Explain to me your "Hardshell" jacket choice

[dreamingWest]

Since you're in Idaho the Sitka Thunderhead may be a great choice for you. Pull the trigger and let us know!

 

[MT_Wyatt]

Although this got side tracked a bit.......................I'm still trying to find out what most bow hunters use as a hardshell. I'm wanting to buy a new jacket and the Thunderhead is a possibility. I really want a Jetstream but if I went with the Thunderhead I could lose the Cabelas space rain jacket out of my pack.

The rest of the Sitka jackets are too noisy for my liking and not warm enough and too expensive for just a rain jacket.
First lite doesn't make anything I'm remotely interested in. I want a wind barrier garment.

There really seems to be a large gap in most manufacturers Jackets between their soft shells and a non existent quiet hard shell.

Kryptek makes the Vellus jacket but it's 10 oz heavier than the Thunderhead. I'm not going to hike in this jacket. It's for sitting and glassing mostly but it still needs to be quiet enough to stalk in should the weather and situation make it necessary.

I'm leaning towards the Thunderhead with a Kelvin lite hoody underneath. I just don't see any better options out there. If I'm missing any jackets that fit the bill let me know.

I use a chugach jacket. The kuiu Yukon is a bit quieter but substantially more heavy duty. I’ve found the chugach to be a perfect balance of toughness, waterproofness and noise. It’s decidedly a hard shell, but stretchy and softer face.

 

[JollyRoger]

I usually have a fourth piece (aside from base, puffy, shell) and that is either a heavier merino hoody or grid fleece. I use it to cover situations that don’t warrant the puffy or hard shell... or I can add them all if it’s super cold

Last year I shot a buck at 15 yards wearing a Sitka Flash. It’s listed as a windshell but did surprisingly well in tons of rain and snow (an abnormally cold and wet September for us). Best part about the jacket is it’s ultra lightweight. It’s not as quiet as wool or fleece, but I can’t complain about 15 yards.

I did end up buying a Sitka Cloudburst for true hardshell use and used it a lot for late season bow hunts.


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[LostArra]

I use a chugach jacket. The kuiu Yukon is a bit quieter but substantially more heavy duty. I’ve found the chugach to be a perfect balance of toughness, waterproofness and noise. It’s decidedly a hard shell, but stretchy and softer face.

Agree 100% on the Chugach. It has performed so well in different conditions that I've quit looking at alternatives. Noise has not been an issue in the situations that I've needed it and it has become even quieter with age. It is always in my pack when elk hunting.

 

[TwoTikkas]

I usually have a fourth piece (aside from base, puffy, shell) and that is either a heavier merino hoody or grid fleece. I use it to cover situations that don’t warrant the puffy or hard shell... or I can add them all if it’s super cold

Last year I shot a buck at 15 yards wearing a Sitka Flash. It’s listed as a windshell but did surprisingly well in tons of rain and snow (an abnormally cold and wet September for us). Best part about the jacket is it’s ultra lightweight. It’s not as quiet as wool or fleece, but I can’t complain about 15 yards.

I did end up buying a Sitka Cloudburst for true hardshell use and used it a lot for late season bow hunts.


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My thoughts as well. I'm currently searching for my ideal "fourth option". I went to Field and Stream Sat. Tried on a few different Sitka pieces,and am more confused than ever. I did discover I want to size up with a couple of the pieces I tried on. This in itself makes ordering this stuff a crap shoot.

 

[The Beard]

I use the Chugach set also - No softshell
Light, not that loud, and a great water and wind barrier.
I mix up my layers depending on the forecast. Could be anywhere from a light merino layer to heavy merino + fleece midlayer depending...
Puffy stays compressed in the pack unless needed for extra insulation or glassing sessions.

I also want to say that softshell jackets still have their own place - just not in my backpack.
I still utilize a couple of Predator Camo jackets for stand-hunting whitetails and winter predator hunting.