Hunting clothes are key for your Alaska trip. Staying warm and dry in the backcountry is crucial. That’s why the Editors at Hunt Alaska magazine have handpicked their top gear. From head to toe, we’ve got you covered with the best hunting clothes and boots.
Best Hunting Apparel
Muck Men’s Mossy Oak Country DNA Outscape Max Lace Up Hiker Boot
These boots are an excellent blend of neoprene ankle boot combined with a rugged, high-traction hiking boot. The outside features a trail-gripping rubber outsole with a lace-up design for better fit. The inside is a 3 mm neoprene bootie with BioLite foam midsole, fancied up with extra proprietary technology to control moisture and odor. These boots are comfortable, tough, and functional.
Zamberlan 972 Guide Max GTX RR
At a certain age, taking excellent care of your feet goes from an indulgence to a necessity. These durable luxury boots, handcrafted in Italy, will keep your feet safe and comfortable for miles. Your desire to hike will wear out long before these hikers. Filled with technology based on modern materials, and designed with decades of experience, these boots are an investment that will pay off with years of service.
FORLOH BTM Pant
The BTM Pant includes FORLOH’s Polygiene Stay Fresh Technology that uses natural silver chloride to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. We wore them 8 days in a row on a remote moose hunt and were impressed. The pants are made from waxed nylon/cotton ripstop fabric and are tough. The wax makes the pants more resistant to water, as well as sharp sticks and thorns. It can be reapplied in the field. The pants are breathable and have some stretch, adding comfort during rigorous hikes.
Minus33 Mountain Heritage All Season Boot Sock
These are high-quality, calf-high boot socks with an added cool factor: the No Pebble and Fish Alaska logos. They are composed of 68% merino wool, 20% nylon, 11% stretch nylon, and 1% spandex. These socks are great for fishing, hiking, and hunting in the spring through fall seasons. Publisher Marcus Weiner wore these socks for several months in 2024 during both fishing and hunting trips, and says that they are comfortable, warm, odor resistant, and are now his first-choice sock.
Sitka Downpour Jacket and Pants Optifade Elevated II
Hunting seasons in Alaska are typically cold, wet, windy, rainy, and sometimes snowy. It’s critical that you have top-tier rain gear, not only so that you can enjoy longer days in the field, but that you can avoid the possible dangers that come when you get wet and stay out in the cold. We’ve been on many hunts before where hunters aren’t properly dressed, and the result is usually an unsuccessful hunt. On some of these hunts, Publisher Marcus Weiner has had to make a fire to warm up members of his hunting party. In 2024, Marcus wore this jacket-and-pants combo during multiple weeks of typical Alaska weather. He reports that the gear held up perfectly; he stayed dry, and the apparel did not fail after many, many miles of beating the brush. These GORE-TEX products are breathable, waterproof, and feature a soft, brushed face that allows hunters to stay quiet when stalking game.
First Lite Men’s Yuma Synthetic SS Crew
This base layer is a good solution during warm-weather hunts, or when hiking long distances and building up some heat. The polyester fabric carries several First Lite technologies, resulting in a shirt that is quick drying, antimicrobial, odor resistant, and pest resistant. It’s available in 5 colors and 5 sizes.
Garmont T8 Extreme EVO GTX Regular
These are a military-style boot but they have features that enable them to work well for hunting, too. This boot is designed for extreme activities in wet and cold weather conditions. Features include: GORE-TEX Insulated Comfort for waterproofing and warmth; 1.8 mm suede-leather upper with polyester inserts; speed lacing ball bearing anchoring loop, combined with closed hook eyelets; and the Ortholite Ultra footbed provides cushioning and breathability for long periods of use. We found this boot to be extremely comfortable, and we wore it in both very wet conditions and temperatures down to the 30s.
Garmont Nemesis 4 G-Dry
After half a dozen 5+ mile hikes in these boots, Publisher Marcus Weiner reports that they are very light, allowing the wearer to be more nimble and reduce leg fatigue as compared to heavier models. They offer exceptional ankle support for a 4-inch-tall boot. The aggressive sole tread provided solid traction in all the conditions Marcus encountered. The boots are comfortable to wear and kept Marcus’ feet dry. The Nemesis 4 G-Dry is available in half sizes from 4 to 14.
KUIU Guide PRO Hooded Jacket
Editor George Krumm likes gear that is well suited to both fishing and hunting pursuits, and this jacket is one of those items. This softshell hooded jacket is made of Primeflex nylon with a micro-fleece interior. It provides great wind resistance, and it stretches so it moves with you. It’s designed for temperatures from freezing to 45°F. It’s water resistant, but not waterproof. Dual chest pockets are big enough for a phone or rangefinder, with a lanyard loop inside to secure things. It has zippered pit vents for that hike through the alder jungle. It is available in 3 camo patterns and 2 solid colors, from S to 4XL.
Stone Glacier De Havilland LITE Pant
The De Havilland LITE pant is like the original De Havilland Pant, but with a new, lighter fabric. Like the original, these pants have slots for P12 knee pads, a big plus. They still have SG’s Patented Contour Waist for an adjustable fit, true boot-cut cuffs, and reverse-coil YKK zippers. Large, zippered side vents make it easy to dump heat when you’re working hard. The front-facing cargo pockets include an internal cell-phone sleeve, a nice feature. These pants will fit much like the original De Havilland pants, but are more comfortable in the early season when it’s still warm out. Features include two rear flap pockets, an athletic fit, and articulated knees for range of motion. They are available in 3 colors—Carbon, Muskeg, and Fern—and are made from a double-weave textile that is 89% nylon, 11% spandex, with a DWR finish.
Muck Men’s Alpha Pursuit Ankle Boot
These boots are 100% waterproof, which our tester proved time and again in 2024. Featuring a 3mm neoprene bootie, the boots utilize a molded PU insert and BioLite foam midsole to create a comfortable experience for your feet. An aggressive rubber outsole keeps wearers grounded in varied terrain. These lace-up boots also feature a Muckskin overlay, providing extra protection when you are stomping around in thick cover. The boots are patterned in Realtree APX, and are available in 14 sizes.
KUIU Guide PRO Pant
The Guide PRO Pant is a fleece-lined, softshell hunting pant built for the relentless mountain hunter in variable cold conditions—from freezing to 45 degrees. These pants match the Guide Pro Hooded Jacket. Made from a durable yet quiet Primeflex nylon with an ultra-soft, microfleece interior, it features superior wind resistance, stretch, and durability, all at a reduced weight.
Useful features include knife-clip panels on both sides, open hand pockets, zippered cargo pockets, a phone sleeve in the right cargo pocket, zippered rear pockets, and zippered hip vents to help dump heat during exertion. Stretch-woven pants are really comfortable to wear to wear while hunting. They allow a great deal of freedom of movement while being light, durable, and non-restrictive. They are available in 3 camo colors and 3 solid colors.
FORLOH Men’s Merino Hi-Loft Reversible Jacket
This stylish, reversible merino-wool jacket looks great around town or in the field. It comes in 3 colorways (brown/black, tan/exposed, and brown/deep cover) and sizes from S to 3XL. Instead of down or synthetic quilting, this jacket uses cruelty-free merino wool. This helps minimize odor while providing warmth. One side has a nylon face; the other side has a wool face. This is a high-quality garment that will last for years. Sourced and manufactured in the USA with a lifetime warranty for any manufacturing defects.
FORLOH AllClima Softshell Gloves
FORLOH packs a lot of technology into these camouflaged, durable, and quiet gloves. They are waterproof, with Primaloft Gold insulation which makes them warm even if they do get wet. Airadigm 3-layer softshell fabric with I-Climate repels water and wind from the outside but releases body heat and sweat from the inside. Though warm, they are not bulky. They incorporate Trizar re-radiating warming technology built into a 75k waterproof/breathable membrane. Digital Touch technology enables screen use.
They have a storage pocket on the back of each hand; you could put a small handwarmer packet in there, or a key, ID, or other small item. The thumb overlays are made of AbraSynthetic Suede and work well as a goggle, glass, or nose wipe. The palms are made of domestically sourced goat leather for durability, strength, and protection. Elastic draw cord at the cuff enables you to close off the opening for increased warmth. These are high-quality hunting gloves. Be sure to follow the size instructions when ordering. All FORLOH gear is 100% American made, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
FORLOH Raider Polartec Men’s Power Grid Half Zip
Consider this performance fleece shirt as a 3-season mid-layer useful in fall, winter, and spring. The fabric’s grid knit increases warmth and breathability, while also reducing fabric mass or weight. It works great as a mid-layer under a rain shell or softshell jacket, but we sometimes use it as a base layer all year, too. The shirt has an athletic, next-to-skin fit, but it isn’t a compressionfit shirt. It has a zippered chest pocket and zippers are YKK. The collar is taller than a crewnecked shirt, adding a little more warmth. It’s available in 3 colors (Magnet, FORLOH Green, and Black) in sizes from S to 3 XL.
Lowa Hunter GTX Evo Extreme
The Hunter GTX Evo Extreme is recommended for big-game hunting with a heavy pack on steep and rugged terrain in cold conditions. With an extra-high shaft for superb ankle support, and a high-wall rubber rand for protection against abrasion, this boot provides outstanding performance, warmth, and comfort in tough fall and winter conditions.
It is compatible with strap-on crampons and snow spikes. The upper is nubuck leather, while the lining is GORE-TEX and Primaloft 200g. The boot uses a Vibram Masia outsole. These boots are made in either Germany or Italy (factories in both countries). We have used Lowa boots of various models over the years, and they are always very high quality, durable, warm, long-lasting boots.
Zamberlan 1106 Sawtooth GTX RR
The Sawtooth GTX is a very supportive, capable, mountain-hunting boot. We used them in temperatures ranging from 50º down to single digits, and our feet never got cold. These boots are resoleable, so with care they will last you for many years. Features include: Zamberlan Vibram StarTrek II outsole; pronounced rocker and stiff midsole help for hiking in steep terrain; 2.8 mm leather uppers in a single-piece construction are bombproof and provided superior waterproof performance; GORE-TEX Insulated Comfort membranes ensure waterproof protection and breathability, and comfort down to -20°C depending on the individual; full rubber rand system encircles the inter boot and offers added protection from abrasion; corrosion-resistant hardware makes for easy lacing. These super high-quality boots are made in Italy.
Rocky MTN STALKER PRO Waterproof Mountain Boot
This 6” tall, waterproof hiking-style boot is a great option for spring, summer and early fall in Alaska. We started wearing these boots in the spring for rucking and spring bear hunting, then all summer long and into the fall. We put a lot of miles on them. They’ve proven to be comfortable and durable, as well as good-looking. Features include a fiberglass shank; new 1-year guaranteed Rocky Vapor Pass waterproof technology; Speed Lace Hook & Lacing System; Rocky Rebound Footbed; supportive cement construction; Vibram Mountaineering outsole; waterproof Nubuck Leather with Hex-Tex Ripstop; and Rebound PU Midsole.
FORLOH Raider Polartec Fleece Vest
This thermal performance vest is equally useful as a mid-layer or used as a top layer over a shirt. The hydrophilic inner surface wicks moisture to keep wearers warm and dry, while the grid knit creates air channels to prevent heat loss. It also utilizes Polartec Shed Less Technology to prevent microfiber shedding during washing to maintain softness and durability. Our tester used it during late fall spot-and-stalk hunts. He found that it was the right weight for keeping him warm, but not overheating, during active stalking sessions.
Zamberlan 1005 Hunter Pro EVO GTX RR WL
The re-booted Hunter Pro EVO GTX RR insulated 11-inch boot is ideal for late-season, big game hunting in extreme environments where protection from cold and rough terrain is required. The Hunter Pro Evo features waxed full-grain leather uppers, full rubber rand protection, and the exclusive Zamberlan Vibram Darwin outsoles. These are outstanding boots for Alaska mountain hunting, especially when it’s cold.
Some key features of this boot include an exclusive Zamberlan Vibram Darwin outsole that leverages a dual-density PU midsole; Italian Hydrobloc Waxed Tuscan leathers comprise the uppers in the popular Waxed Chestnut color, while boasting 2.8 mm of tough durability throughout; the full RRS (Rubber Rand System) encircles the entire boot and offers added protection against rocks and debris; corrosion-resistant hardware allows for easy lacing and durability over time; GORE-TEX Insulated Comfort membranes provide the utmost waterproof protection and breathability while granting temperature performance to approximately -20°C. The boots are handcrafted in Italy and resoleable in the US.
Sitka Gear Jetstream Jacket Blaze Orange Optifade Subalpine
This is a new spin on Sitka Gear’s best-selling Jetstream Jacket—Blaze Orange panels built in for visibility and to meet the legal requirement in some states. This zippered hoody features GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER to cut the wind, plus a DWR-treated outer fabric to repel light precipitation. The Jetstream is a great mid-layer during the shoulder seasons, and outer layer during summer. While it is not a rain jacket, it is windproof, breathable, and does shed light precipitation well. It also has pit zips so you can ventilate on the long hike up to the alpine. While it was designed as a hunting piece, we find it to be one of those pieces of gear that easily crosses over between hunting and fishing.
Muck Kids Rugged II Boot
This popular brand makes a great wintertime slip-on, and we appreciate that Muck offers quality selections for the kids. Alaskan parents know how important it is to keep the kids warm, especially their feet and toes. And we know if they are not comfortable, they won’t wear them, so thank you, Muck, for helping us keep our outdoor kids warm…and outdoors! A 5 mm neoprene, waterproof, insulated bootie is backed with a fleece lining. The sole has good tread, too. They’re some of the best you’ll find for kids.
FORLOH Youth ThermoNeutral Down Jacket
Technical gear for kids isn’t in abundance, but companies like FORLOH fill those much-needed gaps. This jacket is extremely well made and ideal for kids recreating outdoors in Alaska winters. If your child is ice fishing, trapping, bird hunting, and/or building snow caves, grab this technical piece in a size large enough to grow into and get your money’s worth. Have a handful of kids, you’ll be able to pass this down as they grow. And it’s 100% made in America.