Sitka Down Pour Jacket

[Firing Pin]

Anyone have or used this item?  I looked at it at Sportco and for the life of me I can't see how it breaths.  The lining looks and feels like a thin rubber material similar to the Helly Hansen rain gear.  I have a Rivers West Stalker set and burn up in it, I get wetter from the sweat than I do from the rain.  Also any feed back on the 90% stuff as far as rain gear.

[Cascade_Sherpa]

No expierence witht the Downpour series.  But I've got a lot of the first generation sitka 90% mothwing clothing.  Its not designed as rain gear but it will shed water and still keep you warm even after it does.  Last elk season I dropped about 1k in elevation and the snow turned to rain. I proceeded to hike out and I just felt that wet sensation on my shoulders and neck after about 2 hours of walking in the rain.  Granted I had a backpack and a boonie hat that kept parts of me out of the rain.  Its good gear, and some of the ascent and celcius series have a fabric treatment that helps shed the water.

[yajsab]

I haven't tried my 90% in the rain, but it did fine in snow during late season last year.  Like Cascade said, it's not design to be waterproof.  But it worked for me.  I haven't had the need for my RW.

[jjhunter]

I've got 90%, Celcius, and Jetstream.   I have never hunted in the pouring rain with this stuff, but I have hunted in the cold and snow.   Although not waterproof, it is amazing that you never really feel "wet".   It does not retain water at all!   Great gear!

[Cascade_Sherpa]

My only complaint about a lot of Sitka's new products is that its similiar in design and material to what you'd get at REI, or one of the bunny-hugger stores.  Its great gear with a new camo pattern on it.  Whereas I hunt on the west side in the brush and trees, and I need clothing that is just as quiet as it is weather-proof.  My rule of thumb is that if you can drag your finger nails across the fabric and hear it, then its going to make a racket when you're still hunting through waist high huckleberries or similiar foliage.  Wool and fleece are best for being quiet, and Sitka's stuff for being great gear is a tad on the noisy end......

[MtnMuley]

Very true Cascade.  Nothing is as quiet as fleece or wool.

[DRDANTDC]

Anyone have or used this item?  I looked at it at Sportco and for the life of me I can't see how it breaths.  The lining looks and feels like a thin rubber material similar to the Helly Hansen rain gear.  I have a Rivers West Stalker set and burn up in it, I get wetter from the sweat than I do from the rain.  Also any feed back on the 90% stuff as far as rain gear.

Don't waste your money on 90% gear for rain gear, aflter one washing it isn't even water resistant.

[halflife65]

Did you wash it with Tech Wash or anything like that?  If you used normal liquid detergent it will ruin the finish.  You can help it probably by re-washing in TX Wash and then spraying it down with the water repellent finish.

http://www.rei.com/product/784626
http://www.rei.com/product/784625
http://www.rei.com/product/724688

Maybe a bit expensive but it will help you to not ruin your clothes.

[MuleySniper]

I just bought the Downpour jacket about two weeks ago. I haven't had a chance to really try it out yet. I like it though. My only gripe, even though the only time I have worn it is when I tried it on, is it seems a little noisy. Then again, its fresh off the rack so it might need to "break in"
MS

[USAFpj]

Don't waste your money on 90% gear for rain gear, aflter one washing it isn't even water resistant.

My experience has been different- I have been drenched with my used 90% pants, and they have been soaked, but mu legs were dry as a bone... and that is from someone who 'freeballs it', and swears by Filson and Pendleton wool.  I hate, no, I abhor that they are made in China, but the 90% pants are the only solution for day after day of hunting in wet conditions that I do.  My wool stays wet, and heavy.  The Sitka pants dry quickly around a fire and they feel nice at 0430 when slipping into that fleece lining...

[Cascade_Sherpa]

The 90% were a good series, I wish that Sitka would have continued that line and expanded on it.  I've read a lot of feedback from cabelas website and on this forum from folks who've returned their sitka gear because it was just too noisy for bowhunting.  It seemed like they were just taking the Arc'teryx gear and putting a fancy camo pattern on it. 

[USAFpj]

It seemed like they were just taking the Arc'teryx gear and putting a fancy camo pattern on it.

And if I were a smarter man, I would have done this a decade ago.  Thanks to the taxpayers, we are blessed to do a lot of our work business in Arc'teryx gear.  I had always said that if a company could create the same clothing in camo, they would do well.  My 90% pants are noisier than my wool, but are not even close to the level of noise in the normal line of Arc'teryx soft shells.  I have been pleased, and like I predicted, Sitka is a prosperous company

[tlbradford]

No rain gear is quiet, and no rain gear breathes.  It keeps water from getting in period.

I really don't understand how this fact gets by so many people.

You can get all kinds of clothing that sheds water, if you keep it treated.

[HerbieDerby]

Did you wash it with Tech Wash or anything like that?  If you used normal liquid detergent it will ruin the finish.  You can help it probably by re-washing in TX Wash and then spraying it down with the water repellent finish.

http://www.rei.com/product/784626
http://www.rei.com/product/784625
http://www.rei.com/product/724688

Maybe a bit expensive but it will help you to not ruin your clothes.

I emailed Sitka about the water repellancy of the 90% gear, as I felt I needed to help mine out a bit more. They recommend use of a product called ReviveX, Made by McNett, out of Washington. I used the spray-on type as oppose to the wash in, and I've got to say, It works fantastic!

[MuleySniper]

I wore mine out for the first time Friday afternoon.... when it was pouring! I really like it. Typically when wearing a rain type jacket, its obviously wet out so the noise wasn't a factor like I thought it would be. Friday, I just wore cotton under it and it did get sweaty feeling, like it didn't breathe very well. Saturday I wore Under Armour underneath and I was very comfortable. One thing I did learn though is it didn't help me get into the elk at all
MS

[croix]

MuleySniper - you mention feeling sweaty in cotton and fine in the Under Armor. What was your activity level each day? Were you sitting, still hunting, hiking level terrain, hiking steep terrain, fast pace, slow pace, etc.?

I only ask because I realize that virtually no rain gear is truly "breathable", but some will make me sweat even with mild exertion or even sitting still, and simply doesn't let any body heat escape. I'm trying to get a feel for how much activity I could get away with before I feel like a fat kid in a trash bag.

[SkookumHntr]

Did you wash it with Tech Wash or anything like that?  If you used normal liquid detergent it will ruin the finish.  You can help it probably by re-washing in TX Wash and then spraying it down with the water repellent finish.

http://www.rei.com/product/784626
http://www.rei.com/product/784625
http://www.rei.com/product/724688

Maybe a bit expensive but it will help you to not ruin your clothes.

I emailed Sitka about the water repellancy of the 90% gear, as I felt I needed to help mine out a bit more. They recommend use of a product called ReviveX, Made by McNett, out of Washington. I used the spray-on type as oppose to the wash in, and I've got to say, It works fantastic!

-Anybody use that Grangers waterprofing detergent? I bought some, havnt used it though..

[WDFW-SUX]

if its wet i roll in Arc'teryx....noise be damed nothing is better at keeping me dry.

[CanvasGear]

If your not tromping through blackberries, good old Frog Togs are great. They make them in real tree camo, mine have held up for a couple years.

CG

[Hornseeker]

I've worn my Nimbus jacket several times in seriously rainy, nasty conditions. its been phenomenal every time! Breathable...Uh...NO... but you will not find any 100% water proof material that is going to breath good enough to keep you from getting damp from sweat if you are exerting yourself...

I will try that ReviveX on my 90%... I love that jacket, and it would be super nice to have it a bit more waterproof.

E

[MuleySniper]

MuleySniper - you mention feeling sweaty in cotton and fine in the Under Armor. What was your activity level each day? Were you sitting, still hunting, hiking level terrain, hiking steep terrain, fast pace, slow pace, etc.?

I only ask because I realize that virtually no rain gear is truly "breathable", but some will make me sweat even with mild exertion or even sitting still, and simply doesn't let any body heat escape. I'm trying to get a feel for how much activity I could get away with before I feel like a fat kid in a trash bag.

I was hiking the majority of the time. I'll tell you though, the Under Armour made a HUGE difference in being comfortable. I obviously was still sweating, but the Under Armour worked great for wicking it off my body. Oh yeah, and steep terrain

[croix]

MuleySniper - you mention feeling sweaty in cotton and fine in the Under Armor. What was your activity level each day? Were you sitting, still hunting, hiking level terrain, hiking steep terrain, fast pace, slow pace, etc.?

I only ask because I realize that virtually no rain gear is truly "breathable", but some will make me sweat even with mild exertion or even sitting still, and simply doesn't let any body heat escape. I'm trying to get a feel for how much activity I could get away with before I feel like a fat kid in a trash bag.

I was hiking the majority of the time. I'll tell you though, the Under Armour made a HUGE difference in being comfortable. I obviously was still sweating, but the Under Armour worked great for wicking it off my body. Oh yeah, and steep terrain

Thanks MS. Sounds like that stuff is worth the money. Time to put my christmas list together. 

[MuleySniper]

I got mine brand new with tags on ebay for $102.00 shipped. Sure beats the $275 Sportsmans Wharehouse price tag it had on it.  Keep your eye on camofire.com too, they have been showcasing some Sitka gear lately also.
MS