Sitka hunting gear

Hey y’all I’ve been looking at some Sitka gear, specifically the incinerator and the fanatic jacket and bibs and wanted to see if anyone had any first had knowledge or opinions on them.

I hunt white tail in upstate PA. I do not tolerate the cold well
And have heard nothing but good things about this gear however with the price tag it carries, was hoping to hear some reviews.

thanks in advance

 

I use some Sitka stuff for high altitude elk hunting in the late seasons, the Mountain pants and their base layers. I like it, good quality gear, but expensive. I have only ever bought it when it goes on super sale. Personally, I switched over to Kuiu gear years ago for the majority of my gear, and it's never let me down. They also have a massive sale going on right now. I layer the guide jacket with an ultra down jacket and pants over merino base layers and my Sitka mountain pants, keeps me warm in temps at zero and below but I'm also hunting actively, not sitting a stand. I would trust either of them, just depends what your budget is. I will say, the cuts on both of them are athletic cut, so keep that in mind when sizing.

 

Ive seen the kuiu gear online but never saw in person. I’ll have to see if I can find a retailer with it. Thanks for the advice

 

It's all direct to consumer, they do a road show a few times a year. Their gear would cost as much as Sitka if they used a dealer network. Their customer service is top notch, you might give them a call and tell them what your typical conditions are like. They will steer you into the right system. The founder of Kuiu actually started Sitka and sold it to W.L. Gore, so that he could focus on less of a mass market brand. They are very similar in a lot of ways. Also check out Skre and First Lite. Skre is direct to consumer, but a bit less high end. I used one of their jackets this year, and it was pretty solid for the price.

 

Kuiu only sells direct. Unless you go to their HQ in Dixon, CA, you'll only get to see it in reviews online. As CO Elk stated, their fit is athletic, so take that into consideration. They are good about returns if something doesn't fit.
I also switched over to about 90% Kuiu stuff, but I never got too heavily invested in Sitka gear either other than a few mid-weight tops and some accessories like gloves and hats. Most of it I've been extremely happy with. A few things have been sort of "meh" (I had their Pro pack system and sold it in favor of the EXO Mountain Gear K3 system). For October spot-and-stalk hunts in the inland NW (WA/ID/MT) where temps could be 20F in the morning and never warm up, or could be 50F by early afternoon, the Attack pants are great, and I love the zip-off merino base layer for easy on/off without pulling my boots off.
Personally, I've also moved away from any camo patterns anymore as well...it's just a racquet to get you to buy more of their exclusive whatever. Instead, I break up the solid colors between tops and bottoms and different layers. This has an added bonus that I can wear the stuff out in public if I want in the off season and not look like "one of those guys"

My rain gear is currently some older First Lite stuff, and works well (but not cheap).

I'll have to check out Skre

 

I tried Sitka early on and only used it one season in the field before relegating it to fair weather and day hike duty. It just didn't work well in rain/snow. Most of my current gear is Kuiu. Early to mid season its excellent. For late season or their rain gear in cold weather I recommend having a heavy wool or down layer underneath.

 

I have the Stratus bibs and the Downpour jacket in the Optifade pattern. I really like the bibs. Haven't been rained on in the jacket yet but it seems really well made. It's athletic fit but large enough to layer underneath. I keep pretty warm with a Patagonia capilene baselayer I've had since college and a Nano Puff jacket underneath. I'm new to hunting, so I'm mixing my backpacking gear in.

I would much rather buy solid color gear, but here in TN where the longest shot I'll take is 300ish yards and most of them are MUCH closer in the woods, it seems like the camo is beneficial.

 

I would agree on not getting too hung up on a camo pattern, my set up is always like 4 different patterns... Whatever piece I was looking for that happened to pop up in the outlet sales...

 

Don't get caught up in the boutique camo fad... You'd be surprised. It's all about breaking up your silhouette, and animals see things way differently than how humans do (what makes something disappear into the background for us is not necessarily what does the same for a deer). Having functional hiking gear that doubles as decent hunting gear gives you a lot more use out of very expensive stuff...

 

Good breakup patterns are nice, and I can say I feel fairly invisible in most patterns these days, but the most important thing is always the wind, and not moving too quickly... Just make sure to wash your outer layers with something that dulls any UV brighteners, which are common in back packing gear to make the colors pop. This is really what animals see anyway.

 

It’s good stuff. Lasts forever. I buy solid colors so I can use it for other activities like snowshoeing, backpacking and mountain climbing. I really don’t like wearing camo.

 

Browns and greys are pretty versatile, and I've stalked within 50 yards of elk many times in the summer wearing shorts and a grey t shirt. I like to stand in front of the type of typical vegetation I'm hunting and take a picture, you will quickly see what blends and what doesn't. If you are sticking to the shadows you won't stand out. I hunted for years in army surplus greens and never had any issue getting close. Most important thing with me is that I trust what I'm wearing to keep me warm and dry. You can definitely find a good quality down jacket and rain gear at the REI outlet sales super cheap. I would just make a list of pieces you NEED to keep you alive in bad conditions, and start shopping sales, getting on the mailing lists for a few good brands can score some super sale prices... If you see a good piece in Tan, at 40% off, forget about camo patterns and pick it up.

 

They do see much differently. I’ve had whitetails walk within 10 feet of me and literally look right through me wearing subalpine. Could have been just that one deer, maybe not. I’ve only been wearing Sitka during warm-weather, and the pattern has impressed me so far with how deer seem to see me less frequently.

Can’t say the same about turkey. They see much differently than deer, and they’ve been picking me up right away with subalpine (lots of green in that pattern for the spring - that’s why I chose it). Gonna be reverting back to reg ol mossy oak for turkey if they keep seeing me this easily.

 

We always wore good old army surplus woodland for turkey. And camo grease paint on any exposed skin.
but my dad was also very frugal (not dirt poor, but all my deer hunting gear was army surplus wool too) and it was N. Idaho.

 

I was deer hunting one day in Southeast Montana. I was wearing green wool pants, a red wool shirt, and a blaze orange vest over the top. I had about 15 turkeys walked by me close enough that I could’ve kicked each one of them. Sitting in the snow, middle of the day. Back against the pine tree.

 

Blast from the past - army woods down camo! I grew up in PA using that with my dad too.

 

That’s pretty rare right there. Or maybe not for those particular turkeys. The ones around me get decent hunting pressure so they’re pretty leery, especially after the first week of spring gobbler season.

 

That’s cuz you weren’t hunting them.
Damn things are worse than grouse if it isn’t turkey season (at least in the inland NW)!

 

You are correct about sight but where these “boutique” companies excel, especially Kuiu, is the quietness of their materials, and their warmth to weight ratio.


I am pretty much all Kuiu now. I prefer their older stuff when it was made in Canada but the fact that their materials are so quiet and ridiculously warm with zero bulk compared to others make it very difficult to go elsewhere simply because it is made in China.
I hate their sizing though. I am an XXL in all their outerwear and XL in their base layers.
Most everybody else’s I am a large with some XLs

Their newer base camp casual clothing is awesome.
I buy everything from their outlet section on their website.
I have gotten a couple things second hand off the Facebook Kuiu gear buy and sell group.

 

No doubt - I love their gear! Unfortunately it’s rare for me to find anything my size in their outlet section except women’s t-shirts.
I’m just not sold on making my whole kit fit some specific camo pattern…especially if I can get a variety of solids that I can use for other outdoor (and casual) adventures without looking like I fit some sort of demographic profile that isn’t typically favored in my area.

I’m not on FB, but I might need to look into that group (I keep a login only to use the marketplace randomly and rarely).

 

I am not a set camo kit person either I buy what is cheapest and even mismatch the patterns. Hasn’t scared away a deer yet and they taste just as good no matter what pattern or no pattern I was wearing.
I actually have mostly grey stuff. 1 jacket in Vias which is my favorite pattern just from the looks standpoint.
Picked up a Valo jacket the other day from the outlet. It is a bit closer to baby puke in color than I would like but the jacket is fantastic and was super cheap in the outlet so don’t care too much.

I can’t advise their under britches at all they are cut really weird.
Even hiked up as far as they can to the point of being uncomfortable they don’t cover the top of my ass crack.
If I go up in size to XXL the waistband would be way too loose.

 

I haven’t tried their undershorts - I’m still struggling to find a good pair of something for hiking or hunting that doesn’t leave me with nasty nut-chafe after about 6-7 miles. So far, the best I’ve found so far are some of the Duluth “bull pen” varieties…managed a 30 miler in 2-1/2 days this summer with only minimal issues at the end of the last day.
I absolutely love the Kuiu zip-off merino long johns (I’m a size M for those). It’s a bit odd to get used to how short they are (more like capris) but that is so that they don’t end up tucked into your boots. I can start out a really cold morning with those on, and by about 9am when it’s starting to warm up, a simple trouser drop in the woods and two zippers and I can drop the long johns without having to take off my boots or socks. Getting them back on if I end up sitting to glass and get out on an exposed face too long is just as easy.

 

I’ll have to look into those long johns. That sounds very handy.

 

Yeah, I just bought scent blocker from Academy Sports. Seems pretty necessary. I bought the Sitka stuff as an outer layer, and I’ll layer up underneath according to the weather with my other backpacking layers.

Yep, that’s the idea for me—hunting outer layer using the other layers I already own underneath as needed.

Stone Glacier is also worth checking out. I’m going to get one of their packs. I need to downsize from my old 80L Bozeman Dana Design pack that I bought used in college.

 

I

would second the Duluth shorts, they don't chafe... Also the zip off merinos, they are awesome, I layer those with the zip off Ultra Down pants if its cold in the mornings, zip them off and stuff them in my pack once it warms up... They are super light and so warm. I keep them and my Ultra down Jacket in my pack on every single hunt, even September archery (which I got absolutely dumped on 2 years ago)... With those in my pack, I am comfortable that I can sleep out in temperatures below freezing in a pinch (which I have had to do multiple times due to shooting elk late in the day deep in canyons. Elk hunting requires a special kind of stupid sometimes...) Not the most comfortable nights, but I didn't freeze. I won't even consider heading out for the day without the down pants and jacket, and the zip off merinos.

 

Good stuff guys. My bil is ex military. All my hunting stuff right now if stuff he picked up for me on base. It works so no complaints.

Any good rain gear recommendations? It's definitely a need as well as new hunting cloths for next season.

 

Kuiu Chugach, super light, durable and extremely waterproof.

 

I had a simple lightweight Marmot rainshell ever since college that finally deteriorated recently. So I bought a Stone Glacier M5. It is awesome. I’d say all the same things about it @COElkHunter said about the Kuiu—lightweight, durable, and watertight. The hood is perfectly snug without restricting peripheral vision. The jacket’s front pockets are placed so they won’t interfere with a backpack hip belt or bino harness. Clever waist cinching inside the pockets. Pit zips, of course. It runs a bit roomy to go over whatever other layers you may need to fit it over. I don’t own any Kuiu stuff (yet lol); seems like it’s on the same level as Sitka and SG.

 

For sure. With as much Kuiu as I own, I’m embarrassed to say I had never looked at them. Will be getting a pair very soon.