Ernie, would you mind expanding on what you like about the Sitka line over the stand hunters?
I am looking at hopefully purchasing some stuff that isn't from Walmart and I'd love the input.
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This has been a long journey..... I absolutely love my stand hunters, but I can't stand the bulk. They take up too much space and are too heavy on the way in and out. Then once I get them on, I feel like the kid on the Christmas story. Bow hunting was out of the question. There just wasn't enough freedom to move, and I was sure my string would get caught up. At the time, I was hunting primarily out of a lone wolf sit and climb and my jacket and bibs weighed as much as my stand. And if they got wet, it was even worse. I also had an older generation and back then they didn't come with the wind stop.
I switched over to a guidos web, and the bulk was unbearable. It's hard enough to climb with that stand, and the extra bulk made it so I couldn't lift my legs enough for my climbing sticks. (I'm a short guy, so it's hard enough I early season.) Not to mention, the web doesn't transport the extra clothing well. (I have another post on that).
When I found the incinerator line, I was super excited, water proof, windproof, as warm as the stand hunter, but down filled so its lighter and much more compressible. I literally made a stuff sack to put them in for the hike in and out. Three are two problems with them, first and foremost, the shell seems noisy. Maybe a few washings will soften them up or maybe I'm being too picky, but I don't like it. And the second, is sizing. Sitka doesn't size their stuff to be layered very well. If you wear a large in their base layers and mid layers, don't expect a large jacket to fit over them. My first year, everything was too tight. I bought it all used on AT so I was able to trade or buy and sell a larger size without losing to much in the process.
Along the way, I picked up a set of stratus bibs/jacket, and a set of fanatic bibs/jacket. I patiently waited until I saw a screaming deal on each. The stratus has been great for late October hunts and even early November, and when it gets colder the fanatic comes out. The fanatic is bulkier than the incinerator, but not as bulky as the stand hunter, but more importantly, it's dead quiet.
As I said, it's a journey. And like the ultimate platform search, I haven't gotten there yet. I plan on running my incinerator set through the wash a few times to see if I can break down the crunchy shell a little bit this year because I real want them to work.
It's plenty cold here in the late season, so I get a lot of chances to try different combinations out. Jackets and bibs aside, another crucial part to staying warm that I have found is a neck gaiter, and hand muff. I wear light gloves for dexterity in tieing knots and pulling triggers, but stuff my muff with those charcoal hand warmers.
This was the last day of muzzle loader season last year. It was several degrees below zero and snowing. That day I had on Kelvin pants and jacket under fanatic bibs and jacket and was very toasty.
My buddy offered to come along and film, so I put my saddle in the same tree just up above him.
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