I hate decisions like this. I'm trying to decide whether to take wool pants with suspenders or bib overalls.

Situation: Bozeman area, horseback transportation, elk and mule deer hunting.

Basically, another excuse to order from Cabela's -- not that I actually need an excuse, mind you.

Any preferences for one over the other?

Thanks, as always.

Russ

If you don't mind the extra cost , I'd take the bibs . They come with their own suspenders . Plus bib style is little warmer , in my experience , and you may need it. I hunted that area back in 1973 in late November , and I don't believe it ever got above ten below , with the lows at 20 below or a little colder every night that week .

have fun , Russell .

[ 11-06-2002, 07:12: Message edited by: sdgunslinger ]

Bibs. They'll keep your chest, kidneys and lower back warmer.

George

Well, I realize an 'N' of '2' isn't very representative of the population -- but this isn't a statistics test, so screw it. Bibs it is.

The Filsons are out, they only make pygmy bibs unless you custom order, and I'm just about out of time and money at this point. I'll do the Woolrich Men's Malone Heavyweight Bib Overalls. They're only ("only?") $99.95, and Cabela's has NEVER let me down on delivery times when "time" was a factor. Not that I'm panicking, mind you. I mean, Hellfire, I've got LOTS of time until NEXT MONDAY!!!

Thanks, guys. Really.

Russ

A big vote here for bibs from me. Your shirt tails will never fall out of bibs or ride up. Woolrich is my personal choice as well. Woolrich, Pendleton and Carhartt are very popular in Alaska.

Bibs facilitate upper body layering to a higher degree, in my opinion.

The waistline size is more forgiving when adding or removing shirts, 'johns, etc.

And another thing.... I look damned fine in the suckers!

~Holmes

Bibs are sure warm, but unless it is -20 degrees, I sweat like crazy in them. But I am a walker.

bibs are the best when it gets nasty cold--chris

Having tried both for years in ALL conditions I opt for the pants. I like the belt fit an inch or two larger than actual waist size. Seems to be a better feel...............

I don't know about Montana- only been there twice (and loved it)

I like bibs when working or scrunching aroud in the bush or snow, when I'm likely to get pine needles or snow down my ass.

I'll take pants the rest of the time, because I tend to overheat. ( My gal calls me "the warming machine" in bed, but that's more than you guys need to know.) I regualrly am out in a t-short and shorts in the winter.

Make sure the suspenders are long enough on teh bibs for when you are on horseback...Nothing worse than having all your goodies cinched in tight on a horse...

Thats easy, bibs Lived here 43 years, don't know what i'd do without them. OH, be COLD

Bibs are warm but I like pants because they are much easier to undo when mother nature calls me out in the field. You will have to contend with that while hunting. I think Bib overalls are to noisy when you walk swish, swish, swish, with every step especially the kind with the zipper up the side of the legs. My soft no noise hunting pants enable me to walk and not warn every game animal in the area I am on the move. The clothes they make now are far warmer than the good old days. Your under clothing is the key to staying warm. Quality insulating underware they make now is very warm. light weight layered clothing will keep you wramer than any one heavy weight pair of pants and hunting jacket. I like my insulated Bibs to snow blow the drive way and walks but not for big game hunting. Wool is very warm even when wet but also very heavy and that will show your physical shape when you get out in the field and do much walking. The day I hung up my old heavy wool hunting suit up for good and got my new light weight warm hunting clothes extened my hunting life. Good warm light weight hunting clothes are the way to go. You will form your opinion when your hunt is over and see the draw backs in choosing Bib overalls to hunt big game. Then again you may be as happy as a mouse finding new warm beding before winter sets in.

I like my Columbia Gallatin Range Wool Camo. Got the jacshirt, jacket (from Sportsman Guide), pants (hemmed from Cabelas) and boonie hat (from Scheel's All Sports) and saved a bunch over Filson, Woolrich, Weatherby, King of the Mountain, Sleeping Indian, Cabelas Wool. Can get the bibs from Sportsman Guide for $75.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/showad.html?promo_code=WX2&item_id=66272

Hey Russell, you still haven't told us who you're hunting with. If you're gonna be in Bozeman, you ought to ring me up. I'll buy you a beer, & even maybe drag Greenie along so you can see we're not all that bad of folks in person ;-).
But anyway, I haven't heard about any arctic fronts moving in next week, & I'll vote for pants also. Mine are Filsons, & I love' em although they need the Woolite treatment after last weekend. In fact, I need to call the Woolen Shop here & bend his ear again about cleaning those things. I know the owner has no use for dry cleaning, & neither do I after some sumbitches shrank my Cabela's woolies. Fortunately, they fit my son perfectly now.
I don't know how much hiking you'll be doing, but bibs are way too hot for my MO. Layers, man, layers.... Long johns & the Filsons will get me through nearly anything, and if it's just brutal out a pair of chaps cover any other foreseeable circumstance.

If you are regular get the Woolrich bibs. They come up to your arm pits, real high in back. And they are wool so they don't get wet and no whish,whish when you walk. Put on your long johns, a pair of heavy sweats, then your bibs....if you are still cold, then it's too damn cold to be outside.

I like the wool bibs, when you bend over to look at deer tracks the wind doesn't blow up your back.

Russ

if you are unsure, I would suggest that you get both and decide later....

FILSON MACKINAW BIBS!!!


From the Filson catalogue . . ."As an Iditarod Air Force pilot spending weeks out along the trail, your wool vest and bibs allow me to comfortably live along the trail, whether inside a log cabin or outside subjected to the coldest biting wind off the Bering Sea. I have tried virtually all available clothing combos & my Filsons surpass them all in achieving safety & warmth along the great Iditarod trail."

David Mersesean
Anchorage, AK

Personally, I bought a pair of these for a Yukon hunt last year and had some of their oil finish tin cloth (furnished free from Filson) sewn to the front of the legs from above the knees on down and they worked like a champ. Spent all day on snowmobiles and some really cold nights but these things kept me nice and toasty!!!

Regards,

JohnTheGreek

I vote bibs also,I find once my kidneys get cold I am done for the day,and when you have to look for Omar sizes bibs are easier to find

I'm very pleased with my heavy Columbia pants and suspenders.

Have not tried the bibs yet, but I'll bet they're warmer.