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Chaps and upland pants both attempt to accomplish the same things. They’re both intended to provide protection to your legs from briars and other pointy things, as well as to keep your legs dry in damp hunting conditions. In keeping your legs dry, they also help to keep you warm during cold weather.
Whether you choose to go with chaps or upland pants comes down to several factors, with the most prevalent being personal taste. Find the key differences to consider below.
- Construction
- Comfort
- Cost
- Longevity
- Protection Level
1. Construction
Both hunting chaps and upland pants are typically made from durable materials such as canvas, nylon and twill, and are further treated to make them water resistant. Don’t get confused by these terms, as any of these fabrics are just fine. All 3 materials are great choices for hunting gear. Many of the more durable options will also have triple stitching, as seen above.
Twill
Twill is a tough fabric made using a diagonal pattern, as seen above. It’s commonly used in the construction of hunting chaps, upland pants, and even blue jeans.
Canvas
Canvas is another durable fabric, just with a different type of weave than twill. It’s “plain” weave also results in a very strong fabric.
Nylon
Upland pants will usually have different-colored protective patches on or around the lower leg. Those reinforcements are usually made from nylon. Nylon is a very tough synthetic fabric that works well to protect your legs from thorns.
2. Comfort
WINNER: Upland Pants
Hunting Chaps Are Comfy Enough
Chaps are designed to fit over your pants to add a briar-proof layer of leg protection. This may or may not bother you when it comes to comfort level.
With chaps, you can wear whatever normal blue jeans or pants you’re comfortable with, and slap the chaps on top. While it isn’t necessarily uncomfortable to add that extra layer, I think a single layer of upland pants is hard to beat.
Chaps Are Removable
At the end of a hunt, you can remove chaps to reveal clean and dry pants underneath. This makes for a clean drive back to the house without having to change clothes. I think this is an advantage to using chaps.
Upland Pants For The Win
In contrast to chaps, upland pants, are just that – pants. They can be as comfortable as any other proper-fitting pants you would pick out, with an exception. Upland pants have additional layers of material around the lower legs perhaps making them a bit less comfortable than your favorite pair of jeans.
When it comes down to it, a proper fitting pair of upland pants are usually the more comfortable option.
3. Cost – Chaps Are Cheaper, Usually
WINNER: Chaps – Dan’s Chaps, linked above, are a great budget option)
It’s hard to argue that a good set of chaps are the cheaper option of the two. So, if you’re on a tight budget, chaps are the better choice.
Hunting Chaps Are Affordable
Hang around in the pheasant forums very long, and you’ll see Dan’s Brush Buster Chaps recommended frequently. There is also a well respected pair of Cabelas chaps for about the same price. From there, the prices usually go up as the quality increases.
Upland Pants Are Nice, But Cost More
Good upland pants are usually going to cost more than a pair of chaps of similar quality. This is not to say you can’t spend a hefty price on chaps, as Filson Double Tin Chaps are well north of $100, as are other high end brands.
You can spend anywhere from $30 to $300 and beyond for a pair of upland pants.
4. Longevity- You Don’t Outgrow Chaps!
WINNER: Chaps
Assuming you aren’t a child, you typically won’t ever outgrow chaps. However, many of us tend put on weight as we age, so the same can’t be said of upland pants.
5. Protection Level
WINNER: Upland Pants
Both Are Water Resistant
Both upland pants and chaps are usually constructed of water-resistant materials, which helps shield you from the wet conditions often encountered when upland hunting.
Obviously, some options resist the elements better than others, but both are generally somewhat resistant to moisture. With that said, both are rarely ever fully waterproof, but you don’t need that anyway.
Because upland pants cover the entirety of your lower body, I’d say that they get the nod here.
Upland Pants Are More Briar Proof
With chaps, your crotch, upper thigh, and butt are still exposed to whatever protection level, or lack thereof, your underlying pants provide. Briar pants, on the other hand, are typically made of durable materials throughout. This protects the entirety of your lower body. Overall, upland pants are more protective than chaps are.
Best Upland Pants
Some of the more premium upland pants are Filson Tin Pants, First Lite Sawbuck, and those made by Sitka, Kuiu, and Orvis.
Consider EBay Or Facebook Marketplace
If you’re just going on a short paid hunt, there’s no need to break the bank for 3 days of hunting.
Check EBay or Facebook Marketplace for gently used equipment. I haven’t personally had great luck at Goodwill, but I suppose that’s worth a shot as well.
A Cheaper Alternative
Another option exists besides upland pants and chaps. That option is a quality pair of work or outdoor pants. I listed a few good options below.
While a pair of work pants certainly can’t provide the same protection as a dedicated option, they often do just fine as a cheap alternative. The cheapest possible option is a pair of Costco work pants. They are actually pretty durable, and will save the wear on your more expensive jeans.
- Carhartt Double Front
- Duluth Firehose Pants
- Wrangler ATG Utility Pants
- Costco Work Pants (cheapest by far)
If you do get pants, consider getting some with a little extra room. Extra room gives you some space to add insulating layers if necessary. I much prefer layers over insulated pants.
Conclusion
Rabbit hunters, pheasant hunters, and the like can all benefit from some form of leg protection. Your best options are upland pants, or hunting chaps. If you participate regularly in your chosen sport, it’s definitely worth it to invest in some sort of briar protection.
If you’re on an extremely tight budget, you can stick to jeans or something you already own. However, if you can afford a small investment, go with chaps or upland pants.
For answers to other commonly asked pheasant hunting questions, check out my article about that here. If you need it, you can also find a pheasant hunting packing list here.
Happy Hunting,
Augustus Clay
