Going to Az the 11th of next month to hunt lion and tag along on my cousins muley hunt. Kind of last minute, so im scrambling trying to get clothes and stuff. This is what ive bought so far:

• Kuiu Kenai Hooded Jacket
• Kuiu Peloton 97 1/4 zip
• Kuiu Guide Pants
• Kuiu Kenai Vest
• Kuiu Kenai Beanie
• Sitka Heavyweight Hoody
• Merrell Moab 3 Boots

I still need some thermal bottoms and socks. Do yall have any recommendations? Also recs for gloves that have small sizes would be appreciated. I tend to be cold natured.

Also- Anything else I may not be thinking of/tips for flying w/ a bow/general tips would be appreciated!

AgEng06 said:

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Yeah, you basically have to stick with KUIU because they're one of the only technical companies that have youth sizes... although I believe they are reworking their models and won't be available again until Spring 2025.




sorry.... had to get that out of the way.

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They really don't though, I had to get almost 6" cut off of my pants lmao

What part of AZ, what are expected temps?

Merino Socks, Socks, Socks, I always have an extra pair of dry socks and change them often through out the day based on how much I am sweating/wet it is. I like Darn Tough socks.

My favorite heat regulation apparel is a merino balaclava. Link

For hands I use fingerless wool gloves and then have mittens for when I need them.

I almost never wear thermal bottoms as I am usually moving.

Underwear is important too. I use smartwool. The wool will keep you dry and prevent SwampAss and merino will help on the smell if you are backcountry/wearing for multiple days.

Around Prescott.

Expecting temps in the teens-high 50's

tandy miller said:

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Going to Az the 11th of next month to hunt lion and tag along on my cousins muley hunt. Kind of last minute, so im scrambling trying to get clothes and stuff. This is what ive bought so far:

• Kuiu Kenai Hooded Jacket
• Kuiu Peloton 97 1/4 zip
• Kuiu Guide Pants
• Kuiu Kenai Vest
• Kuiu Kenai Beanie
• Sitka Heavyweight Hoody
• Merrell Moab 3 Boots

I still need some thermal bottoms and socks. Do yall have any recommendations? Also recs for gloves that have small sizes would be appreciated. I tend to be cold natured.

Also- Anything else I may not be thinking of/tips for flying w/ a bow/general tips would be appreciated!

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Stick with the Kuiu socks...I have several of the Ultra Merino and holy cow are they warm and comfortable...course they ought to be for the price but I have worn them on an elk hunt in 2 feet of snow and sitting north of Amarillo on Frozen January Canadian goose hunts and my feet and toes stayed comfortable...that was worth the price of admission right there as I HATE cold feet. I also use their base layers...I am a believer in buy once cry once.

I'm not sure you've spent enough money yet... you're gonna need to pump up those numbers

Agree on the wool base layers. I'd get a set of light and a set of midweight. Other then boots this is the most important piece of clothing.

Speaking of boots... those hiking boots aren't going to cut it. Assuming you're going to be in rocky terrain and possibly postholing in snow you want supportive full height boots. I don't do insulated unless it's reeeeeally cold, but you may want boot covers to add insulation.

Think in terms of layering and that you're going to be alternating moving hard and sitting still. Sweat management is crucial, so i dress light for hiking...prana or 5.10 pants, midweight merino top and my orange ballcap (beanie if it's really cold) then whenever i stop immediately throw on a hooded puffy or heavy fleece (plus softshell if it's windy). The key is to not get hot or cold and don't get wet. I've been thinking that for a january hunt I'm planning i may trade the puffy for a quilt so i can really bundle up when i sit and glass

I would get 800gram danner vital boots, maybe a 400 or 600 if they offer it. I love my 800s.

Get the Kuiu gaiters, they will help keep feet and legs warm and also provide protection against your new 200 dollar pants. I would not get them with kneepads. I have the guide pants with pads and hate the pads. Not sure if they are offered without.

the Kuiu base layers I have are removable with a zipper so you dont have to take all your clothes off to remove them. It is a nice feature. Or see if another brand offers that.

Hoyt Ag said:

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I would get 800gram danner vital boots, maybe a 400 or 600 if they offer it. I love my 800s.

Get the Kuiu gaiters, they will help keep feet and legs warm and also provide protection against your new 200 dollar pants. I would not get them with kneepads. I have the guide pants with pads and hate the pads. Not sure if they are offered without.

the Kuiu base layers I have are removable with a zipper so you dont have to take all your clothes off to remove them. It is a nice feature. Or see if another brand offers that.

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I could never wear insulated boots. My feet get way too hot.

Gaiters are a must if wet/snow, but you may never wear them in AZ. Cheap option that work great.
If you stick with the Moab boots I would plan to pair them with Gaiters. I personally don't think you need a different pair of boots, and would not try a new pair unless you have a lot of time to break them in.

Just giving options. We are all different. I hunted Saturday in NW CO (where I live) in 5 degree weather with a foot of snow. Wore boots I mentioned, guide pants, base layer, a base later top and the Guide jacket. I was sweating my dick off hiking up the hills. Saw some flatlanders in puffy jackets and about 4 layers.

I wear gaiters religiously. They block wind, moisture and keeps pants from tearing.

If I can give any advice is to dress down a layer. You will (hopefully) be moving/hiking so you will warm up fast and will be taking a layer off pretty quick. No sense in carrying a bunch of unnecessary clothes around.

I'm a former Marine. I use the USMC ECWCS polartec or Rothco gear for base layer. You can order it online or also check at the Army-Navy stores.

I rock simms thermal leggings when in winter wading. Gives me swamp ass when the guides on the rod are getting frozen over

Be sure a get a neck gaiter and a wool cap - I like first lite but I'm sure there are others that are just as functional

If you are sitting still getting ready to glass and it's in the teens/20s, you will probably be extremely cold with the clothes list you posted.

I feel like I finally got my setup dialed in the last year or two for being out on days where you may start in single digits and get up into the 40s. I live in CO and spend a decent amount of time outside.

Base layer: saxx underwear, add lightweight synthetic long underwear if highs don't hit 30. Sitka core lightweight, FL aerowool, or Acclima woolnet (mesh merino wool, this is awesome when it's cold)

Mid layer: I often wear a Rab fleece made out of polartec alpha (same stuff in new sitka ambient) with no face fabric. Very light, very breathable, doesn't stay wet long. I also have a Sitka core heavyweight hoody that is about as warm, but heavier and less breathable. The Sitka gets the nod if I will not be wearing a softshell jacket

Outer layer: Stone Glacier De Havilland pant and jacket. Massive leg and underarm zipper vents to dump heat when moving. This is key if you're going to wear a less breathable softshell outer layer, IMO. I can hike on level ground at a slower pace and be comfortable in the teens, and go uphill or go fast in the 30s and into the 40s and open all the vents to avoid getting super hot.

Insulation: First lite Chamberlin jacket and uncompahgre pants. When you are sitting still glassing in single digits or teens most down jackets just don't cut it. I'd probably buy different pants in hindsight, but these work well enough.

You can get away with uninsulated boots in much colder temps if you create a vapor barrier between you and your insulating socks. Wear a thin liner sock, put a breadbag over it, put on heavy wool or alpaca socks, and it will keep the moisture from your feet from getting to the outer sock and you will be much warmer. I just spent 11 hours straight standing on 4-8" of snow in uninsulated boots with this setup and felt good, despite normally having very cold feet.

Cheap flip mitts off Amazon for less than $20 have been the best gloves I've found. if it's VERY cold you can take the chemical warmers that are meant to stick on your toes and stick them inside the flip part that goes over your fingers.



I will back up the gaiter recommendation for snow.

If you're going to be hiking, you need to start off uncomfortably cold or you will soon be sweating and stopping to pull layers.

Hopefully this is helpful advice from a Texan who spent years testing things before finally being comfortable in rifle seasons here in CO.

It's hotter than a furnace fan out in Arizona.

Say hi to Uncle Joe.

May or may not need some long John's under your jeans

Says the guy that's never been to Arizona in the fall and winter.

Two weeks ago.

I went to AZ in the spring this year but the nightime temps were in the high 20's.

- I really liked the Darn Tough wool socks.
- I would really recommend a set of puffy pants for long glassing sits. I dont think you're going to want to wear the thermals while hiking and the puffy pants are easy to throw over your regular pants while sitting. I went cheap and got mine off amazon and they worked fine.
- Black Ovis merino is great. Much cheaper than the big brand merino and is probably the same stuff at the end of the day. You can probably get a long pant type thin merino and use them as underwear too.
- I am not a great hiker. The Peax trekking poles were fantastic and made going down some steep hillsides much easier.
- Big fan of the tricer tripods and pan heads.

If you have any questions let me know. I am relatively new to backcountry hunting but have been a few times and read enough online that I may be able to be a resource

Okay- I ordered some socks from darn tough, picked up the gaiters from REI, bought some gloves, and picked up a couple more base/mid layer shirts.

Several folks have mentioned , but I would add a puffy down jacket for when you are stationary. Lots of good options without having to spend $300+ for brand names. I got mine from EMS but they pack small and add a lot of insulation when you are sitting.

Would a puffer jacket be loud?

I dont think it would be as quiet as fleece but it will mostly get used when glassing.

Could be useful on really cold Texas box blind hunts.

tandy miller said:

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Would a puffer jacket be loud?

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Just get a First Lite Uncompahgre 2.0 and call it good. Only puffy you'll need. I have the original version and after 5 years or so it's still my favorite jacket.

If you are hunting lion you will walk 5+ miles a day. Wear the KUIU light puffy jacket. I hunted mine in -4 degrees and found myself taking the jacket off most of the time. You will get hot hiking!

I have two Kuiu Wind Pro Fleece, and you might look at adding it to your mix...very versatile and warm as either mid layer or outer.

I really like a down layer(s) for cold. For sitting/glassing in cold weather I like their super down pro pants, they are great. Lightweight and pack down small, use as outer layer once you sit down as they zip on/off. I don't have the super down pro jacket but may grab it before my next cold weather hunt. For now I mix in a down vest and their lighter down jacket as needed under my outer layer but the down pro jacket would do the trick just as well

AgDad121619 said:

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tandy miller said:

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Me after paying for tags, flight, hunt, and clothes

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once you have all the gear , you have the perfect excuse to keep scheduling hunts to get your investment back.

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LOL I must be doing something wrong!

I went all in on:
-Stone Glacier gaiters, de haviland, m5, baselayers, and puffy gear
-Darn Tough for socks
-First Lite as backup baselayers
-Kuiu glassing mittens and Kanai hat

Does this sound right? Southwest said it will cost $200 each way to check my bow case?!?

Not unless you're checking 3 bags. I've never checked a bow case with them but have checked rifle cases. As long as you don't exceed 2 checked bag threshold, it should be free.