Hunting Hoody

[GCTerpfan]

Well I have the Gradient hoody, it’s a bit much for my taste, almost too much for a layering piece, it’s better on it’s own, I wanted something to go under my Stratus jacket so the Fanatic hoody was my next choice but after reading some reviews about the mittens that’s not happening, I hate things like that, so next up is the heavyweight core, maybe I will just stick with my UA cold gear hoody, it seems to just work fine and at half the price.

Does your UA hoody have the built in facemask? Mine does and I haven't seen one like it since. My wife picked up the UA hoody I have at TJ Max for like $40 so it's hard to beat for that price.

 

[GCTerpfan]

I also have the Stratus set, which is what I find works well with the Fanatic Hoody. But if the op is looking for an total all purpose outer shell, the fanatic likely isn't it.

The Stratus set we can agree one. I love mine!

 

[KYRanger]

Well I have the Gradient hoody, it’s a bit much for my taste, almost too much for a layering piece, it’s better on it’s own, I wanted something to go under my Stratus jacket so the Fanatic hoody was my next choice but after reading some reviews about the mittens that’s not happening, I hate things like that, so next up is the heavyweight core, maybe I will just stick with my UA cold gear hoody, it seems to just work fine and at half the price.

Just fyi. You wouldn't even notice there are "mittens". Its a flap that simply flips over your fingers, leaving your thumb exposed. It's not like full blown mittens. lol. But I understand your point. I didn't think I would like it either, but I find them purposeful and useful. I'm starting to sound like a Sitka salesman. That I am not, just I believe in good products and promote them when asked for opinion.

 

[Topdog]

Does your UA hoody have the built in facemask? Mine does and I haven't seen one like it since. My wife picked up the UA hoody I have at TJ Max for like $40 so it's hard to beat for that price.

No face mask, UA Storm Twist in hunter green, I bought one and loved it so much I have half a dozen of them now, the storm nonsense actually works, a light rain sheds right off, I had Sitka fever bad for a year when Leoadventures offered the Sitka discount, now it’s been removed. The Stratus jacket and bibs are my favorite piece hands down and well worth it for me.

 

[Plebe]

It seems I'm the only person a little disappointed in the Fanatic hoody. I picked it up last month during the black Friday sale. It's much thinner then I expected. I have an under armour cold gear hoody that's much thicker with a similar built in face mask and thumb holes in the sleeves. I was on a weekend hunt and wore the UA hoody on Saturday then my wife was nice enough to deliver my Fanatic hoody to camp when it showed up Saturday afternoon so I wore it with identical layers in almost identical conditions on Sunday. The UA hoody was significantly warmer. The Fanatic hand mittens were annoying on the first hunt but, I acknowledge that with some time they are something I could probably get used to. It's a piece I'm probably going to keep and use in the early season (although I'm tempted stop send it back to Scheels and get my money back) but, when the weather gets cold I'll grab the UA hoody first.

I typically hunt NE states (NY, PA, OH), but I got a chance this year to hunt MD Sika and Whitetail for a few days in mid-October. It was pretty warm the first couple of days and then a big front came through.

In the heat, I wore core-hwt under a bug-tamer top and the brisk winds kept me cool, having no windstopper.

After the front, it was cool enough I had to don a shell to block the wind.

Were it not for strong winds, I likely would have been hot during those early hunts, as well, I likely wouldn't have needed a shell after the front.

That wind chill factor sure makes a difference on the comfort range of a thin, non wind stopper garment.

 

[GCTerpfan]

I typically hunt NE states (NY, PA, OH), but I got a chance this year to hunt MD Sika and Whitetail for a few days in mid-October. It was pretty warm the first couple of days and then a big front came through.

In the heat, I wore core-hwt under a bug-tamer top and the brisk winds kept me cool, having no windstopper.

After the front, it was cool enough I had to don a shell to block the wind.

Were it not for strong winds, I likely would have been hot during those early hunts, as well, I likely wouldn't have needed a shell after the front.

That wind chill factor sure makes a difference on the comfort range of a thin, non wind stopper garment.

I typically hunt the mountains of Western MD (Garrett County) which is much closer to your weather in NY and PA then it is the weather you saw in Eastern MD when hunting Sitka. The only day I have worn the Fanatic Hoody was 22deg with 27 mph winds so it was definitely a cold test.

I want to be fair to the Fanatic Hoody, I just weighed it and the UA hoody, the fanatic hoody was 15.5 oz. The UA hoody was 20.5 0z, both in size large. So the mysterious UA hoody that I have but, haven't seen anywhere else is significantly heavier than the Fanatic but, also a little bulkier.

@Topdog I have attached a couple pics of the mittens on the Fanatic so you can see what they are like. You can also fold them back and not use them at all, which is what I did.

 

[Topdog]

Well those mitts or whatever look a little more robust then what I was thinking, I was picturing something flapping around in the wind like the cheap face mask that was in my gradient hoody, I removed mine with some scissors, I think I will try one and see what all the fuss is about, being an XL I should have no problem selling it should I change my mind, I do have a Runnings store 30 minutes away that stocks about 3 Sitka pieces for whatever reason.

 

[Plebe]

I have the Stratus set. I've never held the fanatic light jacket but, I don't think the two are comparable. I would compare the fanatic hoody to a light/mid weight grid fleece layer. I definitely think it is a functional piece, its just not what I expected from various reviews and the description.

Sitka grades the fanatic hoody 2/5 for warmth and the Core hwt 3/5...same as the Fanatic Lite and Stratus jackets...

Lol, I see where all the confusion comes from.

The Fanatic Lite weighs 29.6oz, the Stratus weighs 23.9oz, so the Lite is heavier. Yet the Lite lacks Windstopper, and is meant for warmer weather?

Anyway, I gave my brother the Sitka Gradient that @Topdog mentioned as a gift and it's more in line with what I think of as a hunting hoody. When you get much heavier, I consider it a pullover jacket, even if it's hooded. When you get much lighter, it's a hooded shirt. Kinda feels like the fanatic trends towards the latter, if its more like a sweatshirt.

 

[GCTerpfan]

Sitka grades the fanatic hoody 2/5 for warmth and the Core hwt 3/5...same as the Fanatic Lite and Stratus jackets...

Lol, I see where all the confusion comes from.

The Fanatic Lite weighs 29.6oz, the Stratus weighs 23.9oz, so the Lite is heavier. Yet the Lite lacks Windstopper, and is meant for warmer weather?

Anyway, I gave my brother the Sitka Gradient that @Topdog mentioned as a gift and it's more in line with what I think of as a hunting hoody. When you get much heavier, I consider it a pullover jacket, even if it's hooded. When you get much lighter, it's a hooded shirt. Kinda feels like the fanatic trends towards the latter, if its more like a sweatshirt.

Exactly, I was expecting something closer to a pull over jacket. The Fanatic hoody is more of a hooded shirt. It's a useful piece just not what I was expecting.

If @Topdog wore a large I'd be offering him a trade.

 

[Plebe]

Well those mitts or whatever look a little more robust then what I was thinking, I was picturing something flapping around in the wind like the cheap face mask that was in my gradient hoody, I removed mine with some scissors, I think I will try one and see what all the fuss is about, being an XL I should have no problem selling it should I change my mind, I do have a Runnings store 30 minutes away that stocks about 3 Sitka pieces for whatever reason.

I wear the Core-hwt top and Stratus jacket much of the season, and add a Kelvin vest when I need a bit more. I've hunted really cold weather with that combo paired with bibs meant for harsh winter.

Now I often grab my Fanatic jacket when it's really cold, rather than pack an extra layer.

But, the Stratus is the most versatile hunting coat for me....sorry OP, there's no Stratus hoody (although my o.g. stratus has a sewn on hood.)

 

[Topdog]

I wear the Core-hwt top and Stratus jacket much of the season, and add a Kelvin vest when I need a bit more. I've hunted really cold weather with that combo paired with bibs meant for harsh winter.

Now I often grab my Fanatic jacket when it's really cold, rather than pack an extra layer.

But, the Stratus is the most versatile hunting coat for me....sorry OP, there's no Stratus hoody (although my o.g. stratus has a sewn on hood.)

For on the go I wear a first lite merino base layer top, pendleton wool shirt, gradient hoody, until snow comes and then it’s snow camo fleece, my stratus stuff goes over all of that when I sit, if it’s really cold I wear a filson wool vest too.

 

[Homebrew454]

No face mask, UA Storm Twist in hunter green, I bought one and loved it so much I have half a dozen of them now, the storm nonsense actually works, a light rain sheds right off, I had Sitka fever bad for a year when Leoadventures offered the Sitka discount, now it’s been removed. The Stratus jacket and bibs are my favorite piece hands down and well worth it for me.

Sitka does the same deal that Leoadventures does on their own now. It is hidden on their site though. You have to reapply each year but it is pretty easy.

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[Topdog]

In the late 90’s I was headed out West with my brother on a lion hunt, we stopped at Cabelas, Sidney NE I believe, I was walking around with some clothes in my cart and a store employee asked if I needed anything hemmed, she took my pants and said just pick them up at the service counter in a few minutes when your ready to check out, can you imagine service like that now, unreal, Cabelas was the real deal, union made USA fleece pants and jackets that lasted forever, I still wear some of that stuff, I miss those days.

 

[Plebe]

"We're on to...Kelvin Active Hoody"

 

[KYRanger]

My Stratus jacket hood zips off. Another thing I like. Maybe the Stratus is more in line with what OP is looking for, but it's not a pullover. I guess I think of a hoodie as more of a sweatshirt with a hood, more than a shirt and less than a jacket which to me is the Fanatic Hoody. The Stratus has Windstopper, which makes a lighter weight jacket feel much warmer. I use the fanatic hoody and Celsius for mid layers under the Stratus and that has handled most weather here is KY. So maybe warmth is relative. We don't get too many hunting days in the teens or single digits. You guys up North are dealing with serious cold temps, 22 degrees and 27 mph hours winds is cold when on stand for hours. You need Windstopper for sure and maybe the Fanatic Bibs and Jacket are more appropriate.

I have other pullovers that have Windstopper and are heavier, more like jackets. But most of those don't have hoods. The old Cabelas Legacy Fleece were great products especially when they tailored the pant length to your preference.

 

[KYRanger]

In the late 90’s I was headed out West with my brother on a lion hunt, we stopped at Cabelas, Sidney NE I believe, I was walking around with some clothes in my cart and a store employee asked if I needed anything hemmed, she took my pants and said just pick them up at the service counter in a few minutes when your ready to check out, can you imagine service like that now, unreal, Cabelas was the real deal, union made USA fleece pants and jackets that lasted forever, I still wear some of that stuff, I miss those days.

Wow, I just referenced that same point about Cabelas hemming your pants! I didn't think anybody would remember that! And I still have that original Legacy Fleece and its still holding up. Love it. I use it occasionally, but mostly the Sitka stuff at the moment.

 

[weekender21]

Fanatic Hoody = 16.6oz
Heavyweight Hoody = 14.8oz
Heavyweight Zip-T = 12.5oz

Is the fanatic hoody much warmer than the core series heavyweight line?

No it’s not, it just has more features. Hood, hand muff, half gloves. The material is the same waffle layer as the heavyweight T.


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[Wirrex]

In the late 90’s I was headed out West with my brother on a lion hunt, we stopped at Cabelas, Sidney NE I believe, I was walking around with some clothes in my cart and a store employee asked if I needed anything hemmed, she took my pants and said just pick them up at the service counter in a few minutes when your ready to check out, can you imagine service like that now, unreal, Cabelas was the real deal, union made USA fleece pants and jackets that lasted forever, I still wear some of that stuff, I miss those days.

My Stratus jacket hood zips off. Another thing I like. Maybe the Stratus is more in line with what OP is looking for, but it's not a pullover. I guess I think of a hoodie as more of a sweatshirt with a hood, more than a shirt and less than a jacket which to me is the Fanatic Hoody. The Stratus has Windstopper, which makes a lighter weight jacket feel much warmer. I use the fanatic hoody and Celsius for mid layers under the Stratus and that has handled most weather here is KY. So maybe warmth is relative. We don't get too many hunting days in the teens or single digits. You guys up North are dealing with serious cold temps, 22 degrees and 27 mph hours winds is cold when on stand for hours. You need Windstopper for sure and maybe the Fanatic Bibs and Jacket are more appropriate.

I have other pullovers that have Windstopper and are heavier, more like jackets. But most of those don't have hoods. The old Cabelas Legacy Fleece were great products especially when they tailored the pant length to your preference.

I wear a cabelas 3D leafy set from the 90’s most of the season. It’s great and made in Canada! Now, I shy away from the brand.

 

[weekender21]

Why isn’t there a beefy hoody for bowhunting? Think something like a Sitka Dakota but in a quiet material. I would kill for a quality piece like that. Something with an awesome hand pocket and half zip would be perfect. Pit zips would be ultimate. Anybody know of anything?

This is the Dakota:

View attachment 30407

I know this is an older post but the Stratus jacket is probably the closest. The Stratus is a great outer layer down to around 30F. I’ve worn it in the mid 20’s but really prefer the Fanatic jacket and bibs when it’s that cold.

The Stratus has a removable hood that connects with 4 snaps. I usually ditch the hood and wear the incinerator hat.


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[GCTerpfan]

You need Windstopper for sure and maybe the Fanatic Bibs and Jacket are more appropriate.

Agreed, which is why I am trying to sell my Heater body suit to buy @MIPublic fanatic jacket in the classifieds.