Sitka gear?

[Matty]

Ihavnt read all the posts but most, My $.02 I have a celcius Jacket, I really Like it Quiet-Windblocker Form fitting, with a Base silk layer, a thermal top of some sort and this jacket its great in the 30*s if your moving, it can be colder and youll be comfy.  I ahve tried the Ascent pant I really love it's weight and flexability.
Fit is a bit poor on most sitka. Bottom line for COLD treestand hunting, not necessarily a good idea for me, I need more.  I dont have much body fat though so that might help.  I dont know that the $$$ value justifies the entire product though, 1/2 price...SURE

[Jack Denbow]

I have a question.
What's with the "pit-zips"?
I have always thought it best to keep any scent contained rather than let it out into the air. I can't imagine a time that I would open them. The cost would certainly be less without them. Maybe they should be an option.
Jack

[Zbearclaw]

Originally posted by Jack Denbow:
I have a question.
What's with the "pit-zips"?

Jack

They are to let some heat out after that long hike to your morning glassing spot, or treestand.

I don't know Sitka's cost structure, but I know that more options per garment raises costs across the board because if they mis-judge demand on one or the other, they eat that inventory and up all charges the next year.

I agree that it is pretty durable stuff.  THe biggest reason I took the plunge after giving my buddies such a hard time about paying Nordstrom prices for hunting clothes was the fit.  I am 5'7" and 155lbs.  I have never had a pair of camo pants fit me without needing to be tailored, which puts the price of their gear on sale cheaper than a pair of predator or realtree pants from cabelas.

Also it dries extremely fast.  A great friend of mine, and an ardent stand-out for buying Sitka got back from Kodiak and ordered about 2/3 of their line.  His partner there had Sitka and after a hard day of hunting, it only took minutes for him to be dry in the clothes he was wearing.  My buddy had to change clothes.

It's quiet, but is expensive.  You can find deals if you look.

I went out yesterday and did 10 stands for bobcats and bears, then hiked about 8 miles looking for one last bear in the high country before they bedded down, or vacated the area for warmer country down low.

It was 20deg when I got out of the truck for my first 2 hour sit/glassing location.  I was wearing a Celcus jacket, Cabelas Windshear fleece shirt, and a traverse shirt.  Pants were only the traverse pants.  Beanie and thin gloves rounded it out.  I was warm and comfy except my butt or knees from sitting/kneeling.  I should have worn a second layer down low.

[highpoint forge]

Z- I'm in exactly the same situation here at 155lb. All my pants need tailoring, & I have to buy mixes of everything usually to accommodate my build. Sitka fits right out of the gate.

[JohnV]

A few comments for you Sitka reps.

I'm really disappointed that the Mountain Mimicry camo seems to be getting phased out. I really like that pattern, much more than the digital pattern.

I think cost could be reduced some by reducing all the darn zippers, vents, etc. that I bet very few people actually use, but adds to the cost.  I mean has anyone actually ever used the arm zip pocket on the base layer?  The roll-up snaps on pants, etc?  A lot of neat little gizmos but they add cost and I really doubt are used much by most.

[Steve O]

If people used the "features", they might find they help- and are very nice to have.  I use the zip pits EVERY time I wear my Sitka Gear, whether it is climing a mountain for sheep or elk, or walking to a whitetail or brown bear stand.  They help very effectively to blow out the moisture you are making when exerting yourself, no matter how little you raise your heartrate.

During Thanksgiving week, I was hunting by myself about 6 hours from home.  I promised my wife I would keep my cell phone with me for safety.  I put it in one of the OUTSIDE pockets of my 90% jacket which I was using as my outer layer.  My phone stopped working.  I later figured out this was due to moisture.  I use this example to illustrate how well Sitka Gear manages moisture.  It doesn't just wick it off your skin, it moves it thru every layer and out to the atmosphere.  You don't want all that moisture stuck in your clothes.

If you notice, on all the pants, there is a rubber like band on the inside of your waist.  My shirt never pulls out when climing...mountains or treestands.  Almost every day, during my month long sheep hunt in Colorado, I had to cross a stream to get to where the ram I was hunting was...I was glad I had that little loop and snap to keep my pant legs rold up.

I have said this before; the harder your hunt is, the more you will appreciate your Sitka Gear.

The same goes with the price tag.  When I am walking thru a dew covered meadow in the dark, I sure am glad I paid the extra $30 for those Ascent pants that are going to be dry 5 minutes into my 2 hour climb.

Sometimes the best things in life are not the cheapest...think about it.  I will shop around to find the best thing at the best price for sure, but you can't expect a Suburban for the price of a Kia.

[Wary Buck]

John, I hear you, but I like to wear just the base layers for our early season deer hunts and often do have something in that little bicep pocket:  milkweed pod with wind indicators, my cell phone, car keys, SD cards for trail cams, etc.  Obviously when I'm using them for layering, they are not used.

And I'm on your side on the Mountain Mimicry; it's a pattern I REALLY like and this is very versatile.  Gore Industries have apparently come up with a new style of Optifade (saw it in a magazine) and word is that Sitka will carry it too.  I hope this does not mean the MM will be phased out soon.

Jack, I don't use the pit zips as much as I should, often forgetting they're there until I'm halfway there (back to the rig, or on the way to the stand) and I realize I'm starting to generate some heat.  I do like the feature and I wish some running gear had that feature.

SteveO mentioned something I really like and that is the quick-drying capabilities of most items in the line.  A walk through the high grass to my tree stand doesn't mean I have to endure three hours on stand with wet legs.  Nice feature.

My suggestion for anyone 'wondering' about Sitka Gear would be to try to find some season-ending sales and start with the base layers, top and bottom and gradually work your way outward if you find you like them.

[hunt it]

I would not buy any serious hunting jacket without the pit zips! Pit zips and back vents are number 1 and 2 in keeping upper body temp regulated when working hard. Even better is two front zip vents along side main zipper as well. Cool core down and prevent moisture build up when working hard. Of course you have to work hard to need these features, they are not for everyone. Love my Sitka gear!

[BTH]

I went and bought some for my late season elk hunt.
I bought the celsius bibs, core layer, traverse layer, 90% pants, kelvin vest and jacket, traverse Balacava, jetstream hat and gloves.
I really, really like the traverse and core layers. Awesome. And the bibs were great too. All around a good buy.
I had single digit mornings and it didn't get higher than 30. I was active some times, not active other times. I sat against a tree on a ridge in the high wind with snow flurries and was comfortable.
I layered the core, traverse, vest, then the bibs and jacket. Some days I put an Arc Teryx fleece pullover in between, others I didn't. I was really overheated with that extra fleece layer and stripped that off. Some days I reversed the traverse and core layer, others I just did the traverse on the bottoms...really experimented different combo's.
Overall, I'm really impressed. I'll be buying the ascent gear next for my summer hunting out here. That Balacava is really great.
What I ended up with for most mid days were the traverse layers on the bottom, traverse and core on top, vest, and bibs, with the jacket on my pack.

[highpoint forge]

Oh now I have gone and done it. Bought a Stormfront jacket off that auction site just now for $100 off and free shipping!

Happy Chanukkah to me. Xmas will be even better!

(yes I celebrate both)

[BTH]

I bought mine in Optifade. Really good camo. I think they are phasing out MM since I've heard guys getting it for 50% off.
The Kelvin Vest and Jacket are really great for keeping warm...but no pit zips on the Jacket.
I usually load up my inner pockets with handwarmers for core warmth, but I didn't need to with the Kelvin Vest over the Traverse and Core layers and the bibs over the vest. Just kept handwarmers in the bib handwarmers pockets to keep my fingers warm.
I can see myself spending more money on more pieces in the future.

[Bill Watts II]

I'm a nut about ultra light high quality hunting gear. And I'll pay dearly to have the best. Sitka has caught my eye and I'm in the process of building a hunting wardrobe out of it.

I will definately put it to the test!

[Herdbull]

Mike W.- If you saw the buck that I had at 40 yards during November coming right at me behind a doe, you wouldn't think it was that cold either. Ha!  It was the perfect set-up, until the doe turned right and never let the buck within my range. He is still out there and made it through all three gun seasons. He is 6 1/2 years old and one of the biggest that I have had the pleasure to be in the woods with. So its just me and him until the season ends! Oh.... my brother is after him too since he missed him in 2007. :>) Mike

[highpoint forge]

Sitka has the new pattern on their prostaff blog as of 12/09. It's sweet. Wonder who'll sell it?