Sitka Setup

[Spence71]

I have never owned Sitka. With a $1,000 dollar budget would the Stratus Jacket, Fanatic Hoody & Stratus Bibs be a good stetup for mid-to-late season? Hunting temps typically 35 - 40 degrees? I hunt in WI and mid-season it seems most mornings around the 30-35 degree range. I want to make sure the setup is warm enough to handle temps around there (or possibly lower). Any help would be great!

maybe not a hush hush secret.. but most companies...Sitka specifically, have a military or 1st responders discount program. i bought my fanatic jacket and bibbs last year for 25% off the bibbs. the jacket didn't qualify for hte program. but.. discount is discount in my book. If that applies to you.. or someone you know that might want to buy you some huntlng clothes... hahaha. it does expire after a year. Pretty sure you can re-up if needed.

 

[barlow96]

To me its about the layers and your movement. The stratus is the thickest I could go for my style of hunting. Hang and hunt a new spot every sit. But I like to layer with merino wool underneath. It works for me.

 

[Jman10879]

No matter what you do for outer layers if your base layers are not right the best most expensive outerwear will do you no good.

listen to this podcast it really breaks it all down with East meets West and Chris Derrick. I just started buying Sitka gear this spring and honestly I would go with the following :

Sitka lighweight crew 69
Sitka midweight zip t 89
Sitka heavyweight hoody 149
Sitka lightweight bottom 69
Sitka heavyweight bottom 99
Equinox pants old ones save $ 159 ish on sale
Equinox hoodie 199
Stratus Vest or Fanatic vest

This will build your foundation to build open for future years etc

 

[Plebe]

No matter what you do for outer layers if your base layers are not right the best most expensive outerwear will do you no good.

listen to this podcast it really breaks it all down with East meets West and Chris Derrick. I just started buying Sitka gear this spring and honestly I would go with the following :

Sitka lighweight crew 69
Sitka midweight zip t 89
Sitka heavyweight hoody 149
Sitka lightweight bottom 69
Sitka heavyweight bottom 99
Equinox pants old ones save $ 159 ish on sale
Equinox hoodie 199
Stratus Vest or Fanatic vest

This will build your foundation to build open for future years etc

I have lots of Sitka Core heavyweight and it's my go to.

But, I wear a t-shirt and old 1st lite long johns in to my spots, and change.

I think there are lots of nice base layers, not just specific to the hunting industry. I love my Sitka base layers, but I'd put my money in the outerwear first.

 

[weekender21]

I have lots of Sitka Core heavyweight and it's my go to.

But, I wear a t-shirt and old 1st lite long johns in to my spots, and change.

I think there are lots of nice base layers, not just specific to the hunting industry. I love my Sitka base layers, but I'd put my money in the outerwear first.

I agree

The Sitka heavyweight hoody is the big game name for the fanatic hoody. That’s a critical layer and very versatile.

For $1k you can definitely get into:

•core lightweight top/bottom
•fanatic hoody/heavyweight bottom
•stratus jacket and pants or bibs


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[seadonist]

I have never owned Sitka. With a $1,000 dollar budget would the Stratus Jacket, Fanatic Hoody & Stratus Bibs be a good stetup for mid-to-late season? Hunting temps typically 35 - 40 degrees? I hunt in WI and mid-season it seems most mornings around the 30-35 degree range. I want to make sure the setup is warm enough to handle temps around there (or possibly lower). Any help would be great!

I haven’t tried some of their newer stuff like the Equinox line but the Stratus line with the Fanatic hoody has been my most versatile and most used set for about 6 years now. I hunt in S MS and the temps vary greatly but in the temp ranges that you’re describing, a set of Marino wool base layers, a mid layer (Core heavy weight, Cabelas Polar Tec, etc.), Fanatic hoody and Stratus jacket and pants (Stratus bibs weren’t out yet when I purchased) and I’m good to go. I run this setup probably about 85 - 90% of the season. We see temps from 90’s down to the high teens but those book end temps are early and late season. The meat of the season is usually in the 30’s and 40’s


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[GeoFish]

I pickup a Equinox pant, 2020 version on sale at Sportsman's Warehouse yesterday for $119.97.
Last year Sitka had a black Friday sale and I got a Fanatic jacket & bibs for $337.00 each.

 

[Mr. Vince]

Where’s the love for KUIU?…….


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[Hall17]

I bought some layers from Kuiu and returned them right away. I can’t remember which pull overs I bought but the quality to me seem to like something I could have bought from Walmart.

 

[Mr. Vince]

I bought some layers from Kuiu and returned them right away. I can’t remember which pull overs I bought but the quality to me seem to like something I could have bought from Walmart.

Wow….. I have some KUIU pieces
Ive been using for early season. It has been good so far, but as the temp drops will be the #1 test.


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[Hall17]

Wow….. I have some KUIU pieces
Ive been using for early season. It has been good so far, but as the temp drops will be the #1 test.


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Yeah I have some lightweight stuff that I really like from them but the mid layer stuff I got was not what I expected from them. Maybe thats why it was in the clearance section LOL

 

[Mr. Vince]

Hopefully It performs well. If not it wil be up for sale and I’ll go with Sitka net season.


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[Crcusmonky]

I have used kuiu for about a decade and it has held up extremely well. My attack pants are finally getting beat, I have to upgrade. But they still work great for scouting. I bought a bunch Sitka this year and I like it a lot, but it is way heavier. It’s always a trade off I guess. After trying the Sitka a few times I’m going to stick with kuiu, I love the layering, versatility, and weight. I just wish they would make a half bib with suspenders.


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[Mr. Vince]

I have used kuiu for about a decade and it has held up extremely well. My attack pants are finally getting beat, I have to upgrade. But they still work great for scouting. I bought a bunch Sitka this year and I like it a lot, but it is way heavier. It’s always a trade off I guess. After trying the Sitka a few times I’m going to stick with kuiu, I love the layering, versatility, and weight. I just wish they would make a half bib with suspenders.


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What KUIU system do you run?


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[Crcusmonky]

A lot of the things I have are legacy skus. But the core is a guide jacket, attack pant, primaloft insulated jacket. And various accessories hat, gloves, neck gaitor. I’m looking to add the talus hybrid pants since the big thing to give out is the knees on the attack. And will probably add a peloton 240 layer.

The thing I like most about Sitka is that everything is well thought out, and does seem to cater to the whitetail hunter more. And there are a few pieces in the Sitka line I won’t part with like the fanatic vest I love the silence, the muff and warmth on the core. I already have Sitka boot gaitors I will keep. I have a wind stopper pullover that is nice. And the fanatic hoody is extremely versatile.
I have the core lightweight synthetic base layers also, they work so no need to change.

I run first lite heavy weight merino wool base layers on that, and there merino brimmed beanie, I just love that beanie. Nothing against kuiu or Sitka wool. Just seems like first lite is just a touch better and I have it so no need to upgrade just to spend the money.

Hope this lays it out.


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[Mr. Vince]

A lot of the things I have are legacy skus. But the core is a guide jacket, attack pant, primaloft insulated jacket. And various accessories hat, gloves, neck gaitor. I’m looking to add the talus hybrid pants since the big thing to give out is the knees on the attack. And will probably add a peloton 240 layer.

The thing I like most about Sitka is that everything is well thought out, and does seem to cater to the whitetail hunter more. And there are a few pieces in the Sitka line I won’t part with like the fanatic vest I love the silence, the muff and warmth on the core. I already have Sitka boot gaitors I will keep. I have a wind stopper pullover that is nice. And the fanatic hoody is extremely versatile.
I have the core lightweight synthetic base layers also, they work so no need to change.

I run first lite heavy weight merino wool base layers on that, and there merino brimmed beanie, I just love that beanie. Nothing against kuiu or Sitka wool. Just seems like first lite is just a touch better and I have it so no need to upgrade just to spend the money.

Hope this lays it out.


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Nice set up. I have the Pro pants (knee pads) Guide Jacket, base layer is the ultra 145 top & bottom. Mid is the 125 SS, peloton 240 Beanie. I also run a 145 quarter zip as a mid layer. I got a great deal on a Super down pro hooded jacket. I plan on seeing if I can use it as an insulation layer when the temp drops.


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[weekender21]

To compare Sitka to KUIU you’d have to compare the Sitka big game line, not the whitetail line. They have similar options in those comparable lines. KUIU does not cater to late season WT hunting.


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[Crcusmonky]

To compare Sitka to KUIU you’d have to compare the Sitka big game line, not the whitetail line. They have similar options in those comparable lines. KUIU does not cater to late season WT hunting.


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I agree it would be more apples to apples. I have some of the big game gear and I still prefer kuiu. Just my preference. I’m not saying one is good and one bad they are just different and I like both for different reasons. Sitka does make a dedicated tree stand siting camo, but I think the principals that both companies subscribe to is the same, layering. It hard to beat a good layering system, especially if you have to walk a ways to get to your spot. I use bits and pieces from several companies to round out my gear.


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[weekender21]

I agree it would be more apples to apples. I have some of the big game gear and I still prefer kuiu. Just my preference. I’m not saying one is good and one bad they are just different and I like both for different reasons. Sitka does make a dedicated tree stand siting camo, but I think the principals that both companies subscribe to is the same, layering. It hard to beat a good layering system, especially if you have to walk a ways to get to your spot. I use bits and pieces from several companies to round out my gear.


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Agreed.

I wear a lot of the big game line early season when it’s hot. Layering is key. The one Major advantage Sitka has over anything KUIU makes for late season is how quiet it is. I saddle hunt with Stratus and fanatic systems. Both excellent for mid and late season depending on where you live.


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[Crcusmonky]

Agreed.

I wear a lot of the big game line early season when it’s hot. Layering is key. The one Major advantage Sitka has over anything KUIU makes for late season is how quiet it is. I saddle hunt with Stratus and fanatic systems. Both excellent for mid and late season depending on where you live.


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That is true, I know kuiu is starting come out with more silent gear, but they are quite ways behind. The challenge has always been that everything is a trade off, more silent can equal more weight, more waterproof less breathable, better warmth usually more bulk. That’s what I like about the fanatic vest, I get a lot of the good things.


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