The Best Hunting Pants for Men in 2025

Why You Should Trust Us

The GearJunkie team hunts a lot. The 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. He distilled all that down to help provide the best advice possible, which is exactly the same as he would, and does, share with his best friends.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Hunting Pants

The best hunting pants will last years, so you should view them as a long-term investment. Apparel in the hunting world has advanced drastically in the last decade, and most hunters can find the perfect pants for whatever game they pursue in any environment.

Below are some of the top considerations the Gear Junkie team considers when selecting a pair of hunting pants.

Warmth/Weight

Some states allow you to get out to the woods as early as mid-August to chase velvet deer and elk. Hunters in those places need a different level of warmth than someone restricted to a rifle season in November. The first thing you should consider when purchasing hunting pants is the temperatures you typically hunt in.

Don’t forget, you can extend the temperature range of any pants by pairing them with a base layer.

Lightweight, Early Season (80-plus degrees)

For those who primarily hunt in August and September, opt for something lightweight, such as the First Lite Trace Pants. Lightweight hunting pants allow your legs to breathe when hiking up mountains in the late summer and early fall, or hanging a treestand in the humid South. If you’re hunting in weather hotter than 80 degrees, you’ll enjoy a specialized early-season pant. In those situations, you’re trying to shed heat, not retain it.

Mid Weight, All Season Pants (30-70 degrees)

If you hunt multiple seasons and plan on owning one set of pants, a midweight pant like the KUIU Attack is the way to go. With proper layering, a lightly insulated set of hunting pants can keep you warm down to about 35 degrees, depending on activity level. Your lower half will be happiest from 45-60 degrees in midweight pants.

When temps are over 75 degrees, midweight pants can get miserably hot. But if your tolerance for discomfort is high, they can provide passable service. Pants like the Attack feature zippered vents you can open up when you find yourself in an Indian summer.

Heavy, Late Season Pants

Hunting in frigid conditions, or stationary hunting in cold conditions, will require a bit more warmth than a baselayer and midweight pants. For those freezing December hunts, plan on purchasing pants with one sole purpose: to keep you warm.

Heavy pants are not ideal for hiking because they tend to overheat easily. However, they can be a real lifesaver when you’re posted up on a ridge glassing on a barren winter day. If you plan on doing that, or sitting in a blind or treestand for late season whitetail, pick up a set of heavily insulated pants.

In cold conditions, many hunters wear a baselayer and midweight pants, and then bust out the toasty pants when they’re stationary.

Water Resistance

Next, consider how much water resistance you need. Most hunting pants come with a DWR coating, which makes water bead up and roll off. That’s usually enough for light rain or pushing through wet brush.

But, if you’re planning to hunt in heavy rain or soaked terrain, you’ll want fully waterproof pants. Waterproof pants tend to be warmer and noisier than regular DWR-treated pants. These work best as an outer layer that’s used only when needed.

Not all waterproof pants are the same. That “waterproof” label doesn’t always mean they’ll keep you dry in a downpour. Waterproof ratings use millimeters to gauge waterproof level. The measurement refers to the amount of water pressure the fabric can withstand before it leaks.

For example, pants with a 5,000mm rating can handle 5 meters of water pressing down on them before water seeps through. A 20,000mm rating means they can take 20 meters. Sounds fancy, but here’s the gist: 5,000–10,000mm works for light rain. Over 20,000mm? That’s built for serious weather.

Of course, higher ratings usually mean bulkier pants and a higher price tag. But if you’re expecting wet, nasty conditions, it’s worth spending a little more. There’s nothing worse than spending hard-earned money, hauling rain gear into the field, and still ending up soaked. That’s why Gear Junkie Hunt and Fish Editor Rachelle Schrute relies on the KUIU Chugach TR pants. They’re rated at 30,000mm and do an awesome job of keeping you dry in full-on downpours.

Camo Pattern

Camouflage is designed to break up your silhouette. It does a great job of allowing you to be in front of cover with shooting lanes rather than tucked behind it.

Some hunters heavily stress camouflage patterns, but remember that for generations, hunters have been successful wearing flannel. The exact camo pattern likely doesn’t matter too much. If you have multiple options, pick the pattern that best matches the environment you hunt. If you don’t have options, but you really like the pants themselves, don’t stress about the camo pattern.

The situations where camo matters the most are archery hunting and turkey hunting. With archery, you’ll be in very close proximity to animals. Wearing good camo often results in an animal looking at you, trying to figure out what exactly you are instead of outright bolting. And turkeys? Those things see everything.

Many hunting pants are also offered in solid colors, which isn’t a bad option. For rifle hunting, camo pants don’t matter nearly as much. Getting your pants in a drab brown or green color means they can also pull double duty around town without screaming “hunter” everywhere you go.

Material

Some hunting pants are made of wool, and others are made of synthetics. Different fabrics have different pros and cons.

Wool is warm, quiet, and does a great job of masking the odor of sweaty hunters. However, wool may not hold up as well to serious bushwacking as synthetic pants.

Synthetic pants can also be warm, often have a bit of stretch, and will withstand thick briar patches. However, synthetic pants do retain more scent than wool. After a few days, you’ll notice a lingering smell.

There are great hunting pants made of both, and the team of hunters at Gear Junkie uses both. Consider the pros and cons of each option before making your final purchase.

Price and Value

Despite what you see on social media, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get out in the field. However, there are some benefits to spending more on hunting pants. Below are different price points and what to expect in each one.

Budget Hunting Pants

You can find hunting pants for $30-$100. In that price range, you’ll find a wide variety of quality. Many will fit poorly, not be warm, and fail miserably in wet environments.

Some of the best budget hunting pants, like the Kryptek Valhalla, are breathable, comfortable, and provide plenty of functional pockets. They also come in great camo patterns.

However, even the Valhallas don’t have a water-repellent finish, and like many other budget pants, they aren’t extremely durable. After a season of bushwacking, you may need to replace them.

Mid Tier Hunting Pants

Many of the best pants the Gear Junkie crew tested cost between $100-$200. While that may seem steep, remember, you’re purchasing technical outdoor wear. A pair of blue jeans is easily 80 bucks nowadays, so spending $200 isn’t outrageous for specialized pants.

In this price category, you’ll find some of the best hunting pants on the market, like the KUIU Attack Pants. These pants will be water resistant, warm, and durable. Ill fit won’t be a problem, and mid-tier pants will allow a wide range of motion. Often, they feature zippered, breathable vents that allow hunters to stay cool when hiking and carrying heavy loads.

You can also find fully waterproof pants in this category. However, you should do some digging into them before making a purchase. A set of rain pants under 200 dollars probably doesn’t have a high waterproof rating. There’s nothing worse than spending your money on “waterproof” pants that can’t hack it in the harsh environments hunters find themselves in.

Premium Hunting Pants

Hunting pants over $200 are priced that way for a reason: they’re made with more material or require more technical construction. That means fully waterproof pants or pants with the maximum amount of the best insulation on the market.

Many hunters can get by without spending this much coin on a set of pants. One way around it is by utilizing effective layering systems.

But, if you plan on being out in late November-January, or sitting out a torrential down pour, you may find yourself sitting on a ridge, wishing you had spent the money better pants. Premium pants will keep you warm and bone dry no matter how wet it is. For the most serious hunters who refuse to let the weather stop a hunt, paying more for the best gear is a non-negotiable expense.

Frequently Asked Questions