessary (EVERYTHING is snow covered).

I'm one who is common to state camo is largely over-rated, even for the bowhunter, but I'm also one who has spent a lot on my hunting attire over the years.

I buy based on features suited for my application. If I'm buying a parka for whitetail hunting in late season, I'm looking for quiet, yet waterproof/resistant warmth. I'll throw a shell over top if I need pure waterproofing, but I want to stay dry as the dew drops so my warmth stays warm. I also look for breathability (i.e. not a huge goretex fan), as I'll usually walk a mile or more into my stand and back. Layer-ability is an important matter as well, as I might start my week in blowing sleet and snow at 5 below and -20 windchill, then end my week in a 50degree sunny day.

When I'm looking for something to chase Elk out west, I'm looking for lighter weight and extreme breathability.

I really only care if my outer layer is camo, and scarcely worry about it even then. Some of my closest shots with a bow or a handgun have been taken in the relative open with a dark brown, wool lined carhartt parka and black carhartt quilted bibs, or brown duck coveralls. Since some of my outer layers might become inner layers later in the season, I have a lot of camo.

I've done very well in wool. As much as I HATE picking up a million little seeds and burrs, they hit a stable concentration on my legs within a few days and I just leave them the rest of the season. No matter what other high dollar camo I might own, when the mercury drops, I know I can rely upon wool. It's not light, not small and packable, but it's warmer than anything else on the market, and well worth the trouble for late season stand hunting.

And then there are those warm mid-season days where I throw on a canadian tuxedo and go kill game...

IMHO camo is highly over-rated as far as patterns go. I prefer regular old style military camo. If I find Mossy Oak or Realtree on sale I'll use them.
As long as you match the colors to the terrain, you'll do just fine!
I prefer cotton or other light weight fabrics and use them as an outer layer only, as paying more for the camo design on underwear is just plain senseless!
As are the so-called scent blockers which were created to separate hunters from their money!
It's not rocket science, and also some people are more concerned with what looks good in town instead of what works in the field!

As far as camo goes, I agree, match the terrain. As far as what kind of clothes to buy...I say, if someone has the money, who really cares what they buy. My base layers are camo because it's what I wanted. Did I pay a little more for them because of it? Yes, but I can afford it and in a free society we can do whatever we want.

Do brands like Scent Blocker really help much? Maybe, but I really don't know. But I can tell you that their clothes are high quality and mine have been put to the test. Same with my Under Armour..they are tough. Heck, I paid $300 for my Drake Waterfowl Systems parka and that thing has kept me warm and completely dry for several years and I beat the crap out of it. So I say, if you've got the cash and you want it...get it!

Dude, you really need to chill out! What brand, type or price of camo you or I have does not matter much to the game that we hunt! And BTW, I am retired at 59 yrs. old, so I can pretty much afford any camo that I want! But that is NOT the point! (Come to think of it, maybe not falling for every gadget and gimmick that comes along allowed me to retire early.)
Also BTW, your camo undies are not doing anything more for you than my whitey-tighties!
Over-priced fraud! False sense of security! (But, its your money, do what you want!) But, from a guy that has been on the ground, eye-ball to eye ball, baseball-bat-killin'-close to more than a few Whitetail bucks, I can tell you that the clothing or better yet, the price of the clothing, has nothing to do with success!
Again I say, your money, go for it! Just saying, its NOT a necessary requirement!

Dude...YOU need to chill out. Your original remarks were uncalled for. I don't see what being 59 and retired has to do with anything. I'm 39 and independently wealthy, earned every dime from nothing, and still going strong working every day. I chose to pay for quality because I hunt terrain that most people are afraid of. Don't start slamming people about what they have or choose to buy, which is what you did in your first response to this young lady's question. If you think paying for camo underwear is senseless, so what? Keep it to yourself. Just because people like me don't want to wait for retirement to get what we want doesn't make me any less of a hunter. It has been my experience that those that start slamming others for having nice things is a result of jealousy. Oh and one last thing, I will also be retired by 59, but it won't be because I didn't spend money on nice things when I was younger, it will be because I busted my butt, earned more honest money than I could spend in two lifetimes, and am choosing to enjoy what I want, when I want. I think it's best we end this discussion so that the person that asked the question can get some real answers and help.

Again I say, your money, go for it! Just saying, its NOT a necessary requirement! ...Deleted by CalHunter... Enough time and energy spent on the simple subject of camo!

How could a simple post such as the op made turn into a skunk spraying contest! Good grief!

It is IMO all kind of a pig in a poke. Camo effectiveness often depends on the dyes used. Game sees it differently than you do.

I guess if you could put it under UV light before purchase that might help some.

Waterproof is nice, but I've yet to find any that didn't trap heat to some degree.

I once bought a top of the line, middle insulated, camo, waterproof coverall. After trying it on, I thought all was good. The first time I took it to the woods and was was someplace really quiet, I figured out my coveralls squeaked when I walked (crap). The squeak was almost undetectable by me, Deer and Hogs hear a lot better than I do. Those coveralls have been collecting dust for most of twenty years. I sometimes wear them fishing. :)

My apologies to all! I don't usually get carried away like that!

Apology accepted. post edited. To regain some perspective, the OP did ask for member's to post "their" opinions on the subject. Obviously each of us can have different opinions, experiences, parts of the country where we hunt with different terrain/cover and thoughts on the subject. It's pretty smart of the OP to ask for opinions as there is a wide mixture of age, experience, learning curve and opinions on the subject. In essence, the OP got a mini-course on camo which should help her in making decisions on what to buy or not buy. It's part of what makes this forum so invaluable.

Yeah, same here. Sorry, I usually don't let things bother me either.

Very nice guys !!!

Super Hunt is watching us all from above now ...........................

Don't worry much about camo
 

especially when I'm wearing blaze orange.

But then the deer know you're worried about getting shot and they don't want to stand next to you. :poke::D

I,ll never own Digital or that Krytick crap in any shape or form.

Quality, waterproof, and quiet are my characteristics of choice. Whitetail/bowhunting is my main quarry/method. So, pocket placement is a secondary concern. Breast pockets can grab the string upon release. And, a lined pocket with easy hand placement and removal is a bonus.


IMO - Under Armour is overpriced junk except maybe their dry-fit shirts. They are just overpriced.

Quality comes first for me. Sometimes the higher the price the higher the quality but its not always like that.

If it comes down to it I am willing to pay for the quality of material in my hunting clothes. I could really care less what camo pattern I get with something that will keep me warm and dry. Some of my items are plain old green or black, they do the job better than most camo clothing you could find at a store.

My reasoning is simple. If I can sit all day in raining, snowing, or freezing conditions I am better concealed than being miserable and constantly moving or giving up for the day. Movement is the a close second to scent control when it comes to game knowing you are on the hunt.

My company safety guy, also army reserve, gave me a Condor hat in Kryptek camo as a gift. I googled the price of a matching jacket and almost soiled myself. That is a lot of cash to shell out for a camo pattern that doesn't come in anything exceptionally warm or dry. I bet it is the Gucci of the tacticool crowd.

+1

That's when "fashion" counts the least - right ?

]http://northmountaingear.com/premium-leafy-suit


I think the most important thing about camo is the ability to eliminate the human silhouette. 99.99% when archery hunting I always wear a leafy / ghillie suit.
So many people have been fooled by the big camo companies that advertise based on looking good to the human eye in the store or in pictures. But animals see these patterns completely different than humans. 99% of big box store camo is a waist of $$. At any distance what so ever you just look like a big black blob. To me thats a total waist of a few hundred dollars so I can look good at hunting camp. I would much rather spend less than $100 on a leafy suit and actually blend in while hunting. Guess I'm not one to try and impress my hunting buddies at camp with my new $500 sitka suit.

I buy some real expensive camo and end up sitting inside a ground blind all season!

I really like my Sitka pants in Optifade open country.

Buy what you like and fits your needs Myself and kids buy from the mossy oak store on line for a lot of our stuff , and hit cabellas for the rest. We use gortex , fleece and wind shear clothing not as pricey as some but great quality camo is a little overrated Sitka , predator and such good stuff no doubt but not needed , like scent lok clothing ozonics etc .. buy what you like not what others or the so called pros think you need or can't do with out don't buy into the gimmicks ..

My preference goes to the quality of the clothing. Primarily, how insulating it is compared to its bulk.

As far as patterns go, I prefer lighter Realtree AP for earlier in the season or when in tree stands, and darker Mossy Oak Break-up when hunting on the ground at field edges or when within my blind. That said, on any given hunt I'm more likely than not wearing a mix of different patterns on different articles of clothing.

I don't use camo when I hunt. I wear what I want. What I want to wear is forest green wool pants, a red checked wool shirt, and a brown, tan, and green mottled colored parka (camo -- sometimes you can't buy outdoor clothes that ARE NOT camo!). This has worked for deer hunting and elk hunting. I am not a trophy hunter, so maybe you need to wear camo to bag trophies. You don't need camo to hunt normal elk and deer. People used to hunt big game without camo until fairly recently -- say until 20 years ago. Having said this, I have no problem with folks who choose to wear camo.


I think important factors in hunting are (1) sitting in shadows, (2) having various kinds of clutter around you like a tree trunk behind you, brush in front of you, that break up your outline, and (3) being very still. (4) when you do move, move slowly. It may be that these factors are more important than camouflage in keeping from being seen by animals. If you do use camo, don't forget to take advantage of these four things I mention here also.

I just have to rant--when I did watch hunting shows, I noticed so many times people having a hard time waking up-eating breakfast, then meticulously putting on layers of cam clothes, then getting in thir guides truck, being driven out to a box blind 15 or twenty feet tall in the dark--when it gets light they see a buck at 2 hundred yards checking out corn pile, they shoot it hunts over, They could have hunted in black pajama,s ???? Why bother ?

especially when I'm wearing blaze orange.

To work well as camo for you the most important thing is does it match the spot(vegetation) where you are hunting, next for me is it quiet, it doesn't matter how well it matches the vegetation if it makes skritching noises every time you move. I am not hung up on waterproof, I have a rain suit in my backpack if I need it.

It's all about comfortability, staying warm, maneuverability and scent control. Personally have wore Plythal for years. Cheaper than Sitka, very high quality, extremely durable, and a Lifetime Warranty. Who offers a lifetime warranty on clothing?! If you want some amazing discounts on some topline gear, message me.

Honestly, I feel like the camp pattern isn't as big of a deal as people think. Yes, it it's important to break up your pattern. But I think scent protection ranks higher on the priority list than pattern.

https://www.theoutdoordirection.com

For clothing I prefer Sitka, for boots Lowa. Good lifetime and warranty.