I'm planning on buying some new gear for the upcoming season and beyond. I don't mind spending a few bucks on premium gear as long as it holds up. I'm looking at Sitka right now but have never owned any. Wondering if any of you can comment on quality etc or if you feel there is better out there in the same price range. I hunt fall bear, and whitetail into December in Ontario mostly with a bow. Temps generally between 20c and -10c. Any advice or opinions is appreciated.
Hunting Clothing
- Thread starter doublelung
- Start date
Only advice I can give you is invest as much as you can on your base layer..... When I started making decent money and could afford to invest in something better than Haynes long johns it made the biggest difference.......
And if your feet get cold first like me, get good boots......
I swear that on some of those 0 degree days I could hunt in my Patagonia base layer and danners alone....
And if your feet get cold first like me, get good boots......
I swear that on some of those 0 degree days I could hunt in my Patagonia base layer and danners alone....
Agreed on the base layers. Makes a world of difference and you'll find that you won't even need an expensive shell. I also bought heavy wool coat and pants from Elgies and although heavy, they're quiet and ultra warm.....also ultra fudd lol.
I have a Sitka Stratus suit for Ontario bow hunting and it's fantastic. I wear merino wool and down insulation in December and I'm quite warm for as long as I care to stay in the stand. I don't use it for gun hunting as I prefer more active clothing but for being in the stand it's tops. I also bought a muff to wear around my waist to keep my hands warm and its a fantastic piece of gear. Sitka stuff is pricey and I wait for a sale usually but I've been happy with it. It does collect burrs and vegetation though and that pulls some of the fleece off but it's got a lifetime warranty so I'm not going to worry about it.
Patrick
Patrick
The Cabelas Instinct line of clothing is quite nice also. Worth checking out, it's base layers through to outer shells. I picked up the shell rainwear this spring at 40% off and it's some nice GoreTex clothing with a lifetime warranty from Cabelas.
Patrick
Patrick
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
Merino wool underneath...anything you want on top...wool blends are best...
Like the rest of the posters have said, good base layers are a must. It is hard to hunt if you are cold or wet. I wear several layers of cotton - undershirt, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, a wool flannel shirt, a wool combat sweater, then the jacket. Don't forget your feet and legs. Warm socks and longjohns with waterproof boots. Pack extra socks so you can change them I you need to. You can always remove layers incase it gets hot. I have experienced wild temperature changes deer hunting from +25 to -30. Like everything else, dress for the worst, and hope for the best.
I prefer a base layer of polypropylene, with layers of fleece to add warmth, and a goretex shell to keep out the wind, and to keep me dry. Just be aware that there are huge differences in the quality of gore-tex and gore-tex substitutes. I have hunted in rain for days and stayed dry wearing gore-tex, while other hunters wearing lower quality outerwear were soaked within an hour. Footwear is eve more important, if your feet get cold or wet, your hunt is quickly ruined.
Interesting... I had never heard of them, but the Chinook pants and jacket look like they might fit the bill. Thanks for the heads up.
Did you order direct from their website?
I'm a mix and matcher myself, but for outerwear, most of it is Sitka, except for my rain shell, which if I remember correctly is Mountain Hardwear. Mids, and bases, are whatever works and fits well, but they are fleece and merino, respectively. This works for me and the way I usually hunt. It does not work so well for sitting in a stand, or riding around in a quad or side by side.
I bought a good out fit several years back made by "Rivers West" sheds wind and water well, wears well. Good design except for the rare earth magnet pocket flap closures that ruin compasses. I like hunting coats and pants that are shells so I can layer up or down underneath. Some sort of high tech moisture wicking underwear, fleece is warm and light. Wool is hard to beat but heavy. Warm dry feet are a must. In my experience in wet conditions nothing beats rubber shell based boots. Don't waste your money on Goretex boots there fine for walking through the odd puddle in the mall parking lot but that's about it. I had an excellent hunting coat out of LLBeans one time. Also have a decent shell coat in blaze orange out of Pro Bass.
I would take the time to look at the clothing from the bIg box stores like Pro Bass, Cabelas, LLBean. In my experience over the years don't out lay big money on high tech hunting gear, it is simply not worth it, as more often than not the stuff you find at Walmart etc. will work just as well or near as good for far less dollars. But you will have to find out these things probably like the rest of us through trial and error.
I would take the time to look at the clothing from the bIg box stores like Pro Bass, Cabelas, LLBean. In my experience over the years don't out lay big money on high tech hunting gear, it is simply not worth it, as more often than not the stuff you find at Walmart etc. will work just as well or near as good for far less dollars. But you will have to find out these things probably like the rest of us through trial and error.
