Anyone looked at the new whitetail Sitka pattern? Not due out till May but they have some previews on their Facebook  page. I'm not a fan of their  current pattern, too dark for my tastes, but I do like the looks of the new one. Took out alot of the black and dark green and lightened up the overall pattern. Doesn't look like it will "blob" to me?

I'll be looking now....thanks for the heads up.  I don't like the Forest Pattern but love the fit and finish of the Stratus line.  Hopefully they will be adding some browns and grays and loosing some of the green.

Tim that's exactly what the are doing.

That does look nice!

You all might find this interesting:

  Optifade Development

I haven't seen it but will look.  The current pattern works really well for me in the cedar trees I generally hunt from.

The new pattern looks really sweet!

I used the new Fanatic jacket all fall. The outer layrer is burber fleece in Elevation-2. It has more loft than previous Fanatic, and it remains quiet enough for me to allow many deer to pass undetected. When taking a deer at the first opotunity to shoot may fill your tag, but allowing them to pass at close range when sight sound and smell all come into play is a real test of garments. Again, its not like I am always perfectly still when not shooting, often I am moving while operating video cameras. Mike

Hunting in single digits for many hours in Fanatic.

 

Elevation-2 pattern on new Stratus gloves.

Herdbull, how did I'm you get your hands on the new pattern so soon?

Looks nice Mike!

Warden: Mike "herdbull" Mitten is on their pro staff. I sure wish I was! Then again I don't shoot the kind of deer he does though haha.

Love the new pattern !!

I'm going to guess that Mike probably has his pick when it comes to camo and gear companies along with some personal input along the way.  Just a guess though....

SteveO  couldn't tell if that article was about old pattern or new?

Yes, I have been field testing with Sitka Gear since 2007.

Hey Mike.....will they have an option like the current Stratus that is not fleece?   I realize the benefits of fleece, but I'm just not a fleece guy.  I've spent hundreds of hours in my Stratus jacket and the durability of that material has been incredible.  Not a single rip or tear and trust me I've tried.  Lol....Tim

Tim,

The Stratus (all the Whitetal) line will come in the refined Elevated 2 pattern and has a lower nap than the Fanatic, similar to the current Stratus. Lots of cool new Sitka stuff for whitetail guys in 2015.

I've seen the new Fanatic lineup...credit to Steve O and Mike. I've not personally been a fan of the previous Forest (green) pattern and fabric. The new Fanatic has (for me) a much-preferred grayer tone with excellent mid/late-season treestand qualities. The fleece nap on this stuff is really quiet, but it's not like that super-furry berber fleece stuff. I'm calling it a big improvement.

Thanks Steve and Kevin.....I hunt the PA hardwoods and the forest pattern really stood out in the late season to the human eye.  We hunt residential sub divisions that have high deer densities. Hunter discretion is important to the residents and the new pattern will "blend in" a bit better.    

So glad to hear it's not the "super-furry berber fleece stuff"!