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The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Hunting pants offer a suite of attributes that can make life easier and more comfortable in the field. Here are the best hunting pants of the year.

(Photo/Kurt Barclay)
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Hunting pants are not just about the camo. A great pair of hunting pants match the environment in which you choose to pursue wild game. Rain pants don’t make sense in the desert, but they make sense in the Pacific Northwest. Insulated pants might work for a late-season elk hunt but would likely be too hot for the rut.

Below are our top choices that cover a wide variety of needs. These are the pants that we and our hunting partners wore in the field last season. They’re the hunting pants we’ll wear again this year.

It’s worth noting that one pair of pants might get through 95% of your season. Another might be utilized for a very specific need on a hunt. Whatever way you slice it, there are pants for every hunter and every budget on this list. When it’s time to narrow things down, take a look at our comparison chart and FAQ section to help with your decision.

The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023


Best Overall Hunting Pants

Sitka Timberline Pants

Specs

  • Fabric  4-Way stretch woven polyester shell, nylon ripstop seat & knees
  • DWR Yes
  • Scent control No
Product Badge The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Durable
  • Versatile
  • Moderately warm for cooler conditions
  • Includes knee pads and waterproof seat/knees

Cons

  • Small pockets
  • Too warm for hot weather hunting
Best Budget Hunting Pants

Kryptek Valhalla

Specs

  • Fabric 92% polyester, 8% elastane
  • DWR No
  • Odor control No
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Moisture wicking
  • Large pockets
  • Very comfortable

Cons

  • No DWR treatment
  • Soft fabric not the best choice when moving through heavy brush
Runner-Up Best Hunting Pants

KUIU Attack Pants

Specs

  • Fabric Primeflex polyester
  • DWR Yes, K-DWR
  • Odor control Yes, Makspec
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Durable

Cons

  • Hip pockets are a little small for a cell phone
Best Early Season Hunting Pant

First Lite Obsidian Merino Pants

Specs

  • Fabric 88% merino wool, 2% ballistic ripstop nylon, 1.5% polyester, 8.5% spandex
  • DWR No
  • Odor control Merino is naturally odor resistant
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Silent
  • Light
  • Plentiful pockets

Cons

  • Less durable than others on the list
Best Upland Hunting Pants

Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Upland Pants

Specs

  • Fabric 100% cotton waxed canvas
  • DWR Wax coated for water-resistance
  • Scent control No
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • The toughest pants one can buy
  • Never wash

Cons

  • Stiff
  • Hard on the skin after long miles
Best Cold-Weather Pants

Cabela’s Outfitter Series Wooltimate Pants

Specs

  • Fabric 77% polyester/23% wool
  • DWR No
  • Scent control Wool is antimicrobial
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Very warm
  • Wool stays warm if wet
  • Quiet

Cons

  • Too warm for most hunting other than tree stands or extreme cold
Best Hunting Pants for Rainy Conditions

Sitka Gear Thunderhead Pants

Specs

  • Fabric GORE-TEX 3-layer laminate, brushed polyester face
  • DWR Yes
  • Scent control No
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Waterproof
  • Relatively quiet
  • Packable

Cons

  • Not super durable
  • Runs slightly small
Best of the Rest

Sitka Equinox Guard Pant

Specs

  • Fabric Lightweight synthetic fabric treated with Insect Shield
  • DWR Yes
  • Scent control Yes, Polygiene
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Highly insect-resistant
  • Very breathable
  • Internal gaiter keeps ticks from contacting skin

Cons

  • Too light for cool conditions

Sitka Kelvin Lite Down 3/4 Pant

Specs

  • Fabric 2-way stretch nylon packed with 900-fill down
  • DWR Yes
  • Scent control No
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Very warm external layer
  • Very light for warmth
  • Easy to put on over other clothing

Cons

  • Susceptible to snagging or sparks
  • Not meant to be worn without other pants

Stone Glacier De Havilland Pants

Specs

  • Fabric 50% polyester, 43% nylon, 7% spandex
  • DWR Yes, wind- and water-resistant fabric
  • Scent control No
The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2023

Pros

  • Wonderful for carrying a backpack
  • Durable
  • Nice pockets, venting

Cons

  • Fabric is a little loud

Hunting Pants Comparison Chart

Hunting PantsPriceDWRScent Control
Sitka Timberline Pants$259YesNo
 Kryptek Valhalla Pants$90NoNo
KUIU Attack Pants$149YesYes (Makspec)
First Lite Obsidian Merino Pants$190NoOdor resistant Merino
Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Upland Pants$195Wax CoatedNo
Cabela’s Outfitter Series Wooltimate Pants$150NoOdor resistant Wool
Sitka Gear Thunderhead Pants$319YesNo
Sitka Equinox Guard Pants$249YesYes
Sitka Kelvin Lite Down 3/4 Pant$309YesNo
Stone Glacier De Havilland Pants$189YesNo

Why You Should Trust Us

We hunt a lot. Our primary author of this article, Sean McCoy, hunts from early September through February each year. He pursues elk, mule and whitetail deer, pheasants, grouse, ducks, and geese. He also hunts spring turkeys each year. He’s been hunting since the mid-1980s and values high-quality gear that will last through many seasons of use. He still has and occasionally uses a pair of wool hunting pants made in the 1930s and passed down to him by his great-grandfather.

Beyond many days in the fields and mountains each fall, McCoy tapped into our team of experts for their takes on hunting pants. That means talking with fellow hunters as well as brand representatives to learn about new technology and design in hunting pants. We distill all that down to help provide the best advice we can, which is exactly the same as we would share with our best friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are camo pants needed for hunting?

Frankly, no. Muted greens, grays, and browns are great. But a camo pattern does come in handy in a few situations.

The most camo-necessary situation might be turkey hunting. These birds have literal eagle eyesight. It’s wise to cover everything from your hands to your face in a landscape-appropriate camouflage.

Archery season is the other hunting opportunity where good camo can play a strong hand. I personally feel the more blended, the better when at close range. But neutral solids can also work just fine.

The other great side to camo for hunting clothes is that it really does hide stains. If you plan on being successful, you can also plan on staining every piece of clothing you’re wearing. If you don’t want to stain your favorite pair of hiking pants, get a pair of camo pants to get you through the hunting season.

Are wool pants good for hunting?

The answer is yes. I’ve been hunting in my grandpa’s 80-year-old Woolrich pants for a lifetime. They’re low on scent, high on warmth, easy to fix, and durable. I was stoked to see First Lite come out with the Obsidian pants, as wool just has a special place in my heart, and it’s worth the money to pay a bit more to outfit yourself in the stuff.

However, if you’re pressed for cash, go to your local Goodwill, thrift store, or pawn shop. Sift through clothes until you find a heavy pair of wool pants. Get them. Wear them. Love them.

How do you wash wool and synthetics?

If you’re spending any amount of money on hunting gear, it pays to take good care of it. Wool certainly needs a gentler hand. And you’d be surprised how much body scent synthetics can retain even after going through your normal laundry routine.

Thankfully, there are simple options that can easily fold into your laundry routine. One option GearJunkie likes is Active Wear Detergent, and you can read founder Stephen Regenold’s review on it here.

Two other options come from Nikwax. Nikwax Wool Wash is a machine-friendly option for your merino and other wools. And Nikwax Tech Wash does the same for your synthetics.

Remember to use scentless products to knock out any chance that big ol’ whitetail deer catches a Cotton Fresh breeze and decides to book it from your deliciously scented location.

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