For those folks that have used both Sitka Gear and wool, which seems to perform better?

Currently I am leaning toward wool because it's a tried and true way to stay warm in the woods. However, I am hearing a lot of positive things about the Sitka Gear layering system that has me thinking about giving it a shot. Neither one is exactly cheap so I don't want to go one direction and regret it later.

Wool is very hard to beat except in one area - when it's wet it weights a ton. I'm not really familiar with Sitka gear, but if it performs even close to wool but doesn't soak up water, I'd go with it.

Well, I've never worn alot of wool (what little I did years ago made me itchy), but faced the same decision recently. I went with the Sitka gear. I just got back from CO yesterday. I was pleased with the outerwear (Jetstream jacket and 90 percent pants), but not real crazy about the under layers. They worked good when active and when I got sweaty, but not great when it was cold (early am and late pm) and I was less active. Most folks think that Underamor cold gear works similarly, but I think the cold gear works better when sitting/less active than the Sitka. I was thinking that some fleece or wool underlayers would have been warmer when needed along with the Sitka outer layer.

I really like a lightweight wool underlayer and then Sitka pants and top. Wool outer layers are just to hot and bulky for active hunting. If you are sitting in a tree though I'd probably give a nod to wool.

Wool is also very hard wearing, far more so than most synthetics like fleece.

A pair of wool army surplus trousers must be one of the tur bargins in hunting clothes...

WOOL! The better the quality wool less itchy. Wears longer is warm even when wet and you can layer as well.

Give Icebreaker merino wool a try, I have used it and find it to be itchy only before it is first washed. Very comfortable and lasts much longer than any sitka gear. As suggested wool for a base layer is an excellent choice, then your camo on top. Icebreaker offers many different weights to choose from. I currently use the lightest weight and find it usable in heat as high as 85-90 degrees (obviously with no jacket or shirt on top of it).

At least 10 years ago, I found some milsurp wool pants for $7/pair. I bought 4 pairs thinking I'd have enough to last a long time. I'm still on the 1st pair. They'll still be in great shape long after I'm too old to hunt.
There's only 1 drawback - they're so ugly that I've stunned 2 elk to death just by letting them see me wearing them.

One of the things about some synthetics is that they can develop a pretty evil smell if you end up wearing it for long enough without washing. With wool you end up smelling like a wet sheep which is not nearly as bad.
In my opinion the only problem with good wool is that it's heavier..................DJ

I like both, depends on the time of year, active hunt or stand hunt, as I do both types I like sleeping Indian wool and the 90 percent stuff from sitka, don't have to buy either of these new if you look around.
Shoot straight
Anie

You can turn that around; if you're hunting out of your pack for a week in cold wet weather when it becomes difficult to keep your synthetics dry, they'll hold less moisture but will lose more retained heat and you'll end up feeling colder than with wool. In addition, synthetics can develop and retain a funk.

Just to add to my previous post - several guys mentioned the funk associated with synthetics. I did not notice this at all with the Sitka gear with 5 and half days of wearing it. I did take a couple of really lightweight silk shirts and pants that I wore under them. I alternated them and my socks daily and couldn't notice any distinguishable odors.

One other thing, I wore the Sitka in about an hour of light rain on two different days - both the Jetstram jacket and 90 percent pants did a good job of repelling the water and neither soaked through.

I vote wool for maybe everything except maybe the outside top layer.

I spend a good number of days outside each year so I tend to moderate priced wool base layer. Lately I have been buying the Teramar from Campmor. Underneath that I wear the lightest weight Smartwool t-Shirt to ward off any itching.

For the my legs I think that Filson whipcords have the widest comfort range of any pants I know of.

While I do like wool top layers, this is an area where Sitka or another synthetics can be lighter and perhaps more wind/rain resistant as well as lighter.

I agree with noKnees. wool=base layers, waterproof synthetic+top layers.

The problem I've had with wool is insect damage. I think the bugs that caused the damage are called carpet beetles - both the adult and larval stages eat holes in the stuff, and the bugs are small and hard to see until it is too late. I ended up throwing out some of my wool clothing due to the damage, and replaced it all with synthetics. I understand these bugs are endemic here in Utah, so they must have gotten into my clothing bag that was sitting on the ground of my floorless tent.

My clothing bags are always dri bags....

Been working on this seriously for the last few years. I work with guys who are out there and do not get showers for literally weeks at a time- yep, it's been over a week for me now... The funk factor of poly and other synth may not be a factor if you are not out more than three days, or you can bath/change. Poly burns really well too. It is a little lighter and rucks up a little better, but..
In my experience, I like the Filson Whips with a base of light wool; both Filson and just found some -33 which I really like. Put on light wooltop with as long a zipper as I can find to regulate the heat. Put on a good wool shirt and carry a good outer shell and you should be good to go.
I have been wearing good wool socks in all my boots from 120 to around 10 degrees and my tender feet survive well. No doubt it is heavier and takes up more space, but it is tougher ( I am still using some of my Dad's 50+ year old Filson Whips)
I think the key is to spend the money once and purchase the best you can as it will flat out work within the limitations cited.
OTOH, most of the younger team members like the poly as it is lighter and we do not get much rain. They are not concerned with how well it stands up as they DX the stuff every six months or so.

Moth Balls..

Tried that with wool clothing I don't wear hunting, but it didn't stop them. Even some clothing that was washed and put into vacuum sealed bags ended up damaged - must have been eggs or larva that got on the fabric when it went into the bags despite all my efforts. Used wool for years and never had any insect damage before this. It was frustrating to have to throw out damaged clothing that was only a couple years old. I can't afford to do that very often, that's why I replaced the damaged stuff with synthetics.

Both laundering in hot water and dry-cleaning will kill all stages of fabric pests, both clothes moth and carpet beatle. Clothing and other textile items should be stored only if clean. Clothing and other textile items can be protected by storing them in tight-fitting containers or carefully sealed boxes with a moth repellent. The vapors of the repellent are lethal to fabric pests only if they are maintained at sufficient concentrations for a sufficient amount of time. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Generally, two to three weeks of treatment will ensure absolute kill of all stages of insect pests-egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

After storage, air items for a few days before using them to get rid of any odor. If items are washable, launder them before using.

Suggested reading:

Preventing Damage from Clothes Moths and Carpet Beetles
Guide C-504
Susan Wright, Extension Consumer Education Specialist
College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences New Mexico State University

Against the skin merino wool.

Everything else is synthetic.

If you sweat a lot (I do) the DWR from Grainger are great. Check out Cabelas for the treatments.

I like the -33's against the skin, wear the Sitka Ascent pants over them and love the way they stretch/freedom of movement and light. I also have a pair of 90% pants that are great too when the temps drop around 10 or I plan on sitting and glassing a lot. Up top I wear the Minus 33's under, Sitka Jetstream jacket when still hunting and hiking. If it is down under 10 I have a super thin Bratwear fleece jacket I put on under the jacket. If I am sitting I have a Swanndri wool coat that I put on. It is an "anorak" style coat and I can tuck the back of the coat/parka under my butt and helps keep me warm there too.
I think this is one of those things that each person needs to find what keeps them comfortable at different temps. I have had some people with me who say they would freeze if they wore what I have on and others say that I have too much on... so definately need to fine tune what works for you.
I will say the Optifade is a fantastic camo and have really liked how light the fabrics are, windproof and the way it doesn't sop up water. I highly recommend making it part of your "system".

Exactly! Being from the South, I find that I need a little more than you guys up North to stay comfortable.

I have always been a warmer fella. Running around down here in the Houston area in shorts and a t-shirt when it's 50 degrees outside gets me some strange looks. My wife calls me her personal heater.

Tight-weave wool is pretty good but any of the less expensive, lose-weave, wool will let the wind blow through like a screen door. I've heard that the Johnson Mills wool with some percentage of poly weaved right into the fabric is good stuff but I've never tried it. I hunted in North Idaho for 20+ years wearing wool hunting clothes and it kept me warm 98% of the time, even though I was sopping wet. The one exception was 7 years ago when I was in a mixed rain and snow downpour. I could literally feel streams of water running down my legs (yes it was WATER), I froze my butt off that day. The next year, with the adjustments of my suspenders adjusted so high that they were behind my shoulder blades and the crotch of my pants was 1/2-way to my knees because the pants were holding about a gallon of water, I found myself baby-stepping 2 miles out of a hell-hole in the dark, I vowed I was done with wool. Go with something waterproof by Sitka or something with Gore-tex.

You might find some gore-tex that fits over or under your wool and you'll be both dry and warm...........................DJ

Have used both King of the Mountain wool (for 20+ years) and also have the Sitka. Both work well, but for different applications. If it's nasty out, there's no question and wool is the way I roll. If I'm going to be doing a lot of hiking and less standing, Sitka gets the nod. It doesn't keep me warm for extended sits, particularly after hiking a few miles in despite my trying to not get sweated up. Last week while elk hunting, the weather turned sour and I wore wool for a few days, then it broke and I went back to the Sitka. The advantage in mobility it gave me was incredible to say the least due to the lighter weight and stretch in the fabric. Frankly, I was blown away and felt as if I had way more energy while humping the mountains in the Sitka. I haven't tried their colder weather gear yet, but am thinking it might be a good investment, though I'd go with the GTX brand over Sitka...Sitka is way overpriced IMO, though their Ascent pant is, without a doubt, my favorite hunting pant. That being said, for Montana at least, there's nothing like my KOTM wools for the weather we get here in the mountains and I'd not be without it.

+1
Typically, I wear one synthetic layer next to my skin, then either wool pants or bibs and a wool shirt or jacket. That's kept me comfortable in temps from the high 60's, down into the single digits. If the weather takes a foul turn, then I have a set of military surplus goretex outerwear that I put on over everything. I've always been dry and comfortable.

HTH,
- Randy

Another member mentioned the Icebreaker brand. I've found the GT series to be more durable in all weights with 'expedition weights' being most impressive. The GT's also have deep zippers helping to vent as the days warm (we can go from 20 degrees to 70 here in AZ in a matter of hours) as well as the inside of the sleeves being 'perforated' in effect. I wish the website pictures were more illustrative in this aspect.

I wear them year-round in different weights and layer them on occasion. They fit close to the body and have narrower contour fitting sleeves compared to much of what you'll experience elsewhere. Generally simple black or somewhat odd color styling though. The (under) pants of Icebreaker in the heavier weights are fine but when snug and you're huffing it, you notice them a bit though not like nearly as irratating as traditional wool. They are not quick to take on an oder (unless smelling like wet wool makes you smell more like the wet deer!)

I've also recently had a Rivers West underlayer shirt which is more traditionally cut, and comfortable with a henley collar.

Just a word of caution, be very careful with wool and hot water.
You can easily lose a size. I kink of look at wool and Sitka gear on opposite ends of a hunting season. Wool for very cold conditions such as stand hunting and minimal hiking. Sitka Gear for early season weather. I stilll like polar fleece when you can find it for in between weather. With layering you can extend it pretty good. You really need options if you hunt a variety of seasons in different states - this isn't a "one gun for everything" analogy.
Good luck.