Testing some upland pants

Editorial Staff
August 1, 2025
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An hunter’s upland pants need to stand up to a lot of abuse. Here are four pairs we tried in a variety of conditions.

An upland hunter’s pants need to stand up to a lot of abuse. Here are four we tried.

Orvis Women’s Missouri Breaks Field Pants

orvis.com
Women’s sizes 6-18
$129 US
Tested by OOD Digital Editor Meghan Sutherland

I donned my fresh-out-of-the-bag sand-coloured Orvis upland pants and headed to the Warsaw Caves in late October. Textured abrasion on the legs helped navigate the slick, wet kettles and mossy, stony descents with no discernible wear and tear. It was a cool day, between five and 12 degrees. The pants are cotton, so I was cold at first — too chilly to sit for long on the ground — but became more comfortable as morning wore on.

These relaxed-fit pants were breathable and roomy, made movement easy, and the lighter colour made tick checking afterwards easy. I appreciated the deep pockets (a welcome reprieve from the veritable desert of women’s clothes general lack of on-person storage), but I wondered why the men’s line offered an inseam length while the women’s did not. Being petite, I’ll have to have them hemmed at some point, or else continue stuffing them into my boots.

These field pants were resistant to the burs and briar bushes on a later upland scouting trip and provided moderate dryness against morning dew and rain drizzles on further excursions. Aside from lacking length options and the pants being costly with the US exchange rate and shipping, I’m glad I took a chance on these upland pants.

Upland Briar Field

llbean.ca
Men’s classic fit, waist 32-48″, inseam 29-33″
$195
Tested by OOD Editor Ray Blades

I’ve hunted the thick and inhospitable grouse and woodcock bushes of Ontario enough times in jeans to know the value of a good pair of upland brush pants. So, I was curious to know how these would perform. I hunted with them last year from October to early November, in mild fall conditions in a mix of overgrown farmland, tall grasses, old orchards, and hedgerows, as well as varying forests with blowdowns and swamp.

I liked the pants. I’d classify their abrasion resistance as medium — perfect for average use — with limited pushes through hawthorn patches and thick sapling stands. I never felt overdressed or underprotected. They were perfect for early to mid-season hunting. There is enough flex in the material, articulated knees, and a section of stretch-band waist to remain comfortable maneuvering over downed trees and climbing hills. I do appreciate that both rear pockets are generous and zipped, keeping my wallet and car keys secure. They are made from 100% nylon plain weave, available in one colour, dark mushroom, inseams from 29 to 33 inches, and waists from 32 to 48.

Kortni Upland Pant

dsgouterwear.com
Women’s sizes 2 petite-16 tall
$234
Tested by OFAH NXT-GEN Ambassador Kelsi Doughty

It’s hard to find women’s hunting pants that are not only functional, but also appealing. These pants are made for women to have practical hunts and feel comfortable. I tested them in the early season, for October bow hunts and feeding my stands. I also wore them to the duck blind to see if they would pass the water resistance test — they sure did. The water simply beads off and doesn’t leave a trace.

These pants are made with Nylon/Spandex 4-way stretch fabric, which made them durable and very comfortable. The high-waisted aspect made it easy to tuck in my undershirts to help keep out ticks or other bugs. There are large pockets on both thighs for phone, licences, and other things.

Vents on the legs are nice for walks into the stand in early season. I also like that they come in petite sizes for the shorter ladies.

One thing missing for me is a drawstring at the base of the legs.

I like to cinch the gap between the boots and the pants. Another thing is they aren’t very quiet walking through the woods. Not ideal for spot-and-stalk hunts. The Kortni pants are also too thin for cold-weather hunts. DSG has insulated pants for those cold days.

Decathlon Hunting Trousers Renfort 520

decathlon.ca
Men’s sizes S-3XL
$65

Tested by OOD Art Director Tamas Pal

I prefer to underpay for my gear. The outdoor world is rife with underpriced gems. Sadly, these pants aren’t one of them.

The Renfort 520 looks like other bush pants I own, but the material is too light for the Ontario bush. You’ll feel thorns, even through the reinforced parts (an extra layer of cotton with some polyester). It also collects burrs.

Water repellence isn’t bad. I hit the fields after a rain and the reinforced parts kept out the wet on short outings.

Decathlon’s ordering and returns were a hassle. The website’s sizing guide had me enter my age, weight, height, and body shape before spitting out a recommended size. I found a sizing chart but it went by hip size (not waist like most of us are used to). So, the pants ended up a little tight in the waist.

I found out after ordering that returns can only be done in person, at the store. The closest store being 1.5 hours from me meant I needed to lay off the cheesecake to be able to test them. They’re just OK. The price is right though.