Hitting the field with 10x BaseCamp camo from the Walls company. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
In early 2016, the Walls company, known for their durable lines of construction-style workwear, debuted a full hunting apparel lineup called 10X. In January 2017, the company broke news that the current 10X camo clothing will soon be re-branded as Walls Pro Series. Guns.com reviewed the initial 10X gear during the Fall 2016 hunting season. Here’s the lowdown on what has the potential to be the best line of hunting gear you don’t yet know about.
Who makes this camo?
Detail of zipper on men’s 10x Camo jacket. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
Though everything seems to run through the Walls brand of rugged wear, Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company is actually the parent brand. Based out of Fort Worth, Texas, the family-owned company better known as Dickies has been in the apparel business since 1922 and knows their way around quality garments. Whether dressing farmers or laborers for long days in the field or producing workwear uniforms, they have a track record of clothing that stands up to abuse. Naturally, when they ventured into the hunting market, they had my attention. Yet it seems that however many hardcore hunters I talk to, they’re largely unaware of what is now the Walls Outdoor Goods hunting line.
What is 10X
Sleeve detail of men’s BaseCamp jacket. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
The existing 10X hunting clothing system is structured as follows to allow for all sorts of hunting climates, and includes both men’s and women’s options: baselayer, midlayer, insulator, outerlayer, rainlayer, and ultra-lite. Men’s sizes run M-3XL ( 28-54-inch waists) while women’s sizes run S-2XL (covering 4-22 pants sizes) and the same wide ranges in tops. One thing we found across the board in both sexes is the cut is very generous, allowing for ample under-layering. If anything, order a size down from your norm.
They use quality technologies and components, including Primaloft Silver Insulation and 3M Thinsulate. The heart of all their gear centers on what the company calls Scentrex, its proprietary scent management system. Borrowing from the medical industry, Scentrex has a mineral base and is designed to capture and control 99% human odor-causing bacteria. Interestingly, the technology is also breathable and regenerates between launderings, being labeled as effective up to 50 washings. We know what they do, but how are the actual garments? Here’s what we tested:
Branding on men’s 10x BaseCamp Camo jacket. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
BaseCamp Jacket
This is labeled as a mens’ camo jacket, but could certainly be unisex. So-named BaseCamp because it’s popular not just as a hunting layer, but as a great and comfortable lightweight mid-layer for banging around hunting camp, running to the store for supplies or scouting fields, the jacket is available in Breakup Country, Realtree Xtra, and Realtree Max5. Though listed as 100% polyester fleece, it’s more of a sweater-knit feel and appearance with a full zipper. The company’s falcon-color accents dress up the jacket and handwarmer pockets are a nice addition. MSRP $66.99.
Men’s Scentrex Lockdown Jacket and Pants
Detail of men’s 10x Scentrex Lockdown Camo pants. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
These outer layers are the heart of the 10X hunting suit. Both the pants and jacket are available in either Mossy Oak Breakup Country or Realtree Xtra. Each has a durable water repellent treated face, are double-layer bonded, and wear YKK zippers. The Jacket has two front hand warmer pockets, two chest pockets, one sleeve pocket, an adjustable hem, inner sleeve cuff and athletic fit. Looks are accented by the falcon shoulder-trim color.
Great flexibility with the athletic pre-articulated cut. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
The pants have similar falcon pocket trim, pre-articulated legs for a full range of motion and an athletic fit. Legs zip to knee-height for easy donning and doffing with boots. They have two cargo pockets and one rear security pocket. All Lockdown garments are anti-pill treated as well for long life. MSRP on the jacket is $161.99-183.99 and pants $141.99-162.99 depending on sizing.
Women’s Scentrex Lockdown Jacket and Pants
The initial 10X women’s wear features the same fabric and features as the men’s, but cut for a woman. They also added fuchsia trim, though according to a company rep at SHOT 2017, the pink will be phased out when they rebrand as Walls Pro Series. I’m happy to hear this, as pink adds no benefit whatsoever in the field, and this is serious hunting gear.
Women’s 10x Camo jacket – coming soon without the pink. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
Like the men’s Lockdown outfit, these are also water repellent, available in the same duo of Breakup Country or Realtree Xtra camo patterns. The jacket has two front hand warmer pockets, two chest pockets, and one sleeve pocket. Both top and bottom are wind-resistant, silent, and breathable. And my favorite feature that the menswear does not have — the Velcro adjustable wrist cuffs. Pants also show two front pockets, two zippered leg pockets, falcon contrast knee panels, and knee-height zippers. Legs are pre-curved and articulated for range of motion with two-way stretch and an athletic fit. MSRP on the jacket is $141.99 and pants $121.99
Conclusion
We were amazed by the comfort, durability, and quality of the gear. Sizing is generous, cut for movement and hardcore hunting, and best of all, some of the most silent apparel on the market.
Crouching in the women’s 10x Camo pants is easy. (Photo: Kristin Alberts)
From pocket placement to fabric choices, it’s clear the 10X/Walls lines were designed and created by hunters. Given that the company will really only be changing the logo and name of the garments, we’d get out there and grab the “old” 10X, especially if distributors are clearing it out to make room for the newer Walls Pro Series. For the most part, Walls Pro Series will just be a new logo on the same gear, though rumor is they will be adding new garments. So keep an eye on Guns.com as we try to get our paws on some of the new-for-fall-2017 Walls Pro additions to an already noteworthy hunting lineup.
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