Sitka Alternatives

[dh.hamilton1]

Looking for advice on better priced but close to equivalent performance, alternatives for the following Sitka pieces (if they exist).

- Equinox Guard Hoodie
- Fanatic Hoodie
- Core LW Hoodie
- Ambient 100 jacket
- Ambient Jacket (150 gram/no hood)
- Equinox Guard Pants
- Traverse Pants
- Midi Pants


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[dh.hamilton1]

These were pieces that were recommended for a Spring Turkey / All season whitetail clothing system along with the stratus bib and stratus jacket. I plan to try to get the stratus bibs and jacket but don’t want to spend $2000 for this whole system, if I would buy new. I understand I could look for deals on camofire, used pieces on here and sales from Sitka throughout the year to cobble this together though.


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[Dcr54682]

It’s a little heavier but I bought a bunch of steeply marked down Pnuma items last year. Performing well so far


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[Davyalabama]

I have never owned a piece of Sitka/Fulough/First Lite gear, it is probably all that, but I don't spend days out in the weather either. If I'm turkey hunting and it starts really raining, I'll head to the truck, wait until it quits, and hit them again. If it starts while deer hunting, I'll head to a shooting house, so your plan of attack while hunting may be different than mine. Now, if I'm duck hunting, all bets are off on the weather, I'm in it until I limit out or the ducks stop flying. I have a heavy extreme rain coat over waders for that mess. I have a frogg toggs for warmer weather and rain.

Get you a good outer layer (something that can protect you from most elements, even the old Cabelas stuff will do that off Ebay), buy some cheaper merino layers and layer them together, grab a few pendleton or old llbean or military wool pullovers maybe a good wool vest (ll bean, woolrich (oh yeah), filson) and some quality boots that fit your feet and some cheap 80-90% merino socks and go hunt. Grab some Frog Toggs raingear or some other stuff that will keep you dry and go have fun. If you're hiking a long way, you won't like frogg toggs, that stuff doesn't breath. You'll be soaking from sweat not the elements.

You can piece your Sitka stuff together as you go, plus have some other gear for a kid or grandkid that will come along after you. You could even use it for work times and leave your real hunting stuff packed away.

Now, you are reading from a man that has at least four 72 gallon totes worth of hunting clothing. Some of it I will never wear again, old cotton clothing from back in the day, synthetic base layers and pullovers (that stuff is just too sweaty for me I'm wringing with water after wearing this stuff), very thick wool socks (light merino is so much better for sweaty feet), stuff passed down from my dad, old jump suits for stand hunting (when it's really cold, you can't put enough on under these and still have good movement), I even have a couple jump suits from the 70's and 80's that guaranteed artic proof (forget that marketing), etc.

What I'm saying with that whole last paragraph, don't let someone else tell you what you need. Buy some stuff and test what you will need the way you want. Yep, you may spend more, but you will have stuff you will look back at later and laugh that you bought it, but reminisce about wearing it. You may like synthetics, I don't, I sweat and then freeze from the water on my body. I don't like thick socks, I've found even in the teens, two light merino socks is enough, because they move the water off my feet. A good vest is great for me, freeing my arms to move and swing. We've all learned cotton is great and cheap, until it's not, then it can be too late.

Now I may tick some Sitka guys off, they've probably done the same thing I did, but a bunch, then end up with the best stuff, but they found what they needed and worked for them before shelling out the money. The main point, what worked for them before buying. But...............you also see a lot of used gear out there, why, they didn't find what worked for them, they listened to .02 Joes off the internet like me to tell them what they needed. In all my totes, you probably won't find that I've spent much more than (1) Sitka jacket in all my clothing in all my years. Would I take one and try it, you betcha I would, I love looking for another layer.

 

[rookieforever33]

Dont pay retail for Sitka. Check their website outlet page. Or other online retailers selling Sitka for 25 to 50 percent off. They introduce new camo patterns every few years and close out old patterns. Dirty little secret, patterns dont matter much.

 

[nnmarcher]

Looking for advice on better priced but close to equivalent performance, alternatives for the following Sitka pieces (if they exist).

- Equinox Guard Hoodie
- Fanatic Hoodie
- Core LW Hoodie
- Ambient 100 jacket
- Ambient Jacket (150 gram/no hood)
- Equinox Guard Pants
- Traverse Pants
- Midi Pants


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I don’t have much experience with Sitka or hunting whitetails so take my advice with a grain of salt.

It looks like there is a lot of overlap between the Equinox hoody, fanatic hoody, and both Ambient pieces (fleece mid-outer layers). You could probably start with the Ambient 100 and have that base covered until you decide you want/need the others. Or pick up a regular fleece hoody from a non-hunting brand in a solid, earth-tone color.

Alternatives to the Ambient series include The One Hoody from Kuhl and Free Alpha Direct Jacket Men from Dynafit.

The Core LW is really popular on this forum, but I haven’t tried it. Something like an Outdoor Research Echo hoody may be comparable and I love mine. Many other non-hunting brands like Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, etc have lightweight synthetic baselayers.

The Equinox pants and Traverse pants look like they could be replaced by Prana Zions or the Wrangler ATG pants. Treat with permethrin for bugs if that was a selling point of the Equinox pants.

I’m not aware of anything similar to the midi pants, except maybe the fleece lined Wranglers? You could also just wear a base layer underneath either pair of pants I listed above and it’ll have a similar effect. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

Definitely keep an eye on the classifieds and sales!


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[Szwampdonkey]

Just go head to toe Predator Camo. Much more affordable than Sitka, much better camo pattern, and they have pieces to get you from early to late season. Use FL merino base layers based on temps and you’ll have all you need.

Sitka and their outrageous prices are seriously not needed to hunt deer ever.

 

[neil.hansford]

I don't know several of those peices. The Rab Evolute is likely similar to the Ambient, at a much lower cost. And just about any athletic clothing company will make a base similar to the core lightweight hoody (OR Echo). And whoever told you that you need an expensive "system" to hunt deer and turkey is....what I like to call....wrong.

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[dh.hamilton1]

Just for clarification, I asked about an all Sitka system but now I’m asking about alternatives to that so it’s not so expensive. I’m a small guy who doesn’t gain weight easily and I’m decently careful with my gear for the most part so unless I screw something up in the washer and dryer or tear it up in briars, it should last me a long time.


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[neil.hansford]

Check out Rab, Eddie Bauer, Outdoor Research, Black Ovis (when on sale on Camofire). That should get you started on good gear at somewhat reasonable prices. Watch for winter clearance sales and such.

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[neil.hansford]

And don't worry so much about replicating the pieces that were suggested. Find some comfortable pants, decent base layers (wool or synthetic), insulation (down or synthetic). That should be a good start.

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[P Carter]

I don't know several of those peices. The Rab Evolute is likely similar to the Ambient, at a much lower cost. And just about any athletic clothing company will make a base similar to the core lightweight hoody (OR Echo). And whoever told you that you need an expensive "system" to hunt deer and turkey is....what I like to call....wrong.

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Rab evolute is a 1/2 price ambient. Just not hunting colors. My favorite piece of clothing.

 

[Buckhead]

Good advice here, always hesitant to help others spend their money. I have been an avid hunter for 50 years. Hunting gear has come a long way, have specialty stuff for waterfowl, deer and upland. A packrat in that regard, haven’t thrown away a thing. Key points:
-Aside from camo patterns, clothing innovations have come a long way. Synthetic fabrics, Goretex, windproof membranes, etc.. That said, newer stuff is generally better.
-I do believe Sitka is one of the higher quality/better brands. I have some Firstlite, Kuiu, Pnuma, Kryptek and other brands, but Sitka is more innovative and has a greater variety of products. It is very expensive, however, online deals can be had. You need to be patient, watch for promos & sales and check EBay. Don’t think I have ever paid full retail. Sizing can be an issue though. Try on before ordering, if you can.
-Some of your recommended pieces are redundant. Equinox Guard hoody and pants are very similar to core LW hoodie and Traverse pants. Buy the EG. Ambient jackets. The 150 is discontinued, but a nice piece. Ambients are expensive, one of Sitka’s more popular items. Watch the auction sites. I use mine a lot. Very fragile, I wear as a mid layer. As for the Fanatic hoodie, the core heavy weight hoodie is close to the same (minus a couple features) at about half the cost. While I like my Midi pants, they are strictly a layering piece. If you have a decent pair of running tights or good sweatpants, you can use these and get the Midis later.

I admit to being a Sitka Fanboy. Am in my late 60’s and want the best gear. Really don’t like being wet and cold.

 

[DOMMA]

There are some newer players that have direct competitive pcs. to Sitka. They appear to get great reviews and the price is generally 40-50% less. Look at Asio, SKRE, Code of Silence, Pnuma, Badlands and Huntworth. I was shocked by the offering of these companies; very impressed.

 

[JRem257]

I own some Sitka pieces (mostly waterfowl) and have never really found Sitka to be neccesary for whitetail and turkey hunting. Scheels has some insane deals on first lite right now - I’d look that direction.

 

[Honyock]

Get on Europtics and see what they have left on the Sitka clearance. I've never paid full price for Sitka or Kuiu. Be patient and hit the sales and watch the classifieds. It's unbelievable the amount of "new with tags", never warn, etc. in the classifieds.

 

[rookieforever33]

Mountain Archery has all sitka 50 percent off