Sitka Gear – Keeping Hidden and Comfortable

Whether I am guiding clients or hunting for myself, the only clothing line I and my SELFILMED teammates trust is Sitka Gear. From early season antelope when it’s hot to late season deer in sub-zero temperatures, sitting in the stand or crawling on a stalk, Sitka has the latest and greatest clothing technology to keep you dry, comfortable and concealed. This dependability is extremely important for guides and hunters who are in the field the majority of season.

Throughout the last few years of wearing Sitka I have nailed down my clothing systems from early to late season. During the hot antelope hunts in August and the early season deer hunts in September I turn to the Early Season Whitetail Pant to keep me cool and dry. With the 4-way stretch fabric, DWR finish to repel moisture, boot gaskets to cover your boot tops, super comfortable cut, and built-in belt system, these pants are the ultimate hot weather pant. I also pair these pants with the Merino or Traverse bottoms to take the chill off during the October mornings and evenings. My top system for early season is also my base layer foundation for mid to later season, which consists of the Core Crew SS shirt, the Merino Zip-T , and Traverse Zip-T. The Core Crew SS and LS incorporate the silver encapsulated technology to keep you odor free as the polyester bi-component technology pulls the moisture off of your skin to keep you dry. With these technologies combined with the 4-way stretch and the comfortable close clean-cut, these shirts are a necessity base layer for any system. The Merino Zip-T is incredible at regulating body temperature, is naturally odor resistant, and duals as a next-to-skin layer to wick moisture away from your skin. The Traverse Zip-T is considered an insulation layer but can also be used as an outer layer during the coolness of early fall. Most of these layers are in GORE OPTIFADE Forest Pattern, absolutely incredible pattern for getting essential concealment during the early season when leaves are still on the trees. This combination will carry me through most of October when the mornings and evenings are starting to get cooler.

When the late season weather of November and December roll around, I pull out the cold weather gear to keep the weather out and the warmth in. Now that the leaves have come off of the trees I will switch from the Forest Pattern to the GORE OPTIFADE Open Country Pattern. I have traded in my Early Season Whitetail Pant for the tough and sleek Timberline Pant. The Timberline Pant is a mid to late season pant designed with the mountain hunter in mind and are built to last through seasons and seasons of hard use. These pants have double reinforced waterproof knees and seat, along with removable knee pads, that helps keep everything dry, comfortable, and sticker-free while crawling around. I will combine these pants with either the Merino or Traverse bottoms to complete the system of my bottom half. My cold weather top system starts off with my early season wear as a base layers, then I add the Kelvin Lite Vest and Jetstream Jacket to the mix. The Kelvin Lite Vest has Primaloft technology that has the warmth and power of down, but with more breath-ability, quick drying abilities, and less bulk. I will top it all off with the Jetstream Jacket with a WINDSTOPPER Softshell to keep the elements out and the warmth in. The Jetstream also features a drop away hood, pit zips, micro grid fleece lining, and 4-way stretch with an athletic cut to remain comfortable and free moving in the bitter cold. The pit zips are one of my favorite features on this jacket because of the ability to get rid of excess heat built up by walking. Regulating body temperature is the most important key to remaining warm and dry for the duration of the hunt. Utilizing this layering system will keep me warm and dry down into the negative digits of mid west winters.

After using Sitka’s layering systems I have been able to comfortably stay in the field all day and remain focused on all hunts during all seasons. Now that I have experienced the power of layering with Sitka Gear I can’t afford not to continue using them. For more information and to order your set today, head over to www.sitkagear.com for their full line of pants, jackets, hats, gloves, and all other necessities.

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