The zips are completely full length and do not stop at the waist. It’s a double zipper system, one at the top and one at the bottom. The zipper goes up to mid torso or so, so you’d have to reach under your jacket to unzip it if it’s zipped all the way to the top. There is a velcro tab that...
I haven’t found a bib from a non-hunting company with the features I want. The FL Solitude bibs roll up decently well for what they are and the full length side zips makes it easier to put them on while set up. I also like the uncompahgre pants when packability is important. They’re not silent...
I don’t have the midi pants but I do have the unc pants and furnace. I really like them as an alternative to heavy bibs when packability is important. Side note, they are not super durable, so I wouldn’t walk in them very far or through brush. I think those three would get me to ~20 stationary...
Here’s a quick way to test wind resistance: https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/gear/wind-resistant-vs-wind-proof-a-simple-trick-to-test-any-fabric/
How much room do you have to layer with the xl?
Nice review! Thanks for posting that.
What size did you get in the jacket and bibs. Do they seem windproof? If you hold it over your mouth and blow, can you feel air get through?
Some of my favorites are furnace zip offs and henley, tundra balaclava, and fingerless gloves. Solitude bibs are nice. A pair of puffy pants like the kenai or uncompahgre underneath the stratus bibs can be more versatile though.
I pulled the trigger and got my jacket today. Skybuster’s review is spot on from initial impressions. It seems windproof and a great value at $80. Fit is pretty good but not great on me. I’m 5’10 190 and got an xl. It’s similar to an xl jet stream. Sleeves are slightly long, which I expected...
Bottom:
First lite wick long boxers
First lite furnace zip offs
Regular hunting pants (many good options)
First lite uncompahgre puffy pants
Sitka stratus bibs
Top:
First lite wick
First lite furnace
First lite origin/Sitka fanatic/kuiu 240 hoody
Kuiu Kenai/FL uncompahgre/Sitka midi puffy...
That’s great and basically what I was thinking ev 2 should have been. I’m not a huge camo guy but ev 2 was enough to make me not want to upgrade any of my current gear to the whitetail line just yet. Depending on what other companies release this year I may hold off a little longer to see if...
Good socks, which I sometimes change out if I sweat in them, uninsulated boots with the laces loosened, and arctic shield boot covers when I set up is what I use. Figuring out how to manage sweat made the biggest difference in not getting cold feet for me and then the boot covers to keep them warm.
I have the uncompahgre pants and use them for what you describe, packing in and putting on at the tree. I use them when I don’t want or need to bring my heavier bibs. I like them a lot for that.
With any puffy pants, you’re trading some durability and noise for packable warmth. If you’re ok...
The 240 is not advertised as wind proof. It’s a lightweight fleece that is wind resistant. It does a really good job at blocking wind for what it is and for not being a jacket. I like it when stationary as an in between when it’s chilly and windy, but before a heavier jacket is needed, as a...
I’ve found the 240 to be very good at cutting the wind for what it is and as good as or better than some soft shells. It’s no stratus/Jetstream/axis though. The solitude is not windproof (the sanctuary is) and I wear the 240 under it pretty much all the time because of that. My preferred set up...
Corrugate pants. I really like the Kuiu Kutana too. Eddie Bauer guide or wrangler atg/outdoor flex are some good budget options for the price, especially if you can grab a sale. All those are better than the guide lites imo. No experience with the obsidians.
Klamath. Kiln is great but I find...
Don’t know if it’s just me, but the dark font in the original post was barely readable. Lol.
No experience with nomad but I have had sitka, kuiu, and first lite. Sitka is next level for tree stand specific hunting gear imo. As a whole, it’s head and shoulders above the rest but your going to...