Quiet, durable and keeping you comfortable and stink-free, ScentLok’s BE:1 Voyage Jacket and Pant need to be on your hunt apparel wishlist.
by Darron McDougal
I remember the encounter vividly. It was 2002, and the snow came early in Wisconsin. With it came biting cold temperatures. I was in my teens and dressed in the camo I had, which was insufficient for the unseasonably cold October temperatures. But, I could tough it out and take advantage of what I believed would be an excellent afternoon for deer movement. I climbed a poplar tree and settled in.
The longer I sat, the colder I became. I didn’t realize how cold I was until a beautiful buck appeared in the timber behind the alfalfa field I was watching. Carefully, I stood and grabbed my bow from its hook. The buck meandered toward the field and entered it 15 yards below me. Quartering away and unaware of my presence, the buck offered me a “gimme.”
My quivering body displayed how cold I’d become, and the fact that I couldn’t get my bowstring to full draw solidified it. I tried everything I could muster, but between my cold, stiff muscles and restrictive clothing, I could not reach full draw until it finally happened as the buck moseyed beyond my self-imposed limit for shot distance. What a bummer!
I learned then and there that to enjoy hunting—especially bowhunting—and be effective at it, one must dress in apparel designed for the conditions, which doesn’t restrict mobility. And during my 23 years of hunting since that frigid afternoon, the dilemma of being unable to hit full draw hasn’t plagued me again.
Hello, ScentLok
In my 24 years of hunting, I’ve worn and hunted in camo from several different manufacturers. It’s a given that all camo isn’t equal, but there are some definite standouts, especially if you’re a serious hunter looking for some advantages. ScentLok is one of those standout hunting apparel brands. I’ve owned a heap of ScentLok clothing, but I hunted from October through November last fall wearing the BE:1 Voyager Jacket and Pant and a few other key ScentLok accessories. Here are my thoughts.
Dead Silent ScentLok Clothing
One of the attributes I value most in hunting apparel is silence. I’ve put my hands on tons of different apparel, and I’m continually alarmed by how noisy some fabrics are. When slipping through a thicket or drawing my bow, my apparel cannot make a peep. ScentLok’s BE:1 Voyage Jacket and Pant deliver. They feature premium fleece construction that is dead silent no matter what motion I make, which goes for both garments’ interior and exterior. If I were to have a shooter buck 10 yards away on a calm morning when a leaf crunch sounds more like shattering glass, I’d want to be in the Voyage Jacket and Pant as I shift and draw my bow. The system is dependably quiet.
ScentLok’s Unreal Comfort & Reliable Scent Control
As you probably recall from my opening anecdote, comfort amidst varying conditions is another big deal. The Voyage Jacket and Pant ace that category, too. Precip-X technology is designed to repel rain and other liquids, such as blood from a deer or elk you’ve harvested. The garments are also champs at moisture-wicking to maximize comfort during hunting’s more active moments. I experienced that while bowhunting deer with a 3-D decoy one to two miles from the road in Kansas last November.
Let’s not forget Carbon Alloy technology geared toward scent control using a proprietary blend of treated carbon, activated carbon, and zeolite. The technology adsorbs odors as your body emits them. I do almost all of my hunting on the ground, and I have to play the wind since I’m in and out of my vehicle and bouncing between spots. But Carbon Alloy kept my clothing fresh despite my miles of hiking in warm weather. Not once did my clothing start to become raunchy, which isn’t always true of other camo I’ve worn during ultra-active hunts.
ScentLok’s Unrestrictive Build
Next, I require apparel that maximizes my range of motion, especially when bowhunting and moving actively on the ground. The Voyage Jacket is tailored with details that enhance the range of motion so you can effortlessly climb a tree, shift into a shooting position, and draw your bow. The fabric has a level of elasticity so that the fabric moves with you rather than bunching up. The articulated elbows also streamline upper-body movements. The cuffs are rigged with spandex and zippers to create a secure fit while providing ample bowstring clearance. This doesn’t apply to me since I primarily hunt from the ground. Still, the jacket also sports a zippered safety port, which allows the hunter to wear the harness underneath the jacket, reducing restriction and bulk while allowing Carbon Alloy to conceal any of the harness’ odors.
The Pants are cut from the same cloth. A non-bulky, secure fit doesn’t inhibit the motions required to traverse a steep incline, army crawl during a stalk, or climb a crooked tree. Like the jacket, the fabric has some elasticity that moves with you during athletic aspects of the hunt to prevent restriction.
Places to Put Stuff In Your ScentLok Clothing
Finally, I like handy storage options so that I’m not forced to carry a pack on quick outings and can remain mobile. The Voyage Jacket offers a simple but effective four-pocket design. I found the chest pockets ideal for storing my truck keys, an extra camera battery, and my wind checker. When the chill sets in, the lower pockets suit stowing gloves and a thin beanie. I also put my hands in them for extra comfort during inactive moments.
The Voyage Pant also offers simple, practical storage. With six pockets, there are plenty of options for your hands, a phone, wallet, SD cards, protein bars, licenses/tags, deer calls not on lanyards, gutting gloves, a folding knife, and a small flashlight. Again, I appreciate that I can keep all the essentials for a quick outing on my person without hauling a pack, keeping me mobile as I dart in and out of thickets or put the sneak on a bedded buck.
Last But Not Least
My Voyage Jacket and Pants have Realtree’s Escape camo pattern, but they are also available in Mossy Oak Terra Outland and Mossy Oak Terra Gila. Escape is very versatile for settings ranging from Kansas to my home ground in Wisconsin.
I also have the Voyager Bib and the Reactor Heated Vest when the temperatures drop slightly. Still, I only had to wear them a couple of times because my October and November hunts showed me balmier temperatures than I’m used to. I do suggest these pieces since October and November can be unpredictable.
I killed my Kansas buck while wearing the Reactor Heated Vest (heat off; it was 71 degrees that day) as my outer garment, which worked beautifully to keep my core warm as the temperatures fell during the final half hour of the hunt.
Although the Voyage garments are ideal for bowhunting, I didn’t hesitate to wear them during a rifle mule deer hunt. A few times during all-day hunts, the winds were so high and unbearable that I found a side hill to lay down on for a nap, and even though I was inactive, I stayed warm and comfortable. Much like my Kansas whitetail hunt, my mule deer hunt was highly successful.
After putting these ScentLok garments through their paces this past hunting season, I can confidently suggest them. They’re dead silent, extremely comfortable, and keep you that way during mid-season conditions. They nail the scent-control aspect. They’re non-restrictive. They have simple, convenient, and effective storage for essentials and small accessories. And, they are offered in three different camo patterns so that you can blend in wherever. That’s all you can ask for in hunting apparel.
