I have no idea who makes the "best" waterfowl clothing. But from personal experience Cabelas waterfowl clothing has served me well. It is durable, moderately priced and keeps me warm and dry. I've used many different brands over the last 40 plus years but Cabelas has always been good to me.

 

Seems Sitka does. Now add "affordable" to your question and the opinion will change.

 

Maybe I should rephrase, not necessarily best as that is opinion based, but more what everyone prefers when they need new Waterfowl camo gear. As far as prices go I'm willing to pay Drake type prices, but I want it to be worth that price or better than that price. I don't wanna pay $300 for a jacket that's worth $100 ya know?

 

Maybe I should rephrase, not necessarily best as that is opinion based, but more what everyone prefers when they need new Waterfowl camo gear. As far as prices go I'm willing to pay Drake type prices, but I want it to be worth that price or better than that price. I don't wanna pay $300 for a jacket that's worth $100 ya know?

IMO it depends on the item and it's importance. Just because I've been happy with some brands jacket doesn't mean I'd like their waders. There's also fit if you are talking about buying items online. I rarely do that for clothing unless I've owned it before.

Mostly it's a call based on look and feel, quality of materials. I've had good Cabela's stuff and terrible stuff. Same with many other brands, retailer labeled or not. Don't buy much Drake stuff since they went south on quality but recently picked up a heavy fleece vest 50% off (not for hunting) and it's really well made. I view Avery with great suspicion.

Best bet is getting to a couple large retail stores and comparing. Stores that carry more choice than their "own" brand.

 

I have some drake items. Couple jackets and a pair of bibs that I just got this year but I've yet to really "work" them to see how they will fair as far as big retailers I have a bass pro about 3 hours away. That's the closest thing to me.

 

I have some drake items. Couple jackets and a pair of bibs that I just got this year but I've yet to really "work" them to see how they will fair as far as big retailers I have a bass pro about 3 hours away. That's the closest thing to me.

I'd not trust much about redhead either.

 

Anything that won't hold water and maintains it ability to rewarm you if you happen to fall in the water.

Google Navy Seals rewarming techniques and appropriate clothing.

Ask me how I know all this

 

I had some insulated camo waterproof cabelas coveralls once and never had any complaints with them when I was in the snow. I have a 1/4 zip pullover, LST bibs, and the guardian flex eqwader jacket and as far as light duty on cold days wearing them around outside or casually I have 0 complaints, however I'm nervous to actually trust them on a duck hunt. I'm afraid they will either not hold up to abuse and / or will leak in two seconds in the rain and I'll be cold and soaked all day.

 

I had some insulated camo waterproof cabelas coveralls once and never had any complaints with them when I was in the snow. I have a 1/4 zip pullover, LST bibs, and the guardian flex eqwader jacket and as far as light duty on cold days wearing them around outside or casually I have 0 complaints, however I'm nervous to actually trust them on a duck hunt. I'm afraid they will either not hold up to abuse and / or will leak in two seconds in the rain and I'll be cold and soaked all day.

You can only do what you can do. Nikwax everything, wear waders (that protects 2/3 of your body from rain), take a change of clothing (extra jacket and under-layer). Sitting exposed in a hard rain all day you're gonna get wet. :lol3:

Not sure about the "abuse" thing. Whatever you are doing to abuse your outerwear, stop it. Even the mediocre stuff is expensive.

 

I've had decent luck, three or four years in with my Drake Wading jacket. Also have snow pants from them. They've held up well, but since I have stubby legs I keep tearing the crotch out. That's not a design flaw though, that's me being 6'3 and having the same length legs as my 5'4 wife.

Redhead brand stuff is largely garbage. I buy their camo t-shirts for early season hunting and that's about it.

Cabela's brand stuff is usually a notch better, but examine before you buy.

LL Bean is also top notch quality.

 

At this point with all the gear thats being made I think you get what you pay for. I use Sitka which I know isnt cheap what so ever but its high quality gear and performs as stated. DWJ w/ Gore Tex has yet to impress me as it still seems to get wetted out once you get a heavy rain even when its brand new right off the shelf. It keeps me dry but I expect more from a premium priced rain jacket. The primaloft insulation is extremely warm and gore windstopper has won my heart. Buy once, cry once.

My setup: Delta wading jacket (gore tex), Duck oven (primaloft insul. w/ Gore windstopper) , Dakota Vest (Gore Windstopper), and Dakota Pants

 

I had some insulated camo waterproof cabelas coveralls once and never had any complaints with them when I was in the snow. I have a 1/4 zip pullover, LST bibs, and the guardian flex eqwader jacket and as far as light duty on cold days wearing them around outside or casually I have 0 complaints, however I'm nervous to actually trust them on a duck hunt. I'm afraid they will either not hold up to abuse and / or will leak in two seconds in the rain and I'll be cold and soaked all day.

You can only do what you can do. Nikwax everything, wear waders (that protects 2/3 of your body from rain), take a change of clothing (extra jacket and under-layer). Sitting exposed in a hard rain all day you're gonna get wet. :lol3:

Not sure about the "abuse" thing. Whatever you are doing to abuse your outerwear, stop it. Even the mediocre stuff is expensive.

When I say abuse I just mean at times when we hunt flooded fields or flooded timber there's a lot of woods walking involved getting to the spot which means briars and everything else getting ahold of stuff and just the general hard wear and tear of hunting sometimes.

 

Besides your outer waterproof layer, nothing beats wool. All wool, several layers. I'm 165lbs at 6'1" and I never get cold. I duck hunt down to 10 deg and end up shooting bare handed sometimes. Wool man, wool.

 

I had some insulated camo waterproof cabelas coveralls once and never had any complaints with them when I was in the snow. I have a 1/4 zip pullover, LST bibs, and the guardian flex eqwader jacket and as far as light duty on cold days wearing them around outside or casually I have 0 complaints, however I'm nervous to actually trust them on a duck hunt. I'm afraid they will either not hold up to abuse and / or will leak in two seconds in the rain and I'll be cold and soaked all day.

You can only do what you can do. Nikwax everything, wear waders (that protects 2/3 of your body from rain), take a change of clothing (extra jacket and under-layer). Sitting exposed in a hard rain all day you're gonna get wet. :lol3:

Not sure about the "abuse" thing. Whatever you are doing to abuse your outerwear, stop it. Even the mediocre stuff is expensive.

When I say abuse I just mean at times when we hunt flooded fields or flooded timber there's a lot of woods walking involved getting to the spot which means briars and everything else getting ahold of stuff and just the general hard wear and tear of hunting sometimes.

Gotcha. Maybe a better flashlight? :lol3:

I've been a walk-in hunter all my life. Not really much of a problem in terms of abusing the gear, just gotta watch what you're doing. But nothing lasts forever and it's a price we pay. Stuff I do tear up is hunting upland not waterfowling.

 

I had some insulated camo waterproof cabelas coveralls once and never had any complaints with them when I was in the snow. I have a 1/4 zip pullover, LST bibs, and the guardian flex eqwader jacket and as far as light duty on cold days wearing them around outside or casually I have 0 complaints, however I'm nervous to actually trust them on a duck hunt. I'm afraid they will either not hold up to abuse and / or will leak in two seconds in the rain and I'll be cold and soaked all day.

You can only do what you can do. Nikwax everything, wear waders (that protects 2/3 of your body from rain), take a change of clothing (extra jacket and under-layer). Sitting exposed in a hard rain all day you're gonna get wet. :lol3:

Not sure about the "abuse" thing. Whatever you are doing to abuse your outerwear, stop it. Even the mediocre stuff is expensive.

When I say abuse I just mean at times when we hunt flooded fields or flooded timber there's a lot of woods walking involved getting to the spot which means briars and everything else getting ahold of stuff and just the general hard wear and tear of hunting sometimes.

Gotcha. Maybe a better flashlight? :lol3:

I've been a walk-in hunter all my life. Not really much of a problem in terms of abusing the gear, just gotta watch what you're doing. But nothing lasts forever and it's a price we pay. Stuff I do tear up is hunting upland not waterfowling.

See, most of my upland stuff is designed to be tough and resistant to briars and thorns. Most duck hunting stuff seems to be designed to be warm or water repellent, and not so abuse proof.

 

I had some insulated camo waterproof cabelas coveralls once and never had any complaints with them when I was in the snow. I have a 1/4 zip pullover, LST bibs, and the guardian flex eqwader jacket and as far as light duty on cold days wearing them around outside or casually I have 0 complaints, however I'm nervous to actually trust them on a duck hunt. I'm afraid they will either not hold up to abuse and / or will leak in two seconds in the rain and I'll be cold and soaked all day.

You can only do what you can do. Nikwax everything, wear waders (that protects 2/3 of your body from rain), take a change of clothing (extra jacket and under-layer). Sitting exposed in a hard rain all day you're gonna get wet. :lol3:

Not sure about the "abuse" thing. Whatever you are doing to abuse your outerwear, stop it. Even the mediocre stuff is expensive.

When I say abuse I just mean at times when we hunt flooded fields or flooded timber there's a lot of woods walking involved getting to the spot which means briars and everything else getting ahold of stuff and just the general hard wear and tear of hunting sometimes.

Gotcha. Maybe a better flashlight? :lol3:

I've been a walk-in hunter all my life. Not really much of a problem in terms of abusing the gear, just gotta watch what you're doing. But nothing lasts forever and it's a price we pay. Stuff I do tear up is hunting upland not waterfowling.

See, most of my upland stuff is designed to be tough and resistant to briars and thorns. Most duck hunting stuff seems to be designed to be warm or water repellent, and not so abuse proof.

Same! Stuff I wear for rabbit, dove, and quail is crazy tough stuff and relatively cheap, duck stuff is high dollar and doesn't hold up to well to woods walking or flooded field walking

 

Same! Stuff I wear for rabbit, dove, and quail is crazy tough stuff and relatively cheap, duck stuff is high dollar and doesn't hold up to well to woods walking or flooded field walking

Yep. You can't treat waterfowling outerwear like you do upland outwear. You shouldn't need to.

 

Same! Stuff I wear for rabbit, dove, and quail is crazy tough stuff and relatively cheap, duck stuff is high dollar and doesn't hold up to well to woods walking or flooded field walking

Yep. You can't treat waterfowling outerwear like you do upland outwear. You shouldn't need to.

Try not to but sometimes I'm walking the same terrain

 

Same! Stuff I wear for rabbit, dove, and quail is crazy tough stuff and relatively cheap, duck stuff is high dollar and doesn't hold up to well to woods walking or flooded field walking

Yep. You can't treat waterfowling outerwear like you do upland outwear. You shouldn't need to.

Try not to but sometimes I'm walking the same terrain

Then throw your duck bibs over your shoulder and wear carhartt bibs in. If you need waders, throw those over your shoulder.

Or...spend lots of money forever.

 

I'm not sure about all these fashinable duck wardrobes but if the temps are low 30's or higher.... good wool/smart wool socks, sweats from Walmart, quality top under shirt, t shirt over that, drake pull over jacket over that. Good beanie, neck gaiter and gloves will keep you warm. If temps get colder and windy than what I listed above...add quality under bottom under those Walmart sweats and another fleece/wool jacket over the drake pullover.

All that is surrounded by either breathable waders or insulated breathable waders. I'm in Texas and I can hunt in about 10 degrees or higher with whats listed above. Handwarmers help on those colder hunts

 

Same! Stuff I wear for rabbit, dove, and quail is crazy tough stuff and relatively cheap, duck stuff is high dollar and doesn't hold up to well to woods walking or flooded field walking

Yep. You can't treat waterfowling outerwear like you do upland outwear. You shouldn't need to.

Try not to but sometimes I'm walking the same terrain

Then throw your duck bibs over your shoulder and wear carhartt bibs in. If you need waders, throw those over your shoulder.

Or...spend lots of money forever.

I do when it's not waist deep flooded trying to get where we wanna be set up.

 

Waxed canvas and wool. Both very durable and water resistant. Only a rain coat will keep you completely dry in a down pour or prolonged hours of heavy rain. I wear a LL Bean waxed canvas jacket for all hunting in the wi yet. Everything from doves and quail to ducks. Later as needed underneath for extra warmth with wool.

 

First Lite for me!!

 

Great thread. Here are my thoughts mostly for humor.

I have piled through all the brands over the years until I find a piece that works and stick with it. Old drake was great some banded stuff is nice (zippers are too small for anything with heavy use imo) Sitka has a lot of thought put into it but fit and price are key since we aren't all built like Superman. the old school cabelas (late 90s ) is solid gear I have a wading jacket from that error in this cartoonish looking grass pattern that is bomb proof. Carhartt makes the warmest beanie known to man and I will fight you if you go for it on a cold day. I have an orvis wax coat I love on windy days for the super tall collar that stays standing and when I want to get wired looks for hunting in a brown coat(it's a blind guys they can't see us). I have a rnt canvas hat I have had since college I wear out of tradition at some point In The hunt.

I am 6'1 250 and sweat easy. Always have even when I was 150 so layering and ease of shedding is big for me but I hate a boat full of clothes so I've learned zippers are your friend down to the base layer. When throwing decoys I can zip down to my bare chest and keep that cool air flowing. A couple chicken wing flaps and I can cool my whole core and entertain the clients with the sight.

For a lot of hunters too i think it comes down to personal preference on what they spend money on. I hate the wind on my scalp but don't mind cold hands so I have a Sitka beanie that packs down to nothing and costs more than my shell bag but keeps the wind off. I can't tell you where my gloves are.

Hoods drive me nuts and I go without until the real rain starts. Outside of that it's amazing what a jones cap and a tall stiff collar can keep out.

I hunt in south Louisiana so I even have a preferred swimsuit for teal season.

In the end I always get a chuckle out of the guys that have the same matching clothes from head to toe that all look the same age (most times new). Show me a guy at the launch and his lower half stained black from the mud and 5 different camp patterns. that's a hunter. I once saw a kid in a gas station head to toe in Sitka then his dad walked in in the same. I laughed and wanted to be adopted at the same time.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Waxed canvas and wool. Both very durable and water resistant. Only a rain coat will keep you completely dry in a down pour or prolonged hours of heavy rain. I wear a LL Bean waxed canvas jacket for all hunting in the wi yet. Everything from doves and quail to ducks. Later as needed underneath for extra warmth with wool.

THIS.

Back in the day, we'd wear Carhart bibs over our rubber Converse waders to deflect the thorns and briars. GoreTex and other "breathable" gear works until you stop the moisture transfer process (get mud on it or lean up against a tree, etc.) then it becomes a sponge and it's not the most durable type fabric. The reason waxed cotton outerwear and wool garments underneath work (as they've done for hundreds of years) is the wax keeps water out and the wool will keep you warm even when wet. The modern gear is certainly stylish and speaks to where you strive to be in the pecking order at the blind. However, if functionality and durability are important the garment items referenced will keep you dry and warm, fashion statements be damned.