New Women's Hunting Apparel Fits All Gals
Prois, Rocky, SHE Safari & Cabelas Offer Petitie to Plus Sizes
Mar 21, 2009
Runway model-shaped bodies, average-size gals and even those who require a 2X can find fashionable hunting wear that is also highly functional.
Women’s Hunting Apparel Designer Suzy Smith
In the mid 1980s, and before, ladies wore men’s hunting clothes. In the late 80s, when visionaries like Suzy Smith and a few others unveiled basic apparel pieces to fit curvy hips and busts – much of the hunting industry scoffed. There wasn't a market for women-specific hunting apparel, they thought.
When Cabela’s embraced Smith’s designs and put the clothing in its catalog — lady hunters finally garnered at least a fraction the attention they deserved. But, it’s not been an easy road into the 21st century.
Apparel lines appeared and disappeared. Men’s clothing pieces were simply adorned with women’s sizing tags. Selection and size range were skeletal at best. The result was frustrated female hunters who piecemealed together ill-fitting outfits to achieve a small measure of the levels of concealment, protection from the elements, comfort and technology their male peers enjoyed.
Hunting Clothes from Prois, Rocky Brands, SHE Safari & Cabela's Fit All Gals
Today, specialty companies and mainstream hunting apparel manufacturers provide quality, fit, functionality, technology and comfort. They also cover the full spectrum of women's hunting needs.
From lightweight, high-tech archery clothing, like that offered by Prois, the newest of the female apparel makers, to sassy ladies looks from SHE (Safari), to the incredibly comfortable system of garments from Rocky Brands, to plus-size offerings from Cabelas and others — huntresses have choices.
“We just entered the women’s hunting apparel segment,” Sam Coalson with Rocky Brands told Suite 101 during an interview. “Our line is selling beyond our expectations. That’s good news for us, but it’s better news for the hunting industry. Women hunters are a key faction of the industry and our ability to ensure the future of hunting and our other American Heritage Sports.”
Hi-Tech Fabrics Incorporated Women's Hunting Clothes
Kirstie Pike, founder of Prois Hunting Apparel, agrees. During a recent interview with Suite 101, she said she's proud of what the women’s apparel segment is accomplishing. She’s certainly one of the designers who’s raising the bar in all areas — performance, functionality, comfort and fashion.
“We’re working hard to bring technologies that are common in other sports, like climbing and skiing, into the hunting industry and specifically to women,” Pike explained. “Being comfortable and warm no longer means wearing heavy wools or big snowmobile-types suits.
"Layering systems that incorporate wicking, insulating and outer layers that address hunter’s specific needs have cut out bulk, increased proper body temperature regulation and vastly improved comfort.”
Layers Like Prima Loft Insulation or a Gore-Tex Outer Shell Offer Total Comfort
When considering hunting apparel, focus on a layering concept. Layers allow hunters to be comfortable when temperatures are 80F or 30F. Incorporate four layers into the hunting wardrobe.
- Next-to-Skin Layer -- to wick moisture away from the body.
- Insulation Layer -- the layer that traps the warm of the body within the layer to provide warmth.
- Soft Shell -- outer layer that provides weather resistant layer and additional insulation.
- Hard Shell -- a waterproof, yet breathable, layer that protects from extreme rain or snow.
Finally, when considering hunting apparel, understand that price is usually indicative of performance. High-end technologies like Gore-Tex for waterproofing and PrimaLoft for insulation are more expensive than other materials but are well worth the price for serious hunters. They perform at higher levels and provide longer wear.
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