By Zach Lazzari  

Dress codes change drastically between hunting styles. The gear you wear in a tree stand or duck blind is much different than that of a mountain goat hunt. Here are a few factors that should influence your decision making as you gear up for the high country and prepare for a mountain hunt.

Brand Awareness

In most cases, we wouldn’t demand a specific brand but hunting hard in the high country requires the best clothing. Simply get the best you can afford. When you’re in the backcountry, quality clothing  well worth the investment when you are boulder hopping on windy ridges or traversing across scree slopes.

Shed Some Weight

Keep it light with modern technology and synthetic materials. Weight is the enemy on vertical hunts. If you like exploring remote basins with enough energy to spare, shed every ounce possible.

Although you are going for the lightest setup, comfort and protection from the elements are equally important. Plan each specific layer to prevent over-packing.

Smart Layering:

Dressing in layers is not a new concept and anyone with outdoor experience understands the idea. The common mistake is starting a morning hunt wearing all your layers and having to constantly change without finding a good comfort level.

Plan your layers based on actions. It may be a cold morning when you begin hunting but you will warm up quickly as you hike. Wear a base-layer and mid-layer and stuff the insulation layer in your pack. Come sunrise, you’ll likely be ready to shed the mid-layer. Use your insulation at stopping points. The exposed nature of high country means cold winds as you glass and you’ll appreciate having a heavy layer that isn’t drenched in sweat.

On a hunt in British Columbia, you can experience all four seasons in a single afternoon, including rain, snow and sunshine. You might be hot and sweaty making a big climb one minute, then feeling the cold and wind the next when we sit down to glass for a long period. Layering properly is a balance between energy output and insulation on a mountain hunt.

Breathability and Waterproof Fabrics

As a general rule, use base and mid-layers that breathe. You’ll work up a sweat when climbing and fabrics that wick moisture and are breathe are critical.

When it comes to rain gear, a waterproof, breathable outer layer is also essential. Technology in rain gear these days is incredible. It can be totally waterproof, windproof and highly breathable. Yet it’s still lightweight and comfortable to wear.

Breathable clothing is essential for removing sweat produced by your body. Try a hard pre-season hike with clothing that doesn’t breathe and you will quickly understand what we mean.

Flexibility for Athleticism

Regardless of brand, having clothes that are not restrictive in nature is critical. Clothing with little flexibility will limit your range of motion. The resistance is uncomfortable as you make long, climbing steps and lateral motions. It wears you down quicker and can lead to injuries through repetitive motions that are unnatural. Think durable materials that allow you to move comfortably.

This is often a big difference between high quality gear and value brands. Clothing like Kuiu is form-fitted to keep it from being baggy, cumbersome or noisy. However, the quality cut allows a wide range of motion and the fabrics stretch and move with you.

If you’d like more information on specific gear that we recommend for a mountain hunt, please feel free to send us a message. We’d be happy to help you with gear questions in preparation for your hunting adventure.

About the author: Zach Lazzari is a fly fishing guide and freelance writer based in Montana. Zach has fished and guided in Alaska, Colorado and Patagonia. When he’s not fishing, Zach is chasing big game, upland birds and waterfowl in the Rocky Mountains and Northwest.