Thread: Clothing

What do you wear when out on a hunt with a reasonable amount of walking? Not extreme mountain climbing/alpine stuff. Just long walks with steep hills. I can't seem to get it right whatever I do. Either too hot or cold!

I usually always wear a next to skin long sleeve merino top with a centre zip which helps when it starts getting hot. A reasonably heavy weight merino, not too light.

I'll also pack a light softshell mid layer + lightweight waterproof jacket. I'm just about good for all seasons with that kit.

Either long johns with shorts or very light weight pants.

I find always having a beanie + gloves handy is crucial for my comfort levels, nothing worse than having a cold head and hands.

Originally Posted by MightyBoosh

What do you wear when out on a hunt with a reasonable amount of walking? Not extreme mountain climbing/alpine stuff. Just long walks with steep hills. I can't seem to get it right whatever I do. Either too hot or cold!

Doesn't matter if ya hunted nude in the summer you're gunna get hot if climbing etc.

A good base layer that takes moisture away from your skin makes all the difference.
I wear light gear when moving in winter and as soon as I stop for any amount of time I put on a good puffer jacket and wet weather gear over top if wet.
You will never get it perfectly right imo.... At least I haven't.
But since having some good gear I can access quickly out of my pack I have not suffered like I used to, when younger.




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Nylon swim shorts because they don't hold water, merino thermal long sleeve, one spare merino thermal long sleeve in my bag if the one I'm wearing gets wet. and One med weight jacket. If it gets too hot I take off all my top layers, if it gets to cold then I don't stop moving.

Merino underneath, swanni on top, army surplus pants or rugby shorts depending on weather, raincoat, gloves, hat in bag. Spare set of merino for post hunt. And always extra socks.

Are we talking a day hunt here or multi day? My mainstay would be merino top and bottom, rugby shorts, microfleece t-shirt and then down jacket and/or Swazi Tahr for sitting around or if it gets wet or cold

Best next to skin top I’ve found is the Kathmandu Altica tshirt. It wicks brilliantly and isn’t too hot. I choose as I cannot wear wool/merino/most other synthetics next to skin.

I am now passionate about having a wool top layer. Jersey or even swandri. They breathe way better than fleece type products

+1 hat gloves and waterproof if a long day/overnight.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Are we talking a day hunt here or multi day? My mainstay would be merino top and bottom, rugby shorts, microfleece t-shirt and then down jacket and/or Swazi Tahr for sitting around or if it gets wet or cold

Just day hunts

I had a collection of excellent quality N American stuff that I mixed and matched according to the weather. Cost a bloody fortune. Then it all got stolen one fateful day in California along with my scuba gear and toolkit. Whoever it was knew precisely what it was they wanted.

Anyway, when I got back to NZ I couldn’t face buying all that gear again, far too bloody dear here. So I went to Army & Outdoors and bought the following. I am dead serious when I say the whole lot cost not much more than one top of the line Kuiu jacket. And I am freakin’ stoked with how it all performs.

Undershirt: British airforce moisture wicking t-shirt
Optional mid layer: German army woolen shirt, long sleeved, zipper
Top layer: German army flecktarn shirt (zipper, poppers)
Trousers: German army trousers. Very tough, great pockets, dry fast.
Waterproof: British army MPT waterproof jacket or German army flecktarn equivalent
Winter wear for those long cold hunts: German army flecktarn parka with inner jacket (I wear the quilted inner jacket on its own quite a lot if conditions suit)
Socks: British army (always carry a spare pair)
Undies: Bonds (I mean, come on.... second hand army undies? Really?)

I am serious, its as good as the posh stuff. All the gear was in great condition even though all of it bar the parka and base layer t-shirts was used. It gets used hard, covered in blood, mud and 10 kinds of shit, stinks like a rutting stag... then I put it on a cold wash with no powder, hold the cycle when full of water, soak overnight, spin... comes out good as new. Can’t recommend this stuff highly enough.

(Flecktarn is invisible to deer it seems to me. Its very well suited to NZ bush, much better than a lot of the lighter coloured designs.)

go to postie plus and buy some thermals in NATO GREEN they cheap as chips (under $20) wear pair of the leggings under pair of rugger shorts from warehouse (again cheap)
hot day its now a airmesh type top...colder day polar fleece either a tee shirt or long sleeved. the warehouse tees are lighter weight than others so good on warmer days. top to toe pack long sleave top is light and ok on all but really warm days,if it gets cooler I stick a tee over it. vest over that if cold,rain proof coat tops it off on wet day.
warehouse kids widebrimmed school hat is awesome out in open on sunny day and surprisingly good when its persisting down as it keeps water off shoulders n neck too. polarfleece beanie,gloves and Crawford/neck scarf go in day bag....... the crawford is by far the best piece of kid ever for those really cold days.

along with washing tips given above...FFS hang cloths INSIDE OUT on washing line,they fade in sunlight and that pattern you paid so much for lasts for years if it doesnt get sunburnt everytime it gets washed.the difference is very noticable.
mustnt forget ashley laceup gumboots and gaiters. if its persisting down and cold and you wearing trousers stick your gaiters over boots like normal but wear trousers OVER TOP so water runs down the fabric and onto boots then ground instead of filling your boots up,its amazing how long your feet stay dry this way.

Naked with a trench coat, just watch out the kiwis dont grab your huhu grub

I'm a fan of good old polyprops and a pair of nylon shorts. They wick moisture away and just don't stay wet, so they dry quickly, and I return to warm operating temperature quicker. If it gets really cold I add more thin layers. I prefer lots of thinner layers because I can tailor the amount I have on to the conditions and what I'm doing.

I get really hot and sweat heaps. I wear shorts and the original Huntech garters on the bottom, plus polyprop longhorns if it's cold (but not often).
Lately I've been wearing a Hunters Element Crux long sleeve top, or a Under Armour one from H&F. I carry a couple of other shirts/tops for when it gets cold or I stop for a break.

My go to is merino long John’s,merino socks,Bush buck shorts,merino zip up thermal top and a woollen shearer’s singlet over top.Have a Swazi Wapiti jacket if it’s wet.If going to areas where lots of sitting and glassing will pack a puffer jacket

Kuiu attack pants and a stony Creek long sleeve, down vest and a goretex outer shell. Fleece pant and a clean long sleeve for nights. Long thick woollen socks. Sea to summit gaiters if I know i'll be pushing through thick crap or crossing creeks