Sitka gear?

[Onions]

Guru,
I tried the Traverse shirt as my base layer this morning.
First the T-shirt is very nice againist your skin. Over top of this I wore Woolpower 400wt, then a Filson wool sweater, then Celcius vest over top.
Temp this morning was 19 degrees with a slight breeze. I was comfortable in my treestand for a  three hour sit.
Now I can use the T-shirt as a baselayer on those cold mornings, then as a outer layer in the early season.
Thanks for the tip Guru!

chris <><

[Guru]

Jack, 2 lg, and the next XL....

 FF, I totally agree that "hands and feet are 3/4 of the battle"....I was out today, and underestimated the wind, and high moisture in the air....

My feet got a little cold, as I didn't have my extra big 2000gm rubber boots on, and only had one pair of sox on...they were cold, but tolerable...

My hands took a beatin'!  I usually have chemical handwarmers in my pockets in cold weather...didn't think I needed them today, but I was wrong....

Good thing is though, my body was toasty warm in my Sitka Gear!

Traverse bottoms, 2 Traverse tops, Celsius bibs and jacket....

[K.S.TRAPPER]

I'm with Curt on this one but I start with a layer of silk then 2 layers of traverse tops and bottoms and the older Sitka 90% top and pants plus the vest. I use silk gloves and socks with another pair of wool socks. Like Curt said even with my 4 layers on, I don't feel crowded at all and comfy down to the single digits.

Everybody is different and nothing is perfect when sitting in a cold stand or blind for hours and hours. I will often sit on a sleeping bag to keep my butt off the cold stand and when my feet start getting cold which always happens first I can stuff them in the bag for awhile to warm them up.    

Tracy

[michaelschwister]

Been intrigued by this stuff, but quite frankly just figuring out what to where takes a PHD

I use grey wolf wool with the wind liner from 50 to as cold as it gets and am always comfortable, rain - snow - wind, any weather. Sat through a 3 day hurricane this fall in 40 degree weather driving rain, comfy all day.  It is 7 years old and carrying my lone wolf treestand and monkey harness have worn holes that have/do need repair, but always comfy. I hunt mostly public land in steep country and regularly go a mile or better in-further if posible.  Heavy - yea, sweat when humping hills and dragging deer - sure, but still warm and comfy when wet and it does breath allowing cooling without the slightest chill. Always comfy. When time to replace will go wool again.  Like well tuned wood arrows, if it works don't change it.

Mike

[Guru]

Michael, If you're happy with what you have, then      .

But I don't understand your "PHD" way of thinking?

[Jack Denbow]

Thanks Curt.
Jack

[Chris Surtees]

Sitka gear, KOM, SI, Gray Wolf are all great products. How you wear them is how you stay warm. You can the latest and greatest but if you do not know how to layer then the money spent is wasted.

Loose and layers is key...I wear merino wool so I start out with light weight and then add a medium or heavy weight set depending on the cold. Next is Gray Wolf bibs with lining and either a lined pullover or heavy jacket again depends on how cold it is.

Hands, feet, and head - for my hands I use military wool liners, muff, and hand warmers (weather dependent), for my feet Smart Wool socks with liners and boots that fit...if your boots are too tight then you are wasting your time with thick socks. I always have a face mask (light or heavy, and two caps...start with one if you are still cold put the other on.

I am cold by nature and have this down to a science except for boots. I have a hard time finding EEE boots to go with my heavy and extra heavy socks. Finally found some and hope they do the trick.

Been watching for awhile and could not take it anymore. All the clothing lines mentioned have good and bad about them it is up to each individual to do the research to figure out what is best for them. All the companies have phones and email for a reason.

Best of luck in your search.

[Brian Krebs]

Curt- I feel your pain; my feet are 11 1/2 EEE and its really hard to find boots in that size !

 I am working outside with duo fold longjohns (which are poly on the skin side; and merino wool on the outside and bluejeans over that; because I am getting dirty while working. And its right at zero where I am. I am wearing a polypropylene top next to the skin; ( no cotton t shirt underneath) and a carhart jacket over that.
 I also just got some polypropylene sock liners; and they have really improved my ability to keep my feet warm - with boots that were with the same socks... and no liners.
 For hunting; I am going to wear UA with the duo fold over that; with UA underwear too. Then cold weather goretex pants
 On the top it will be UA with a fleece layer and then a wool zip up over that; and then a goretex parka.
 As I have the wounded knee; I am going to stand hunt in a blind; and when I can get the time I am going to see how the setup works.
 Right now - I am trapped on my property with 10 GWP 2 day old puppies....
 I am so ready to try out the new gear....

[arrowflinger1]

I have KOM, SI and a full set of Sitka Gear I have the 90% pants, jacket, vest and the under wear tops and bottoms..... My main hunting buddy has the same get up and it is second to none for us hear in Colorado from early elk to late whitetail. The only area that I think it is a little  weak is late season stand hunting where in my opinion nothing keeps you warm! This is were the KOM and SI come in though and good ol wool layered right does the trick.... just my opinion...

[jdeck]

Anyone looking for Sitka gear on sale should checkout Camofire.com they have one item on super sale every 12 hours or something. I see Sitka stuff on their site a lot.

[Wary Buck]

Guru made some really good points.  

I would still like to add some of the Kelvin to my cache, but in the meantime, when it gets SUPER cold (like 0 degrees) and I'm not moving, I have to insert an additional insulating layer in there on top of my base layers and under my Celsius.  I've still got some old Winona so that is usually what I use.  That said, I too have been largely impressed with the Sitka products or else I'd be using something else.  I believe the items I bought in '07 I will still be using in '17.  Seriously.

One has to remember that this company really started with an emphasis on the mountain or active hunting (elk, sheep, etc.), and I am just amazed at how well their products work for those regimens.  Stretchy 'pants' are such a great thing when you're hoofing it great distances or climbing, even if it simply means climbing up a tree or walking through high grass on the way back out of the woods after a hunt.  And flexible raingear, and moisture-managing inner layers...

I still think they have a couple of needs to fill for the tree stand guy, but remember that our needs go from sub-zero to sitting in a 100-degree antelope blind.  It's a tall order, and like arrowflingers above says, nothing really keeps you completely warm in the worst conditions (at least not while allowing you to still shoot a bow).  And Chris's comment above about tight boots is spot-on.

For those wanting to try out Sitka, but not ready to pay full price, now is a GREAT time to find discounts as most stores will want to close out their remaining line so they can restock in '10 with all new items.

[Guru]

Went out today...10 degrees, wind chill right about ZERO!

 I finally got the chance to use my new Kelvin jacket and it's phenomenal!  I have never,ever been so comfortable, in weather like this, in my life!

 I highly recommend it as a layer under your outer jacket. That's what it's designed for...layering.I had it over two Traverse shirts, and under my Celcius jacket...outstanding!

The best part is that is so lightweight that you don't even feel like its on. It's made out of very light nylon which makes it easy for layers under and over to slide on the draw. It's the easiest feeling draw I've ever had in weather like this. very quiet under my jacket as well.  

Even if you don't wear Sitka gear....I highly, highly recommend this as a layer to combat the cold!

TG'er Steve O told me he loved his Kelvin vest earlier this fall and that I would love my jacket...he was right!

Without a doubt the best layer I've ever used against the cold.

Just thought I'd pass this along....

[Steve O]

 

Folks that don't think this gear works aren't using it right; they are tring to do things the OLD way with NEW stuff--guys have to open their minds and try new things...it's good stuff.

Most guys would walk up to a Kelvin vest or jacket and rub their fingernail on it and say, NO WAY, that is too noisy.  The thing is, it is never meant to wear on the outside, it is made to be an inner layer and slide silently inside the layer on top of it and it does that very, very well.  It weighs maybe a pound, is incredibly warm (wet or dry), transports moisture away from you (just like the other layers under it) and moves with you; unlike that 10lb wool jacket that now sits in my cedar chest!

[Guru]

Originally posted by Steve O:
Most guys would walk up to a Kelvin vest or jacket and rub their fingernail on it and say, NO WAY, that is too noisy.  The thing is, it is never meant to wear on the outside, it is made to be an inner layer and slide silently inside the layer on top of it and it does that very, very well.  It weighs maybe a pound, is incredibly warm (wet or dry), transports moisture away from you (just like the other layers under it) and moves with you; unlike that 10lb wool jacket that now sits in my cedar chest!

Well said bud    

[Tater]

2 Traverse Shirts @ $89.00 per each $178.00

     Kelvin Jacket @ $210.00             $210.00

     Celcius Jacket @ $279.00            $279.00
                                         
                         $667.00      


    Kinda goes along with another thread if you had $1000.00 would you outfit yourself with Sitka Gear or go on a hunt??

[Guru]

Tater, If for some reason you think I'm a wealthy guy because I wear Sitka and I started that other thread....you're wrong bud...in a big way. Just ask my wife!

But I'm wealthy in other ways. Like the good friend and connections I've made here at TG that have allowed me to afford some nice things and some absolutely outstanding hunts.I thank god for my friends everyday!

But to answer your question Tater....I'm not going to let buying anything stop me from going on a hunt. I also don't live in Colorado where within a day I could hunt things that I only dream about in NY.


Back to Sitka...

Expensive..yes...but what quality product isn't?

I realise more than anyone, that the expense of Sitka keeps it out of reach of a lot of hunters. Believe me, I know how hard it is to save for anything.....

BTW...nows the time to buy some at real discount prices    

[kevgsp]

Originally posted by Tater:
2 Traverse Shirts @ $89.00 per each $178.00

     Kelvin Jacket @ $210.00             $210.00

     Celcius Jacket @ $279.00            $279.00
                                         
                         $667.00      


    Kinda goes along with another thread if you had $1000.00 would you outfit yourself with Sitka Gear or go on a hunt??

$667 and your freezing your b@77s off, cause ya got no pants on  :eek:

[Arrowslinger]

How do the shirts/jackets work for someone that is 6'3".  If I do not order them in talls the sleeves and sometimes the tails of the shirts are not long enough.  From what I have seen they do not come in tall sizes.  Is that right.

[Gehrke145]

I just got the 90% pants and jacket.  To be honest I was worried about spending that amount of cash on camo (I'm a cop so no golden spoon here!)  Anyway I put the stuff on and went for a scouting run for my late season doe tag(pretty much the same way I hunt out here) The weather was 24 degrees and light snow,  and all I can say is wow!!!!!!!!!!  I am buying everything in Sitka from now on for hunting and late season flyfishing.  I can't believe what this stuff is like in comfort and performance!  The pants and jacket with a silk base layer and I was fine! (I didn't sit and glass for a long time though) I'm not sure if i would be willing to buy it for just sitting in a treestand (I will do that also though) but if your on the ground moving and putting on 5 miles plus in the morning, there is nothing better!  I will add a base layer bottom, 2 base layer tops, bivy pack and one of the vests by spring turkey. I plan on having a second set by elk season!  They best thing about this stuff is I can put the 90% jacket, base layer top, base layer bottom,socks, boxers (everything I carry for a few day bivy hunt) and not even come close to the amount of room my old jacket took up in my pack!  Is it expensive yes, but worth every cent if you hunt in the back country by foot!

[rappstar]

Agree with tater.  There are definitely advantages of sitka gear in active hunting situations and you don't need 5 layers of it.  

Bottom line is that sitka is designed after mountaineering clothing and its perfect for hunting in the mountains which is generally an active hunt/physically demanding hunt.  

In order for sitka to grow as a business they need the largest audience of hunters out there and that is the whitetail hunter.  Prior to sitka gear, I never heard of whitetail hunters breaking out their mountaineering clothing to go sit on a stand.

What I find most interesting is that it started as a question of is this stuff that good, opinions welcome.  Now it has turned into a sales pitch by a sitka pro-staffer.