Sitka's Youth Kelvin Jacket

Joined
Jun 2, 2013
Messages
868
Location
North Idaho
I try to stay out of clothing threads, because they always seem to be so subjective, but I felt compelled to share with you this little gem. Both of my kids have been hunting with me since the day I didn't have to change their diapers:cool: My youngest, Jake, became a trigger-puller this year at 10-years-old. Being a boy, he tends to be hard on his gear, with no regard to the cost or aggravation involved in keeping decent clothes on his back. In January of 2014, I stumbled on a Sitka Youth Kelvin Hoody at a local sporting goods store that was on sale. It fit him a little on the loose side, but once he tried it on, I knew we were leaving the store with it. I was a little dubious as to how it would fare with Jake wearing it, but as the 2014 season progressed, it was no worse for wear. Not bad, considering Jake wore it everywhere, for everything! It functioned as a school jacket, rain jacket, snow and wind jacket, and, of course, his hunting jacket. With the sleeves getting a little short on him this fall, he started bartering for a replacement. I pulled that jacket out to inspect it. There were no tears, holes, or stains anywhere on it. It had kept him warm and dry through dozens of days in the field. It was a no-brainer to invest in the next size up, and he continues to use the bigger size this year to good affect.

I was reflecting on this over the weekend, as Jake and I were sitting on stand deer hunting, with rain falling the entire time we were in the woods. As I hung that jacket up in the wall tent Friday night, I noticed the inside of the jacket was completely dry. That's outstanding performance for a jacket that isn't rated as a rain jacket, considering he was directly exposed to constant rain, at 40* temp., for four hours that afternoon!

Anyway, if you're looking for an excellent cold-weather jacket for your kids, I can whole-heartedly recommend the Sitka Kelvin!
 
Thanks for the info. My son just turned 10 and will be a trigger puller next year. I've been wondering how to keep him warm and dry.

Both kids have fallen asleep sitting out with me in late November, with woobies on the ground under them, and wrapped around them. I threw up the Sheep Tarp the other day, and Jake went dark to dark, with just a few "leg stretchers" now and then. The woobies are awesome!
 
Thanks for the insight,Sam. I've been trying to figure out how much to invest in hunting clothing for my boys 11, 9, & 6 1/2. Right now they have been relegated with old carharts that my wife has found used. I'm only taking them on weekend hunts, but I know they suffer under the weight of those things. My biggest trepidation on investing in higher end hunting clothes for them is they tend to destroy their clothing or they out grow it so darn fast.
 
Thanks for the insight,Sam. I've been trying to figure out how much to invest in hunting clothing for my boys 11, 9, & 6 1/2. Right now they have been relegated with old carharts that my wife has found used. I'm only taking them on weekend hunts, but I know they suffer under the weight of those things. My biggest trepidation on investing in higher end hunting clothes for them is they tend to destroy their clothing or they out grow it so darn fast.
You have the power of numbers! My daughter grew so fast, there are still clothes she wore in Jake's closet, waiting for him to grow in to them. It was a good opportunity for me to explain to my kids the value of taking care of gear. I will have some stuff to sell at the end of hunting season that Jake won't need next year.
 
Two more weeks of hard use later, Jake managed to get a little blood on the Kelvin from his first buck. This time around, it was dry and cold. We stayed out for two to nine hours waiting for a shot. Jake says this jacket is top-notch, and I believe him!
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