New upland pants - thoughts

Brandon Yuchasz

Brandon Yuchasz

Well-known member
So I don't own a pair of upland brush pants. Living in the UP and hunting grouse I just have not had a need for them. Or cover is thick and nasty but it doesn't poke you.

That all changed this year when we were in North Dakota and my son and I chased a few pheasant. I could not believe how easily that cover can cut through a good pair of work pants and tear you up. So with two weeks planned out there next year and I am sure trips every year after that I decided to pick up some brush pants. My son got some chaps already that he can wear for a few years even when he grows and at 13 thats a good thing. My wife got me a pair of Cabelas brush pants for Christmas but they were a little to big and when I tried to order a smaller pair they were out until next fall. I could now go into a long rant about Cabela's not stocking anything anymore but Ill stay off that subject.

So that has sent me on a long extensive search for the perfect pair of brush pants. I am funny when it comes to buying gear. I have no problem spending a good amount of money for high quality items. Not trendy though I could care less. But I will gladly pay double for something that is built the right way and built to last. What really bothers me is spending reasonable money on "crap" and by that I mean something that is pretty much disposable. Hell I don't even like speeding a little money on that. So with that in mind I have pretty much settled in on biting the bullet and buying Filson pants.

I am more of less settled on the Double Hunting Pants which are these.
http://www.filson.com/products/double-hunting-pants.14025.html

I cover lots of ground when I bird hunt and so I don't want to get overly hot.

I also don't want to get wet from wet grass.

So I believe those are the best choice but also have bounced around the idea of the Shelter Cloth Brush Pants which are probably lighter weight and I assume cooler but also probably not nearly as tough and maybe not as water resistant? . Here is a link.
http://www.filson.com/products/shelter-cloth-brush-pants.14027.html

I guess I am more or less settled in on what to order but I just want to hear from a few of you guys and girl. If you own these are they the real deal. If I am going to pay almost twice as much I am fine with that as long as I am getting twice ( or more ) as good of a product. Are the Double Hunting Pants with the shelter cloth and then the doubling up of tin cloth the way to go?


Thanks everyone.
 
I have some upland pants, not near the quality of filsons, they do help when hunting thick cover.
Are you getting more then one pair? If I were going to get something for a week or two hunt I would look at chaps instead. Doesn't matter as much about how dirty they get. They will get snagged and ripped at some time too. Easier to keep them going.

Tim
 
Chasing setters through woodcock covers. I have worn out a few pair

My latest are the LL Beans technical pants

They seem to be wearing very well
 
I'll second the chaps. I've walked through bull briar with my heavy chaps and never felt a thing. I probably would not do the same with even the best upland pants. Filson makes nice stuff, but you find cheaper and just as good chaps elsewhere.

Nate
 
I will echo the sentiment of getting chaps. I have worn out more pairs of brush pants than I can count but with that said I was always too cheap to buy really expensive ones. I had chaps on my Christmas list about ten years ago and my wife bought me a pair. She really had no idea of what she was buying and spent a lot more than I would have. She bought me a pair of tin cloth chaps and they came with a small tin of conditioning paste that I apply once a year after the season is over. I have used and abused these things and they don't have a single tear in them. The thing I like best about them is that I can wear whatever thickness of clothing under them for different weather conditions and they pack up really small if I don't need them. I find that the chaps keep me better protected from briars and drier than any brush pants I have ever had.
 
Brandon, I used to do a lot of rabbit and upland hunting and I always wore and still wear a pair of bibs from Dans Hunting Gear. I know you are looking for pants, they make them as well, upland vests, jackets and I think they made chaps too. If memory serves me correctly they are out of Ohio. The brand was standard equipment for coon hunters from my understanding. I found them at the Kenton Coondog Nationals before they stopped holding that event in Kenton,OH. I've had them since probably 96' or so, they don't much use now but still water and briar proof.
You can't go wrong with Filson though. Just throwing another option at you. I can't seem to upload the photos I took, so if you or anybody else is interested just pm me and I'll email or text them.
 
Brandon, I found the website for Dan's I'll post the links to items I personally have and can attest to the quality of.

http://www.danshuntinggear.com/bibs_brown-waterproof.html Bibs

http://www.danshuntinggear.com/coat_frontloader-briarproof.html Jacket

http://www.danshuntinggear.com/vest_squirrel-hunters-orange-brown.html Vest
 
I agree with the chaps. I always wore brush pants growing up. I bought a pair of Filson chaps probably 10 years ago and would not go back to brush pants. As someone said, they do need waxed occasionally to keep them waterproof, but I feel they work better, are more comfortable and make it easier to regulate temperature than brush pants.
 
Filson double tin chaps for me too, I've had them for years and they are used for other things besides hunting. I have several items of Filson work/outdoor clothing and the nice thing about their stuff is if you take reasonable care of it you only have to buy it once......
 
I've got;
WICK Overalls - 18 years, love them. Probably the most versatile upland gear I own. They aren't made anymore, Dans is the closest you'll get unless you get really lucky on eBay.

Filson double hunting pants - 10 years, I really like these but they don't breathe well so I wear UA type tights under them. Great for cold/wet days.

Filson tin cloth faced - 10 years, they are similar to the cover cloth but with tin cloth. They are nice pants for cool days, but I like the double hunters better. Even though they don't breathe as well.

Filson chaps - I only wear these for training. I must hunt some nasty cover because I hate hunting in chaps. Think of what chaps leave uncovered....
 
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I be a dissenter and say that I like cordura fronted pants over waxed cotton of any type.

I won't wear chaps either.
 
I really like the Filson chaps unless I have to sit down in the snow and yes I do wear something under them. I completely agree with spending enough to get stuff that lasts and lasts. Related but not any help is that I have a Filson hat that I don't know what I would do if I lost it. And it makes a great dog water dish.
 
I gotta second Rick on the LL Bean Tech pants. They are a JOY to wear, especially if your older and like pants that work and are not heavy. I have worn them all, and the Filson Chaps as well. Those days of the LONG Walk Hunts with heavy brush pants are Way Over for me. I still do the huntin,' but less suffering trying to protect myself. Never hunt without glasses though, that's just askin' for trouble.

If your a grouse hunter anywhere in America, and your are not bleeding from various places on your body during and after the hunt, ya ain't doin' it correctly.
 
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