what is the hunter’s most important item of clothing
what is the hunter's most important item of clothing
What is the hunter’s most important item of clothing hunters will be putting their gear to good use as hunting season ends on the West Coast and begins on the East Coast and Midwest. Some will be preparing their equipment for off-season storage, while others will re-enter the hunting season.
Whatever stage of the hunting season you’re in (off-season or just starting), if you’re wanting to add a new piece of gear to your kit, or you’re hunting for the first time this season, dressing appropriately is the best way to be prepared.
But what is the most vital piece of apparel for a hunter? This subject may be debatable depending on how you choose to hunt, however most people will agree that a good hunting outfit will have at least one of the following four components:
#1. Orange Blaze
The hunter’s most vital piece of apparel is the Blaze Orange. This vivid orange colour, which is commonly worn in a hat, vest, jacket, or all three, is as associated with hunting as camouflage is with the military. But what is the origin of this hue? And why is it such an important element of a hunter’s outfit?
The colour initially featured in an article in Field & Stream Magazine in 1960. At the time, the article’s author, Frank Woolner, led a research in which the visibility of Hunter Orange was examined under various lighting situations. Blaze Orange was found to be the most apparent when compared to reds, which were practically black in shadow, and yellows, which seemed off-white in low light.
Blaze Orange’s popularity is due to its fluorescence. Fluorescent colour wavelengths absorb red and blue undertones and reflect them back as the dominant wavelength. The undertone wavelengths in Hunter Orange are absorbed and reflected back as orange, giving the colour its luminosity.
According to Pressconnects, this is also why Hunter Orange is three times more dazzling than a garment dyed the same colour without fluorescent dye. Forty states have made it mandatory for hunters to wear Blaze Orange clothing because it is so successful at keeping hunters safe by differentiating them from their natural surroundings.
Don’t worry if you believe this implies you can’t wear camo when hunting. Due of the numerous advantages that hunting camo has to offer, many hunters combine Blaze Orange with camo when they hunt.
Base Layers
A base layer is included in the warmest hunting gear for cold weather. Dress appropriately for the hunt and bring cold weather hunting gear, such as a base layer of Merino wool, in case the weather changes. Wool fibres have inherent moisture wicking and heat retention properties due to cuticles. Wool is therefore an excellent material for shielding hunters from the weather while keeping them dry.
If you want to take your base layer to the next level, try heated base layer clothes, such as Gobi Heat’s heated base layer shirt and pants. To heat core muscles in the belly, back, and neck, these smart garments feature an integrated heating system and conductive-thread powered by a mAh Lithium Polymer battery. More than enough to keep you toasty when waiting in a tree stand or on a path for hours.
#3. A Windproofing Layer
The windproofing layer is your hunting outfit’s outermost layer. It can include a windproof jacket or vest, a cap, soft shell trousers to cover the mid or ‘active’ layer and a base layer. It’s critical to select warm hunting garments that can help protect against the wind.
What exactly is windproof? A clothing composed of windproof materials is windproof. Although fleece is a classic example of windproof fabric, many businesses will develop their own unique windproof material. The Mossy Oak® heated hunting hoodie from Gobi Heat, for example, is comprised of a lightweight polyester that is wind and water resistant.
Instead of a jacket, some hunters may decide to add a windproof element to their cold weather hunting gear in the shape of a hat. This can be an excellent alternative for keeping your ears and top of the head warm when out in the weather for a few hours.
#4. Warm Additions
If you don’t want to wear a windproof hat when hunting, you might try an item with thermal capabilities. Thanks to conductive thread, two “heat zones” over each ear, and a battery life of 7.5 hours, Gobi’s heated beanie will add a protective layer as well as anAdd a heating element to your cold-weather hunting gear.
However, if you already have a reliable hat as part of your hunting wardrobe, you may add heated socks or gloves to your stack of warmest hunting garments to keep your extremities warm while waiting in a blind or tree stand during the coldest portions of the day.
Which Hunting Outfit Types Should You Avoid?
There are foundations to being warm (wearing wool, covering ears and the top of the head, etc.), but there are also items to avoid while attempting to remain warm when hunting.
Cotton comes in first.
Cotton-based garments, for example, are not considered cold weather hunting gear. Why? Cotton absorbs moisture and dries slowly. Step in a puddle while wearing a cotton sock or get a cotton shirt wet while hunting, and such clothing will remain chilly and damp for an extended period of time. There’s a reason fisherman don’t fish in freezing streams with cotton trousers. It’s because damp cotton becomes sticky and chilly.
#2. Windproof Accessories
We understand if number two on our list of “things to avoid” leaves you scratching your head. Windproofing makes for some of the warmest hunting garments, but the more wind-resistant a material is, the more it muffles sound. You may have difficulty hearing your surroundings if you wear a hat made of windproof material, such as fleece.
#3. Narrow Boots
Another rookie hunting error is buying a pair of boots that fit regular socks. Socks for hunting are frequently constructed of thick, moisture-wicking wool. Keep this in mind when you select your boots, and perhaps even test on your socks with them before wearing them on a hunting trip. Ill-fitting clothing, whether too loose or too tight, might actually lead you to become colder faster.
Aside from materials and textiles to avoid, every hunter should avoid colours such as beige, black, or green, as they might put hunters at danger of being attacked by other hunters. When hunting, being warm is critical, but it’s also critical to stay safe and keep people safe around you. So, the next time you go out, bring your Blaze Orange and bundle up in all the necessary layers.
How about your camouflage gear? Learn more about the advantages of hunting camo.
