Start of a pissing match....

[AitchAr]

If you want a puffy, I'd go with the uncompahgre.

 

[kodiakfly]

Ya im one of those guys that likes to match... Not sorry about it though, and I'm asking for all opinions on it, camo, layering, fit, problems with break down. Any info. I just see alot of hunting gear that is comparable to sitka for a lot less! I do love the fit of it, but i also prefer less black in the pattern after picking out dark spots across canyons the last two years. I just like to see what everyone else has to say on things before making my final decision.

Nothing wrong with that. I prefer to match, all else being equal but I don't let camo or brand be a decisive factor. If you do, that's fine but like was said, you will be limited. In my head, with what you describe you're looking for, I'd suggest C4E on camofire in MM and then watch ebay for old Sitka stuff in MM to match. There's so much C4E on camofire, you could put together an entire clothing system in a week and you'd be surprised what comes up on ebay as far as MM Sitka...sometimes even new with tags.

FWIW, I'd pick and choose what works and go from there. I'm not saying you gotta look like a hipster who just left a Goodwill store, but it's pretty easy to match solids with a camo pattern, and it's pretty easy to find solids; especially in non-hunting brands. I just remember the time (and I've told this story here before) I was fishing and a guide and his two clients walked through. The guide had green pants and a brown jacket or whatever. His guides where head to toe in Sitka...down to their gloves and backpacks and they looked beyond ridiculous. I like having a few pieces of solids or mismatched camo on me just so people can tell I know how to dress myself without consulting a Sitka catalog. At least get a solid beanie or black gloves. LOL

If you're looking for a puffy, that opens up the world to you. Puffy jackets are a dime a dozen from non-hunting brands and you can find them cheap. If you want camo, that will bring you back to that limitation.

 

[amp713]

Im really looking towards getting the backcounty puffy just cant find any feedback on it yet....

 

[Brock A]

Im really looking towards getting the backcounty puffy just cant find any feedback on it yet....

Nothing wrong with creating your own feedback...

 

[tipsntails7]

Ya the price of sitkas jackets are ridiculous. As far as puffys go it depends on what you are looking for. an insulation piece the kratos is a good jacket, kelvin is warmer and bulkier which is why I sold it.i loved my Kuiu spindrift but it has sense become less warm and lost a bit of its insulation. I personally only use a puffy when glassing and in and around camp. the first lite puffy fits the bill perfectly. Warm, sheds water very well,fairly wind resistant and crazy durable for a puffy. If I really have to I can use it as insulation. I personally don't hunt in cold enough weather to require a puffy while hiking but I do use one about 40-50 days a year duckhunting. I like the first lite so much I bought one for my dad and one in brown for everyday use

 

[amp713]

I dont hunt in cold weather during my usual hunts but for camp and an extra insulation layer if the temps start to drop at night is one main reason. Glassing and just sitting around camp being another. Just mainly looking for something warm, water proof, and good at cutting wind.... I plan to get outta the state as much as possible soon so I need to prep for the more unexpected unknowns versus what i deal with at home.

 

[amp713]

Ok so we may have had some beers after our archery competition last night... and I may have got talking gear.... and may have ordered the backcountry puffy, new water bladder, new cooking pot, new hoody and shirt from knotty dreamz, and a new rhino tire...... OOPS........

 

[TD1]

I must be gettin' old..... haven't won a pissing match in years ..... these days I win when I keep my boots dry....

I'm of the mix and match group. I don't think any one company makes the best of everything. And I don't like playing the fan boy game, although it is easier to keep off my boots...

I have some KUIU base layers, Yukon jacket very happy with and use it all the time. First lite base, pants, vest and an awesome puffy. I still have some of the old original stika stuff (in the asat) and the old mountain(?) pants are still one of my favorites, even though they are starting to look more of a ghillie effect than camo.

What I try to do anyway, is identify a need or use (ok, sometimes a want...) for a particular piece of gear, what I want it to do, what environment I will use it in and as a bonus, if it can be used for another purpose as well. Then I do my research and try to find the best piece of gear that matches my requirements, then go looking for the best deals I can on it. One by one. About half of it used.

 

[amp713]

You know you make some points and one thing that kinda comes to mind about old gear and using what you need it for is Mike eastman SR. He likes to wear that brown carhart jacket cuz it looks kinda elky and it works for him... Sometimes i fall victim to the idea that I'm only as good as my gear and need the best of the best. Which it sure doesnt hurt any but i get too caught up in it and need to step back more often.....

 

[weaver]

I must be gettin' old..... haven't won a pissing match in years ..... these days I win when I keep my boots dry....

I'm of the mix and match group. I don't think any one company makes the best of everything. And I don't like playing the fan boy game, although it is easier to keep off my boots...

I have some KUIU base layers, Yukon jacket very happy with and use it all the time. First lite base, pants, vest and an awesome puffy. I still have some of the old original stika stuff (in the asat) and the old mountain(?) pants are still one of my favorites, even though they are starting to look more of a ghillie effect than camo.

What I try to do anyway, is identify a need or use (ok, sometimes a want...) for a particular piece of gear, what I want it to do, what environment I will use it in and as a bonus, if it can be used for another purpose as well. Then I do my research and try to find the best piece of gear that matches my requirements, then go looking for the best deals I can on it. One by one. About half of it used.

This is what I do as well.

 

[justin davis]

I use mostly First Lite and some stuff by Grey Wolf woolens. I am a mut when it comes to gear (meaning mis matched). I don't have a matching wardrobe.

I usually have grer wolf woolen's wolf skin pants on in predator brown,
First lite merino wool shirt in ASAT And a Firstlite jacket.

Haha yep,..a mut!!

 

[amp713]

haha dont you know thats called a hipster now? Or at least thats what i keep hearing! hahhaa

 

[justin davis]

haha dont you know thats called a hipster now? Or at least thats what i keep hearing! hahhaa

Oh dang?

I must be a hipster. Haha. I thought hipsters just hung in coffee shops and had mustaches

 

[amp713]

haha nah they do stuff before everyone else... Wanna know how the hipster burnt his tongue???? He drank his chai latte before it was cool.......

 

[rhendrix]

Ok so we may have had some beers after our archery competition last night... and I may have got talking gear.... and may have ordered the backcountry puffy, new water bladder, new cooking pot, new hoody and shirt from knotty dreamz, and a new rhino tire...... OOPS........

Which backcountry puffy did you get?

I'm thinking about this one. At 8 ounces and a 125 bucks, looks like a steal. Just not sure how warm it is.

 

[rodney482]

I got to tell ya,, superdown is warm and its soooo lightweight!

 

[amp713]

Rhendrix that is the exact one i got! I talked to a guy we all know from here who does alot of clothing work and he told me if i ever decide to sell mine he will buy it from me. He said that is as good if not better than any one offered in the hunting industry today. I used it the last two days out in the cold desert while shed hunting and LOVE IT!!!! One thing is that the charcol/nickel colored one doesnt look different in the pic but it is a silver grey color with a small tinge of almost purple to it. I ended up getting it thinking it was just a little lighter. I was off by a bit but do like it! Def kept me warm in well under 30 degrees. The first night it was 32 when we pulled up. before we got a fire going the snow started to fall and then the wind kicked in. I had a tshirt and that Puffy on and it kept me warm! My bottom half wasnt as lucky so i kicked a little whiskey into the mix to stay warm next to the fire. The next day i put it on over a long sleeve shirt and threw a hoody over it and had thermal bottoms on and about started to sweat! Def would say its a good choice!

 

[rhendrix]

That's what I needed to know. Thanks buddy!

 

[KMD]

Was looking at that same Backcountry Hadron puffy as well, and this thread prompted me to try one. Been in the mid 20s here, with stiff NW wind and single digits windchills. Wearing only a light merino base, this <10oz. puffy is plenty warm and offers suprisingly good wind resistance. My other puffy is hoodless, so this one will surely occupy a niche role.
Thanks for pushing me over the edge, this is a very nice piece of kit!!!

 

[amp713]

Heck ya man glad i could help! Im planning to write a review of it for my blog one of these days. Care if i quote you on that one?