sitka review

[littlebuf]

well i figured i put up a little review on sitka gear for you guys that may be on the fence. get off the fence. this is the best stuff Ive ever put on, hands down. i bought the 100% cold front jacket and it is the best jacket you will ever buy. i was in 20 degree weather with sideways wind and rain. i stayed 100% dry and warm with only two thermals on for a base layer,when they say 100% wind and rain proof they mean it. i also bought the 100% storm front pants and they did the same. i ended up taking the pants back because they are way to loud. i exchanged them for the 90% pants and couldn't be happier. 90% water proof still means your not getting wet.

bottom line this gear will keep you dry and very warm with minimal base layers. so you cut way down on bulky clothes and don't have to carry extra gear for rain. well worth the money plus there still on sale at cabelas. go get some you will not regret it. 

[halflife65]

Thanks littlebuf.  I went down to Cabelas and picked up a 90% jacket and pants (50% off for a Mountain Mimicry coat and I found a pair of the 90% Optifade pants in the Bargain Basement for 50% off - I don't match but I don't care.)  I've been using the Celsius vest, original Mountain Shirt and Mountain Pants (they don't make them anymore, which is too bad) and a pair of Ascent pants for the last few years.  Great gear - when I'm going to be out a long time (overnight(s) or just a super hike) that's all I'll wear and I won't even consider anything else.  I save the Cabelas/King's stuff for shorter, more "normal" hunting conditions (usually under 10 mile walks or where I won't be walking too far in the dark on either end of the day).

I'm really looking forward to trying out my new 90% gear late archery elk.  Next, I might get the Celsius coat - I currently really don't have a heavy coat.  I usually just wear an extra fleece, stocking hat and a Gore-tex shell if it's really cold.

[HUNT]

The 90% gear is awesome.  You dont get wet, and it keeps you warm.  Its all you need until the snow flies, then I would go with the celcius jacket.

[Sportfury]

For you guys that own this stuff how does it do in the brush? If you were pushing brush all day or everytime you hunt do you think it would last? I read some on their website, but I would still like to hear from the users. Thanks.

[halflife65]

I hunt mostly east side, so the brush isn't as big of a deal.  I'd honestly probably not wear the Ascent pants in the brush - especially westside blackberry filled clearcuts (grew up over there hunting blacktails and rosies.)  I haven't tried the 90% stuff yet...

When I know it's really brushy I usually just use my cotton pants and get wet.  I also have a cheap(er) set of Gore-tex from Sportsman's Weyerhouse (sp?) that I use when I think that there is a chance of ripping my clothes.  It's leaky and not great (especially the coat) but I won't get pissed if I rip it.

[littlebuf]

For you guys that own this stuff how does it do in the brush? If you were pushing brush all day or everytime you hunt do you think it would last? I read some on their website, but I would still like to hear from the users. Thanks.

its great. i hunt the west side jungle only and this stuff will stand up to it. Ive been pushing through brush snagging on vine maple and rakeing through blackberry. I'm tough on gear and i wont baby anything. if it cant stand up to what I'm going through i don't have time for it. plus i got the 90% pants covered in blood until the front was almost solid pink and it washed right out with only one washing. i will let you guys know when i find something i don't like about this gear.

[HUNT]

It would do fine busting the brush.  A puncture is a puncture though.  Its pretty quiet moving through the brush.  Its actually pretty durable for as light and comfortable as it is.  It really manages your sweat and moves it away from your body and dries out fast.  It is expensive, but it is definately worth it. 

[257 Wby Mag]

Don't know how they can explain 90%? Bought a set of their 90% pants, awesome, love em, until it rains!! Whore them over in Montana,Idaho, and here, didi really good over east. Silent, blocked the wind really well, silent, warm, fit was fabulous, but when it rains, your getting wet! At least I did. First time my feet got wet in my Kennetreks, due to running down my legs. Love em, fit great, but they are not 90% waterproof....

[halflife65]

I hunt mostly east side, so the brush isn't as big of a deal.  I'd honestly probably not wear the Ascent pants in the brush - especially westside blackberry filled clearcuts (grew up over there hunting blacktails and rosies.)  I haven't tried the 90% stuff yet...

When I know it's really brushy I usually just use my cotton pants and get wet.  I also have a cheap(er) set of Gore-tex from Sportsman's Weyerhouse (sp?) that I use when I think that there is a chance of ripping my clothes.  It's leaky and not great (especially the coat) but I won't get pissed if I rip it.

Wore the 90% pants for 3 days last weekend.  I wanted to change into something different, but they worked so well that I just kept wearing them.  I had a light/silk weight pair of long johns under them and they were perfect.  Although I'd be cautious with the Ascent pants in the brush, I think that the 90% pants would do just great.  It was nice (way too nice) weather, so I didn't get a chance to try them in the rain, but when I sat on the wet ground to glass my butt didn't get wet.  When you sweat in them going up steep hills, etc. it's almost like you instantly dry out.

[jackelope]

i think 90% means you can wear them for 90% of the situations you come into...not 90% waterproof.
dunno for sure...but the 90% pants are advertised as water resistant, not water proof.

[yajsab]

90% is for 90% of situations that you only need this pant/jacket.  However, they are water resistant.  I tried running water from the faucet on them and they didn't get wet.  I think if you wash them, you'll have to treat them with water repellent chemicals again.

[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!

[257 Wby Mag]

i think 90% means you can wear them for 90% of the situations you come into...not 90% waterproof.
dunno for sure...but the 90% pants are advertised as water resistant, not water proof.

Ya, I wasn't sure? They are awesome though, just not rain gear. And for the record, I was just as wet under my rivers west coat!! That *censored* is garbage!! I've finally come to the realazation, that in one of our famous western washington downpours, it doesn't matter how much money you spend on gear, your gettin wet!!

[littlebuf]

the 100% storm front pants and the 100% cold front jacket kept me 100% dry in a down pour. the only problem is you can hear those pants from a mile away when walking. the would be a great "stand" pant i suppose but im too mobile for that when i hunt thats why i took them back