At this stage of my life, most all my hunting activities are and will be centered in the southern states. Like many of us, our clothing line has evolved over the years, stuff that works. My KOM stuff is great but hasn't been out of the closet since I hunted eastern Colorado during Thanksgiving some 15 years back for mule deer. I ended up killing a nice whitetail buck Thanksgiving day. Stuff happens. :)

I wear several different light weight fleece and/or wool undergarments when needed, mix and match wool/wool blend/fleece shirts, pullover sweaters and wool vests and cotton pants. Two days ago I picked up a Stika Fanatic Lite Jacket from an acquaintance who is provided Stika stuff. It was too small for him and he didn't want to send it back. I was delighted to pay him his cost and will be testing it Monday as I'm driving over for a week of hunting deer and hogs in South Carolina tomorrow. I like the jacket and believe it will be a good addition for Southern hunting.

Anyone have this item or other Stika products. I found the jackets and other garments are about a size smaller than marked but pants seemed to be marked about right. I'm curious to hear some reviews.

I have some sort of jacket. Hate it!!! My advise or opinion is don't ever buy a jacket with pit zips.

First time out, I had a doe at 12 yards dead calm. When I started the draw she took off. Reenacting the only noise I could figure came from under my arms.

THat said the damned thing is indestructible. I can't rip it, tear it or loose it.

AND I have a pair of pants that I picked up on camofire. Best light weight pants I have times 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pocket configuration is better than any other camo that I have. And that's the reason I wear camo. BUT that's not the best part. It has knee pads. When I bought 'em I didn't even know they had pads. I've been looking for another pair, but I can't recall what they're called. They're worth the full price that I didn't pay!!!

Bowmania

The pants with the kneepads are the Mountain pants. I have a pair and like them a lot. Also have a light vest. Can't remember the model, but I like it, too.

With more and more wind being the norm, due to climate change, my KOM wool just isn't cutting it anymore during those cold, windy November days in Northern Wisconsin where I hunt.

Decided to make the plunge this year and bought Sitka's Incinerator Bibs and Jacket. Quite expensive, but I like them a lot. Very warm and stop the wind. The hood on the jacket is excellent. The only hood I've ever tried that actually works, i.e., protects your head while still allowing excellent visibility. Probably more pockets and zippers on both garments than needed, but they're not bulky and pretty much unnoticed if not used.

Noise is a bit of a problem. The finish is obviously harder than wool so things like brush slapping against the legs or scraping on the fabric are audible. I don't worry about that with these garments because I just sit in them,; I don't still hunt.

However, body movement also produces noise, not so much with the bibs, but definitely with the jacket. Movement produces little squeaking noises emanating from the upper shoulder/arm area of the jacket. I'm hoping this will dissipate with use, but after more than two weeks of daily use just a few weeks ago, it's still there.

May have cost me an opportunity at a buck this year. Something spooked it at very close range. Could have been my slight movement, the sound of my slight movement. Maybe he caught my scent. Don't know, but i can't rule out the noise the jacket made.

I bought a pair of Mountain pants for the trip to Colorado in September. We were at timberline and had some miserable storms with wind and snow and was always warm and dry. Wore them here in Quebec during the gun season at 10 degrees F plus windchill and was warm. They are quiet in the brush, very windproof and much easier to walk in than wool. I think with 400 weight merino I'll be fine hunting in December...impressive product...my wool pants are going to get moth eaten!

I really like it. It is extremely comfortable and practical. They have thought of everything to make their clothing work well. It is a bit pricey. I think you will like it!

Sitka stuff is great, you won't be disappointed. It doesn't run small, it's called an 'athletic' fit, which means it is supposed to fit close to your body. If you buy more, follow their size guide on the website.

like others, i was skeptical and turned off by the cost. I took a chance a year ago and purchased the mountain pants. I like them a lot, best hunting pants I have ever owned. I also now own a set of the heavy base layer which is awesome as well.

I have since tried on other Sitka clothing but have not purchased it, yet.

their shirts, vests and jackets tend to run too small for me. I normally wear a large but in Sitka I find I like the fit of the XL better. personal preference.

the pants are true to size.

this is very good high quality clothing that performs as advertised in my limited experience.

Have used the old mothwing sitka gear 90% jacket, pants, and vest for years and it works pretty well. It does start to smell funky after a few days in the woods and is a bit noisier than wool, though. Have handed that set down to my son.

Do have a nice fleece lined jacket with a hood and face cover that I really like for coyote hunting. That one may also go to my boy - will see.

Bought my boy a pair of the mountain pants yesterday in the optifade pattern to go with his shirt that he got from the Wild Sheep Foundation several years ago.

I have a number of pieces from Kuiu that I like better than Sitka for pattern and function in the hills. Also been using a lot of First Light stuff - Love the quietness and lack of stink from the merino wool stuff.

I am also curious ( being in TX ) what other southerners are using in the south. If you go to CO or MT or AK, it is cold. Down here we get about a month or two of cold (below 40) when i want to be outddors and not look like i am weating evety jacket i own just to stay warm. (Yes, i know we do not take the cold well.) What is everyones thoughts when it is 20 to 30 in the morning and in the 50 to 60 during the day? Or even in the teens in the morning/evening and 30 to 40 during the day, what do you do to keep from having to put on and take off your thermals all the time?

I am also curious ( being in TX ) what other southerners are using in the south. If you go to CO or MT or AK, it is cold. Down here we get about a month or two of cold (below 40) when i want to be outddors and not look like i am weating evety jacket i own just to stay warm. (Yes, i know we do not take the cold well.) What is everyones thoughts when it is 20 to 30 in the morning and in the 50 to 60 during the day? Or even in the teens in the morning/evening and 30 to 40 during the day, what do you do to keep from having to put on and take off your thermals all the time?

I have the Sitka Kelvin Jacket as well as the Kelvin Vest. I love both of them. As a rule, I don't have to wear them at home in Texas, but I always have them in colder parts of the country.

Sitka Gear is about the only stuff I wear these days. Go with the lighter products and then add base layers as the temps drop. Works great on my yearly pig hunts in Texas. The stuff is expensive but I have not found anything that I like better.

I didn't put the Fanatic Lite Jacket through a rigorous test, but did wear it enough to determine I like it. I now intend to add the Stratus pants. AT 5-10, 175# with a 34" waist, I figure a Medium to be about right. Anyone out there about my size wearing any Sitka Pants? That sound about right?

Cliff...a medium sounds right...just checked some reviews for you and someone who had a 36" waist, was 6' and 230 lbs. found the large was perfect.

I have two pair of the Mountain pants. I wear a 34" pant and bought the same size in the Mountain pant and they fit perfectly. I can put heavy merino wool base layer underneath them without issue.

I jus picked up a Fanatic jacket on eBay for just over $200. (That's where I am going to find more of this stuff!)

It is really warm and really quiet. The angled zipper allows the inclusion of a hand muff across the front and I, like you, think the hood is very intelligently designed and the pocket placement is well thought out, just like the pants..

I wear my First Lite stuff in Tx, GA and Fl. In MI and across the north it's all Sitka these days. I'm done trying to convince myself wool is all that.

I have the rain gear, it's great and a vest, not so great. Don't go oversize, not meant for that. I find it true to size, I have large and 6 foot 210 lbs, xtra large vest is way too big. Only wool I wear is first layer.

Overall, I like Sitka gear. My wife works for WL Gore (who now owns Sitka) so I can buy their stuff at half price or better and that makes it reasonable. My favorite outfit is their 90% Suit. Their sizing can be inconsistent. Some items fit normally and others definitely run small. You need to try them on first.

Liquid Amber, I am 6'1", 170#, 32-33" waist and I wear MT in Sitka pants and have to wear a belt, so you'd probably be ok in a Medium, but on the upper end of it.

Getting Closer,

I'm in Nashville. Cold mornings, warmer afternoons. It can get expensive if you want it to, but you just need layers. One Merino base layer, light soft-shell, thin puffer jacket, wind block vest generally covers it for me.

I have Kuiu and the pants have zip vents. I have a REALLY warm pair of Snow pants for when it gets nasty and i have a pair is insulated zip off pants for normal cold sitting.

I carry a really lightweight wind/rain jacket

All of that stuff is smaller and lighter than my trusty old Woolwich Jacket.

I bought a Sitka cold weather hoodie, It is absolutely silent and will make a great bowhunting jacket . Its not wind proof or water proof but if I put a regular hoodie on under it I can take some pretty cold temps . But I still think nothing replaces a good wool shirt or jacket .

In 74 years I have never seen the need for a two way zippered fly. Both Sitka and Kuiu have this "feature". I rate them with pit-zips. They should be an option at an extra cost. I do like the digital camo patterns and will continue to wear them, I just don't like paying for something I don't see a need for. Jack

I recently wore my new sitka gear mountain pants a couple days of a hog hunt in texas. Bit too noisy for stalking in quiet conditions and brush, or for my taste overall. Comfy in moderate temps, even down to mid 20s if moving and wearing merino wool base layer. Surprisingly resists thorns and brush, to include prevented cactus penetration (unlike my cotton and wool hunting pants.)Really like the padded knees(I wear military grade knee pads otherwise). Overall best described as yoga pants for hunters. l Hope it made my butt look good..........

I have the Cold weather hoodie and the timberline pants. Wore them on a 2 week trip to Kodiak Island. They work great. Very comfortable and lite. My only complaint would be that the material shines.

Jack...when I had my pack with hip belt on hiking up the mountain I really appreciated the genius of the two way zipper!

Cold weather stuff is great; less bulk and higher quality than most other brands. For extreme cold I add a climate control vest that has pockets all over for hot hands or similar warmers.

For milder conditions, I prefer to use Cabela's leafy camo layered over various vests, light wt. jackets and pants which don't have to be from camo manufacturers.

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