Sitka gear on sale

[280ackley]

Was there today and the sale is still going on.

[yajsab]

I know.  The price is ridiculous.  But I like  it for the fit because I bow hunt.  I know Russell is competing with their similar fabric, but the price is only slightly lower than Sitka.  Also they only have it in treestand color.  Don't really care much about Gore-tex either.  Too noisy for bow hunting.

[Shootmoore]

I sat through the salesman pitch the other day at the archery store where I shoot.  Looks like well made stuff.  Just way out of my price range even at 50% off.  If a person has the extra cash I would say its probably worth it.  I'll stick with my wool for cold weather, it was expensive enough thank you.

Shootmoore

[Bearhunter]

Ill give a quick field report on Sitka gear and what makes it so Good!

The fit, is were its at!  This stuff fits like a custom glove.  I have troubles fitting into a lot of different camo out there it seems there is never a perfect size for me.  Sitka has such a variety of sizes to fit just about anyone.  The clothing is trim, meaning not big/bulky baggy which is great for us bow hunters.  One great option on the 90% pants is the built in removalable suspenders they are great and can be taken off if you dont need them.  The waist line inside the pants is wrapped with a ring of a gripping type rubber that works like a charm for keeping your shirt tucked in when crawling, kneeling or any wide range of motion.  This is a huge plus!  When hunting in Montana in over 1ft of snow all day, my pants never raised up and over my boot tops, resulting in dry boots all day.  I never had to wear gators once, while my hunting partner did with his other brand camo.  The materials that Sitka uses are so far superior than 90% of the other brands out there.  The new Optifade really does work.  I have had pictures taken of myself in multiple types of terrain and the optifade blends in all of them when you look at the photos the proof is there.  As far a Goretex it is what it always has been waterproof, the best you can get!  It may be a little load for bowhunting but the way I look at it, living here in western Washington is:  if its a lite ran I were my 90% gear and layer properly, if its a down pour like most of the time I wear my Goretex, besides when its raining that hard the rain makes it hard for even critters to here that well in.  On my 3 week trip that I just returned from I brought 2 totes of camo and just couldnt get myself to wear 75% of the other stuff I had with me, once you have Sitka on and used it in the field its really hard to use anything else.   Give it a try, youll be hooked and have to get a side job!

[joebear]

I am on the pro staff. Sitka is alot of money but it will be the last system you buy!

[whacker1]

Need a little help -
Which lines for which conditions:
I was looking at the storm front Light pants, the 90% pant, or the ascent.  My understanding is that I am best to get a pair of the ascent for the late september and early october stuff.  But I was debating between the stormfront, stormfront light, and the 90% pant for late October, November and December. 
NE WA, Northern Idaho, and Western Montana is almost all my hunting.

Suggestions?

[Craig]

I went with the ascent set. I could only afford one set. I though the 90% gear was to heavy for early hunting and for november hunting I will just wear a  good base layer. I might need a vest or light jacket. The jetstream jacket looks pretty nice.

[yajsab]

What's the temp in those area?  Are you moving a lot?  Do you sweat a lot?

Just couple questions you might want to think about.  I have the 90% and Celsius.  I hunted in Eastern WA in Sept and usually get cold with my 90% in very early morning.  I'm not moving much during that time.  With layering, I can hunt (still) comfortably in late season in the Celsius line.  The temp is around 25 - 30.

[bullchaser]

How do you guys feel about the gore opta fade pattern I bought a shirt, hat and vest but i am not sure i love that pattern.

[yajsab]

I bow hunt and didn't like the gore stuff due to noise.  The MMC kinda grow on me now, for the terrain I hunted.

[MDGrand]

Well, unfortunately, I am going to have to pick a little fight here..

I am on the Rivers West Pro Team.. and I have to say, Sitka does not compare to Rivers West gear. The one plus I will give to Sitka is it seems mor form fitting. That being said, if you ever pick up a Rivers West garment, they now have a tag that compares all the top gear from Sitka, Rivers West, Browning, etc.. and Rivers West wins in waterproof, insulation, tear strength and warranty. The owner really invented a great piece of technology here and I have to see ANY Gortex item compete. Gortex is noisy.. and no way around it, any waterproof garment worn while doing a lot of hiking will hold in some persperation and feel a little wet.. but when its raining like hell and I also need to stay warm.. there aint nothing better! I hunt from Alaska, Western WA for Roosevelt Elk and East WA for mule deer and Utah and Idaho for Rocky Mtn Elk.. Each of these places have tested the gear I use.. and again.. nothing beats Rivers West.

Best of all.. Rivers West costs less too.. MUCH less than Sitka. Its also home town Washington company located right off 4th Ave in Seattle.

Check'em out!.. I think you'll agree.

[Wile E. Hunter]

Unfortunately, it would appear that Sitka has priced itself out of the market. All the stores I've seen them in (and been blown away by their prices) seem to be putting them on clearance. I have one piece of their 90% system (bought on clearance discount) and I must say it IS NICE. If it weren't so RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE, I'd certainly have more of it.

[actionshooter]

Well, unfortunately, I am going to have to pick a little fight here..

I am on the Rivers West Pro Team.. and I have to say, Sitka does not compare to Rivers West gear. The one plus I will give to Sitka is it seems mor form fitting. That being said, if you ever pick up a Rivers West garment, they now have a tag that compares all the top gear from Sitka, Rivers West, Browning, etc.. and Rivers West wins in waterproof, insulation, tear strength and warranty. The owner really invented a great piece of technology here and I have to see ANY Gortex item compete. Gortex is noisy.. and no way around it, any waterproof garment worn while doing a lot of hiking will hold in some persperation and feel a little wet.. but when its raining like hell and I also need to stay warm.. there aint nothing better! I hunt from Alaska, Western WA for Roosevelt Elk and East WA for mule deer and Utah and Idaho for Rocky Mtn Elk.. Each of these places have tested the gear I use.. and again.. nothing beats Rivers West.

Best of all.. Rivers West costs less too.. MUCH less than Sitka. Its also home town Washington company located right off 4th Ave in Seattle.

Check'em out!.. I think you'll agree.

I bought Rivers West when it came out, then I bought Sitka gear and sold my rivers west for CHEAP just to get it out of my closet, but with all your experience I was probably wrong   

[MDGrand]

Well, everyone has their preferences... I tested all the bargain basement gear for years before finally giving in and getting the good stuff.

Curious though.. did you ever actually try your Rivers West gear before changing to Sitka?

And let me add...I am not saying Sitka gear is not good.. it is, hell it better be for the price! But, Rivers West, which just happens to be a little harder to find because its a smaller company makes something more affordable and in many areas beats Sitka. Just my extremely biased opinion.

[JoeVon]

The Rivers "Wet" stuff that I owned along with the stuff my buddies had leaked pretty bad.  The remedy from Rivers "Wet" was to run rubber cement down the sewed seams on the insides of the jacket, which was pretty much useless after a few washes.  It was also a little to heavy for my liking...