Hey Newmexican,
I was a faithful First Lite guy but wanted a softshell system which they did not offer at the time. Was not impressed with the Corrugate guides for my specific uses. So, I checked out Sixsite and their no questions asked LIFETIME WARRANTY and thought what heck why not.
I've got the Clear Creek pants, Gunnison softshell jacket and pants, Smith River Hoody, San Juan Insulated jacket and Cimmaron top and bottom. I've been using it since last October for whitetail hunting and the weekend scouting/trapping trips to the woods and am very happy with the stuff.
The Gunnison softshell system sheds water fairly good, blocks wind yet breathes well, is quiet, durable. and is very comfortable and moves with you. I do a lot of walking in brushy area's here in Minnesota and it seems to be holding up very well. Wish it had a removable hood but other than that I've been super impressed with it. Love the pit zips in the jacket. All the zippers are easy to operate and seem very robust. Good stuff. Just go up one size on the pants for sure. Especially if you'll be layering under them. The coat I have a medium which I run in FL is definitely smaller when compared to FL but fits me a bit better. I layer a medium San Jaun jacket under it and its like it was tailor made. Fit's a lot like some of the Sitka stuff.
The Clear creek pants are my new favorite for warmer temps, only wore them the month of October which we seen 82 degrees for the highest but they are super comfy. Prana Stretch Zion's were my last favorite but these are quieter and just as durable i'd say. Actually, with the FL Corrugates and the Zions when i do a lot of walking thru the brush the outer surface got all fuzzy or brushed and they would soak up water like a sponge. The Sixsite stuff doesn't seem to do that. It does not get snagged very easy on anything either. Simple, lightweight, durable and comfortable as well. Again, probably want to go up a size if you ever want to layer under them.
The Smith River hoody actually surprised me. Wasn't so sure about it but it is actually quite a piece. Can tell a lot of thought went into it by someone who pays attention to the details. It's a lighter weight that breathes well that seems to be able to be used in a range of temps with layering. The hood is what surprised me most. It's over-sized cut had me wondering. I hunt with a recurve and was always having to turn my hat backwards because my brim would hit the string otherwise obviously but this hood is big enough that it can actually be used as a sort of sun visor and it does not interfere with the string whatsoever. The other thing i like about the hood is that it is a double layer and actually cuts the wind and makes a noticeable difference for staying warm. There's always a cold northwest wind here in the fall and I gotta have a hood. I wish the Gunnison had a removeable hood but this one actually does the job quite nicely. I do have two small negatives with the hoody though. First, it does get a bit stinky after a coupled days of hard hiking and sweating. And secondly, I wish the thumbholes were rotated just a bit more towards your pointer finger as it does sort of seem to bind up a bit more than i like when you rotate your wrists towards the outside of your body. As far as sizing goes this piece seems to be right on. No need to order up a size.
Cimmaron base layers have been great. Seem like a good weight to be very versatile. Light yet provides ample warmth. Just got done with a run in 28F temps with a slight breeze and they were perfect. I have wore this top more than any other shirt i own this winter. I think I'm on about day 8 on the bottoms and the stink has not yet got to me so...lol! The sizing on these seems right on as well. No need to order up a size.
Last but not least, the San Juan jacket. This thing is crazy warm for it's weight and pack size. I had some Kuiu super down as well but there really wasn't much there. I also have the FL puffy which I love. However this thing stops the wind and flat out keeps the heat in! I think it is tailored to fit under the softshell and it works perfect. I have a medium softshell and medium San Juan. If i was going to use this jacket for everyday use I'd definitely go one size up. Which I have been so impressed with my Rana Brown one that I may just order up a woodsmoke one for everyday use. Just wish it had a hood. I should add that it is a bit noisy for close encounter stuff. Under the softshell it isn't to bad but still more than i like for whitetails here.
I have all my stuff in Rana Brown and have had numerous close encounters with whitetail and feel the camo works very well. Especially in low light as it is light enough that it doesn't seem to turn into a big blob.
Can't wait to see what they come with next as all my stuff so far has exceeded my expectations. Rumor has it they are coming with some new insulation pieces! And with the no questions asked lifetime warranty it's great deal. Ok sorry that got a little lengthy!