Sitka Coldfront Jacket or Blizzard Parka

[Laelkhunter]

Looking to get a new hunting jacket, my 10 year old Browning Quad Parka is getting a little ragged. I have been really impressed with everything I have that is from Sitka, so I have been looking at the Coldfront Jacket and the Blizzard Parka. Both are the same price.
It will be worn on Colorado/New Mexico Elk hunts mid-October. Most hunting is stalking with occasional stand hunting in the evenings. I have Sitka base layers, and Sitka mid layers.

Can anyone shed some light on the advantages or disadvantages of either of the two jackets mentioned? I can't see them in person anywhere close, so I have to decide by what I see or read on the internet.

 

[conhawa]

Both are waterproof. The coldfront is not insulated....it just has a fleece liner. The Blizzard is insulated with goose down. I doubt you would be able to walk while wearing the Blizzard...you would overheat quickly. For mid October hunts....im thinking both jackets are too heavy for what you are wanting to do. I would recemmend buying 2 or 3 separate layering pieces so that you can alternate as needed.

 

[Laelkhunter]

What would you recommend for the outer layer?

 

[conhawa]

You could do softshell or hardshell. For example....you could get a Cloudburst hardshell and an insulated goose down or primaloft jacket. You can wear both jackets separate....or wear them together....which is more versatile. A Cloudburst over an insulated jacket is the same as wearing a blizzard. If you dont want a waterproof jacket.....you could get something like the Timberline jacket which will block the wind and shed light rain.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Thanks- Looks like I need to find a Cabelas or someplace to compare them and try them on. Do you know if either of the ones I mentioned have zip-out liners? That would make them more versatile.

 

[kodiakfly]

Neither have zip in liners. That's not as common as it used to be back in the Quad Parka days (I had one too).
I'll tell ya right now, for me, the Blizzard doesn't come to mind for most applications. It's like it says on their web site, it's for "extreme" conditions. I guess I think of literally a blizzard in the mountains sitting in 40 mph winds.

I'd look at the Stormfront line. I have the Stormfront and the Coldfront and they'd both do well in their place. The CF is a bomber jacket with a light fleece interior but not what I'd rely on alone as far as insulation. The SF is just straight GTX shell. The SF is more packable by a decent amount, is just as waterproof as the CF and it has pit zips, unless you can find a pre-2015 CF (I think it's 2015; but older CF had pit zips). If I'm packing, even later in the year, I take the SF and insulate with layers underneath. I'll sometimes use my CF in late late season where I may be sitting more and don't mind a heavier layer. I actually think the CF would make a good late season whitetail layer over as much insulation you can put under it.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Thanks kodiakfly. I was reading the reviews on the Sitka website, and it seems the big problem with the Blizzard is the noisy outer material. I don't want to get no "eye rolling" from my guide if the jacket makes too much noise, so I was leaning toward the Coldfront. The reviews said it was quiet.

 

[kodiakfly]

The CF is slightly quieter than the SF, but still a shell. But it's for sure quiet enough to hunt in. For me, the biggest thing between those two is packability and weight. Those are the factors I'd consider between the CF and SF as they're both really nice.

 

[WesternHunter]

I agree with what others have said, the blizzard is likely way too warm for october or any activity. I would wear the blizzard for something like a horseback 4th rifle season tag in colorado. It'll keep me warm riding and in low activity.

I'd pair the cloudburst jacket with the kelvin lite hoody or the kelvin jacket for something like a quad parka. Move to the stormfront or coldfront if you want a longer tail, more pockets, and a more durable outer.


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