sjsmallfield
Veteran member
I would have to agree with the Rivers West comments. It's as waterproof as it gets. Great for stand hunting but way to hot for any hiking or packing.
Jacket of Choice for Backpack Hunts
- Thread starter RobinHood
- Start date
OR Archer
Member
Check out the Under Armour Ridge Reaper gear. I absolutely love this jacket. Has a lot of great features and its comfortable to boot.
spotnstalk1
Member
Anyone reviewed the Sitka Kelvin jacket? Its a down jacket. I tried one on this past weekend. Felt very warm and its obviously very light being made of down. Probably not gonna hold up to a lot of wear and tear but for the weight conscious backpacking hunter it seems pretty slick if you coupled it with a lightweight set of rain gear. Any experienced thoughts on this jacket?
Its actually filled with primloft, there great pieces light, very packable and warm. They'll last along time to I used as intended a insulation piece with a shell over them or an extra layer during stationary periods such as glassing.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
My go-to backcountry system includes Patagonia Capilene underwear, Patagonia R1 fleece pullover, Sitka 90% jacket, and REI Kimtah jacket with Event fabric.
My Sitka 90% is the older, thicker version with the zip-off hood. I prefer it to the new, thinner model. It is my shell most of the time, until it really poors, then the REI Kimtah comes out. The Kimtah is awesome: super light, totally waterproof, and unlike any GoreTex jacket I have tried the Event fabric actually, really breathes. It doesn't have pit zips, because you don't need them. Some hunting clothing company needs to jump on the Event bandwagon, and soon.
The R1 pullover has the highest warmth-to-thickness ratio of any garment I've tried. It is really warm, but still thin enough to easily layer. I actually have several of the pullovers and the pants. They are awesome.
My Sitka 90% is the older, thicker version with the zip-off hood. I prefer it to the new, thinner model. It is my shell most of the time, until it really poors, then the REI Kimtah comes out. The Kimtah is awesome: super light, totally waterproof, and unlike any GoreTex jacket I have tried the Event fabric actually, really breathes. It doesn't have pit zips, because you don't need them. Some hunting clothing company needs to jump on the Event bandwagon, and soon.
The R1 pullover has the highest warmth-to-thickness ratio of any garment I've tried. It is really warm, but still thin enough to easily layer. I actually have several of the pullovers and the pants. They are awesome.
dp1077
New Member
SDbowhunter
Active Member
I have the KUIU guide vest, awesome piece and if I didn't already the Sika jetstream and Celsius jacket, I would own the guide jacket !
Tested my jacket this weekend on my first scout trip. It was 17* outside at 4:30a with new snow. Put the jacket on and took off on the quad.
Windproof indeed, couldnt feel the breeze through the jacket as I was screaming down the roads to make first light
With a base layer and that coat I was perfect at 5am when the sun broke while glassing on the side of the ridge.
Windproof indeed, couldnt feel the breeze through the jacket as I was screaming down the roads to make first light
With a base layer and that coat I was perfect at 5am when the sun broke while glassing on the side of the ridge.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I have Arteryx and love it, but it is not camo. The recent rave reviews seem to be going for the gear from Kuiu for ultralight hunting gear.
SDbowhunter
Active Member
their pack is good, I have an arcteryx jacket as well that I can layer under my camo if I need extra warmth
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
elivingston
New Member
- Aug 18, 2011
- 13
- 0
I have invested a lot of time and money on gear over the last couple of seasons, looking for that perfect layering system, and unfortunately, I haven't found it in any hunting clothing system from a given company. The best layering system/philosophy I've found for backpacking is this one, from Pro Mountain Sports in Seattle. In summary, it breaks down like this:
This system is great, considering the goals of the typical person in the back country, e.g. lightweight, versatile (works well when active or sedentary), safe (protects from all the elements). However it misses two goals that are important for the hunter: quiet & color (camo or earth-tone). Also, if you didn't guess it, the second layer is the hard one to find for hunters.
So, after investing in a bunch of stuff from Sitka, FirstLight, Grey Wolf, Rivers West, etc., Here's what I came up with:
Early Season (30-70 degrees):
I also bring along a second, heavier 1st layer of Merino Wool stuff, too, e.g. FirstLight Chama/Alegheney, for two reasons... I use a light 30 degree sleeping bag so it's nice to have some "long johns" for sleeping, and also just in case I need it if it's extra-cold or if I get really soaked for some reason. The Chama shirt can also be worn in place of the Wolfskin pull-over, since it's both warm and it breathes well.
To sum up, be clear on what your goals are and what is required of your gear. My list isn't the only way to go, and I still haven't found the perfect second layer. I could easily substitute Sitka gear for much of the list above (core/traverse base layer, mountain pant, kelvin vest, etc.), too.
Finally, I can say that FirstLight (merino in ASAT - awesome) IceBreaker (the best merino t-shirts & hiking socks), Sitka (Optifade + top-notch designs) and Grey Wolf (hand-made to your spec) make some amazing gear. You really can't go wrong with any of it.
- Wicking layer - merino wool
- Light-weight, breathable, non-insulated wind-cutting layer (pants & jacket/pull-over)
- Puffy down insulating layer (Jacket - use when needed)
- Lightweight rain gear (use when needed)
This system is great, considering the goals of the typical person in the back country, e.g. lightweight, versatile (works well when active or sedentary), safe (protects from all the elements). However it misses two goals that are important for the hunter: quiet & color (camo or earth-tone). Also, if you didn't guess it, the second layer is the hard one to find for hunters.
So, after investing in a bunch of stuff from Sitka, FirstLight, Grey Wolf, Rivers West, etc., Here's what I came up with:
Early Season (30-70 degrees):
- Merino wool base layer (Icebreaker Tech-lite T or FirstLight Llano)
- First Light Gila Pants & Grey Wolf Wolfskin Pull-over
- Browning 700-fill down jacket
- Cabelas Pack-light rain gear
I also bring along a second, heavier 1st layer of Merino Wool stuff, too, e.g. FirstLight Chama/Alegheney, for two reasons... I use a light 30 degree sleeping bag so it's nice to have some "long johns" for sleeping, and also just in case I need it if it's extra-cold or if I get really soaked for some reason. The Chama shirt can also be worn in place of the Wolfskin pull-over, since it's both warm and it breathes well.
To sum up, be clear on what your goals are and what is required of your gear. My list isn't the only way to go, and I still haven't found the perfect second layer. I could easily substitute Sitka gear for much of the list above (core/traverse base layer, mountain pant, kelvin vest, etc.), too.
Finally, I can say that FirstLight (merino in ASAT - awesome) IceBreaker (the best merino t-shirts & hiking socks), Sitka (Optifade + top-notch designs) and Grey Wolf (hand-made to your spec) make some amazing gear. You really can't go wrong with any of it.
dhershberger
Active Member
I like first lite merino wool also but it sure is hard to beat the great qualities of the Sitka Jetstream, both are excellent products!
hoytnut
Member
8750
Active Member
*******
Active Member
I'd say the Russel or the Sitka. I am not a fan of rivers west for backcountry because they get so hot and breath so poorly. Second to the comment about Rivers west holding water on them when wet.
I used Kryptek gear on my last hunt into the Montana backcountry and throughout the Montana hunting seasons. I had the cadog jacket and pants as well as the koldo jacket. All of these garmets have pit or thigh zips to allow proper ventilation. The koldo jacket is 100% waterproof and very quiet. The cadog jacket and pants are warm, quiet, and resistant to staining (I was hunting in a burned area). This clothing line is tough. It did not rip, snag, or tear while hunting through thick brush and trees. I was very pleased with the performance of these products throughout the hunting season.