Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Sitka

Which jacket do y’all recommend and bibs in Sitka and kuiu? There are a few to pick from

I have a older Duck Oven and it's finest coat I've ever owned, light , not bulky , windproof and very warm.

Kenai under the guide jacket is what I’m running right now. I have the peloton and merino base layers. Depending on temps and how far I’m walking depends on what I’m wearing. The pit zips make a huge difference regulating body temps. Pants I’m running the guides with either first light furnace or the kuiu down pants under. I’ve got a lot of Sitka and it did great in Illinois but it’s over kill here. Layers are the way to go here in my opinion since we have such a wide range of temps

You're running in that? Isn't that hot?

I layer now with merino wool base, then drake mid season long johns and artic shield bibs! As far as my upper body I use same base and wind proof wool sweater and if real cold I throw a drake mid season jacket but still get chilly

Layers are the way to go anywhere

I’ve tried a few different sets and the best I’ve found for my “multi-purpose” needs is the Kuiu DSC Guide Jacket and Pants.

Remember; the good gear is designed for layering, not heavy layers.

Merino wool pieces from any brand are fragile. But I’ve worn the same pair of First Lite Corrugate guide pants for 100+ days of whitetail hunting in Alabama briars and on two week long elk hunts where dead fall snags your pants constantly and tries to rip them off of you and they have 0 holes and look brand new. Sitting in a tree right now wearing the Corrugate Guide jacket I’ve also worn a ton and the new Guide Light pants that came in yesterday, I expect the same outstanding durability for them and they are even more comfortable in warm temps.

I e had a pair of obsidian pants from first lite for about 5 years and they’ve been through the ringer the last few seasons. I’m just now getting a little rip in the crotch area. The only thing that’s got the best of them was a scent crusher bag. Destroyed the elastic in it. I don’t think you’ll find anything as good as those.
I have some Sitka fanatic light bibs and they’re good but I rarely wear them.

I’d rather have several base layers under my merino pants. Layering is a must.

I’ve got the Sitka Fanatic jacket and bibs. Combine that with a good base layer and the beanie and gaiter and you will NOT get cold.

My gosh that stuff is expensive? You kidding me? Its the deep south after all, how dam cold can you get? Running the numbers and some of you guys are running around hunting wearing over $700 worth of clothes?

By the time I’ve purchased all my layer clothes and quality bibs and wind proof wool sweater! I habe a pretty penny in that alone! I still get chilly hell I like to be comfortable!! I do go outa state from time to time and will go on a duck hunt once or twice a year and running down the river in a boat at 20 dogs I don’t mind spending the money for good quality clothing

I like the First Lite stuff here for keeping me cool not for keeping me warm.

First lite base and mid layers are great. Personal preference, but I don't like non-wool products for those layers. I sweat and don't want poly anything against my skin.

The kuiu attack pant is probably the most versatile hunting pant. Can go to as cold as you get in southeast with a merino base. I ripped a small hole in mine while taking a 30 ft slide down a skree field at 9000 ft, and it patched up real easy, so I highly recommend.

The kuiu guide jacket is also great. Very versatile.

That's why i wear it but, I just can't afford all the holes, lol. If I knew I wouldn't be going through briars elk hunting I would buy more

Here is my opinion.

The Kuiu stuff is re-branded hiking weight and durability clothes with a camo pattern. You can get better stuff off the sale rack at REI but it won't be camo.

Sitka makes better clothes but they are way over priced.

If you are not into having a fashion show you can just save your money. Layering is great when you are backpacking but not as necessary when you can take your jacket off and throw it in the truck or if you are sitting in a shooting house and hunting until 9:30AM then heading back to breakfast.

AND riding your 4-wheeler within 200 yards of your stand. We don't hunt the way these clothes are designed to be used.

At one time I would walk into a stand on public land and it took an hour to hike in there. That's the Alabama situation that would really make layering more of a necessity considering the overall cost of these clothes.

If you want it... get it. 25 years ago when I was buying Browning Hydro Fleece that will still keep me warm and dry in ANY weather someone somewhere was saying that was overpriced and not necessary. And it wasn't necessary but I still feel like I got my money's worth 25 years later. Those clothes have made for quite a few pleasant mornings on stand in really bad conditions. This is just the same.

If you are out there to hunt and the reason you are considering expensive clothes is the fact that you need something that allows you to sit on stand an extra hour or even all day. If that is your mentality... The money spent will be worth it.

It’s really inexpensive if u keep it 25 years . A 500 dollar jacket will cost you 20 bucks per season to stay warm and stay on stand when most others are back at the cabin.

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I have the sitka gear. If you are wearing it in the southern US go with the merino heavyweight base layer and the stratus bibs and jacket. this will not be to heavy and you will not get cold. If you are hunting colder areas add the incinerator bibs and jacket using stratus pants and jacket as mid layer trust me no weather is to cold. good luck.