Elkhunter96
Active Member
Kings Desert and Mountain are awesome. For august hunts, nothing hids better in the aspens than the old predator green. Just my .02
Camo patterns for archery out west
- Thread starter tdcour
- Start date
Hilltop
Veteran member
Whatever is on sale when I'm shopping has typically been my pick. I really don't think specific pattern matters as much as paying attention to where you set up and how you set up. I did enjoy the pictures posted earlier in this thread though. Now if we were hunting turkeys I would hold a different opinion!
Sully
New Member
I have been using the Kings desert camo in eastern OR and CA. It has worked really for me. The only complaints I would have may be some the sizing of their products and the overall durability is not as high as some other brands. I have started picking up a few items of KUIU Vias, and I have been really impressed. I don't really think the actual camo pattern will be any better, but the quality of their gear is in a whole different ballpark in my opinion.
stevevan
Active Member
They're all pretty good. I just got from First Lite a set of their Storm gear in the new FUSION. I really like it and think it will be a great all around pattern for both here in the Upper Midwest and the western terrain.
Fink
Veteran member
MacDonald
New Member
We use mostly Sitka open country here on the East side of the Cascades, but the Kuiu green is superb. There's some research out now that appears to tilt toward cervids being able to perceive some color, too. I'm going to switch entirely to the Kuiu green pattern for this year's elk hunt. We're trad guys and muzzleloaders, so we need to be able to get a little closer than others. of course, it would have helped last season if the ONLY GUY to see a shootable elk hadn't put his rifle against a tree to answer nature's call. Murphy Rules!!!
Firefighter44
Member
I use sitkas optifade, I hunt primarily mule deer in eastern wa which is sage and rock. Works very well. I use kuiu for my rain gear and that also works well. You will be happy with either.
CrimsonArrow
Very Active Member
yeah im going to have to agree with some of the others on here, cammo is so over rated and is just a money maker, basically gotta have a certain name game thing. sure some of it looks pretty darn cool but other than that..... seriously though, some of the money that stuff goes for is darn right disgusting, and I don't care how much money a guy has, is it really helping? to hide from people yes, from animals... no. avoid blue, some broke up colors maybey, natural colors, yes I guess. as stated before, wind and not beinfg dumb when stalking is what works, and those are free
ill put some of my cheaper gear up against this 300 400 dollar stuff all day long and all season long. no offense to the sponsors and dealers on here but this is just a plain and simple opinion and I must say a fact. pay for some decent backpacking gear, don't pay for a cammo brand name.
ill put some of my cheaper gear up against this 300 400 dollar stuff all day long and all season long. no offense to the sponsors and dealers on here but this is just a plain and simple opinion and I must say a fact. pay for some decent backpacking gear, don't pay for a cammo brand name.
BigSurArcher
Very Active Member
You make some valid points to an extent. But when you get into the upper end of today's hunting apparel, the camo pattern is secondary. People are paying for the performance, the (light) weight, and the comfort. Just the same as the mountaineering/backpacking crowd has been doing for a long time. I don't know how many people I've talked to who've said "I would have never guessed how well (X brand) clothing improved my hunting, had I not broken down and tried it."yeah im going to have to agree with some of the others on here, cammo is so over rated and is just a money maker, basically gotta have a certain name game thing. sure some of it looks pretty darn cool but other than that..... seriously though, some of the money that stuff goes for is darn right disgusting, and I don't care how much money a guy has, is it really helping? to hide from people yes, from animals... no. avoid blue, some broke up colors maybey, natural colors, yes I guess. as stated before, wind and not beinfg dumb when stalking is what works, and those are free
There are a lot of gimmicks in the industry, but technical clothing is not one of them. KUIU, First Lite, Sitka, and Kryptek wouldn't be incredibly successful brands if a pattern and logo were all they were selling. The target market for these companies are not folks that can be fooled into handing over their money season after season, the gear must perform at all levels... and it does.
When you walk away from the truck or bush plane to not return for 5-10 days, food and clothing are the top two things in the pack that will dictate your comfort. I don't think it's any secret that comfort has a direct correlation with ability, drive, and ultimately success over the course of a long tough hunt.
id keep kryptek off of that list. comfy? very much, durable? no way. every year im in backcountry living out of pack from 3 to 10 days at a time. you have to admit, well, you are clearly with kuiu and that's awesome, but you have to admit, how much cheaper would the "brands" be if we weren't paying for the "cammo" pattern? I will admit, I haven't tested kuiu out yet, kryptek put a bad taste in my mouth for high end gear. wild things tactical gear this stuff is awesome, somewhat pricey but not that bad and its comfy and to top it all off, its made right here in the U.S.A! they do have some cammo patters but I go with their good ole tan brown look and will throw on a cheap jacket or shirt on top to break up colors. i don't want to talk down the high end stuff, but its just not a must have, i like my money to be in my savings account, not on my back.
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to be fair, im going to go and buy some kuiu, what do you recommend todd? I have some good base layers, but for outwear. I have some money to play around with right now and im allways willing to try something out. I cant have it rip and tare on me.
BigSurArcher
Very Active Member
I was going for political correctness with the list! As far as the brands being cheaper if they weren't in camo, final retail price is based off what a piece originally costs to make- which is virtually the same whether printed in camo or made with a solid color. Think about it this way... if these companies made the same products but never in camo or marketed to hunters, it's entirely possible that they would be even more popular due to the fact that the non-hunting outdoors crowd is even bigger than the hunting market. Bottom line is camo sells itself, but quality and performance are where the real value lies.
Guys like you (ivorytip) are a very important part of the market. You're not going to be fooled by a fancy pattern, and you're open with your opinions on gimmicks. You expect things to perform to their paid value. And I'm guessing that when you find value in something you trust and believe in, you talk about it. Without people like you out there, the bar never has a reason to be raised.
Good conversation here.
BigSurArcher
Very Active Member
PM coming. Give me a call and we'll figure out what will be best for you to try first.
you are one hell of a salesmen aren't you todd? haha fair enough, ill give you a buzz tomorrow. ill get some gear for spring bear and turkey hunt and give updates along with this summers packing trips and fall hunts. and thank god cabelas is opening up in idahofalls in may! kuiu isn't sold in cabelas though is it? either way, ill get ahold of you and we will set it up.
haha fair enough, ill give you a buzz tomorrow. ill get some gear for spring bear and turkey hunt and give updates along with this summers packing trips and fall hunts. and thank god cabelas is opening up in idahofalls in may! kuiu isn't sold in cabelas though is it? either way, ill get ahold of you and we will set it up.
CrimsonArrow
Very Active Member
Outdoor gear, whether it be clothing, bows, boots, or tents, are items of want rather than need. Therefore pricing is not dictated by cost to produce. Retail price is dictated by how much the consumer is willing to pay. Manufacturers will always charge as much as they possibly can.
I used to hunt Max 4 and liked it. Then I started buying Sitka optifade and it is great. Sitka blends in well with the Sage, Step, rocky country I mostly hunt in. I have not tried all the brands, but this one is the most comfortable I've had. Agreed the price is steep, but I hope it is an investment that will keep paying off in the years to come.
just purchased attack pants and 145 zip t. hoping for the best. hope it doesn't take to long to come. I tried getting a hold of you before I bought them Todd but was forum down yesterday??? I couldn't get on, and still wont let me send a pm. oh... and both in Verde camo