sitka gear???

[herdbull33]

How is the Sitka Gear? Its pretty pricey and i'm real close to pulling the trigger on buying a set. If anybody wears it let me know how it is. Is it worth the money? Quiet? Warranty? Any thing would be much appreciated.

[MLBowhunting]

depends on what your looking for but i like the king of the mtn clothing but all my buddies love that rivers west stuff.  I saw in a test that theyre far stronger then sitka but thats just what i read

[jager]

It is pretty pricey stuff. I'm sure many may scoff but it really is great stuff. I've got base layers. Mid and lightweight tops. Several pair of the 90% pants. And a few of the heavier weight pants.
The 90% pants are the s***! I've worn these pants elk hunting in 90º heat... to knee deep snow, with a base layer of course. Speaking of the snow, it will not stick and freeze up around your leg openings like with some materials.
Cool sticky rubber waistband that keeps your pants up? Wierd but it works.
Very rain resistant. Suprisingly quiet. Comfortable. Very well made.
The base layers are great as well, mix and match to get the right temps.
I do have an arm pocket on what may be a traverse zip-t? Anyway it is made of a different material and if I scrape it on brush it's noisey.

The only thing that I wish, is that it came in the Predator camo patterns ... I think it would be the best stuff on the planet....right now.. pretty close.


Man ....they should be payin' me  

[h2ofowlr]

I have the 90% gear and the lighter Sitka gear.  They are comfortable to wear.  Great clothes, I just didn't like paying the price.  A few outfits and your into for $1k.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

I shopped the sales and saved some $$$$.  Look at camofire, mt archery and footwear outfitters.  In the past they had clearances on the old stuff patterns and styles to make room for the new.

I'm 6'5" and my height is from the waist up.  So the shirts are kinda short but livable. 

[thorne27]

I think that it's top rate.  And like the others have said, if you look around you can find at pretty good prices.  Camofire is great, but whenever thers is Sitka gear on there, it goes really quick.  Mountain Hunt Supply has it at 10% off, not great, but at least it's not full price if you need it now. 

[dreamingbig]

It is good stuff but very overrated and much too expensive.  It is often on sale if you keep your eyes open.  I have a few items (shirt and beanie) but most of my camo is from other manufacturers.  Now if they were to reduce the price by 35 to 40% then I would probably own a lot!

[halflife65]

Good stuff - the 90% pants are my favorite.  I also have the original Mountain Pants and Shirt, Celsius vest and a 90% jacket.  However, I waited for sales and I don't think I paid full price for most or all of it.  I also bought them over several years so that there wasn't a huge price tag at once.

Probably the only thing that I'd consider paying full price for are the 90% pants.  Those things are great.  The only issue that I have is that I usually wear pants in medium but they are tight (throughout - legs and thighs), so I needed large, which are a little too big.  So I just wear the suspenders that come with them.

[lewy]

Pretty good stuff, I really like mine. Only complaint is that the material gets pretty tatterd by the westside brush/blackberries

[Antlerjunkie]

I have a complete set of Sitka gear. The jacket is great! But The pants I would not buy again. They were good pants at first but seem to wear out faster then a normal pair of cargo camo pants. I would buy the jacket but I would shop around when it comes to the pants. Overall great gear, high priced but keeps you dry and warm.

[guardian]

JUNK!!!! But you'll look good.

[coachcw]

over rated , you kinda look like a rei hunter . For the money I like microtex.

[Tony 270]

I've heard from several people who wear it, that it is very comfortable and very warm when dressed in layers. Also great for drying out quickly. But... that stuff is just stupid expensive! If you buy the complete set like they want you to, you're around $1k. Just for an outfit. Might be great, but I'll never know. Even at half off can't justify it.

[coachcw]

it looks noisy , but i havn't worn any in the woods , although a little hottie would look good in it.

[xXx Archery]

I have 2 or 3 sets of it...love it ..if you hunt hard you will like it...comfortable yes and when hiking 10-12 miles a day thats a big deal...

[Tony 270]

For those that do get the a set (since most can't afford multiple sets at that price), do you wash everything every night? Or at least the undergarments every night? Can't see hiking miles a day and putting on the same stuff every day.

Hows the camo holding up for you? Hear it wears/fades out quickly. Have you seen that?

[xXx Archery]

For those that do get the a set (since most can't afford multiple sets at that price), do you wash everything every night? Or at least the undergarments every night? Can't see hiking miles a day and putting on the same stuff every day.

Hows the camo holding up for you? Hear it wears/fades out quickly. Have you seen that?

I will hunt 4-5 days with out washing it....wind is wind..
as for the camo fading? ....no the stuff I got 4 years ago still looks good...

[h2ofowlr]

Mine still looks good after several cleanings.  Last season I would place the dirty clothes in a plastic bag with some neutral scent or scent killer and let them sit over night.  Then spray down in the morning with more scent killer/ block and go at it again.  Usually changed clothes out after a few days/ wash and hang dry.

[alecvg]

I think sitka is awesome, I have the Bivy 45, and it works great, I do not yet own any of the clothing, but have used it on hunts, and it is all great.  I think there will always be rumors about sitka saying the camo fades, or the stuff wears out fast, but I think that with expensive gear, people try to find something wrong with it.   

[blackveltbowhunter]

Overall I think its great stuff, but it depends alot on a when and where you'll be hunting. If your hunting wilderness high country I think is where sitka gear really shines, especially mid september on. If your hunting alot of westside or lower elevations brush country, think twice. I have been impressed with the fit and wear of the sitka, buts its durability in brushy country and noise have left me dissapointed. I have actually avoided areas I knew held animals cuz i was afraid they would hear me, or worse, I would destroy the truck payment i was wearing around my legs! LOL. But hunting the backcountry where brush is less of a problems and cold, snow, and wind more of a problem I think its AWESOME! I really love the  vests and 90% pants. In my expereince overall their garments makes more noise than other options, but if your hunting in rain and wind anyway that should cover the small increase in noise. I think it was already mentioned, But if nothing else give it to little hottie - its worth the investment!

[firedog]

Love my Sitka stuff, haven't found it to be noisy at all and will wear a shirt for a couple days and switch to another one. It does a good job of not getting to stinky but you still have to play the wind because if you sweat you smell. I have 6 or so pairs of pants and 8 or more shirts and then the original 90% jacket which is heavier than the ones now and the vest from back then also for those cold mornings. I hunt high country and I hunt the brush. It will snag a bit in the thick stuff but that is the price of hunting hard. A pair of ascent pants and a base layer shirt and a 1/4 zip shirt and it is perfect for bow season. Wicks all the swest away from ya and that is nice when hiking long days.

[jrebel]

If I don't like the set I just got after trying them this year....I will make you a really good deal.....

[Tony 270]

... I think there will always be rumors about sitka saying the camo fades, or the stuff wears out fast, but I think that with expensive gear, people try to find something wrong with it.   

When you hear those "rumors" coming from people who actually own it, there may be some truth to it. I'd think the people who spend that much money on all that expensive gear would try to pump it up and justify it as best they can, not start rumors on its downfalls. 

[MDGrand]

Yes, I am biased.. but Rivers West is better.

It depends on what is important to you and what you know about the product line of each....

Rivers West is more durrable, lasts longer, is warmer, quieter and has an iron clad guarantee against rain and life of the product.. they will even loan you another one in the event of a failure! check out the test data and see for yourself: http://riverswest.com/testing_data.html

NOW.. there are those that say.. "Rivers West does not breath and I get too sweaty" Well if you say that, than either you bough an older model or you bought the wrong line. Fo those that want breathability.. Get the APF line. thinner and breathable.

see their product line here http://riverswest.com/fabrics.html , basically there are 3 versions of fabric for real cold still hunting (H2P), mid level (H2P LAW) and thinner breathable (APF). All with the same guarantee. 

[Dr. Death]

I have alot of Sitka stuff and love it except for one thing. It snags up easy in brush and leaves marks in the gear. (small snag marks where the material pulls out some). I have some regular cotton and some microtext that is older and shows less wear.

[Tony 270]

Might have to check out Rivers West APF stuff. Been wanting some bibs.

[Drifterat]

I've never used it, nor will I. Way too expensive for clothing made in China...

[Tony 270]

Remember a story my old HS econ teacher told us. His dad was a middle-man for Chevron back in the day. A customer went to a Chevron to get some new tires, some top of the line white walled tires. Forgot what brand they were, but the maker produced them for $3 a piece. They sold them to Chevron corporate for $9 each. They sold them to his dad for $25 each. He sold them to the individual store for $75... and they were sold to the customer for $125 each.

A $3 tire sold for $125. Ouch.

[xXx Archery]

Remember a story my old HS econ teacher told us. His dad was a middle-man for Chevron back in the day. A customer went to a Chevron to get some new tires, some top of the line white walled tires. Forgot what brand they were, but the maker produced them for $3 a piece. They sold them to Chevron corporate for $9 each. They sold them to his dad for $25 each. He sold them to the individual store for $75... and they were sold to the customer for $125 each.

A $3 tire sold for $125. Ouch.

the cool thing about that is  4 jobs...4 working guys like you and me got payed....what is wrong with that?
today the middle man is gone. the guy now makes the tire for 10, sells it to the store for 30 so they can sell it for 60 at wal mart..so now we have 2 guys worken and 2 unemployed

[Tony 270]

Jobs are good, no disagreement there. What is bad is the amount of greed involved. Sure there are jobs involved, but the people making the majority of money aren't the ones doing the actual work. And with prices like these (the tire example and the Sitka gear) how long does an average working Joe have to work to be able to buy something? Lets say someone makes $15 an hour. Not the greatest, but almost double minimum wage. And lets just say they pay 25% of their income to taxes. How long does it take to buy a $1000 SG outfit? If they could devote their entire paycheck to the gear, and have no other bills, it would take them 89 hours to earn enough money to buy something that was made in China, so a couple people can make huge profits while the people who do the actual work (those that put it together, those that stock it on shelves, sell it - not including business owners) make next to nothing on it. I didn't know it was made in China, but now that I do what does it cost to product it? Next to nothing I'm sure. So why is it so insanely expensive??? Greed. And really, that greed is producing jobs? Certainly not production jobs if it isn't produced here.

I'm not completely against Chinese made goods, but if I'm buying them it is because I can get them at a cheap price. Good products at a good price, I'll look at. Think Zen Ray. Good products made in China, priced as if they were made in Europe, no way.

If the Chinese made statement is true about Sitka Gear I won't even consider it anymore, but I've never looked at the tag so I don't know.

Makes me think of Chris Rock's joke about the Blair Witch Project (the movie). That movie cost $60,000 to make. Where did the money go? You know someone is running around with $55,000 in their pocket...

But to use your Wal Mart example, if I can buy the same product for half the price then great! Before I was working to buy this one thing. Now I can buy that one thing and still have money left over to buy something else (or pay bills, save it, go on a vacation, whatever). Instead of being broke after buying my tires I think I might go get some new arrows from XXX. Before I wouldn't have had any $$$ to, but now I do 

[MuleyMadness]

its all the same---anything is up for sale and is only worth what someone will pay for it~!!!!

Rivers west is okay gear doesnt breath AT ALL but is wind and waterproof!

Sitka is kind of like Simms gear for fishing it is the best gear out there but not everyone can afford it..

Ill smash around the woods in my Sitka gear for 4 to 6 days without washing it and smell like a bucket of nappy turds but its awesome gear!