Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Sitka Blizzard Parka and Pants

30 years ago my buddies and I bow hunted the Wi late season archery end of December in 35 dollar snow mobile suits, wool sweaters from good will and sorel boots, chopper mits. In temps that were typically in the teens in tree stands. I think you're over thinking this. You're rifle hunting so obviously don't need Camo. You can find down pants for under a 100 bucks and a good parka for under 150 bucks on sale and a down hoody for 100 bucks on sale to layer. Chopper mits with hand warmers.

Sitka, kuiu make great gear for active hunting. But if you have the expendable income go for it

I hunt late archery too when I still have tags.

I have done it with a lot of equipment over the years. I remember dressing in layers of sweat suits and other crap when I was a young hunter. I froze my ass off but had some success. At this point in my life (mid 40s) I have more money but less time. I have to hunt when I can and make the best of it. That's why I don't mind dropping some extra money on gear if it helps me make the most of my time afield. I wouldn't spend $750 on a showy, designer coat but will on something that will keep me warm when I am alone in the woods.

Incinerator is 3 layer goretex and quiet.

Heavy and low quality. BTDT.

Just received my order from Huntworth Gear. I've seen Sitka Gear and this Huntworth gear is every bit as good if not better that Sitka at half the price. Real happy with my items.

I'll check it out.

Ill throw another wrench in the mix. I bought some First Lite gear, specifically the Sanctuary coat and bibs. I got them last xmas so I really haven't worn them yet but after hunting for over 30+ years in temps below -35 windchill I have experienced hunting in cold weather. I can see this being very very warm and could possibly be the last cold weather suit that I will have to buy. In fact I am actually looking to buy another set of their gear just lighter so that I can wear them more often. In fact I am looking at their Solitude set so that I can wear more often. To each their own but if you look into the company you will see that they rank up there with Sitka gear... Good luck in your searches.

I have a First Lite Chamberlin jacked that I use as a compressible insulation layer on cold-weather bivy hunts. I like it a lot. I also have the Uncompahgre jacket that I use as a layer in some conditions. I like First Lite but I thought they were more like KUIU in that they are for mountain / western-style / bivy hunting. The Blizzard set (parka, pants, hat) are geared toward stand hunting from a cabin or base camp. If First Lite make stand hunting clothes now, I am sure it is good.

I leave today for 8 days of hunting in Vermont. I report back on how the Blizzard gear does. It's not looking like it is going to be brutally cold though.

I just looked at that First Lite Sanctuary and it looks good and is half the price. I'll see how the Sitka does before doing anything crazy. It is nice that there are a lot of good options around these days.

I wore Sitka Stratus under Sitka Incinerator on alate season Illinois bowhunt. Temps around zero.

Can't say I was completely warm, but I never considered climbing out of the tree either.

Do a lot of hills here in the Adirondacks. The way Sitka (and Kuiu) stretch as you move equals less energy expended while I climb or walk. I wore my woolies one afternoon after acquiring Sitka and have never gone back to them. They seemed to fight me the whole day and I was noticibly more tired at the end of the day.

I'm fit, train for half Ironmans.

Love Sitka.

40% off at LEOADVENTURES.COM depending upon your profession.

I teach, the discount applies.

Alex, can I have "dense" for $200?

A good down jacket and pants make winter hunting fun. Glassing or calling for an hour at a time at<10* is enjoyable w/ the right gear. Shop around, I have Western Mountaineering Flight pants and a Marmot Hooded guide jacket that I wear with a Patagonia down vest on stands and hunt the mountains in winter and love it. The whole setup cost just under $500.00 and the quality is fine. I buy them to fit over my hiking gear and in the time it takes to set out my E caller I am cooled off enough to put them on. I stuff everything inside a large garbage bag in my pack.


mike r

delete

It's usually the wind that freezes you. An outer layer of windproof/ waterproof clothing I find best. The drawback to that type of clothing is it is "noisy" when walking.

Whatever layers I wear up here in the northern edge of MN a golf pull over wind shirt is part of the ensemble. Usually second to last layer on. Quiet under there and doubles up with my outer layer to stop wind.
Maybe more importantly is the bottom half. When sitting a stand much is lost thru the rump and more towards the top of the legs. The legs catch the rain and snow when sitting so this MUST be waterproof area.
Baffin boots are fantastic, rated to 80 plus below or so yet pliable and walkable.

Osky

Okay, I wore the gear today. It was 24 degrees at daybreak with about 5-10 mph winds. I was comfortable at first but after 4 hours in my tree stand, I was feeling the chill. Overall, that was good for me. It was my first sit below freezing this year other than a bivy hunt where I used a sleeping bag. In the afternoon it was around 40 with 20mph winds. I was comfortable.

It is not crazy warm though. Maybe a bit warmer than my Cabela’S MT050 and definitely lighter. One thing I should have done is sized up in the parka. It fits great but there is not a lot of room for layering. I am 6’1” and about 205 right now. I normally wear large but I am XL in KUIU and some other brands. I bought the large. I probably should have sized up in the parka. Or, I could stop eating [bleep] and drop to 190 where I should be. I’ll focus on slimming down rather than reordering.

So far, so good. It is supposed to drop to 16F in a couple days. We’ll see how it does.

You wanted the Incinerator set, not the blizzard...

I however am not a fan of sitka, way too expensive for gear thats made in China. I also hate their patterns, I always joke you dont need hunter orange when wearing sitka gear.

Ive started buying a lot of Drakes Non-Typical, and Im more than impressed so far.

All this from the "Campfire" communist................unbelievable!

lol... you've never hunted.

When on stand in very cold temps for a long time my down underwear is on beneath my wool and I am in a sniper bag or black sleeping bag when sitting.

Last year it was -8 with the windchill when I shot a doe in muzzleloader.

I might try a heater body suit but haven"t justified the expense yet.