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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: NBK on October 30, 2010, 01:26:00 AM
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Still on my quest for new hunting clothes. Narrowed it down to these two. The way I see it the cost is about the same but neither is cheap so working real hard to research this "investment". For those of you that may have had/tried both which did you prefer and why? I'm a big fan of predator camo but we all know camo's overrated. I need something that #1 I can walk in without being weighed down. #2 I treestand hunt alot so I need to be able to layer under it down to about 40degrees (heater body suit if it goes below that). And #3 The most weather resistant, i.e. a sudden shower/ misting rain. And yes, made in the U.S. is a factor giving the nod to Gray Wolf because I'm so sick of seeing "Made in China". Thanks for all responses.
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I am interested to see some responses to your question. I have never owned either but have considered both as well. You answered your own question though.
USA
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I have both. Haven't used my Wolfskin in 4 years.
DWR and lightweight is a wash.
Layering--Sitka
Breathability--Sitka
The thing you will like most about your Sitka Gear if you buy it properly is it does not have to be baggy and loose fitting to be comfortable. It stretched and moves with you.
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I use Wolf Skin for warm and cool weather hunting and love it.
It is a little warm but when it is hot outside what isn't.
Big plus for me is the Predator patterns. Spring Green, Fall Gray and Brown our my favorite patterns plus it is light weight, very durable, and water resistant.
It is not going to keep dry in a downpour but dew on the ground or light showers it holds up very well. Also it drys very quickly.
Another plus is the GGW is made to your specs. It is custom made and they will add or take away pretty much whatever you like.
Do not be afraid to ask for options that are not listed. It is can be sewn Lori will take care of it.
I have tried Sitka gear, sold a long time ago, and it is good clothing but I prefer the GGW Wolf Skin.
Hope this helps.
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Don`t forgot to check out Day One...they make some good qaulity clothing as well.
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I haven't owned Sitka so can't give you a comparison. I'm thinking of buying another set of camo myself and these are the 2 I would consider as well.
Plenty of people like Sitka so I'm sure it's good stuff. I do wonder about it for layering though. If it is made to fit tight to your body how does other stuff fit underneath?
I have a set of GW Wolfskin now that I absolutely love. Quiet, sheds light rain, custom tailored, loose enough to layer up underneath. And while I agree camo can be over rated, I love Predator or other large paaterns. In certain situations I believe it DOES make a difference.
In my mind the GW is more versitle. One set and wear whatever else you need under it. Sitka seems like you would need a bunch of diiferent outfits to cover all the extremes.
But I'd love to hear from the Sitka guys before I make up my mind. Steve, is there one Sitka product that would be best for layering up?
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Joe it is counter intuitive to have one item of clothing that is best for layering up. The Sitka Gear is designed to be layered and used together. It doesn't bind, it moves with you. If nothing else, YOU of all people should pick up a pair of Ascent or Mountain pants for elk hunting. Instead of binding and holding your legs back with each step up the mountain, those pants feel like the help lift your legs...no kidding! Check with Fikkert.
I have purposely added layer upon layer of SG to test it. No matter how hot I was and pouring out sweat, I was never uncomfortable. To give you an idea how well it pulls moisture out without leaving you cold and clammy, I wrecked a Blackberry in my outside pocket of a Celsius jacket last year from wearing it on a long ridge filled walk to stand one morning. You can have a half dozen layer of SG on and not feel all bound up.
One more illustration for you. One year at Compton, I had Denny Sturgis and Mike Mitten chatting by the booth. The show dummy had MEDIUM clothes on it. I had both Mike and Denny put that jacket on and draw nearby bows. No problem! You would not go to that extreme for a tight fit, but it shows how well the material stretches. It also shows how well SG is put together...those zippers and seams were under a SEVERE load :biglaugh:
I will bring all my gear to Kzoo and you can try it out. Beware though, I have a buddy on the way back from CO right now that borrowed some of my SG for an elk hunt...he said he lost it and I will have to replace it.
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I have some Wolfskin pants, but have never tried the Sitka stuff. Lot of people really like it. I've been happy with my Wolfskin pants. Had 'em about five years. Quality product, but alas, I can't give you a comparison either. I do know that you can have my Gray Wolf wool clothing when you pry it from my cold dead body. LOL! Love that stuff.
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I'd like to try it on Steve. Can you layer up other stuff underneath it without binding? I know the Sitka is great stuff, but I really don't want to buy all new stuff for underneath.
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I have no experience with GWW & only limited experience with Sitka, but I would guess that I'm your average Sitka customer, meaning that I don't own the full layering range, just the Celcius jacket & pants.
On their own, I frankly don't rate them that highly for keeping out the cold. They'll turn water like a duck, but you're just dry & cold.
I get the impression that Sitka gear is comparable to a lot of other technical mountain clothing, in that each individual layer is not that good as a stand alone item of clothing. You really need to buy the full 'system' to get the benefits. Fantastic when it's all together, layered correctly, but 9/10 useless you're prepared to pay for it all.
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Joe, you can. Like your Smartwool undies are the only thing I've found that works close to as good as the SG base layers. There are all kinds of options...I'll give you a hand.
Also, if anyone else needs any advice on what Sitka Gear will work well, I've used all of it except the top end rain gear in conditions ranging from climbing 14 hours a day at 12-13,000 feet for Bighorn Sheep to sitting in the pouring rain for 11 hours day four days straight (good lord that was the worst weather i have ever seen) for Brown Bear...pm me and I can probably tell you what will work for the hunts you have planned.
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First off, I have never even tried on any of the Sitka Gear.......but from the number of people that use it......it has to be good stuff.
I have always loved the predator pattern camo and just about the time that Jeff was taking over the company from Mark Barger (the original owner) I contacted him about having something made for both my wife and myself. I was "sick and tired" of replacing the lower quality stuff that we had owned all our lives and was ready to make a "one time" purchase that would last.
I ordered two of the wolfskin bibs, coat, elmer fudd hat and the mittens along with the camo face mask pullover. We have worn, washed, and re-worn these for several years now and it ALL still looks like it just arrived. No fading, ripping or tearing and actually sheds burrs fairly well. We went all out and got the insulation and the wind-stop in everything but the pullover face masks. The absolute ONLY thing that makes these uncomfortable is that in warm weather they are "hot" to wear.
They were made to our body measurements, have performed flawlessly in every way. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase everything again in the future........but most likely won't be necessary unless we both put on an awful lot of weight. This stuff(wolfskin) is pretty much indestructible......and it wicks moisture away from your body very well. As Chris said above, it dries very fast, and unless you are out in a downpour it keeps you dry.
Excellent product.......made in the U.S.A. by a GREAT bunch of people. We are both happy and comfortable when the cold winds blow. As I said earlier.......I don't know anything about the Sitka Gear, but why fix something that isn't broken.....at least for US.
Winterhawk1960
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Everyone, please do NOT take anything I have said as negative about Gray Wolf. Jeff is a great guy and makes great stuff--I l Ike it enough that I haven't gotten rid of any of mine, and that says a lot. I've tried about everything out there and for the cornucopia of places and animals I hunt, there is no doubt in my mind there is nothing more versatile than Sitka Gear.
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Great feedback and very appreciated. Please continue.
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Well here is my opinion. I've owned a little sitka and have not been impressed. It is ok stuff and fits well but I didn't think it performed any better than much less expensive clothes. I was hoping the breathability would be better. Active hunting in Colorado, I get wet from the inside with the 90% jacket which isn't even waterproof. Stand hunting this is less important. Maybe they have improved it over the last couple of years. I am still a wool fan and use a variety of weighted layers for depending on conditions. Can't beat the warmth and breathability (and it doesn't stink up like synthetics) and if it rains, just trow a waterproof shell on. Haven't tried the Gray Wolf wolfskin but their wool is good stuff.
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One more thing that I neglected to mention in my above post is that the bibs have zippers that travel from your waist, down the outside of your leg, all the way to the bottom. This makes for very easy removal while leaving your boots on. The zippers that they use are top quality, and with a little lubricant (unscented soap) every now and then they perform flawlessly.
They can (and do) have other modifications that can make your time in the outdoors a less cumbersome adventure. Give Jeff a call and ask him about his product........you can't go wrong with the Gray Wolf product and he'll make it the way YOU want it.
Winterhawk1960
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I think the Sitka is great looking gear. I tried some on and getting the fit I need was an issue. I have had Gray Wolf for several years, both the Wolfskin and the wool and am more than happy with it. If I could wear "normal sizes", I would give the Sitka rain gear a try.
My Gray Wolf was all custom order. I need a 37.25" sleeve and in the pants I wear the xl+ in the waist with the legs being xxl+. Long torso with wide shoulders and long arms and short thick legs (31.5" inseam).
I do prefer to buy made in the USA when ever I can so the Gray Wolf gets the nod there too, but from what I have seen of the Sitka gear it appears to be well made and I think the company is ran by some good folks!
Mike
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Originally posted by Whip:
I know the Sitka is great stuff, but I really don't want to buy all new stuff for underneath.
You'd probably need the 90% outfit and Celcius outfit for all seasons. The Ascent was nice this year when it was 90 degrees. I layer Sitka long undies and ll bean fleece pants and pullover under mine and maybe a wool shirt. Covers temps from the teens to the seventies.
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I'd probably try Sitka, if they make it BIGGER!!!!
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I haven't tried GW yet but have used Sitka for a few season's along with my Day-One camo.
I tried the Sitka as it's a local made company. I picked up some pants and a shirt they fit good and pretty comfortable. But for the price I don't think it's anything special.
I would like to try some GW camo but I just haven't picked any up yet as my Day-One works out great for me and it's available in the camo patterns that work well for me.
I won't buy anymore Sitka gear as I don't see any advantage using it and I have a few other personal reasons why I won't but I will not go into that on here. In fact I'm giving what I have to a buddy.
I prefer Predator and ASAT patterns and some of the Realtree. Which I can get from a # of places and brands for cheeper and they last and work just as well as the Sitka stuff.
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I was in my Traverse and Celsius all week chasing whitetails and hogs from 34F to 80F, never even got hot, even with traverse and Celsius bibs under a full Rancho Safari ghille longcoat, gaiter and hat in on an afternoon hog sit. IMHO skip the Day One, it's not well made.
Now if I could make a dead running shot on a hog from a knee, I would have been more pleased.
Great week.
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I'm a Sitka fan and I've got KOM, Sleeping Indian, Hidden Wolf etc. It is definitly designed for active hunting and I think that's why I like it. Not too baggy and easy to move in and it comes in plain colors....
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I bought the Celcius bibs last year and love them as a cold weather outer layer but I am curious of one thing with Sitka gear - does it all have the "sheen" to the material as the Celcius does and does the material shine in sunlight? It does not seem to be light absorbing like wool and fleece is - opinions or thoughts?
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Well, yesterday we had a doe in the wide open, then stopped the truck got out, grabbed our bows, and slowly advanced to within 30-40yds or less from the doe. She actually started walking towards us while looking right at us! Sun was behind us. My buddy missed a dead on broadside shot. I couldn't believe it. We had on full Celsius outfits.
He blamed the miss on his "sights".
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I've had a half dozen deer check me out in my stand for a while this year but none spooked. The sheen actually makes the light and shadows more contrasty when your in the woods.
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I just returned from a Newfoundland moose hunt and the whole hunt was conducted in my Sitka Gear. I loosened the purse strings and bought the core, Traverse insulating layer, and Stratus outer layer last spring anticipating this hunt. When it arrived, I thought there was no way it would fit as it looked too small. I was amazed at how well it did fit and how little bulk there was. Temps in NFLD were from low thirties to around fifty and with 20 to 50 mile an hour winds every day. The first day I wore the core and outer layer. I stayed cool and dry when walking but was almost cold when sitting. The next day and the rest of the hunt was conducted with the Traverse next to my skin and the Stratus on the outside. I cannot say enough about how comfortable I was. I never got hot at all when walking and never got cold when sitting. This stuff is pretty amazing in my book as it is not bulky and stretches with your every movement. It is sewn to match your body. An example is, the sleeves on the Stratus are not straight but sewn in a slight curve to match the arc of your arms. To say it is comfortable is an understatement. I am very happy with it and so far like it much better than my wool but I have no Wolfskin therefore I have no comparison.
One other thing, I wore it all week without washing it and there was never any hint of odor at all.
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sitka gear is good stuff, it is little pricey although is you buy good camo it can last for years. I just got back from NM in a semi- wilderness area. Wearing there product seemed to make a big differance in my endurance. Walking climbing and horse back riding was just easier.
Vote Nov 2- real change!!!
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I've owned various sitka pieces and still own some. I got rid of the traverse under layers because of fit and went with merino wool if needed. I also got rid of the celsius stuff and went with the Kelvin jacket. What a difference and I absolutely love the kelvin jacket! Its fits like a glove, its light and compresses well when going into the pack. It breaths so well that if I leave it on to long as the day warms up I don't get wet underneath. Its pretty wind proof too. This yr I field tested it against my browning mid-layer down jacket while elk hunting and there is no comparison, the Kelvin wins. I think the kelvin is one of the most versatile and under rated pieces of gear sitka sells. Love the Ascent pants too and have 2 pair. I've worn these babies from 40 to 90 degrees and they worked great. The zip core shirt is great in the heat too, the breezes just blow right through it cooling you down in a flash and if your humping it up a hill you can let down the zipper. If it gets under 40 or super windy around that temp so you have some serious wind chill happening, I throw the rain gear over everything and am as snug as a bug in a rug.
The only bummer is I really like the Mountain Mimicry camo and you can't get it anymore.
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I loved the Sitka gear for Elk hunting...especially the pants that come with the attacked suspenders. I also have a pair of sitka overalls. They are comfortable, but the one time I wore them on stand I froze and it wasn't that cold. I
My two cents, for what it is worth. Go with Sitka gear for active hunting or real mild weather in a stand. Go with the wool for sitting a tree stand in cold weather.
Either way, when it is real cold layer up. You can always take it off, but you cant always put it on!
Oh! and I wont mention the site name because I am not sure rules here would allow it, but I have bought all my Sitka gear for atleast half price through a site that always has special deals on hunting equipment.
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I just bought a Kelvin jacket tonight, selling my new Celsius and Kelvin vests, new with tags. Kelvin vest worn once.
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I'm the one Steve O loaned his Sitka gear to. I went to Colorado with dad on an Elk hunt with it. Unfortunately for Steve it got lost somehow :goldtooth:
Seriously though. I have a full outfit of Sleeping Indian and love my wool. I was very sceptically of the Sitka but after using it in Colorado I will be getting a set for sure. To be honest if you are just going to be staying home and climbing into a whitetail stand then you probably don't need Sitka if you don't want to spend the money. However, if you plan on any type of active hunt this stuff is great. What I liked best was how lightweight it is. It weighs just a fraction of what my wool does and is way more comfortable when on the move. I wore the traverse layer, a mountain shirt and the 90% jacket along with either the mountain pants or ascent pants. If it got really cold I put on a Kelvin Jacket. We had temps from 13 to 74 and I was able to stay comfortable with what I listed. If I had worn my wool that would have been much more difficult.
Good luck with your choice.
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I have got some of both, and really like them both. I would say the Sitka is made more for more active hunting. Would like to also recommend a third alternative which I have recently bought. Russell Outdoors APXG2 which seems to be a Sitka copycat but is similar quality at about half the price, Sitka does have better quality zippers. Also, I just picked up some of the APXG2 at Gander Mountain where they had it on sale, buy one item get the second of equal or less value free. Good luck with whatever you choose, all are quality products.
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Made in The USA always makes my mind up.
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I do not own any SG, but it sounds like a excellent hunting garment "system" that works for a lot of people on here.
I do own a lot of GW wolfskin garments in various patterns. I love that I can custom order exactly what I want from GW. That I can talk personally to Jeff about what I want. That I can buy different camo patterns for different seasons or to mix them together. That it never fades. That I can put a grunt tube and small binocular pouch on my chest to the exact size and location that I want them. Or, add side openings to my bibs so I can keep my hands together for warmth during those real cold days on stand. Maybe I want a hood on my jacket, maybe not. Etc., etc., etc.... Basically that Jeff will make you exactly what you want in the U.S.A.!!!
GW wolfskin will get wet with prolonged exposure to moisture. That's what rain jackets/pants are for. But I still seem to sweat like crazy and feel damp in the different products I have bought over the years.
You can get your wolfskin with winds barrier, insulation, and scentlok add on layers as well. I have all mine unlayered, and do all my extra layering myself. I love Patagonia capiline and R1 undergarments for warmth and their excellent breathabilty to shed moisture. A windproof vest or top will keep you extra warm on those windy days. Go Graywolf!!!!
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I have GWW wolfskin and my buddy has Sita. I like the Sita stuff, but my biggest complaint is it's SHINY. It made more like mountaineering gear for comfort and fit, not hiding from game. I think one reason why some camo is better than others isn't the pattern, it's the texture. The wolfskin is a low nap, very dull looking fabric, just like a deer (which is basically one color, yet hard to see). This is also why wool is an excellent fabric (even in plaid!)
Wolfskin in predator brown has worked for me so many times, in tree stands and on the ground for whitetail and mule deer. I just had a 150" WT buck look right at me from 25 yards away and he looked right through me, if you know what I mean. He saw something in the tree, but didn't recognize a pattern and never gave me another look. I don't think that would have happened with Sita gear, even in the new digital camo. It has a shiny texture unlike anything in the woods. I can’t believe they don’t do anything about it.
Wolfskin with DWR is great for light rain and mist, and it can be regenerated. About the only complaint is it can be hot on early elk hunts as it has some wind resistance, so if it's hot out you will be too. But any other time it’s perfect outwear. You can always layer underneath with mountaineering underwear, even Sita stuff but I never understood why anyone needed camo underwear.
Jeff was great to work with too on customizing to my size and options. You won't go wrong with GWW stuff.