The Best Hunting Pants for Every Season

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I’m trying to think back almost 50 years now and remember what make and model of hunting pants I wore as a kid growing up in northeast Ohio. We were rabbit hunters, my father and me, and as such, hunting britches—or as we called them, brush pants—were every bit a part of our fall garb as were socks or clean underwear. That second one, by the way, was at the insistence of my mother. 

What I do remember about our brush pants is they were incredibly rugged, albeit tattered things. Heavy canvas material covered from thigh to ankle with tough Cordura nylon, the latter meant to protect us from the brambles and briars and hawthorn thickets the cottontails called home. They, the pants that is, were a must have; blue jeans didn’t cut it in our rabbit hunting world. 

Squirrel hunting. Duck hunting. That was a different thing altogether. Gone were the heavyweight brush pants, those replaced by lightweight cotton britches—camouflage when we were chasing bushytails in the big woods, and double duty pants underneath chest wader for October mallards and wood ducks. Double duty? I was just into my teens back then, and thought nothing, if Mom wasn’t watching, of wearing my squirrel hunting pants to school on Monday morning. See? Double duty.

Today, the choices in terms of hunting pants seem as many as there are stars in the night sky. Insulated. Uninsulated. Camouflage or solids. Heavy. Lightweight. High tech. Old school. They’re all out there, and here, we take a look at some of the best hunting pants to be found. 

• Best Overall: Arborwear Original Tree Climbers’ Pants
• Best Budget: Gamehide Woodsman Upland Hunting Jeans
• Best Wader Pants: Chene Gear Sherpa Fleece Wader Pants
• Best Lightweight: Sitka Pursuit Pants
• Best Double Duty: Carhartt Loose Straight Washed Duck Double-Front Dungaree

Best Overall: Arborwear Original Tree Climbers’ Pants

best overall

Arborwear Original Tree Climbers’ Pants

Pros

• Stupid tough and long-lasting
• Double layer knees are a godsend
• Super comfortable
• Quality at an affordable price
• Great for all-season hunting or when worn under waders

Cons

• Get ’em wet and they get a little heavy, but I’m just nit-picking here

Buy At Amazon

Specs

• Sizes: 30 – 44W and 30 – 36L
• Material: 100% cotton canvas

Years ago, when Rob Paradise, now the Vice President of Sales for Arborwear and a northeast Ohio boy like myself, asked me for a quote about the britches his company puts out, this is what I came up with: “Whenever I wear pants, I wear Arborwear.” That was a LONG time ago, but it still for the most part holds true today. Why Arborwear? First and foremost, they’re incredibly tough, the original being designed and built by professional arborist, Paul Taylor, and brought to market in the late 1990s. Somehow, I got my hands on one of Taylor’s first sets of his Tree Climbers’ Pant, and it’s been a grand adventure ever since.

Truthfully, you can’t go wrong with these britches. At $80, you’re getting the highest quality at a reasonable price. The double layer knees are spot-on; they’re saved my bacon thousands of times in the garden, on the trapline, and in the squirrel woods. I wear Arborwears under chest waders, during the Spring when chasing gobblers, and every single time I step into the field here in Washington in search of bears, blacktails, and elk. And when I do decide to get cleaned up and go across the Columbia to The Berry Patch Restaurant, the Originals make dandy “˜Sunday Go To Meet’n’ britches. Splitting firewood, decoying mallards, tracking whitetails, or calling April longbeards—if it means wearing pants, Arborwear should be there.

Best Budget: Gamehide Woodsman Upland Hunting Jeans

best budget

Gamehide Woodsman Upland Hunting Jeans

Pros

• Excellent price point ($40) for a quality product
• Tough 100% cotton construction
• Sturdy belt loops resist ripping
• Roomy pockets
• Brush-buster fabric wraps entirely around lower leg

Cons

• The facing means they’re pretty specific to upland, but nit-picking again

Buy At Amazon

Specs

• Sizes: 32 – 48 W
• Material: 100% cotton

It’s tough to argue the fact that the folks at Gamehide make good outdoor clothing at affordable prices. We have plenty of the higher end, i.e. spendy, gear on the market, but what we hunters (and anglers) don’t have is quality and cost-savings all rolled into one. And that’s where Gamehide comes in. Nothing fancy at all about their Woodsman Upland Hunting Jean. No tricked-out retriever remote pockets. No zipper here and zipper there kind of nonsense. And no integrated GPS in the right knee that works, BUT drives the price tag into the realm of ridiculous. 

No, sir. The Woodsman Jean is just Plain Jane Old School. They fit. They’re tough. They’re simple. I like the fact the brush “˜guard’ wraps around the cuff, thus delaying the inevitable fraying”¦which looks cool, but usually spells the beginning of the end of that set of britches. The belt loops don’t rip out on the second hunt. The pockets are deep enough that you don’t lose your change, but not so deep that you never see your change again. Good pants. Good price. Good choice.

Best Wader Pants: Chene Gear Sherpa Fleece Wader Pant

best wader pants

Chene Gear Sherpa Fleece Wader Pant

Pros

• Snug fit, but not TOO snug as to be uncomfortable
• Elastic stirrups eliminate slipping or need for ankle gaiters
• Very warm sherpa lining
• Integrated adjustable belt

Cons

• Fleece can prove overly warm during the early season

Buy At chene

Specs

• Sizes: S – 4XL
• Material: 100% polyester w/ 300g sherpa fleece lining

I’ll admit that I’m relatively new to Chene Gear, having worked hands-on with what they have to offer only since May ’22, but so far, I’m impressed by what I see. Yes —Admission #2 —they do have a $1,100 pair of chest waders, but they’re more than that. Much more. Chene’s Scout Vest and Over-and-Under Jacket; good stuff there. Well designed, and by folks who obviously have hunted a duck or two throughout their outdoor careers. My point? Chene Gear doesn’t just call their clothing “˜waterfowl gear.’ It IS waterfowl gear.

Chene’s Sherpa Fleece Wader Pants, same story. With anything worn underneath chest waders, I want two things—comfortable, but not too tight; and I HATE (!!) when the bottoms roll up to my crotch when I slide into my waders. Chene has addressed both points by creating pants that while snug aren’t constrictive, and with the addition of something as simple as elastic stirrups. Good job, Chene Gear. Is there a downside to these britches? Teal season. Early goose season. Duck season in Florida. The fleece is gonna keep you warm, bear that in mind. 

Best Lightweight: Sitka Pursuit Pants

best lightweight

Sitka Pursuit Pants

Pros

• Lightweight construction
• Water-resistant
• Zippered pockets, when open, help with ventilation
• Can double as wader pants

Cons

• Expensive

Buy At sitka

Specs

• Sizes: 32 – 42 W
• Material: 90% polyester and 10% elastane blend

It’s been interesting to watch Sitka Gear transform themselves from a company that, in my opinion, felt a need to offer ‘fowl clothing but didn’t know how to put it together to what they are today. Today, it’s an outfit that, with the assistance of dedicated duck and goose hunters, brings to the market clothing that truly does perform as it’s intended. I don’t mean to appear the braggart, but this will be my 48th year hunting ducks. I’ve seen a lot of so-called duck gear come and go, and if I’m using it when I hunt for myself, well, there must be something right in the mix, eh?

I like gear that fulfills several different needs, and Sitka’s Pursuit pants make that not-so-lengthy list. No stirrups, unfortunately, but with a set of neoprene ankle gaiters, you’re good to go under your chest waders. Post-hunt, lose the waders, and you’re ready for beer and pizza at Johnny’s Tavern down the way—and you’re looking good in those Pursuits. Deer, elk, squirrels, turkeys, doves; these pants have you covered, both literally and figuratively. I’m going to say they’re a tad thin for the uplands, especially if there are briars involved, but you’re welcome to take them for a test drive.

Best Double Duty: Carhartt Loose Straight Washed Duck Double-Front Dungaree

Best double duty

Carhartt Loose Straight Washed Duck Double-Front Dungaree

Pros

• Unparalleled durability
• Great choice for work and/or play
• High rise equals comfort; loose fit enhances mobility/flexibility
• Multiple reinforced pockets

Cons

• Honestly, I can’t think of any 

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Buy At cabela’s

Buy at carhartt

Specs

• Sizes: 30 – 44 W and 30 – 36 L
• Material: 100% cotton duck canvas

Okay, so maybe I’ll never walk the New York catwalk or have my name and the phrase “fashion guru” used in the same sentence, but Carhartt pants get featured in the online pages of Gentlemen’s Quarterly nowadays. What I know for certain is regardless of what you’re wearing them for—work, a night out, hunting whitetails, under waders—Carhartt has pants that will perform above and beyond your expectations. Case in point: My father bought me a set of Carhartt insulated bibs when we moved to Iowa in ’97, and, after 25 years of wild rose bushes, deer drives, snow removal, and on and on, they’re still pulling their weight. A bit tattered, yes, but nonetheless a fantastic set of britches. 

Like my bibs, Carhartt’s Double Front Work Pants are the Real Deal. Again, nothing fancy here; just rugged pants designed for folks who hunt and work hard. BUT, once the game has been processed, the guns cleaned, and the dogs put to bed, the same Carhartts you wore under your chest-highs can serve double duty as, well, let’s just call them dress pants.

How We Picked the Best Hunting Pants

I mentioned this earlier, but, in my honest opinion, it’s worth mentioning again. Unless I’m working with a company/brand I’m familiar with, one that I’ve worn regularly in the past, I’m partial to trying pants on before I buy. Why? Because things change, namely me. A 38″ waist in some is a 36″ waist in another, and trust me, y’all don’t want to see me in a 36″ waist pant. Not good. My inseam gets shorter. My waist gets a little bigger. And I really want pants that fit, are comfortable, AND serve the purpose for which they’re intended. To that end, I refer back to my “Things To Consider” list: 

• Purpose: Do the pants serve the purpose for which they’re intended?
• Weight: Too light? Too heavy? Just right? This and purpose go hand-in-hand.
• Insulation: Is the insulation true to its word? Does it keep you warm?
• Camouflage: I don’t have a favorite pattern, but is one available for Pant X?
• Price: This one’s simple. Can you afford them? Are they reasonably priced?
• Fit and comfort: Most of all, are they comfortable?

What to Look for When Choosing Hunting Pants

Back in The Day, I never gave much thought to what goes into making a good decision when it came to buying hunting pants. Why not? Because ol’ Kris Kringle usually brought me something around about Christmas, just in time for the final two weeks of bunny season.  Today, it’s a little different, as I’m not wearing hunting pants, only for upland, but I’ve got ’em for deer, elk, doves, turkeys, waterfowl—hell, even salmon fishing. That said, here’s what I’m thinking about when it comes to buying new britches.

Purpose/Function

What am I wearing pants for, other than to maintain some semblance of public decency and decorum? Are they worn to ward off briars? Are they a light base layer under a set of chest waders? In other words, what do I want the pants to do: Protect? Insulate? Conceal? The answers all play a role in the decision.

Weight/Material

Am I looking for a heavy canvas-Cordura combination that will protect? A cotton that will be cool during, say, an early September dove hunt? Or a mid-weight synthetic that I can wear in the squirrel woods on those cool mornings, but that aren’t so heavy as to be uncomfortable under chest-highs when I’m targeting teal? Different materials for different pursuits, different weather, different reasons.

Insulated vs. Non-Insulated

Personally, I prefer non-insulated pants, something that works early but with room enough to layer once the weather turns cold. However, some folks are one or the other, or both. If you’re watching pennies, non-insulated britches are often less expensive and, I feel, more versatile over the course of the calendar. Where you live, too, makes a difference. Upper Michigan, and you might look at the insulated option; southern California or New Mexico quail, and lighter weight pants might be the ticket.

Camo vs. Non-Camo

Turkeys. Squirrels. Doves, and I’m going to go with camouflage pants. Here in Washington, blacktails and elk? A plain jane earth tone—brown, moss, green—seems to work just fine. And under waders? Well, your pants could be Day-Glo Orange under your Sitkas, I reckon, and it wouldn’t make a lick of difference. So, the equation then includes the target species.

Price

I’ll admit it. I’m a HUGE price guy. However, when it comes to hunting pants, you absolutely get what you pay for. I’m looking for something that serves the purpose intended. Something that lasts more than a single season. That keeps me warm or cool or protected or mobile. Pants that don’t let loose of my wallet and Swiss Army knife and anything else I have in my pockets. So, I’m willing to pay a little more to have these qualities. You?

Fit and Comfort

Almost left this one out, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the, if not THE most important consideration when it comes to pants—any kind of pants—and that’s fit. Do they fit? Long enough? Roomy enough? Do they allow for a full range of motion? Are they big enough to allow for under-layers? I know it’s old school, but unless it’s a company I’ve worn in the past and know, I sure like to try britches on before I buy them. Just to be sure. 

Final Thoughts

True, this wasn’t on my earlier list, but when you put everything written here in a bucket, what needs to come out is a one-word definition of what a good pair of hunting pants should be: quality. If you’re like me, you’re going to wear the hell out of these britches, more likely than not year-round, and I don’t mind paying a premium price if I’m going to be wearing a quality product from the waist down. They’re out there, these quality britches; but, like finding that first morel mushroom in the spring, you may have to do some searching ’round for a set that’s just right.

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