trousers for rough shooting.

stevoman

well lads can anyone reccomend a good pair of trousers for rough shooting for this year. ones that endure the cold and wet and are breatable and ones i wont tear the arse out of everytime i get over a barbed wire fence. i have gone through a good pair of irish army combats this year (good for decoying) and about 3 pairs of jeans. im not looking for camo, just a dark green pair and ones that are a nice fit. Im also going to invest in a pair of hunter wellingtons for this year too.


ps - lads steer clear of Tuckland gortex boots! i bought a pair for €150 last summer ( and at that i had to haggle down from €190) and the right boot is already leeking badly. i bought them off a shop a lot of us know here, but its not my place to name and shame! just beware of that make!

any help would be great lads thanks a million.

Rovi

I don't do any rough shooting, but when engaged in my 4x4/off-roading adventures, I encounter exactly the same terrain.
A few of my buddies and I BOUGHT THESE last year when we were in Vegas for a desert race, and we swear by them when plunging through briars, furze, nettles, etc.
They're not impervious to all thorns, but they keep 99% of them at bay, and they dry out quickly after the rain stops. The Cordura part goes all the way around the lower leg and up the front of the upper, and the denim parts appear to be immensely strong; we certainly haven't ripped them yet, after almost a year of heavy use.

The other lads on that trip are still cursing me for bringing them into a Bass Pro; none of them are hunters/fishermen, but we had to go back again the next day so that they could complete their shopping there.

Vegeta

stevoman wrote: »

. Im also going to invest in a pair of hunter wellingtons for this year too

I have a pair of hunter waders and they are awful. Worst foot wear I have owned. Despite being big enough they still rub my heels (tried two pairs of socks and its no defence) and the arches of my feet get sore if even wearing them for 20 minutes. The upper rubber on them is also way too tight and rigid for kneeling on the shore.

I got them as an xmas present and I know just how expensive the bloody things are. Such a let down from a top brand.

This year I got some expensive dunlop wellies from the brother. They are amazingly comfortable. I'd happily wear them daily if I could

My advice is definitely try before ya buy. Put on both wellies and ask is it ok if ya walk around the store for a few mins in them.

pullandbang

stevoman wrote: »

Im also going to invest in a pair of hunter wellingtons for this year too.

I'd steer clear of Hunters too. I've always found them too soft and the first bramble you hit, they'll leak.

Get a pair of Aigle, the French boots. They should be about €70 for the non neoprone lined ones.

jwshooter

pullandbang wrote: »

I'd steer clear of Hunters too. I've always found them too soft and the first bramble you hit, they'll leak.

Get a pair of Aigle, the French boots. They should be about €70 for the non neoprone lined ones.

plus with the hunters you will end up on your ass with them ,,the deer hunter range have a good range of hunting gear, barbed wire will thear the bollox out of any thing john lambert is a agent for deer hunter is and other hunting gear he is as cheep as whats in the country .i have been wear n swazi gear from nz for some time now never buy another jacket again there the best by far

Mac Tire

was thinking of getting a pair of these for stalking this year, bit pricey perhaps, but if they were to keep you dry they would be worth the cash...

http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/491-Fjallraven-Forester-Trousers

whitser

i wear a pair of cotton trousers with the beaters chaps pulled over,they are great for getting through cover etc...also water proof. as for the feet i use good pair of hiking boots with gators and gortex socks-keep the feet dry and warm all day. i find boots best for walking,running,digginng or climbing. with the hiking boots its important to kep them clean after a day in the fields cos if you leave clay on them it can eat away at the leather and the seal. i use bees wax on mine, get the gortex socks cost about 25 euro. they are brill, got a pair last year and i wouldnt leave home without them. wellies are ok for an hour or 2 but if out in the cold and especially if you stop walking for a bit your feet freeze.

Mac Tire

Have to argee with you there Whitser, i use a pair of Meindl boots, not the cheapest but i would wear them in bed there that good!!!
I used to wear them into work here, but being out and about in them a bit recently so there a tad dirty for the office now....Also on the Gortex socks, priceless....and a good pair of gaiters, sure your waterproof up to the knees...:D

Jonty

I've got a pair of Lowa GTX for hunting/hill walking. I couldn't recommend them enough.

stevoman

thanks a million for the help lads, its really appreciated.

Mac Tire

Jonty wrote: »

I've got a pair of Lowa GTX for hunting/hill walking. I couldn't recommend them enough.

Fantastic boot also....I think that the cash has to be splashed on the footwear....after all you wont go far on bad feet...;)

Octopus

I'd second the lads on the boots and gaiters, most comfortable set-up.

Used to just bring the plastic over trousers in the game bag for when it rained but these don't last too long in the briars, also you sweat that much wearing them you might as well get wet.

For a budget option buy the gaiters from lidl or Aldi (aldi's were best) and attach them upside down :eek: to the top of your wellingtons. Seriously, upside down, fasteners to the back with the under foot elastic strap behind the knee. Keeps you dry above the knee, perfect for walking through rushes, heather or any high cover without sweating too much.

Wolfhillbilly

I have had the same problems in the past with trousers ripping and tried everything from jeans to work trousers. I was given a pair of treggings which cover the arse, crotch and all and they stand a fair bit of wear and tear when getting over the barbed wire etc.
My mate wears Seeland beater's trousers and swears by them. he wears ordinary leggings but I think as he paid about £200 for the he'd say that anyway!

Grizzly 45

Mac Tire wrote: »

was thinking of getting a pair of these for stalking this year, bit pricey perhaps, but if they were to keep you dry they would be worth the cash...

http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/491-Fjallraven-Forester-Trousers

Cant go wrong with Fjallraven.Just expensive as Hell.Other good pants here are the EX Bundeswehr Moleskin pants if you can get them.

kowloon

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Other good pants here are the EX Bundeswehr Moleskin pants if you can get them.

Used to have a pair of them, too small for me now, indestructable yokes.

stevoman

well lads. i ended up purchasing a pair of the seeland beater trousers. very pricey but i think worth it. the only draw back i feel is i got the 33" waist but thet are a little tight about the hips (not in the girly way), but if i was to get the 35" ones id be afraid that the arse would be hanging on them and rip them on the first barbed wire i get over.

In all though great for rough shooting. the are fully waterproof, very light but nice and warm and have flaps at the bottoms to run over the wellington so when your walking to thick cover wateer cant get into the boots. they also came with a game carrier aswell. so im all set now for the big 1st, and if i dont get a cock, who cares its all about doing what ya love!

alan123

Call me boring but I just stick with combats, in saying that its hard to get the good ones as the ones that they sell in the shops are made for the shop. You want the real deal... army issue or similar.

As for the wellies, I broke my ankle when I jumped over a gate holding a pheasant in one hand and gun in the other. My ankle folded over in a tractor rutt! I try and wear a boot now with support (and a good demonstration of why its always best to break your gun crossing hazzards!!)

gary29428

I get a few trips out to Minnesota every year with work and stay next door to a Cabelas store. I have had the same pair of "stonewall" chaps for the last 3 seasons and they are still goign strong. I do some serious woodcock shooting in heavy cover and have no complaints. Think I paid about 40USD at the time.

pullandbang

gary29428 wrote: »

I get a few trips out to Minnesota every year with work and stay next door to a Cabelas store. I have had the same pair of "stonewall" chaps for the last 3 seasons and they are still goign strong. I do some serious woodcock shooting in heavy cover and have no complaints. Think I paid about 40USD at the time.

You should let us know next time you're heading and we'll PM you a shopping list:D

BigAl>>

pullandbang wrote: »

You should let us know next time you're heading and we'll PM you a shopping list:D

I will 2nd tht idea.

ianoo

stevoman wrote: »

well lads. i ended up purchasing a pair of the seeland beater trousers. very pricey but i think worth it. the only draw back i feel is i got the 33" waist but thet are a little tight about the hips (not in the girly way), but if i was to get the 35" ones id be afraid that the arse would be hanging on them and rip them on the first barbed wire i get over.

In all though great for rough shooting. the are fully waterproof, very light but nice and warm and have flaps at the bottoms to run over the wellington so when your walking to thick cover wateer cant get into the boots. they also came with a game carrier aswell. so im all set now for the big 1st, and if i dont get a cock, who cares its all about doing what ya love!

where did you end up getting the pants from in the end ??
wouldnt mind a pair of them myself especially with xmass around the corner:D:D

ian

gary29428

Pulland bang

The last trip I had was around Paddy's day this year and I spent a total of 5,000USD in Cabelas on gear for lads. I basically go over with the shirt on my back and nothing else. Going again in Feb, just hope the $ weakens again, it was party time last trip with the exchange rate......Had 6 harris bi-pods on shopping list last time out, they worked out at 40euro each. Local shop have them for 135euro....SAD

stevoman

ianoo wrote: »

where did you end up getting the pants from in the end ??
wouldnt mind a pair of them myself especially with xmass around the corner:D:D

ian

i got them at decoying.co.uk well worth the money!

pullandbang

gary29428 wrote: »

Pulland bang

The last trip I had was around Paddy's day this year and I spent a total of 5,000USD in Cabelas on gear for lads. I basically go over with the shirt on my back and nothing else. Going again in Feb,

Good stuff...stay in touch on boards.ie and I'm sure the lads here will be only too happy to give you a shopping list.....just remember who asked first!:)

ianoo

stevoman wrote: »

i got them at decoying.co.uk well worth the money!

thanks stevoman
must look them up and treat myself to a shooting pants with only the one hole in it :D:D

ian