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Hunting & Fishing Best Camo?

DukeGSP

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Jun 28, 2019
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I've nearly stressed myself out over trying to find the right camo. I've looked at the Sitka, Kuiu, Nomad, UA, ETC. i'm curious to know what someone else thinks is the best and maybe the best place to buy it? I like the look of the new Sitka but, not certain how it holds up. I'm in South Georgia so i'm looking for a Lightweight layer, Mid weight, and maybe just a heavy jacket for our "cold days" TIA
 
I've been just as close to elk and deer wearing earth tones and even straight up orange as I have camo. I guess camo does sort of break up your outline a little. I'd be less stressed about the actual camo pattern and concentrate on fit more than pattern. Sitka, Kuiu, First Lite, Under Armour, all make viable choices. Fit seems to vary a lot between manufacturers, especially pants. Uncomfortable pants suck, and all the above manufacturers make some type of pant that will work.
 
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I've been just as close to elk and deer wearing earth tones and even straight up orange as I have camo. I guess camo does sort of break up your outline a little. I'd be less stressed about the actual camo pattern and concentrate on fit more than pattern. Sitka, Kuiu, First Lite, Under Armour, all make viable choices. Fit seems to vary a lot between manufacturers, especially pants. Uncomfortable pants suck, and all the above manufacturers make some type of pant that will work.


i'm right there with ya. not really concerned with the pattern, i'm more so to speak looking for the comfort and durability. Sitka just has a unique pattern so it stood out.
 
I guess for fittings sake I am 6' and about 205. I wear 34" waist jeans, but in Sitka I am a 36. Kuiu I am closer to a 38, which I can't figure out for the life of me. With recent technology I won't by a pair of pants unless they have some type of stretchy shit in them that allows you to move around a little more freely. Sitka, First Lite, Under Armour, Kuiu in that order of how well they fit my particular build. So many choices out there now compared to even 5 years ago.
 
You are over thinking it a little bit. Like someone said above, buy the highest quality gear you can afford. You really just need to break up your outline/pattern. Earth tones work great, too. If you go camo, the specific pattern doesn’t matter all that much.

I run kuiu and sitka, but mix in patagonia and arcteryx where necessary. My favorite hunting pants are kuiu attack pants. I have them in solid brown and solid green and work great out West.
 
The best camo I’ve ever seen - or not seen, as it were - is M2D camo out of Spokane. It’s scary how well it blends in with grasslands and forests, whether it’s green or dry or covered in snow. Seriously worth checking out.
 
Don't you have to wear a min percentage of body coverage in hunter orange? What is the purpose of camo?

If you just like camo, then find the pattern you like and not worry about how effective it is. I like UA ridge reaper pattern and I got it at cost but don't know how effect it is. Never really worn camo hunting other than military from AD.

good luck
 
Don't you have to wear a min percentage of body coverage in hunter orange? What is the purpose of camo?

If you just like camo, then find the pattern you like and not worry about how effective it is. I like UA ridge reaper pattern and I got it at cost but don't know how effect it is. Never really worn camo hunting other than military from AD.

good luck

Depends on the game and the state. Turkeys see color and detail really well so most must-wear-Orange states have an explicit exception, and California doesn’t require orange at all for anything. Deer don’t see color as we see them, but blue/white/purple show up bright in the ultraviolet spectrum, which they can see, so those colors and bright fabrics in general should be avoided.

The big thing for camo worn to the extent allowable when hunting is breaking up the human outline. It’s not quite as easy as “if you can’t see you, insert-animal-here can’t see you”, but if you can see you, almost every animal on earth can as well - but they might not care or recognize what you are.
 
Pick the clothing that is durable and fits best for you. A deer doesn’t care if you are wearing Sitka or Kuiu. I have switched all of my gear over to Sitka. Speedy clothing, but for different uses I have found the clothing to be fantastic and very durable.
 
I’ve been wearing mossy oak bottom land for years in Alabama. Doesn’t fit Worth a crap but looks good hah. I’m looking at finally upgrading and wearing something that fits and probably will end up with Sitka or UA because of availability to try on. The Kuiu looks nice but I don’t like all the white in the pattern
 
Beware of Sitka rain gear. I returned mine twice and it was replaced both times. Then they told me that it was not for use in the brush or grass as it would get holes in the Gore Tex. No kidding. I ask them if it was just to wear to dances etc.
 
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Since there's plenty here about the "vision" of animals keep in mind what detergent you use when washing the clothes.

While I was working under DoD I had to get inspection training on Clothing and Textiles. I had the opportunity to visit the labs in Philly that DoD will use when testing GOV contract textile products for conformance. The lead inspector for the clothing/fabrics stated that using some detergents actually increased the "visibility" of the garments. Rendering the textiles akin to a neon light when under NVGs can be rather detrimental to one's military career. The detergent that was found to NOT to cause problems was Seventh Generation Free & Clear. Since this woman makes her living by testing products AND has a quarterly working requirement for a color vision test that can send most people home with a pink slip she knows her stuff.
So when you consider how some animals "see" colors or shapes, making sure your clothes are not amplifying light/colors due to your washing detergents can make a huge difference.

With that buy whatever you camo or colors you want, just make sure you aren't the source of the product failure in the long run due to poor upkeep.
 
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I've nearly stressed myself out over trying to find the right camo. I've looked at the Sitka, Kuiu, Nomad, UA, ETC. i'm curious to know what someone else thinks is the best and maybe the best place to buy it? I like the look of the new Sitka but, not certain how it holds up. I'm in South Georgia so i'm looking for a Lightweight layer, Mid weight, and maybe just a heavy jacket for our "cold days" TIA

I’d wear a pair of brown pants and a real tree shirt. Deer are pretty stupid and most hunting in the SE is blinds/stands.
 
yeah, i'm a big bow hunter down here in SW GA and with the "retired dad bod" it's sometimes hard to find a comfortable set. for the past 10 years I've just worn regular clothes with a leaf suit but I've been wanting a new set that would last for a while. I pulled the trigger last week and bought some lightweight Sitka and I like it a lot. went with the optifade subalpine.
 
I look more at the quality of the clothing more than into the camo pattern.

I use a lot of sitka and kuiu when chasing elk, having light weight clothing is important to me in those situations.
But I mostly hunt ducks and coyotes and prefer solid colors and wax lined Filson clothing like the double tins.
 
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yes, I wasn't really concerned with the pattern as I was more about the comfort and quality. I tried on a lot of high end stuff and the Sitka was the leading contender. when it gets "cold" and rifle season starts, I just rock a drake jacket and some kakis
 
sent and movement are what spooks animals period, unless you make noise. camo with animals i dont know where a animal has spilled the beans as to what they see. lots of studys but do we really know. we do know some have better vision and identify colors better but what they really see i find it hard to believe some one really knows. i do wear camo and what i do is have different colors and patterns to match the time of year and area im hunting no one pattern does it unless your in a tree and a tree bark pattern is what your wearing. put on blaze orange and there goes that. birds as in turkeys if they could smell like a deer you would never see one in the woods.
 
i should've said in the beginning that I mainly wanted something lightweight for bow hunting in SW GA. for everyone who isn't aware of our heat, it's brutal. bow season opened up last weekend with a high of 98 degrees. other than sitting in the stand ass naked I was trying to see what everyone suggested that didn't smother someone. when the "cold Weather" hits. the death threating 40 degrees, I'm in a heavy jacket and blue jeans anyways.

I did pull the trigger on a set the other day and it seems to be nice and high quality. I appreciate everyone's feedback and time!
 
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i should've said in the beginning that I mainly wanted something lightweight for bow hunting in SW GA. for everyone who isn't aware of our heat, it's brutal. bow season opened up last weekend with a high of 98 degrees. other than sitting in the stand ass naked I was trying to see what everyone suggested that didn't smother someone. when the "cold Weather" hits. the death threating 40 degrees, I'm in a heavy jacket and blue jeans anyways.

I did pull the trigger on a set the other day and it seems to be nice and high quality. I appreciate everyone's feedback and time!

Florida Hunter here: What did you end up buying?
 
Florida Hunter here: What did you end up buying?


for the early season here with our terrain I went with the Sitka in optifade subalpine. once it gets cold enough for the leafs to change, i'll be wearing something different anyways. this stuff I got is very light weight and breathable with a lot of well thought out features.

when you say Florida hunter, lol are hunting in Florida or are you a Florida resident that has a lease in Georgia?
 
I"m a lot easier on the concept: wear any camo and as my father would say, "Quit fucking moving"


Oh this is Post of the Thread nomination here!!!! I can remember my Dad saying that at least 50 times a day hunting... and with my daughter, I have said that at least 50 times a day hunting... It is the universal truth handed down from generation to generation!
 
It almost seems to be a niche camo, but I've been wearing Natural Gear for over 10yrs and the adaptability of colors from rock ledges, hardwoods, and open fields is outstanding. Their branded clothing may not be as high quality as some of the aforementioned, but it has worked for me.
 
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I've got a few pieces from a lot of different companies. I don't necessarily buy it for the camo, I have lots of solid/earth tones. I buy it for the quality and comfort. Hunting mostly backpack style or spot and stalk I do a fair amount of hiking.

I've got a mixture of Sitka, Kuiu, and Eddie Bauer.

Eddie Bauer's guide pants are light and comfortable and always on sale for like $60

I think Kuiu had some pieces that were marketed to hot weather hunting too.

Here in California it's not uncommon to have 95-100 degree days during the archery season, we just don't get the humidity you guys get.
 
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I've got a few pieces from a lot of different companies. I don't necessarily buy it for the camo, I have lots of solid/earth tones. I buy it for the quality and comfort. Hunting mostly backpack style or spot and stalk I do a fair amount of hiking.

I've got a mixture of Sitka, Kuiu, and Eddie Bauer.

Eddie Bauer's guide pants are light and comfortable and always on sale for like $60

I think Kuiu had some pieces that were marketed to hot weather hunting too.

Here in California it's not uncommon to have 95-100 degree days during the archery season, we just don't get the humidity you guys get.


that's right, I've just recently started looking at different brands as I've been wanting something comfortable and quality made. like I've said before, I also wore a leaf suit in the early season over t shirt and shorts but they are a "one size fit all" deal and just never fit right. told myself i'm gonna bite the bullet and spend the coin on something worth a damn this year.

in my small town I don't have a decent outdoor store, don't really have one at all actually. drove up about 1.5 hours a month or so ago for an outdoor expo and that city had some nice stores. so I tried on what they had available and made my choice then. I just really liked how light the Sitka was. now of course this store didn't carry every single brand out there but they had a lot of top end stuff that I would expect durability and comfort from.

you're right, the humidity here will make you second guess living life. I've been to Barstow a few times on government orders and humidity or not, 118 is hell. I could care less if I ever step foot back in that hellhole again.