Core 4 Element Company!

[ElkNut1]

Recently my Son & I had a couple small issues with the SwitchBack & Element Pants, nothing major but small things that could shorten their life span. I contacted them & they were eager to help us out & replace them! Their service was outstanding & much appreciated! I just felt that others should know what a reputable company they are & that they stand behind their products, that's awesome to see in this day & age! We also have bought just about all their merino wool & outer hunting wear, it's very good stuff! We picked most all up on camofire, great place to save a buck! (grin) Anyone else try out the Core 4 Element line?

ElkNut1

[ctdad]

I have a couple of their shirts and I love the beanie too. Been thinking about pulling the trigger on the pants. May have to give them a try.

[Miller1]

I just got my 190 zip t and beanie, shirt fits perfect! Very impressed.

[Broken arrow]

I have the pants can't remember which? The ones with the vents for the crouch and knee pads. Been using them here in mo in some nasty thorn choked thickets and they are awesome! Knee pads felt a little weird at first but now I don't even notice them till I knee down and enjoy the comfort. My daughter and I even belly crawled 100 yds to get a 50 yd shot at a nice doe. But doe fever got the best of her and she missed I thought they'd be warmer than my Alaskan guide series pants but they are about the same. Only complaint is the elastic draw strings at the bottom leg opening both broke first time I tried them. No big deal as I use gators a lot anyways. Two thumbs up for me! Love the merino beanie thin and light yet very warm. Great product!

[TheBuzz]

I have pretty much bought the entire line from Base Layer to vest...and the Protective, rain shell, I lack the outer Jacket - still saving up for that one - all from Camofire, I do like the quality, and so far no problems, knee pads felt different, but soon forgot about them, until I knelt down and they are a plus....your can always remove them, if you like. Not sure if the Jacket is meant to be their "insulating" layer...

[ElkNut1]

TheBuzz, welcome! I have the Element Jacket & it's not a heavy bulky one at all. I can wear it easily over one or two base layers & still bowhunt or rifle hunt comfortably. It's very warm & a heck of a wind breaker as well. I haven't been in too much rain with it but it's resitant to moisture but I wouldn't tag it as 100% waterproof, of course this is how Core4 represents it too, that it's water resistant. It's a very good jacket!

ElkNut1

[POk3s]

I plan to have a lot more core4 this fall also. Loved my merino top. Need one or two more of those, a pair of pants and the rain gear.

[TheBuzz]

TheBuzz, welcome! I have the Element Jacket & it's not a heavy bulky one at all. I can wear it easily over one or two base layers & still bowhunt or rifle hunt comfortably. It's very warm & a heck of a wind breaker as well. I haven't been in too much rain with it but it's resitant to moisture but I wouldn't tag it as 100% waterproof, of course this is how Core4 represents it too, that it's water resistant. It's a very good jacket!

ElkNut1

Thanks for the welcome, and good to know that the Element Jacket is what I was hoping it would do....insulate, but not bulky.....others have said they would like a hood attached to it, but I perfer not, as I pick up too much noise when moving my brain bucket....lol

[TheBuzz]

I plan to have a lot more core4 this fall also. Loved my merino top. Need one or two more of those, a pair of pants and the rain gear.

...the old saying is true....cotton Kills....I have always loved wool and I can wear it up against the skin with no side effects...2013 is :purge my cotton and switch to a wool blend for ALL I wear...it makes a difference...

[ORelksniper]

A few days ago I received my Core4 Mid Mountain vest from Camofire.
I was pretty skeptical when I saw it...very thin and extremely light weight.
Wore it on a little snowshoeing adventure yesterday with a merino wool base layer and really
was surprised. At 17 degrees I was warm and comfortable. I'm sold on this stuff. Also, because of you
guys I discovered Core4 and Camofire. Thanks for the tips.

[MTLongdraw]

Elknut,
After reading this post I went to their website to check them out. To say the least I was very pleased and have since bought items from them through Camofire. I will second what you said about their customer service. They have gone above and beyond in making me happy. In return I will be buying a lot of stuff from them in the near future. Hope other elknuters get a chance to check them out. You won't be disapointed.

[ctdad]

Does anyone have experience with the torrent rain pants?

Are they truly water proof?

Does the material absorb water and become heavy or does it repel water?

Any other comments appreciated.

[ElkNut1]

I haven't tried them but came close several times on pulling the trigger, just didn't know if they were worth the 100 bucks or not? (grin) I sure do like the rest of their lineup though!

ElkNut1

[huntabsarokee]

I and a buddy picked up a pair of the Torrent rain pants on camo fire but we both had to return them as the inseam was way too long. Around 34". I normally wear a 32" and they were too long and dragging that is for size L. From what I know Core 4 has changed the inseam because it was an issue but heard the new model may not hit camo fire until the end of summer. I guess you can buy them direct now. I checked them out while I had them and they were nice but obviously didn't try them out in the rain. Seem like they are worth $100 or slightly more. I will buy another pair when I see them on camo fire for that price. My buddy got and kept the Torrent jacket and he likes it.

[Chukarhunter]

Just checked out the Core4 website. They're having a 25% off sale of all 2012 merchandise, as well as free shipping.
Sounds like a pretty good deal for anyone in the market!!

[TheBuzz]

So, after a long break, actually too long, I am glad to be back...
Regarding C4E and Camofire....My Long Sleave, Mothwing C4E Zipper Top, well the YKK zipper messed up, Now the one year ( return and replace) warranty had expired, but Camofire said that if I mailed it to them, they would get it repaired....No Charge.....so other than a little shipping $, I was pleased...

[ElkNut1]

Wow, that is great! They have been a very good company! Thanks!

ElkNut1

[elkmule123]

I've very pleased with both companys as well. My switchback pants seam started to come undone. Like the previous posts, I just to it to camofire and they got it fixed. I started of with the switchback pant and one of their tops and have sense expanded to multiple core4 products.

[nrocchio]

I am glad I saw this! I was thinking of getting the first lite merino wool hoodie and saw that Core4 had something similar at a much more affordable price. Thanks for sharing.

[Rizzy]

How does the switchback pant do in the warm weather? I'm looking for something cooler than my Kuiu attack pant.

[TheBuzz]

How does the switchback pant do in the warm weather? I'm looking for something cooler than my Kuiu attack pant.

Well, I wore them yesterday / last night in the stand / 50*F and breezy ... Just merino boxers and they were fine. They have zipper vents at mid thigh, and down by the boot.

I just bought the Elevation Jacket for those < 20*F midwest tree stand sitting for hours at a time....I definitely needed a " insulating layer " of Down or Permaloft. Plan to wear it a lot till Jan 15.

[Njdiverdan]

Add me to the list that loves my C4E. I also have just about the whole line from camofire. I do not have the rain pants but do have the rain jacket and like it. Really like the element pants. A little warm if it is above 30-35 degrees, as they are lined but I lived in these for most of elk season. I am on the opposite end of the spectrum on sizing and am really happy on the long inseams and sleeves as I am 6'5" and most "tech" clothes do not come in my size.

[pointysticks]

the built in knee-pads..genius!!

dang threads!

[Calbuck]

Does anyone have experience with the torrent rain pants?

Are they truly water proof?

Does the material absorb water and become heavy or does it repel water?

Any other comments appreciated.

I spent an entire day in a downpour packing out my bull in Idaho with the Torrent rain gear on. I did get a little damp at the waist and fore arms. That said, I've never stayed COMPLETELY dry in rain like that.

[BadgerStateBugler]

I found out about C4E and camofire on this site 2 seasons ago, thanks by the way! I have since bought the full line of pants in the mothwing camo pattern...Switchback, Highline, Element and Torrent. As well as 2 merino tops, the Element Jacket and Torrent Jacket. Every piece has its place in a layering system. I started my season in late Sept hunting CO for elk, temps ranged from 38 to 70 degrees. The Switchback pants with a 1/4zip merino top were my choice, I wore them for an entire week and noticed no odor. In the evenings I would slip on a first lite merino vest and my Element jacket. One time I still had a chill so I threw my torrent jacket over the top and stayed plenty warm! The Switchback pants have an internal leg strap that allows you to roll the pant legs up to make them almost like a capri pant. My buddies laughed at me until I was the only one not sweating my arse off while packing out a bull on an unseasonably warm day.
Once I got back to Wisconsin and eventually found the time to hit the whitetail woods in late October, I again chose the C4E line-up. I started with the hooded merino top, followed by the 1/4zip merino top, element jacket and added the torrent jacket and pants while sitting a cold uneventful morning on stand. After helping the farmer hand mix and pour 62 bags of concrete for a sidewalk near the milk house I went back to the woods. While preparing to head back to the woods I spotted a nice buck chasing 4 does back in a valley, I quickly grabbed by bow and went after them. I stalked around the hill that I saw them head towards and got just to the crest of the hill on their side, knelt down and rattled my Primos horns. The buck had bedded down just below the crest of the hill within 20yds of my location. I heard him stand up and saw his rack going broadside, I quickly drew back and stopped him at 12yds, he stared me down but the Mothwing Mountain Mimicry did its job as he stepped out from behind a small sapling I sent a Rage Extreme through him! My first archery kill after 12 years of hunting. The buck was a nice 10pt approx. 15 1/2- 16inch inside spread.
Wisconsin's gun deer season opens the Saturday before thanksgiving. 2013 morning temps were in the single digits with well below zero wind chills. I used the C4E Torrent jacket and pant as my outside wind protection layer with many, many layers of fleece and long underwear beneath that. I was able to sit in a hang on treestand from sun up until sundown with out leaving. The Torrent line was plenty quiet enough even in those extreme temps and the Mothwing Mountain Mimicry pattern worked great to break up my outline in the leafless late fall trees. 2014 wasn't nearly as cold on the opening day but I again turned to my C4E gear for a long day on stand. This time I started with the 2 merino tops and merino bottoms, a pair of cabelas fleece wader pants, and C4E Highline Pant. Once I hiked into my stand I threw on my Element pants and jacket. As the winds picked up later in the morning I grabbed my Torrent pants and jacket and was able to sit through the damp foggy morning and harvest a mature 11pt at 1:15 in the afternoon. (The Torrent line doesn't seem to absorb water during an average rain, I haven't been out in a monsoon yet though)
I have been watching this forum for the past 2 years since I gained an interest in elk hunting and now western hunting in general. I just can't get enough!! So thanks to everyone that contributes their great knowledge of western hunting and the gear that goes with it. Guys like me from the Midwest appreciate every bit of intel we can get on gear, hunting methods, and GMUs.

Happy New Year

[Elkduds]

BSB, welcome to the forum, as an eventual poster. Glad to hear from another fan of Mothwing, I really like that pattern. I have Sitka ascent pants in mothwing, hoping they last 4ever.

[BadgerStateBugler]

I am hoping that Core4 brings back that pattern in a few years, it is incredibly versatile and it looks cool too!! Or maybe they will go with the Predator camo pattern, which in my opinion is unmatched at breaking up your outline. I am not sure what I think of every hunting clothing manufacturer coming out with their own pattern.....Sitka, Kuiu, now First Lite, and under armour. Any thoughts from other hunters on the patented patterns coming out?