Buying Sitka - outerwear or base layers???

[Pistol]

If you discovered that you get really cold sitting in 25 degrees with a 20 mph wind all day and finally decided to buy some Sitka gear, reputed to be the absolute hands-down best way to stay warm, would you:
1. buy an outer layer to go over what you already have or
2. would you buy a base layer to go under what you already have

I am trying to reduce bulk and compression wear (UA ColdGear) so I can draw my bow. I found what I have in layers prevents me from drawing my bow.

TIA

[BayouCat]

Can't go wrong with the fanatic coat and bibs.

I have their base layers, too, but I've picked up Scentlok, UA, and First Lite and all do about the same job.

[Hsbtgarcia]

Hands down outer layer over base layer.

If you are deer hunting in 20 degree weather and windy conditions, the fanatic series is what you want.

[Twist]

UA base is fine, buy the outer gear.

I say that after having been in an Axis hunt between Rock Springs and Sonora during the Icepocalypse a few years back and I was running Sitka outer with UA base, along with some 800g boots.

It never got above 18? that Friday or Saturday from what the on site weather station said and the only things that got cold were my face and suppressor, which had ice build up on it from the SxS ride to the blind due to lack of a windshield on said SxS.

[LivinADream]

I agree with the above. Sitka outerwear, make sure you get something with the wind blocker.

As far as base layers, find wool. Any brand is about as good as the next. You can find some stuff that you're not paying for the name for half the price of the name brand stuff.(minus 33 is a good no name brand) From what I've seen, wool is mostly sold by weights, and most companies follow the same weights. Wool doesn't hold scent, on long out of town hunts I can wear the same base layers the whole hunt, where synthetics get pretty rank after a day or two. Wool lso holds its insulating qualities when wet.

[Canoe1]

I used a Sitka Merino 330 base shirt while hiking in 15 deg weather two weeks ago in Wy. I was comfortable. Of course this was walking around and not sitting still.
Wasn’t cheap, but I feel it was worth it.

[Killer]

Not to high jack this thread but is Sitka gear better than Kuiu? I thought they were basically the same. Is Sitka that much better? What’s the difference?

[Pistol]

Killer, that's a good and relevant question. I haven't liked the Kuiu brand because I'm a woman and the 2 things I bought from them were noisy. I returned them.

[Traildust]

Are you just sitting in a blind?

[7sdad]

First Lite Furnace base layers are really warm.

[Pistol]

Traildust - sitting in a tree. Need to block the wind.

[Traildust]

Traildust - sitting in a tree. Need to block the wind.

Polortec base layers and Cabelas Windproof berber worked great sitting in tripods for years. Windproof stuff is gonna be a little loud. 100% 250gr wool base layers required in that cold wind! Maybe a windproof mid under thick fleece for quietness

Kings has a a windproof system that looks pretty nice also

[Green Arrow]

The Sitka fanatic jacket and bibs are the best piece of hunting gear I own for hunting Kansas

I never get to wear them in Texas thou
i use the Sitka stratus bibs and jacket for that

the fanatic hoodie is the piece I wear the most

i use base layers I bought at Costco for unders

[SB09]

I'd suggest Sitka's outerwear as a primary focus.

You basically want to look at two options they offer:

Fanatic - A little bulky, quietest outerwear I've ever used, extremely warm.

Incinerator - Much thinner than the Fanatic line, highly water resistant, but a little louder when moving around. Slightly warmer than the Fanatic, especially if there's any precipitation.

For me:

I wear the Fanatic when hunting close range(30 yards or less)

I wear the Incinerator if there's precipitation or I'm hunting further range(over 30 yards)

If bulk is restricting you, you may want to sacrifice the noise and go with the Incinerator. But, I will say the Fanatic can be successfully bow hunted in without any issues.

Either way, it's going to be a big upgrade over most of the sold weather camo offered out there. Kuiu is a great product too. But, they won't give me 40%+ off their products so I don't use them.

If you're in the Dallas area I suggest visiting whichever brands store you plan to buy and trying the outerwear on before buying so you can determine if they're too bulky for your comfort or not.

[diamond10x]

I'd look at a 350 weight merino base layer top and bottom coupled with your jacket and pants of choice. This past year I consistently hunted in negative temps laying in the snow all day shooting waterfowl, predator hunting, and fishing with just a thick hoodie and pants over and stayed warm.

Predator Camo has their micro fleece jacket and pants that are rated for the temps you are asking for. I do own a pair from when you used to be able to get them with the TBH logo on them. Warm and quiet. Not too bulky for bowhunting. They used to have a windblocker layer, I'm not sure if the new ones do or not. Price wise you can get the pants and jacket for less than what the Sitka Fanatic jacket cost.

I'm not knocking Sitka as I own a few of their products, but I don't know that its worth that much more money when paying full price for their gear. I used to wear a lot of First Lite but after the last couple years, other than their base layers, their stuff isn't any better than really anything else. Had that same issue with kuiu and sitka but it also comes down to personal preference. Buy once cry once is usually true but with prices going up and quality going down across the board I don't exactly see it when it comes to clothing brands.

Also, something else to consider, wearing a grid fleece windbreaker mid layer.