"What's new" at Sitka Gear

[Herdbull]

In addition to what Steve listed, I plan to bring my new Jetstream vest with wind stopper and a few other items to Comptons for you all to look at. Mike

[paleFace]

hey Curt you going to make it to Denton Hill?  looking forward to it this year and seeing the new stuff from Sitka. biggest problem is what I bought 3 years ago still aint broke in good yet. this stuff last for ever. Mike any chance you will have some sneak preview of the new video? If I remember hearing right, uncle Gene and Barry are not going to make it this year.

[Herdbull]

paleface That's right. Gene and Barry will not be at Comptons. The video editing and filming is going slow due to personal family issues the brothers have experienced this year. We do not want to put out an inferior product and we want the message to be clear. I may be able to bring a pro loop of some of the footage we have compiled. Thanks for your interest. Mike

[luv2bowhunt]

But is the new gear QUIET???

[paleFace]

How about ATAR, any chance of getting a look at this new gear there?  Mike, what about Denton Hill, you going to make it this year?

[Jack Denbow]

Looking foward to it doc.
Jack

[Herdbull]

No Denton Hill this year. I hope to go next year.
I will be at Comptons and the Odd Year gathering for PBS in New Berlin, Wis (Ojibwa Bowhunters). I will have Sitka Gear to demo at the shoot, July 17-19. Mike

[luv2bowhunt]

Seriously guys, the gear looks absolutely awesome, but I really want to know how quiet it is. Is it as quiet as wool? Does it remain quiet when the mercury dips below 15F?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated, I am always on the lookout for some seriously high quality gear that performs well at spitting distance  :D

Kevin.

[Ric Anderson]

I really, really like the logic behind. as well as the looks of the Optifade camo.  The quality of Sitkagear products are already a given, so no worries there.  Dang, it looks like I'm gonna have to make some room in my hunting closet for some new hunting duds.

[Steve O]

I have not seen the new GoreTex stuff, but I have no complaints on the quietness of any of the Sitka Gear.  All the layers I have are wool quiet in any temperature.  Even the raingear, while not wool quiet is amazingly quiet for as dry as it keep you.

[tippit]

Mike, Steve O, Guru...Maybe you can get Whip to bring some to Denton as he'll have a booth there this year?

[Guru]

Doc, Not sure Whip a dealer for Sitka?

[luv2bowhunt]

Thanks Steve, I will definately be checking out this new line up of gear!

[Steve O]

When is Denton Hill?  If it is after the PBS Odd Year gathering, that might work.  I am planning on staying with Joe there.  I don't know how Gray Wolf would feel about him carrying enemy contriband  

[Jack Denbow]

Denton Hill is July 23-26. I sure hope someone can make it there. I would like to try some on before buying.
Jack

[Hornseeker]

The Mountain Archery catalog...seen at  www.maketheshot.com  has the prices. The prices are scary...but yeah..some of the new products are awesome looking... $400 more awesome than a $40 wool shirt?? Not sure  :0)

I am all over Sitka... but its definitely a "life style" choice...

[paleFace]

Yikes! just took a look at the new sitka gear at the above site. looks like $1,000. will get you the pants & jacket. Sitka Gear Coldfront Jacket Optifade $549.95. & $469.95 for the pants.

[Arraflinger]

I truly can' t believe people can be brainwashed into believing all that hype, I'll keep the thousand bucks and buy 5 sets of hunting clothes!!

[Wary Buck]

By the way, the Stormfront stuff is the most expensive model out there and probably not needed by most folks here.  There is no doubt that Sitka Gear is an investment, but I would not be surprised to see one suit of Sitka Gear outlast five standard suits of mediocre stuff.  I hunt close to 100X per year, sometimes more, and this stuff wears like iron.  With each piece of Sitka Gear I buy, I am able to replace/get rid of/give away several other pieces of hunting clothes that are now obsolete.  By the way, that also makes packing for trips much easier (and lighter), and also makes for much more space available in your closet.

luv2bowhunt, yes the stuff is quiet.  Quiet enough for me, and most of what I do is stand hunt for whitetails with close-range encounters the target.  

One thing I will add is something I wish I'd put on my Alberta Bear Hunt thread here.  Many of those outings I would help my brother freshen up several baits, which really required some heavy lifting and uphill climbing and scrambling in and out of boats.  In other words, working up a serious sweat sometimes 15 mi. from camp.  Then...I'd sit for bear for 7-12 hours.  Ten years ago, doing this with the standard cotton t-shirt next to your skin, etc. and you'd have been soaked (and stinky)...and then later chilled.  Today with Sitka Gear's next-to-skin technology, the sweat is transported away from your skin and the silver lining makes scent retention often unnoticeable even after wearing the same base layer shirt two or three days in a row.  

Sitka isn't the only company doing some nice things with base layers (but I do think they're doing it best), and anyone who still is wearing the cotton or cotton-poly t-shirts or heavier insulated pieces top and bottom is missing the boat.  Keep your current outer layers and try some of the base layers first and I think you may join the 21st century clothing wise even while still shooting a weapon more common several generations ago!  No reason to be uncomfortable when you don't have to be.

[Herdbull]

Sitka Down Pour did not help me sneak up on this musky, but it kept me in the boat on a rainy day. Ha! Any rain gear will work in this situation, but Sitka fits nicely and can be vented as needed.