Can y'all be real with me?

[BilboBaggins]

I'm trying to set up a whitetail clothing system for this season with capability to stay out in extreme cold close to 0F. Everyone says to get Sitka Fanatic bibs or something similar and a heated vest. Is this the only option really? A $750+ get up and that's with military discount...

Or could I literally just get ecwcs level 7 parka and pants and be just as warm? Maybe with more base/mid layers... for like $250. Be real with me to I really need to buy the high tech clothing get up? I just want to be warm! I don't care about being dead silent or high speed but if the fanatic set is REALLY warmer I'll buy it.

 

[justinspicher]

I’d go with the ECWS if it were me. I’ve used it extensively throughout the US and a few shitty foreign countries and had no issues with the performance. The puffy system is a bit bulky to pack.

 

[Dennis]

My system for Alberta Canada late season whitetails is Standmaster Coveralls, with good under layers. PM if you want more info.

 

[barrister]

For really cold, I use Rocky bib overalls. Several years ago, I did buy a First Lite Sanctuary and I like it a lot. Before that, I used a Rocky brand parka and it was good. I’m sure you can get a warm whitetail parka that will work at a reasonable price. Check Cabelas/Red Head and even the stuff at Walmart or equivalent. I’ve always though Rocky and Natural Gear make good stuff for their price points.

If you don’t want a heated vest, buy the large heat packs you shake up to activate and put them within the inside pockets of your jacket.

 

[Maverick1]

Various users are going to toss out brands and names of clothing. This is a fundamental issue of understanding how clothing garments and their functions.

It is not a matter of one brand or another being “warmer” than the other.

So many just throw out brand names, without understanding how things actually work. Many posts on similar threads proven this to be true.

Everyone looking to hear “Shitka Fartski is the best!” But Why? Because it has 150 grams of Primaloft Gold, vs First Lite’s newest ‘drop’ - and what everyone is ‘running’ this year, the “Flatbrimmer Deluxe”, which only has 80 gsm of Merino. That’s comparing different insulation and weights of garments, one with a 0.92 CLO value to one with 0.084!

In its simplest form:

1. A good base layer for moisture management.
2. A good insulating layer with a high CLO value. (And, contrary to popular belief, fleece is a very poor choice!)
3. A good out layer with wind breaking capability.

OK. Diatribe over. LOL. If someone understands the humor above or learns something after researching base layers and CLO values, then we have success.

More pointedly, for brutally cold:

1. Fishnet Merino baselayers. Yes, they work.
2. Heated vest. With extra large and second battery.
3. 900 FP down insulation jacket with 5+ ounces of fill and down pants. (Or synthetic insulation layer with high CLO value).
4. Outer shell, with windbreaker layer.

To answer your question: Sitka Fanatic has the following

Sitka Fanatic jacket:
Torso: Mapped 120-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation
Sleeves Mapped 80-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation

Sitka Fanatic bibs:
Torso Insulation: Mapped 120-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation.
Leg Insulation: Mapped 80-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation.

For the price there are many options with more insulation.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Various users are going to toss out brands and names of clothing. This is a fundamental issue of understanding how clothing garments and their functions.

It is not a matter of one brand or another being “warmer” than the other.

So many just throw out brand names, without understanding how things actually work. Many posts on similar threads proven this to be true.

Everyone looking to hear “Shitka Fartski is the best!” But Why? Because it has 150 grams of Primaloft Gold, vs First Lite’s newest ‘drop’ - and what everyone is ‘running’ this year, the “Flatbrimmer Deluxe”, which only has 80 gsm of Merino. That’s comparing different insulation and weights of garments, one with a 0.92 CLO value to one with 0.084!

In its simplest form:

1. A good base layer for moisture management.
2. A good insulating layer with a high CLO value. (And, contrary to popular belief, fleece is a very poor choice!)
3. A good out layer with wind breaking capability.

OK. Diatribe over. LOL. If someone understands the humor above or learns something after researching base layers and CLO values, then we have success.

More pointedly, for brutally cold:

1. Fishnet Merino baselayers. Yes, they work.
2. Heated vest. With extra large and second battery.
3. 900 FP down insulation jacket with 5+ ounces of fill and down pants. (Or synthetic insulation layer with high CLO value).
4. Outer shell, with windbreaker layer.

To answer your question: Sitka Fanatic has the following

Sitka Fanatic jacket:
Torso: Mapped 120-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation
Sleeves Mapped 80-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation

Sitka Fanatic bibs:
Torso Insulation: Mapped 120-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation.
Leg Insulation: Mapped 80-gram PrimaLoft® Silver Hi-Loft Ultra Insulation.

For the price there are many options with more insulation.

Thanks for the write up. This is helpful but sometimes it does matter the brand/specific peice. For example, who makes a windbreaker shell that can layer over a puffy without compressing it and being crinkly as hell? I would actually prefer to go this route to have more layering capabilities in different environments but it becomes difficult to find pieces that work together. The fanatic or fartski (lol) variety of clothing keep things simple. I also like that the hand warmer pockets are integrated, something you don't get with puffy/shell.

 

[Pescetism]

If weight and bulk aren't a concern these are great. The parka is by far the warmest standalone coat I've ever worn.

Natural Gear Winter-ceptor

 

[Sawitrightoff]

Remember when you bought hunting clothing and you didn’t need to have the knowledge of a member of the ILGWU, to know what you were holding?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Honestly, just get some insulated carheart stuff and go shoot deer. You absolutely do not need thousands of dollars of Sitka gear to hunt.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Honestly, just get some insulated carheart stuff and go shoot deer. You absolutely do not need thousands of dollars of Sitka gear to hunt.

Well thats what I did when I was a kid and I froze. Just ordered some ECWCS stuff. It is a good middle ground I think, $285 for the set.

 

[rookieforever33]

The biggest lesson in hunting clothing is FIND THE SALES. KUIU is running up to 50 percent off right now. Almost every manufacture has an "outlet" section with clearance and sales. Discontinued camo patterns and colors get discounted by manufactures and retailers.

 

[sniper20]

If you are military, you must look at expert voice and guidefitter. If you want to send me your email, I can refer you to it. You get discounts on stuff, and it helps with the cost shock.

I use a lot of Badlands stuff. I'm pleased with their products, but agree with the above statements; layering will be the best option.

 

[Madstop14]

Are you moving or in a stand?

 

[Beagle1]

See my post in your mid layer thread. It responds to most of your questions in this thread.

I have the Fanatic. I would not buy the Fanatic for long sits in zero degree weather. It’s nice gear but not when it’s that cold. It’s main advantages are it’s windproof and quiet.

The Pnuma vest is worth the money. I would only do long sits in bibs not pants. I would not use a windbreaker type shell for long sits unless I had a very very warm down puffy as a mid layer.

 

[lefthandedasian]

This post probably won't be as helpful, but sometimes it's your mental resilience that matters more that the gear. I hunt with a couple buddies who are wrapped in all the high tech sitka kuiu SG stuff and they still complain about being cold.. meanwhile I'm rocking a set of Browning hydro fleece jacket and bibs with some off brand 800 fill puffy jacket and pants I found at a consignment store and I'm plenty warm.

As @Maverick1 said earlier I would focus on a setup with a good base layer, good puffy's and a wind/water proof shell. The Costco around my neck of the woods has a heated vest for $40 right now. I'm really thinking about picking it up as a mid layer to supplement for those really cold days.

 

[Swamppirate]

There is a reason the old timers wore wool for cold sits. Look at Filson, LL Bean, King of the Mountain.

 

[hickswr]

Midwayusa elkfork line with primaloft will keep you warm for less money

 

[wind gypsy]

definitely don’t need the big money brands. Decent base layer, plenty of of insulation and some wind resistance in outer layer, heated vest, boot blankets, hand warmers = formula for staying warm on long whitetail sits in the cold.

 

[summs]

Sitka is good, but nothing new. It just taught grown men how to dress. Hiking and exploration companies have been making great stuff for years, just with out cool camo patterns.

Polyester is polyester, gore tex is gore tex - doesn't matter what brand name is attached to it.

I've always a fan of wool and north east tradition, but man it is heavy. I wear wool bibs and a wool pullover while tracking. It weighs like 13 pounds. Can feel it on your shoulders at the end of the day.

When sitting or in a treestand, a nice packable puffy and outer shell is my go too.

 

[nubraskan]

I own a bunch of Sitka, Kuiu, Stone Glacier, etc. It's all great equipment but it's main advantage is the warmth/performance to weight ratio. Almost none of it is as warm or as bomb-proof as possible, you can find warmer and heavier duty clothing at Tractor Supply. Unless you need packability or some other specific reason you can generally do just as good or better with the "cheap stuff".