Rant hunting clothing

[firebird]

Im in northern Canada, I fly floatplanes for outfitters in the summer and I work on the farm in the winter. I’ve hunted on 3 continents and plan to hunt them all.

I have been wearing technical clothing for the better part of 20 years daily. I started buying hunting brands with Sitka until 5 years ago when I started predominantly buying Stone Glacier because it fits me and meets the demands of work and my life. I made the switch because Sitka’s product line exploded and sizing seemed to change. Now I’m seeing that trend with Stone Glacier.

Both warranties havnt let me down.

Just had to get on here and complain that I had been super happy with SG and I hope they don’t follow Sitka’s trend.

Maybe I’m crazy but I figure how can you make all that gear as equally great, and it went from specialized clothing to XXXXL sizes, and backcountry gear to fashion.

 

[jmez]

Only difference between 4x and medium is patttern size.

 

[Random Dude Guy]

Stone Glacier was bought by Vista Outdoors in 2022. Acquisitions are usually made in an attempt to expand reach and market. What happens to products when you're attempting to expand reach and market? You must offer goods and services that accommodate this new reach or market. The brand blows up, sells everything under the sun, in all sizes and colors, quality dips, etc ... Just my opinion.

 

[firebird]

Stone Glacier was bought by Vista Outdoors in 2022. Acquisitions are usually made in an attempt to expand reach and market. What happens to products when you're attempting to expand reach and market? You must offer goods and services that accommodate this new reach or market. The brand blows up, sells everything under the sun, in all sizes and colors, quality dips, etc ... Just my opinion.

Yep 100%. I read somewhere Kurt said it wasn’t going to happen but that’s why I’m complaining here now because they are following suit

 

[Random Dude Guy]

I can say right here and now that I will NEVER buy First Lite apparel..

If Steve Rinella came up to me tomorrow and gave me $20k to buy some gear to simply wear , I'd probably change my tune.

My point being money is a fortunate or unfortunate motivator of humans. I share your frustration with some of these companies selling out resulting in an inferior product.

 

[firebird]

Prior to buying Sitka I had a myriad of Mountain hardware, North face, black diamond etc. That had inconsistent sizing and quality. When I switched to Sitka I was thrilled. Everything fit, worked together and sizing and quality equal throughout the product line. As Sitka’s line expanded and after they changed to more generous sizing I got annoyed things were not fitting the same and quality was going down. So I switched to SG. And now I see the same coming.

 

[HingleMcCringleberry]

I have not experienced any issues with stone glacier. Or sitka really. I just read there sizing guides and order accordingly.

 

[def90]

Yeah, every clothing manufacturer seems to be following the Carhartt lead and making their sizes fit to the short and stout folk. With Carhartt I used to wear a regular XL jacket, now I have to size down to a Large Tall in order to get the regular width jacket with the required length in the arms and body. I've noticed this with a couple other brands as well.

 

[Geewhiz]

I just want to say it's super bad ass that you fly float planes for a living. What do you fly predominantly? A beaver? You own it or you fly or a company that owns it?

 

[dieselchessy]

A bit off subject, but what would you hunt on Antartica?

As far as companies, it seems every time the boutique outfits get bought by the investment firms things go south. At least I don't think I recall an event where it didn’t.
I suspect often this is due to these companies being based on and driven by an individual or a few folks. When they sell those folks generaly leave or fade in influence, and then the whole reason for the product excellence is gone. Its no longer a product driven by a passion for excellence, its a corporation driven by profit.
Influencers follow a similar path. Start out driven by passion and then grow into a sellout driven by profits.
I think it takes a superhuman to have the mental willpower to avoid such a trend.

I just got an Email from Exo saying they were going to buck the trend. Struck me as a line Ive heard before. But Im for sure rooting for them to follow through.

 

[Marble]

I just got a second pair of sitka pants, same size as the other pants I already have, and they are much more athleticly cut than the other pants. Waste is the same. But they are slimmer throughout the entire leg. It's actually a good thing in my case, but very different sizes 4ish years apart.

Kuiu hasn't changed since I started buying their stuff.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[firebird]

Yeah, every clothing manufacturer seems to be following the Carhartt lead and making their sizes fit to the short and stout folk. With Carhartt I used to wear a regular XL jacket, now I have to size down to a Large Tall in order to get the regular width jacket with the required length in the arms and body. I've noticed this with a couple other brands as well.

Yep I was a Large Sitka. Then I had to start ordering tall (at least they had the option). Then the large got wide. So I went to medium talls if possible. Then the tall disappeared all together.

I’m 6’ 2” 190lbs, not a gym rat, but fit from work and outdoors. And I guess that’s not the typical North American anymore.

 

[firebird]

I just want to say it's super bad ass that you fly float planes for a living. What do you fly predominantly? A beaver? You own it or you fly or a company that owns it?

I own a C185 and Pa-18. I also fly dhc2s and used to a Norseman. I also have a commercial rotatary wing license and used to fly Jet rangers

 

[firebird]

A bit off subject, but what would you hunt on Antartica?

As far as companies, it seems every time the boutique outfits get bought by the investment firms things go south. At least I don't think I recall an event where it didn’t.
I suspect often this is due to these companies being based on and driven by an individual or a few folks. When they sell those folks generaly leave or fade in influence, and then the whole reason for the product excellence is gone. Its no longer a product driven by a passion for excellence, its a corporation driven by profit.
Influencers follow a similar path. Start out driven by passion and then grow into a sellout driven by profits.
I think it takes a superhuman to have the mental willpower to avoid such a trend.

I just got an Email from Exo saying they were going to buck the trend. Struck me as a line Ive heard before. But Im for sure rooting for them to follow through.

You got me on Antarctica lol. Maybe I’ll get close fishing one day.

So what’s next after SG goes downhill? I don’t have social media or anything and being in Canada there’s less options than in the US.

 

[Maverick1]

Just had to get on here and complain that I had been super happy with SG and I hope they don’t follow Sitka’s trend.

So, let me make sure I understand this correctly: you started a thread to complain about something that hasn't happened yet?

 

[def90]

Yep I was a Large Sitka. Then I had to start ordering tall (at least they had the option). Then the large got wide. So I went to medium talls if possible. Then the tall disappeared all together.

I’m 6’ 2” 190lbs, not a gym rat, but fit from work and outdoors. And I guess that’s not the typical North American anymore.

I'm pretty much the same size with 1 less inch in height and 5 more pounds. It's getting hard to find stuff that doesn't feel like a sail when you put it on.

 

[firebird]

So, let me make sure I understand this correctly: you started a thread to complain about something that hasn't happened yet?

Yep I went through it with Sitka and I just got SG’s email that they have new sizes and new products and thought. Here we go…

Nothing new lots of complaining on here figured I’d take my turn. I have no social media to complain on…