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Well Dressed Woodsman

Katdaddy

Katdaddy

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
765
When I head to the woods I usually wear a pair of woodland camo BDU pants. They wear well, last a long time (for me anyway) and don't show dirt or stains. What do y'all wear when outdoors?
 
dickies, or like you said bdu pants, they both last a lifetime, and are easy to come by!!!!!
 
I used to wear blue jeans and cotton t-shirts but eventually realized how uncomfortable and totally unsuitable they really are for warm or cold weather hiking.

Now, I usually wear either nylon convertible cargo pants or nylon shorts, with a cool-max t-shirt, In cooler weather I'll top that with an acrylic jacket or pull over. Much more comfortable in hot, wet, or cool temps. :thumbup:
 
In this mild weather some sort of cargo trousers 'cos they are comfy and thorn proof. Some sort of jacket of a similar ilk, for the same reasons. I'm not fussed which, just grab. Shirt and boots. I'm probably paying as much attention as jeans and T-shirt bloke is in these conditions.

When it gets serious I use a lot of Buffalo gear – shirts, jackets, trousers. It's a habit I've been in for a long time. I've got other soft shells that are pretty and more fashionable for casual use but the Buffalo gear is the workhorse stuff I reach for, and have for years. Warm when wet, dries easily, reasonably quiet, wind and waterproof to a very useful degree. Fits nicely with my semi-amphibious approach.

For shells I like Gortex. I know a few here say they sweat too much in it and it can catch fire more easily that a souwester or whatever but I think it's great. Matters not to me whether it's military issue bib and brace or my Karrimor or whatever. Over all, my Paramo is my best shell jacket but it is a bit too hot and heavy compared to Gortex. If I didn't use the Buffalo so much I'd use the Paramo more, but as I do I need my foul weather shell to be only that.

Feet vary a lot, as do hats and gloves and so on.
 
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For day hikes, I have an old, faded pair of Columbia pants, with patching sewn over holes in the back pockets and knees. They are comfy, and they have a zipped pocket on the right side, which is helpful.

On longer outings, I have a pair of green Patagonia cargos that pack up nice and compact, and are comfortable year-round.

Lately, though, I have been wearing cargo shorts. I intend to keep it up until the first snowfall.

In terms of upper wear, I once splurged on a nice Patagonia under-layer with a zip neck. It is awesome year-round, and well worth the investment. For warmth in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, I like to bring a flannel shirt. It is more compact than a sweater, but just as warm if I wear it with my under-layer. Other than that, I have a bunch of thin, breathable shirts from MEC that work nicely.

All the best,

- Mike
 
It's a funny title. I've been thinking for a while that a cheap alternative to outdoor clothes would be to go into a Goodwill or similar and get a wool suit. Combine that with some good silk undergarments and you WOULD be a well dressed woodsman.:D And a warm one.
 
I used to wear Carhartt cargo pants, but I've lost about 40 pounds, and have been replacing them with BDUs.

Reasons?
Well, Carhartts are now made in Mexico, BDUs (the ones I buy) are made in the USA.
BDUs are just as utilitarian and just as tough.
BDUs are better (IMO) because I can secure the cargo pockets with buttons, not Velcro.
 
Most of my clothes are geared towards warm weather.

I usually use a pair of Columbia convertible synthetic pants. I'm sensitive to poison oak, so whenever that's around, I use them in pant form. When it gets really hot, it feels good to take off the bottom half and switch them to shorts. Usually don't bother doing that, though.

I like synthetic shirts too. They dry quickly and feel cooler than cotton. I have a bunch of Nike dri-fit shirts I'll use most of the time.

Wool socks. The only way to go.

When it gets chilly, I'll carry a super thin windbreaker that packs into its own pocket. The one I use right now is from New Balance. If it gets real cold, I have a 1/4 zip fleece from REI that I'll bring along. The fleece and the windbreaker will be enough to around 40 degrees. If it got any colder than that, I probably wouldn't leave the house 'cause a new ice age would be upon us and I wouldn't want to be found frozen in a block of ice in 100 years.
 
i usually have a pair of marpat bdu's cause they are half the price of hiking pants and last way longer or a pair of shorts and a t-shirt
 
I like 5.11 Cargo pants. Being the thin guy that I am, I usually get them on closeout for $15.00 or less. They wear very well and I'm a fan of the cargo pockets. I also have a few pairs of North face convertible pants that I use in the summer.

As far as tops go I usually wear some kind of fleece or synthetic wicking fabric. I wear woll when it gets real cold and I know I am going to be around a campfire.
 
Columbia Sportswear pants in the summer, This last winter I wore some Wrangler cargo pants..Ripstop like BDU's but heavier nylon. Very tough. I wear them at work, and they hold up very well. I wear these all year for work pants...I dont worry about sweating in them, they seem to dry out nicely. I like a good Fleece in the winter, or just a wool sweater...over polypro undies. I always wear wool socks in the winter, and cotton in the summer.
 
Columbia convertible pants! They are very comfortable. I've had mine for almost 2 years and they still look pretty new. They are pretty tough even though they are lightweight. On top, I always wear Fruit Of The Loom t-shirts. I can get a pack of 4 for $9.99 at Walmart and they are comfortable. I also wear these daily.
 
In warmer weather, Supplex nylon pants. In cooler weather, 5.11 cargo pants or BDUs (non-cotton).


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
About a year ago BassPro in Florida had a sale on World Wide Sportsman lightweight treated canvas bootcut cargo pants. I wear them about 50% of the time. Super durable, comfortable, soft, breathable, and lightweight.
GI Vietnam style commando pants and 6 color desert BDU bottoms,
North Face packable pants,
Columbia midweight merino wool hiker socks,
Converse combat boots,
North Face rucky chuckies
Kakadu EVERYTHING!
minnetonka soft soled mocs
North Face Diablo merino sweater
SOFFE military issue black cotton teeshirts
North Face Apex Bionic jacket
Eddie Bauer (I have about 10 pullovers from them, all are great)
Rudy Project shades
Boonie hat or Kakadu leather hat to top it all off
that covers all 4 months of weather around here, summer and winter are both pretty mild. Things change when I go back to WI for christmas though...
 
If I am hiking on a trial, I like to wear my North Face convertibles. If I am scouting around for hunting and therefore cutting through brush, I like to wear my BDUs. The BDUs are more durable than the hiking pants and more comfortable than jeans for crawling around.
 
If I am hiking on a trail, I like to wear my North Face convertibles. If I am scouting around for hunting and therefore cutting through brush, I like to wear my BDUs. The BDUs are more durable than the hiking pants and more comfortable than jeans for crawling around.
 
Hey Guys...

Depending on the weather...

Hot

BDU's
Synthetic North Face ,Columbia trail pants
Under Armour or Similar type shirts ( Stay cool not clammy)
Loose fitting Florida type shirt

Mild

BDU's, Nylon trail pants ,Under Armour long johns, Fleece or Wool Army jacket

Cold

Under Armour long johns, Fleece pants, Swedish wool pants, Nylon Trail pants
Under Armour shirt, Wooly Pully sweater, Fleece or wool army jacket, Nylon wind proof shell

Notice,, Very little cotton ...

Eric
O/ST
 
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