Clothing question - sheep hunt

[WVELK]

Maybe should post in clothing section, but this is for a sheep hunt. Has any tried the Stone Glacier Helio zip off bottoms on a sheep hunt? I was going to take the Kuiu merino 200 zip off, but dang the Helio are comfortable. Merino may smell a tad better after a bunch of days. By way of background, my hunt is a Heinz 57 mix variety. Part of the time on horses, part time backpack spike camp and who knows what else. It is in BC in September.

 

[idig4au]

I’ve never used mid layer pants on any sheep hunt in N.A. I typically bring my hunting pants (type dependent on time of year) and a pair of down puffy pants (WM flash) if things go south temp wise. My legs are last thing to get cold.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

If the base layer is actually intended for warmth, use a pair of puffy pants. The base layers you mentioned are 8-10 ounces each; you'd be significantly warmer using Kuiu Super Down LT bottoms (or comparable) at that weight.

If you are dead set on not going that route, use the Helio as your "pants" under rain gear if the weather will suck all day and be on the cooler side. You can also sleep in them to keep your bag cleaner. You can use the merino ones for the same purpose but they may take longer to dry out. On one AK hunt, I never could get my Pro Merino 200 top dried out; I learned that "warm when wet" is BS.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Maybe should post in clothing section, but this is for a sheep hunt. Has any tried the Stone Glacier Helio zip off bottoms on a sheep hunt? I was going to take the Kuiu merino 200 zip off, but dang the Helio are comfortable. Merino may smell a tad better after a bunch of days. By way of background, my hunt is a Heinz 57 mix variety. Part of the time on horses, part time backpack spike camp and who knows what else. It is in BC in September.

Too hot for me, Love them in Dec. Kuiu 145 or < for Sept

 

[ReddingArcher]

I don’t think you’ll need a base layer. I took mine on a late August, first part of September hunt and all they did was take up space. I agree with the guys saying take the puffy pants instead, you’ll be better off.

 

[KU_Geo]

Personally, i would take a zip off base layer. I like the Kuiu thin wool zip off. Sheep hunted AK in mid September. Temps from 10-40. Kuiu zips off base layers saw a lot of use, as did puffy pants. I run pretty hot, but there were a lot of times I ended up putting the base layers on when output was low, but we weren’t just static glassing.

 

[WVELK]

I don’t think you’ll need a base layer. I took mine on a late August, first part of September hunt and all they did was take up space. I agree with the guys saying take the puffy pants instead, you’ll be better off.

Well, folks have me thinking I may not need both. I am historically not a big puffy pants fan. One one hand I say my legs don’t generally get cold if I have a base layer. So I could take a zip on and off base layer. On the other hand, puffy pants could be a life saver (at least figuratively if not literally) if you get stuck out on the mountain without shelter in the cold. The temps that time of year according to weather data normally run 34 to 58 degrees F. If that is the case I could go puffy or base. HOWEVER, a deeper dive into weather shows that is is not abnormal to see temps for a day or two in the 14 to 33 degrees F range. If that be the case, even walking I would want a base layer. Stationary glassing would want both probably.

The real dilemma is prior hunts. I tell you I have hunted in a lot of places for the last 30 years and can’t tell you how many times I have been on hunts with 50 year record lows or 50 year record highs. Nothing is average or normal when I go -

 

[WVELK]

Thanks for all of your replies. If we are on the sheep section, we may have not been on 10 sheep hunts, but a lot of us have been on our fair share of hunts of some time. So people like me should know better, the first line of defense is ask your outfitter or guide. I did and he says to bring base layer for my pants.

So there you have it, thanks again for your time and responses.

 

[MosquitoCoast]

I wear KUIU's Ketana pant for August Sheep Hunts, I would probably change to Attack Pants for later sheep hunts. The only other pant garments I have are light weight Sitka rain gear and a pair of down puffy pants for around the camp or glassing on a mountain top if it gets cold. Outside of that I pack three pairs of outdoor boxers like First Lite because I like to try and stay fresh over a ten day hunt. I don't pack any other pants or briefs. I use the puffy pants with a 40 degree sleeping bag on the nights it get real cold. I like puffy pants because they fill in the gaps of what you may need but you don't want to hike in them. They're so ridiculously light they don't add weight and they're great if you need them. On my last sheep hunt I didn't break out the puffy pants once.