Camo Preference

[Caeden4]

I'm really procrastinating work today, and i keep getting emails about fall camo sales, which got me wondering whether everyone here has a preferred camo pattern for each season/game? if so which is it and why? 

I tend to like mossy oak bottomland or realtree timber type patterns because i find that they are the easiest to blend in with the ground and the trunk of a tree any time of the year, making it so that i dont need to buy the same clothes in a million different patterns for various weather or seasons.  although i do have a few of em, most of the patterns with more green in them just dont blend in right where i hunt 99% of the time, so they get very little use. 

[Lawdwaz]

Mostly old King of The Mountain wool for archery and spring gobbler when under 45 degrees. (Coat/jacket)

Pants over 45 degrees some camo stuff.   Under 45 degrees KOM.   
 

Gun WGAF.    

 

[Caeden4]

3 minutes ago, Lawdwaz said:

Mostly old King of The Mountain wool for archery and spring gobbler when under 45 degrees. (Coat/jacket)

Pants over 45 degrees some camo stuff.   Under 45 degrees KOM.   
 

Gun WGAF.    

 

some of their stuff costs more than the gun. probably lasts longer too lol

[phade]

Mid and late season deer we use Sitka. Early season, while I have Sitka, I think it’s not nearly as relative as the cheaper camo options are better. I regret buying the Equinox line and the rain gear. I Much prefer basic Scent Blocker type gear with Realtree for that stuff.

Sitka IMO is worth it for mid and late season gear. Along with the open pattern design that I think is much more effective. The Stratus / Fanatic / Incinerator is primo. $$$ but I use it all the time and it’s held up well and kept me on stand or in the woods longer than I used to be willing to tolerate.

[Lawdwaz]

27 minutes ago, Caeden4 said:

some of their stuff costs more than the gun. probably lasts longer too lol

Mine is older than a good percentage of the members here.   

[Caeden4]

15 minutes ago, phade said:

Mid and late season deer we use Sitka. Early season, while I have Sitka, I think it’s not nearly as relative as the cheaper camo options are better. I regret buying the Equinox line and the rain gear. I Much prefer basic Scent Blocker type gear with Realtree for that stuff.

Sitka IMO is worth it for mid and late season gear. Along with the open pattern design that I think is much more effective. The Stratus / Fanatic / Incinerator is primo. $$$ but I use it all the time and it’s held up well and kept me on stand or in the woods longer than I used to be willing to tolerate.

i was actually eyeing some of the equinox earlier this year. how come you regret that line specifically?

i have to say some basic scent blocker stuff ive gotten from walmart has proven surprisingly nice in terms of breathability and warmth in both the spring and the fall.

[Versatile Hunter]

Of the big three, I like Sitka's fit the most. Then Kuiu and then First Lite. But honestly, it's all so marked up that I usually just mix and match based on discounts. First Lite updated one of their camo patterns and it looks like they gave the old inventory to Scheels and it has been greatly marked down for time. I've gotten a few items from there.

[Trial153]

I have all sitka gear, i use solid non camo colors in any piece i can get it in.  Otherwise i don’t care about what pattern it is, i use the best piece for the conditions 

[phade]

3 minutes ago, Caeden4 said:

i was actually eyeing some of the equinox earlier this year. how come you regret that line specifically?

i have to say some basic scent blocker stuff ive gotten from walmart has proven surprisingly nice in terms of breathability and warmth in both the spring and the fall.

The extra cost one dumps into stuff like Sitka IMO doesn’t differentiate with early season gear for your typical deer hunter. The Equinox line is definitely more well thought out and designed and materials than say a Scent Blocker early season set, but the difference for me is that it really isn’t needed and not worth the extra cash.

When you get into the Stratus and above line, you really start to see a difference IMO. I use my Stratus set and a Fanatic vest a lot. It cuts through wind and the design is such that I can use it from say 60 down to the 30s with a layer addition or subtraction. 

[ShootEm]

I'll be the oddball; I went all in on Predator Camo this year. I've tried a lot of different brands and I still come back to their brown deception pattern being one of the best all-around camo patterns ever created. It's not as flashy and sexy as the big 3, but it does its job very well, can keep you plenty warm in each part of the season, and doesn't break the bank.

Only thing is their sizing can be really weird, but their customer service is one of the best I've ever experienced, not just in the hunting gear industry, but across the board.

[escpen]

I've used Sitka and First Lite for the past 10+ years.  Started with Sitka (pricey, but worth it at the time) and have transitioned to mostly First Lite.  It has been great for me and my kids.  While the price tag is high, you can get pretty deep discounts around the holidays and after season is over.

Like @Trial153, I'm starting to transition to more and more solid colors.  I'm not sure the camo pattern is actually doing anything for me.

[phade]

12 minutes ago, ShootEm said:

I'll be the oddball; I went all in on Predator Camo this year. I've tried a lot of different brands and I still come back to their brown deception pattern being one of the best all-around camo patterns ever created. It's not as flashy and sexy as the big 3, but it does its job very well, can keep you plenty warm in each part of the season, and doesn't break the bank.

Only thing is their sizing can be really weird, but their customer service is one of the best I've ever experienced, not just in the hunting gear industry, but across the board.

Predator patterns are really effective IMO. Fall gray looks so weird but once in the woods I’ve had deer look through me in places I was sure to be busted. 

The issue for me is their stuff always fell apart on me. It simply wasn’t durable across the board and as you said secondarily the fit. I lost every button and zipper pull on my fleece and then stitching. CS was good but I needed CS on every single item except the headgear.

[Belo]

I enjoy firstlite cipher which I don't think they make anymore and I dislike their new pattern specter, too many reds in it and darker greens that don't work in the late season. You can see the cipher pattern in the pic I posted live from the woods. Or at least I couldn't find the cold gear stuff I bought last year in anything but specter

https://www.firstlite.com/pages/firstlite-camouflage.html?lang=en_US&srsltid=AfmBOopJCq8H0XScjQYmZXv8tnIPZJRaLK82zEs-KSU2nt8EQzS6oQA0

 

Edited October 3 by Belo

[Caeden4]

2 minutes ago, phade said:

The issue for me is their stuff always fell apart on me. It simply wasn’t durable across the board and as you said secondarily the fit. I lost every button and zipper pull on my fleece and then stitching. CS was good but I needed CS on every single item except the headgear.

ive had that issue with my habit stuff, some of it doesnt even last me the season. but its to be expected to an extent given the price. it seems i am definitely the cheapest person on this thread 

 

8 minutes ago, escpen said:

Like @Trial153, I'm starting to transition to more and more solid colors.  I'm not sure the camo pattern is actually doing anything for me.

i know its counterintuitive to my original question, but IMO patterns really dont make a difference if you are hunting less pressured land and are patient and poised enough to be absolutely still and make all movements so slowly it hurts. i have all kinds of game (small, turkey, deer, even bear) that should easily see and smell me sitting in the woods midday in my jeans and t shirt, go without perceiving any threat whatsoever as long as i do not move or do so excruciatingly slowly. i wouldnt chose those clothes for a hunt obviously, but i would also put money on it making no difference in my success if i did. nevertheless, i go with the all brown patterns bc if im going patterned i want its use to be as ubiquitous as possible, and unless theres a ton of snow on the ground (which seems to happen less and less often every year), thats brown.

to me the real benefit of my hunting clothes is just the silence and comfort of the material, and the cheap stuff has proven sufficient for me in that regard. only pricier piece i own is my rain gear and thats because (a) i didnt buy it, it was a christmas gift, and (b) all "waterproof" is not equal lol  

i had briefly eyed the equinox line for the alleged bite-reducing material, but just couldnt justify the cost without knowing for sure if it would pay off.

[Robhuntandfish]

my best hunting clothes money was spent on a good set of thermal underbunks and a heated vest.  Outside I just wear whatever camo I get.