Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Sitka Gear? Who's using it and what do you think?

Check out this past month's edition of Bugle magazine. They did a two page plug on the guys who "invented" Sitka.

I'm sure they intended it to be a promotion for Sitka. To me it was "hey, all this has been there done that, lets put a fancy camo pattern on it and market the [bleep] out of it to hunters."

PS. If you're not a member of the RMEF, you should be.

PPS. No disrespect to Sitka. I'm sure they build a quality product. I have never owned one.

I also own the 90% jacket and Mountain pants.I am selling the 90% jacket for a number of reasons.It is a soft shell and the first one I had ever owned.For my hunting it doesn't fit the bill.I hunt whitetails up close and personal and the material creates more noise than what I am comfortable with.

I've found that the 90% jacket will not keep you warm in the cooler temps. I wore mine from middle of Sept through the middle of Nov archery hunting moose and as long as I was moving I was fine but if I didn't have a layer of fleece underneath while sitting/glassing, I would have froze. It's good stuff in the milder temps but not worthy in the colder stuff.

Ak,

That sounds typical of most soft shells I've used. I personally wouldn't want one with much insulation, it would be too hot for most of my uses. I often wear one when hiking, with just a base layer, then add insulation under or over it as needed.

Carl

1

I have Sitka Gear's Bivy 45 pack and I am impressed with it.
Very comfortable, good load carrying capability, and seems quite water proof.

Any of you with the Sitka 90% panst also own any mounteneering pants made of Schoeller dryskin?

Curious how the 90% fabric compares to the Schoeller Dryskin?

BTW- If any of you want the absolute best pants for hiking get a pair made with the dryskin fabric.

Add Mammut to that list. Kenai and Carl are right on.

I also agree with the last post, and camo is really of limited significance. And yes, I bowhunt. Not that it isn't pretty good stuff, but I've noticed the Sitka gear is the Abercrombie and Fitch for today's hunters.

I've got the 90% Jacket and pants. Works great for me here in Colorado. The vented pockets and pit zips are fantastic. I tend to run hotter than most, but if I'm moving, I can wear it with lightweight polypro underneath and be comfortable well into the twenties.

Unlike many here who have posted, I actually own the stuff and have used it since it first came out. I could not be happier with all that I own. Don't know about the current offerings as it seems that they have changed a lot.

I dont think a single person said it wasnt good hunting gear. Just you could get better for the same price. I had the 90% jacket and thought it was a good jacket but as far as softshells I have better. I gave my uncle that jacket and he likes it.

Like many have said its just expensive and other companys make a better jacket for the same or less money.

I have a simms jacket the virtually the exact same as the 90%. I would bet they are even made in the same factory. It was $125 bucks.

I agree that it is expensive, but, it's a steal compared to mos of the Arc'teryx line, the Mammut Champ pants (which I have owned) and many of the others. I also own/use Cabelas Microtex pants and shirt-but would stop way before saying it is as good as the Sitka gear that I own. The problem for me is that Sitka has changed the gear so much, I have no idea what I am recommending anymore. JMHO

Almost every one of the alternatives listed, or in production, are NOISY as hell compared to Sitka. Especially REI products.

Noisy clothes are a deal breaker for me.

If I could find real mountain stuff which is quiet I would buy it.

I like Sitka a lot and have hunted hard in it. Minimalist.

But, I was pissed two pairs of loves cam apart on me.

I have some of the 07' stuff. Mountain pants, vest, 90% jacket, and the 08 base layers. I like it. It's plent quiet, very comfortable, and breaths well.

Cabelas has a lot of their Sitka gear on sale in the Bargain Cave.