•   Bekleidung

Hunting in the comfort zone


Text: editorial team, photos: Rolf Brenner, Paul Brilisauer, Gunther Stoschek

It goes without saying that some professional Alpine hunters still go around wearing traditional leather trousers and loden coats. Still to this day, they place a lot of importance on maintaining a traditional appearance to the outside world. But when these hunters aren’t out shooting with guests, they can often be found out and about in much more appropriate clothing. Their shirts, coats and trousers are often purchased from mountain sports outfitters. And it’s no wonder, as textile development is extremely advanced in this field, especially as unsuitable clothing can lead to life-threatening situations.

This sphere is where we found the textile engineers who designed the HunTec collection for Blaser from scratch. Professional hunter Otto Schratz from Tyrol and his guest Max from Munich were two of the first to experience the benefits of this clothing range during a chamois hunting week in the Tyrolean Alps.

In den hoch gelegenen Teil von Ottos Revier führt kein befahrbarer Weg hinauf. Das bedeutet einen langen, beschwerlichen Aufstieg. Das neue Camo- Design sorgt auch hier für allerbeste Tarnwirkung.
In den hoch gelegenen Teil von Ottos Revier führt kein befahrbarer Weg hinauf. Das bedeutet einen langen, beschwerlichen Aufstieg. Das neue Camo- Design sorgt auch hier für allerbeste Tarnwirkung.
Ein schmaler, steiler Fußweg entlang nasser Felsen. Gutes Schuhwerk ist hier genauso wichtig wie atmungsaktive und robuste Bekleidung
Ein schmaler, steiler Fußweg entlang nasser Felsen. Gutes Schuhwerk ist hier genauso wichtig wie atmungsaktive und robuste Bekleidung
Schnell die leichte Venture 3L Jacke übergezogen und man bleibt auch bei einem kräftigen Regenschauer trocken. (Abb. in Uni-Farbe Highland grün)
Schnell die leichte Venture 3L Jacke übergezogen und man bleibt auch bei einem kräftigen Regenschauer trocken. (Abb. in Uni-Farbe Highland grün)

We were particularly excited to hear Otto’s thoughts, as he is the type of hunter who is always somewhat sceptical of this new kind of clothing. And as Tyrolean hunters aren’t exactly known for their gushing words of praise, his summary delighted us all the more. Translated from his thick Tyrolean dialect, he said: “I instantly felt ten years younger in the clothes, they’re that lightweight and comfortable. Like a second skin. And yet still so robust. I’d never have believed it.”

It’s true: Everyone who slips into the new HunTec jackets and trousers for the first time instantly feels this unprecedented lightness and freedom of motion. Both are the result of totally innovative, patented dress cuts and state-of-the-art lightweight materials. Not only are the materials highly resistant, but they also ensure the perfect microclimate around the body. This goes for every piece in the HunTec collection, whose jackets and trousers are designed for a wide range of climatic conditions.
In the right combination, they ensure sensational well-being in all weather conditions, and it’s all thanks to the onion principle. People come to treasure these invaluable benefits, not only on arduous mountain hunts, but also on the short way uphill to your post when you are at a driven hunt. It’s so nice to wait it out there for several hours feeling dry and warm, and then be able to cock your weapon so effortlessly, almost as if you’re only wearing a light fleece.

HunTec Camo: Für das Wild sind die Konturen der beiden Jäger so gut wie nicht sichtbar.
HunTec Camo: Für das Wild sind die Konturen der beiden Jäger so gut wie nicht sichtbar.
HunTec Camo: Für das Wild sind die Konturen der beiden Jäger so gut wie nicht sichtbar.
HunTec Camo: Für das Wild sind die Konturen der beiden Jäger so gut wie nicht sichtbar.
Gut getarnt hinter den Felsen. Noch aber steht die Gams nicht breit, es gilt nun Ruhe zu bewahren.
Gut getarnt hinter den Felsen. Noch aber steht die Gams nicht breit, es gilt nun Ruhe zu bewahren.
Ottos Waidmannsheil kommt von Herzen. Der Schuss sitzt perfekt, die alte Gams lag im Knall. Max lässt es sich natürlich nicht nehmen, seine Beute selbst ins Tal zu tragen.
Ottos Waidmannsheil kommt von Herzen. Der Schuss sitzt perfekt, die alte Gams lag im Knall. Max lässt es sich natürlich nicht nehmen, seine Beute selbst ins Tal zu tragen.

The sublime effect of Blaser’s completely redesigned camouflage pattern really comes into its own when hunting alone. The pattern enables the human figure to totally blend in with the surrounding greenery, especially in the mountains or in vast moorlands and heaths, almost all-year round.

As going hunting in “full camo” isn’t to everyone’s taste, particularly in densely populated regions, every piece in the HunTec collection is also available in a plain not-too-dark green. Unlike the dark green of loden jackets, this colour also creates a really good camouflage effect. Matching plain-coloured trousers with a camouflage jacket, on the other hand, pairs camouflage properties with a refreshingly casual sports look. As you can see, there is no limit to the combinations you can create to suit your personal needs and taste.

SOLID – die HunTec-Kollektion in Unifarben Nicht zu dunkel und damit perfekt an die Vegetation im Sommer und im Herbst angepasst.
SOLID – die HunTec-Kollektion in Unifarben Nicht zu dunkel und damit perfekt an die Vegetation im Sommer und im Herbst angepasst.
CAMO – die HunTec- Kollektion mit bester Tarnwirkung, insbesondere im alpinen Gelände.
CAMO – die HunTec- Kollektion mit bester Tarnwirkung, insbesondere im alpinen Gelände.
CAMO UND SOLID Alles lässt sich kombinieren. Bei bester Funktionalität ein Hauch von legerer Sportlichkeit.
CAMO UND SOLID Alles lässt sich kombinieren. Bei bester Funktionalität ein Hauch von legerer Sportlichkeit.

PASSION: What do you need more when developing a totally new clothing range like HunTec – courage or enthusiasm?

Andreas: Definitely both. Lots of both. Blaser has always impressed me in this regard. Initially, I fell in love with the F3 shotgun above anything else. I love going to the clay pigeon shooting range just as much as I love hunting feathered game – when I have the time and the opportunity to, that is. I was later impressed by similar qualities of the R8, such as its precision and modularity. And because I was working in the textile industry, I soon realised that the strengths of the rifles weren’t necessarily reflected in Blaser Outfits products at the time.
Kenneth: I have vivid memories of the discussions – which went on for nights on end – of how we could pull off translating the philosophy of the R8 to Blaser Outfits. Developing a totally new collection is a complex task.
Andreas: It doesn’t happen without enthusiasm. Ultimately we just had to find out, so we got started. Together with our development team consisting of hunters and textile designers, we set out to find definitive answers to the following questions: “How should an R8 clothing collection be structured to make it just as modular as the R8 itself?” and “How would that have an impact on the functionality of the individual pieces in the collection?”

Andreas Binder arbeitet seit mehr als 20 Jahren in der Outdoor- und Jagdbranche. Der Blaser Outfits-Chef ist mit der Jagd aufgewachsen und gibt diese Tradition bereits an seine Söhne weiter.
Andreas Binder arbeitet seit mehr als 20 Jahren in der Outdoor- und Jagdbranche. Der Blaser Outfits-Chef ist mit der Jagd aufgewachsen und gibt diese Tradition bereits an seine Söhne weiter.
Kenneth Kurtzweg hat mehr als 20 Jahre Erfahrung als Textilingenieur. Der gebührtige Amerikaner ist immer auf der Suche nach neuen Textil-Technologien und dem nächsten Bike-Trail.
Kenneth Kurtzweg hat mehr als 20 Jahre Erfahrung als Textilingenieur. Der gebührtige Amerikaner ist immer auf der Suche nach neuen Textil-Technologien und dem nächsten Bike-Trail.

PASSION: Where’s the best place to start?

Kenneth: The most important property of any clothing range is comfort. That was our starting point.
Andreas: Absolutely. After all, if you feel at ease, you will be focused on hunting in that crucial moment, increasing your chances of making the shot.
Kenneth: Comfort for the hunter is created through attributes such as breathability and thermoregulation. If the body does not have to use up energy maintaining its temperature, that energy will be available for the hunt itself. In fact, up to 50 percent of the body’s energy is used to maintain a steady temperature.
Andreas: In specific terms: The newly developed Precision Thermo Regulation (PTR) system strikes the optimum balance between breathability and thermoregulation. The different layers are perfectly coordinated here. The external shell, for example the Venture 3L jacket, protects the hunter, while a midlayer such as the Flash Midlayer jacket absorbs moisture.
Kenneth: Processing technologies also create smart, functional textiles, so that different zones could also be designed within a layer. Always with the hunter’s activity level in mind.
Andreas: Another important prerequisite for comfort is the freedom of motion that our jackets and trousers offer. In the best-case scenario, the wearer doesn’t even notice the clothing, for example when they take the shot. We designed a completely new cut to achieve this…

PASSION: … and you’ve already filed for patent?

Andreas: Correct. Just like our camouflage pattern. By the way, initial feedback from our customers has been very positive. Hearing this makes it easy to move past the one or two momentary difficulties. We would have the courage to do it again at any time – in fact, we already are. We are currently working on the 2022 collections. The expertise we have acquired is also flowing into other areas of hunting here, that much I can tell you.

Die cleveren Details zeigen, dass die Kollektion von Jägern für Jäger gemacht ist.
Die cleveren Details zeigen, dass die Kollektion von Jägern für Jäger gemacht ist.

Want HunTec?

High-tech fibres and a sophisticated layer principle: The new HunTec range offers active hunters the right outfit for active hunting.

Explore the entire Blaser HunTec collection at
www.blaser.de or https://store.blaser.de and watch the first HunTec hunting film “The Hunter’s Journey”.