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First Lite Specter thoughts

Zero One Actual

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2020
Messages
2,144
Location
South Eastern United States
I received an email that First Lite is releasing their new Specter camo.

I live in the south east and am debating getting some but I’d like to defer to some seasoned hunters here for your opinions on it versus something else that’s already out there.

Thanks for any opinions.

I am also looking at the Kuiu Verde and I also like the Predator camo as well.

Thanks for any thoughts or sarcastic awesomeness.
 
I like the camo pattern and like First Lite's garments generally, but I don't like them nearly enough to spend the kind of money they want for them. If you're a bachelor whose biggest hobby is hunting, and that's where you want to spend your paycheck, First Lite, Sitka, and Kuiu are all top-notch brands, and you'll probably be glad you bought their gear. Otherwise, I recommend something substantially more affordable for the average Joe in the Southeast since our winters aren't so harsh that hyper-technical gear is necessary to stay warm and comfortable.
 
I am from PA and I can say that hunting cloths get eaten alive up here. I have a few high end items I use when traveling out west or just to/from the archery stand but have just ruined expensive cloths walking around in my area. The high end stuff I do own is Kuiu and Fl and I have been happy with both, just dont like either of their camo for these woods. This new Spector camo pattern I wish was out a year ago when I bought my last setup. If I had to do it all over again I would have got this pattern, it looks like it would be great in my woods. I had the solitude bibs and jacket last year for archery and loved them, hated the pattern so I sold them. Now that money has been spent on other stuff so I guess I will be saving up for a new set. I can say they were extremely warm and quiet! Great for late season archery.
 
The camo is for humans not deer. Another way to sell stuff. I own tons of Sitka, Kuiu rain gear, and sold off most of my FL. Until FL adds windstopper to their outerwear it's worthless to me.
 
I have a couple items from first lite, furnace base layers & klamath hoody in fusion. Really nice insulating stuff. I haven't seen the spectre in person but it looks pretty similar to the fusion, maybe a little better for the midwest. The camo definitely plays more of a marketing, look cool role in my opinion, but I do like the looks of it. Depending what they come out with for new outer layer whitetail stuff I may think harder about buying some, too much money for what it is right now though.
 
I have a couple items from first lite, furnace base layers & klamath hoody in fusion. Really nice insulating stuff. I haven't seen the spectre in person but it looks pretty similar to the fusion, maybe a little better for the midwest. The camo definitely plays more of a marketing, look cool role in my opinion, but I do like the looks of it. Depending what they come out with for new outer layer whitetail stuff I may think harder about buying some, too much money for what it is right now though.
This is exactly why I wanted to ask. I know it is all marketing. Normally I wear Crye Precision (military uniform company) woodland camo pants and a top and some Patagonia layers underneath if I need it. For example, it is turkey season and it was 82 degrees mid day today here.
The camo is for humans not deer. Another way to sell stuff. I own tons of Sitka, Kuiu rain gear, and sold off most of my FL. Until FL adds windstopper to their outerwear it's worthless to me.
This is what is steering me towards the Predator camo pattern. Is there one you recommend that is for the deer and not the humans? Leafy suit?
 
This is exactly why I wanted to ask. I know it is all marketing. Normally I wear Crye Precision (military uniform company) woodland camo pants and a top and some Patagonia layers underneath if I need it. For example, it is turkey season and it was 82 degrees mid day today here.

This is what is steering me towards the Predator camo pattern. Is there one you recommend that is for the deer and not the humans? Leafy suit?
I tend to not wear camo most of the time if weather permits. Wear lots of khaki, earth and olive solids. When I have to I break out the Stratus and fanatic set from Sitka. The camo of those pieces is irrelevant. They have windstopper which is critical for staying warm. I cant emphasize that enough. Ever notice on a freezing 15 degree day outside say at work for example, as long as there's no wind it's pretty bearable. But at soon as that freezing wind hits you and rips the heat from under your clothes you shiver. What's awesome about a piece like the Stratus is the versatility. You can throw it on in a 60 degree day with chilly winds, and stay warm and not overheat. Or late season throw on a bunch of layers with the Stratus atop everything and still stay warm.
 
First lite is the most comfortable stuff I've ever worn. I dont have experience with higher end gear other than the sitka incinerator which I sold within a month of trying.

If you don't want to flip the bill for first lite I would recommend anything that uses merino. You pay alot for branding.

First Lites major downfall is no windstopper products. But its still great gear that is tailored almost perfectly for archery. I like the camo pattern they have and im sucker for new stuff so I usually buy 2-3 pieces every year with birthday/Christmas money.
 
Take that money and take an extra day or two off work to hunt during the season.

Sent from my SM-A516V using Tapatalk
 
I tend to not wear camo most of the time if weather permits. Wear lots of khaki, earth and olive solids. When I have to I break out the Stratus and fanatic set from Sitka. The camo of those pieces is irrelevant. They have windstopper which is critical for staying warm. I cant emphasize that enough. Ever notice on a freezing 15 degree day outside say at work for example, as long as there's no wind it's pretty bearable. But at soon as that freezing wind hits you and rips the heat from under your clothes you shiver. What's awesome about a piece like the Stratus is the versatility. You can throw it on in a 60 degree day with chilly winds, and stay warm and not overheat. Or late season throw on a bunch of layers with the Stratus atop everything and still stay warm.
I also could care less about camo patterns but love my Stratus bibs and jacket, that stuff is crazy good, wind is the enemy, and the Stratus stops it, I wear that stuff for almost every scenario most of the time and just layer appropriately underneath.
 
I received an email that First Lite is releasing their new Specter camo.

I live in the south east and am debating getting some but I’d like to defer to some seasoned hunters here for your opinions on it versus something else that’s already out there.

Thanks for any opinions.

I am also looking at the Kuiu Verde and I also like the Predator camo as well.

Thanks for any thoughts or sarcastic awesomeness.


Camo isnt necessary to kill deer so thats my take on Specter. ANY camo designed as Specter is would work just the same. That being said most of the seasoned killers I know that arent still wearing earth tone solids are wearing Predator Camo when theyre up in trees, me included.

Next time youre out hunting just look up in the Canopy before you climb up and think about what youre seeing. Predator hands down breaks up your outline more than any of the others. Specter to me looks alot like fusion and they dont break up your outline any better than plain old tried and true realtree does. Theyre designed imo to blend you in with the tree NOT break up your outline when youre hanging exposed out in the canopy of a tree with the sky dappled in there.
 
Stay away from Kuiu unless you like freezing to death. I had almost all of their line like 7 years ago or something as i thought it would lend itself to my style of hunting as I would overheat easily on my LONG walks in on public but then need to be warmer for the long sits. It failed miserably at keeping me warm while stationary on the long sits in WI. That stuff is designed for ONLY active hunting with short glassing sessions like youd be doing Elk hunting out West imo. If you sit in cold weather for more than a couple hours youll freeze with ALL their layers on!
 
I've got a full set in Fusion, and while Specter might appeal to me, I don't think it'll make a bit of difference to the deer. The best part of the FL stuff is the function/warmth, especially the merino layers. I love the solitude and haven't had any issues with the lack of a windstopper. I've hunted on some pretty miserable days in it and been just fine.

Until they make a camo pattern that hides the purchase from your wife I'd say it's all just marketing.
 
i have the fusion bibs... when i get additon outer layers will i go specter over fusion?.. probably... i think its a cool pattern but ive killed deer in jeans and bright orange... id think itd matter more for turkeys, but those SOBs see into the UV spectrum so how the hell should i know if camo clothing looks any different than a brown shirt to them
 
I've got a full set in Fusion, and while Specter might appeal to me, I don't think it'll make a bit of difference to the deer. The best part of the FL stuff is the function/warmth, especially the merino layers. I love the solitude and haven't had any issues with the lack of a windstopper. I've hunted on some pretty miserable days in it and been just fine.

Until they make a camo pattern that hides the purchase from your wife I'd say it's all just marketing.
..go ahead and get what you want.. if she raises a stink print out your CC statement and highlight all the purchases that start with "Amazon"
 
I received an email that First Lite is releasing their new Specter camo.

I live in the south east and am debating getting some but I’d like to defer to some seasoned hunters here for your opinions on it versus something else that’s already out there.

Thanks for any opinions.

I am also looking at the Kuiu Verde and I also like the Predator camo as well.

Thanks for any thoughts or sarcastic awesomeness.
Last year I made an investment in Skre gear. I like it very much And they have a great return policy if things don’t fit. The base layers are great and the Hardscrable pants and jacket are robust. I’m in the northeast and briars, burs etc will ravage some high tech stuff but this has held up well. I am a believer in clothing as gear. Buy once, cry once. I like the FL patterns very much But have not seen their clothing first hand. One thing I discovered, the western stuff (seems like all the technical camo is western based) is made for thinner fit folks. I could never walk 11 miles in the western mountains And make it back out. That said I had to learn to size up for things to fit right.
 
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I use FL gear in the warmer weather as I like the fit and how their merino keeps my body temp cooler. Anything in between 20-60 degrees I really like the Badlands clothing. Comfortable and if I were to tear it up busting through thorns I know I can get it fixed/replaced. I’d recommend badlands gear to anyone.
 
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