Thoughts on waterproof pants for CO elk?

[Titaneq]

Been researching and reading as much as I can over the last couple weeks on all the gear I’ll need for a diy elk hunt this fall in CO. Seems like the vast majority of outer layer hunting pants I see recommended from SG, FL, Sitka, etc are water resistant but very few options in gore Tex/waterproof. Are most guys just not worried about waterproof pants? My son and his friends were out there a couple years ago and talked about how wet their pants got from the moisture on all the underbrush. Thought I’d ask for opinions on it, thanks!

 

[madcalfe]

are you talking about raingear or like pants you wear all day....?
if it's wet enough put your rain pants on overtop of your pants....
or yea know wear gaiters?

 

[hiker270]

Gore Tex is being phased out because of environment concerns. Substitute waterproof products are being studied.

 

[Poser]

Your pants can and definitely do get wet. They also dry out quickly. If you’re looking at a Sept hunt, you might consider supplemental rain pants depending on the weather, but if you wear a waterproof pant all day every day for a hunt in Colorado, you’ll be entirely miserable.

 

[Honyock]

I assume that you plan on wearing gaiters. If not, buy a pair.

 

[Titaneq]

Your pants can and definitely do get wet. They also dry out quickly. If you’re looking at a Sept hunt, you might consider supplemental rain pants depending on the weather, but if you wear a waterproof pant all day every day for a hunt in Colorado, you’ll be entirely miserable.

Because of breathability you mean I assume? I guess I thought there were more options for a good all day, breathable yet still gore tex hunting pant out there but maybe I’m wrong. I have kuiu gaiters that I wore in Alaska a couple years ago, definitely bringing those.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Waterproof pants are hardly ever needed in Co, in just about any season, I have used them as an outer layer for insulation while glassing but never had them in my pack in Sept. Had a few days of heavy rain during Sept the last two years but it’s typically a very dry month.

 

[180ls1]

BecauI guess I thought there were more options for a good all day, breathable yet still gore tex hunting pant out there but maybe I’m wrong.

Yeah, breathable waterproof pants isn't really a thing despite what the marketing says.

 

[Titaneq]

are you talking about raingear or like pants you wear all day....?
if it's wet enough put your rain pants on overtop of your pants....
or yea know wear gaiters?

Pants I’d wear all day.
From a weight standpoint (planning to pack in a ways and stay for a few days at least) I’d rather not bring rain pants to put on over whatever pants I end up going with but maybe I don’t have much of a choice?
Definitely planning to bring my gaiters

 

[Hnthrdr]

Pants I’d wear all day.
From a weight standpoint (planning to pack in a ways and stay for a few days at least) I’d rather not bring rain pants to put on over whatever pants I end up going with but maybe I don’t have much of a choice?
Definitely planning to bring my gaiters

Skip the rain pants, kuiu attack or first lite obsidian merino or corrugate guide will be more than adequate or any similar pant, is it your first time backpacking? Backpack hunting or elk hunting? There are some amazing gear lists on this site, I would search gear list in the search bar

 

[Titaneq]

Skip the rain pants, kuiu attack or first lite obsidian merino or corrugate guide will be more than adequate or any similar pant, is it your first time backpacking? Backpack hunting or elk hunting? There are some amazing gear lists on this site, I would search gear list in the search bar

Have hunted elk a handful of times but have never packed in and stayed for 3-5 days like we’re doing this time. So definitely learning a lot about how to pack correctly, save weight, etc….Ive been pouring over gear lists and that’s what really led to my question bc it seems like very few guys have a waterproof gore tex pant but im learning/guessing that those types of pants (like a Sitka downpour I think it is for example) just aren’t breathable enough to make them an everyday all day hunting pant?

 

[Titaneq]

Waterproof pants are hardly ever needed in Co, in just about any season, I have used them as an outer layer for insulation while glassing but never had them in my pack in Sept. Had a few days of heavy rain during Sept the last two years but it’s typically a very dry month.

Yea I hear ya, I was just suprised that my son and his two friends talked about how soaked they got not from rain but from walking thru the thicker understory and all the moisture on it apparently. I will say they didn’t have gaiters (learned their lesson there) but when I asked them if they felt like the gaiters would have solved that problem they said no. That they would definitely have made a huge difference in keeping their feet dryer but not necessarily their pants from thigh down to top of gaiters.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Have hunted elk a handful of times but have never packed in and stayed for 3-5 days like we’re doing this time. So definitely learning a lot about how to pack correctly, save weight, etc….Ive been pouring over gear lists and that’s what really led to my question bc it seems like very few guys have a waterproof gore tex pant but im learning/guessing that those types of pants (like a Sitka downpour I think it is for example) just aren’t breathable enough to make them an everyday all day hunting pant?

Yeah any type of movement in rain pants in September is likely to end in some serious swamp ass, they keep moisture out but tend to hold heat in

 

[Titaneq]

Yeah any type of movement in rain pants in September is likely to end in some serious swamp ass, they keep moisture out but tend to hold heat in

So like the kuiu katana pants that I have or some of those types of models that guys wear hiking around in Alaska (30-50 degrees so granted Colorado in September could be warmer mid day) aren’t suitable/different application ya think?

 

[Maverick1]

@Titaneq - Waterproof and breathable is the widely held belief due to marketing. Watch the video below.

 

[LongWayAround]

I rarely wear rain pants in September in Colorado. If the brush is soaking wet from rain or snow, it's nice to have them. If you plan on backpacking, it's probably a good idea to have some lightweight rain pants.

You definitely are not hunting all day in rain pants unless it's a seriously wet week.

 

[Jethro]

Sept in Colorado, you’re not going to want to wear waterproof pants all day everyday. Since you’ll be away from truck for numerous days take a lightweight rain pant for just in case. Marmot precip or cabelas space wear.

 

[IowaNative]

I wish I had shorts last year for archery in Sept. A few days were so hot we couldn't even stand being under a tarp and just went for shade in deep timber (where we found the critters as well). Attacks are the heaviest I would bring, and a packable rain set is what I have as well for those pop up storms. I always carry my puffys in case I had to spend a cold night but really it was hotter than I could have imagined. YRMV but I would be more concerned with finding water than it finding you.

 

[justinspicher]

I don’t think I’ve ever worn a pair of rain pants in my life. I know I’ve never worn a pair living in Colorado. They seem unnecessary.

 

[5MilesBack]

In 40+ years of rifle and archery season elk hunting in Colorado, I have worn waterproof pants one time. And I rarely use a rain jacket either.