Warm, Quiet, and non bulky clothing... is it out there?

[South MS Bowhunter]

After reading several threads on Cabela's Wooltimate I order the jacket and pants at  a great price and waited for it's arrival.  It came in today and here is my initial impressions 1. Packaged well for shipment and delivery was fast (about 7 days). 2. Seems to be well constructed although I haven't hunted in it yet.  3. The fit was larger than what I had expected, I'm a typical Large and the jacket is quite a bit oversized. 4. Although I havn't hunted in it, I can tell it will be a warm jacket. 5. It is not as quiet as made to believe in others comments.
 
My opinion of course but I was expecting it to be a lot quieter. In fact I find the noise factor a deal breaker for the close quarter I have to work in my neck of the woods.

Now i'm not trying to start an online battle to those who really like it, just giving a first hand review of just my first impressions.

Also because i'm still looking for that "Holy Grail" in clothing,  Warm, Quiet, and Not Bulky.

For those who have tried both Wooltimate and Sitka Gear or some other product that has these qualities can you give a Pro vs Con type of review?

[Spurs]

I am ordering the outfitter fleece with windshear.  I have not found anything warmer.  My buddy has a set, and you run one layer of under armour under it and your good to go however cold it gets here in MS.  The windshear is phenomenal.  Best stuff that I have used.  He got rid of his King of the Mountain after getting his windshear.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Spur, the Wooltimate has the windshear and it is noisy to my ears.  Do you think the fleece is any quieter?

[JEFF B]

fleece is way Quieter fer sure i use it all the time when i do go hunting. and whats more it is warm.  

[dcmeckel]

My wife bought me a really nice Woolrich wool coat.I absolutely loved it;BUT.the lining was so noisey it would spook deer as I drew my bow.Being the wonderful person she is,she removed the lining and replaced it with fleece!Way better!And oh so friendly and warm.

[Spurs]

I agree with Jeff B.  I have lots of wool that is quiet, but it doesn't have any liner to it.  The fleece is so much quieter, and has that windstopping liner.  Just my opinion.  I have worn my old Mossy oak fleece with liner out so I have to get some new.  I like the outfitter camo alot.  It looks more trad.

[JEFF B]

you guys are lucky we cant get good fleece here. i got mine when i was over in 2007 and its still hanging in there.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Spur so your saying that the Fleece with the same windshear liner as the Wooltimate is quieter?

[bad arrow]

Just recieved my Wooltimate jacket (waiting on the pants)in High Plains. I don't feel like a big dark blob with this style camo. Having really never owned anything wool my first impression was that it was too thin. I'm only used to thinking that bulky = warmth. Haven't noticed the noise yet. Can't wait to try it all on hunting!.... Phil

[Lost Creek Bows]

Browning makes some super nice cloths. I got a set of Browning Pursit clothing, it's very quiet,no burrs and very rain and wind proof. The cloth is almost like a diving suits material but tougher, the best part is the camo does not fade when washed. They claim it's scent proof, but I still have deer bust me down wind. The price is the only bad part, but I just ended my third season, so it was well worth the money, and my wife says I hunt way to much. I usually hunt 60 to 70 days a year, so I can vouch for its' toughness. Chad

[South MS Bowhunter]

Chad,  is the Browning line similar to the Sitka?

[Arwin]

Good topic because I struggled with the same thing. I would bulk up on clothes but couldn't draw my bow comfortably.

 Best I found was a plain old down filled jacket and snow pants worn under an oversized long sleeve t-shirt/pants or coveralls. The outer layer will quiet down the nylon shell of the coat. The nylon will protect you from wind and dries quickly.

 Costs WAY less than expensive wool outfits. Here I am with some Predator snow camo coveralls and underneath is a Wally World coat/snow pants. Good for temps in the single digits for 6-8 hrs.

 

[Lost Creek Bows]

I've never been around the Sitka gear. I love the Browning Pursuit stuff. The outfit cost $400. But I have seen it alot cheaper now.

[Skipmaster1]

I have a set of rivers west bibs and jacket and it is super quiet and very warm, not to mention 100% water proof. the down side is the cost and the fact that it won't breathe

[pete p]

having tried most of the high tech materials out there i seem to gravitate back towards wool. And you dont need the pricey 400$ camo wool either.  check out the wool that Teresa Asbel makes.  I have found that in real cold temps your base layer is as important as the outter layer...you need something that will wick moisture. wool, man has tried to beat a fiber that mother nature has made...not gonna happen.

[pete p]

also, you should check out the swanndri wool from new zealand.  Paul Brunner sold it back when he owned screaming eagle.  tighest woven wool clothing i have seen, the wind didnt penetrate it.

[Mint]

I start out with good long underwear, the best I have found is from carol davis sportswear. Then I use a fleece shirt, with a cabelas wool winshear sweater with my KOM bowhunters jacket. I'm good for all season with this set up.

[waknstak IL]

I've personally never noticed an issue with noise with the wooltimate. Mine is soft and quiet. I've killed numerous deer while wearing it in the past couple years all very close, one nice buck at about 10 yards on the ground. I did carefully wash mine according to the instructions after I got it to remove any odors, I don't know if that made a difference, but it might be something to try. I've tried a bunch of stuff and this is the best stuff I've found so far. Some of the real high end wool may be warmer, but I've never gotten cold in this stuff here in Illinois. I've tried on the Sitka stuff too and it just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Zmonster]

Originally posted by pete p:
having tried most of the high tech materials out there i seem to gravitate back towards wool. And you dont need the pricey 400$ camo wool either.  check out the wool that Teresa Asbel makes.  I have found that in real cold temps your base layer is as important as the outter layer...you need something that will wick moisture. wool, man has tried to beat a fiber that mother nature has made...not gonna happen.

Agreed 100%. I too kept coming back to wool. After picking up a set of KOM hillbilly bibs on the auction site and a solid grey KOM bowman jacket I'm set. Only problem I'm finding now is keeping my neck, feet and hands warm without bulk. Mostly feet. Once my feet get cold, my day is done.

[katie]

Longhunter wool shirt.  It is quiet, not bulky and very warm!  A good priced American made shirt!
Check Shrew Bows website.