Stone Glacier Archery Line – Full Season Field Test & Review Thread

[Zach Herold]

Stone Glacier is no stranger to backcountry hunters, but this year they’re diving deeper into the archery-specific side of things. I’ve been asked to put their 2025 Archery Line to the test, and I’ll be updating this thread throughout scouting season, summer prep, and full-blown archery hunts. If you're wondering how this gear really performs in the field—stay tuned. Below you'll find "Gear Being Tested", "Gear Information", "First Impressions", "What's Next", and "Attached Pictures"

Gear Being Tested: Stone Glacier Halo Sun Hoody, X1 Jacket, Headwall Jacket, Praxis Pant, 206 Pant, Cirque Lite Vest, Grumman Lite Down Jacket, Mirka Gloves, Reflex Gaiters, and 2 Small Game Bags

Gear Information (Quick Summaries and Intended Use):​

• Halo Sun Hoody – Built for hot weather and high-output days: river bottoms, pronghorn flats, and high-country scouting. Ultralight, UPF 50+, and breathable with odor control and thumbholes.
• X1 Jacket – Designed for early-season weather. Lightweight and waterproof shell that packs into its own pocket—ideal for squalls without added bulk.
• Headwall Jacket – Quiet, windproof shell with light insulation. Perfect for early to mid-season use when noise discipline matters.
• Praxis Pant – Silent polyester pant with zip vents and knee pad compatibility. Great for stalking situations and early/mid-season versatility.
• 206 Pant – Early-season focused, stripped-down pant. Lightweight, breathable, and minimal features—designed for high-mobility hunts.
• Cirque Lite Vest – Versatile layering piece for nearly all mountain scenarios. Active insulation with breathable sides—great for moving without overheating.
• Grumman Lite Down Jacket – Built for early/mild conditions. Minimalist design, ultralight 850+ fill down jacket with solid warmth-to-weight ratio.
• Mirka Gloves – Meant for archery and shooting. Breathable gloves offering a balance of dexterity and durability with touchscreen functionality.
• Reflex Gaiters – Best suited for early-season scouting and light-condition hunts. Short, quiet, and durable with excellent debris protection.
• Small Game Bags – For backcountry meat care in hot and rugged conditions. Lightweight, breathable, and easy to hang and transport with reflective tabs.
  

First Impressions:​

Now that I’ve had a chance to handle everything in person, here are my early thoughts. These are just surface-level takes—how they perform in the field will come out in future updates:

• Halo Sun Hoody – Super lightweight and breathable. Very comfortable, and I think it’ll be a go-to piece for sunny, active days.
• X1 Jacket – Packs down tiny and feels great on. Should be perfect for unexpected showers without the bulk.
• Headwall Jacket – One of the quietest windproof layers I’ve handled. Love the pit zips and hood design. Fits a little big.
• Praxis Pant – Quiet fabric and solid features like side vents and knee pad compatibility make this promising for close encounters.
• 206 Pant – Feels incredibly light and mobile. Fit is excellent, but I do wish it had dual thigh pockets.
• Cirque Lite Vest – Impressive warmth-to-weight ratio. Side panel material looks like it’ll dump heat well while on the move.
• Grumman Lite Down Jacket – Crazy light and packable. The kind of piece you forget is in your pack until you need it.
• Mirka Gloves – Good dexterity and thoughtful design. Velcro cuff and finger reinforcements are a nice touch.
• Reflex Gaiters – Durable feel, great adjustability. Should keep debris and water out without excess noise.
• Small Game Bags – Light but tough. The side handles and reflective accents are genuinely helpful features in the dark.
  

What’s Next:​

This thread will be updated every few weeks with thoughts from the field—layering performance, breathability, noise, durability, and overall system synergy as the temps and terrain change.

A final written review and a full video breakdown will be posted during or shortly after archery season.

If you have specific questions or want to see certain things tested (noise comparisons, layering combos, weight under load, etc.), drop them below—I’ll work them into future updates!

@robby denning

 

[Texasbuckeye]

Nice. I plan to use the headwall in my mid-temp archery jacket review as one of the top
end pieces. I am really anxious to get this in (ordered recently) and check it out.

Glad to see someone doing the whole line up review. Stone glacier makes good apparel, they seem slept on by a lot of folks but i think its because they started late and have been building their clothing line. Obviously they get good traction for their down products and the helio, but it seems their other clothing gear is not mentioned often in discussions.

Anxious to see the report from this thread

Curious, how do you plan to test breathability? Subjective? Heres my plan for this testing:

I plan to wear a sitka lightwt base and run a mile or two on the treadmill and measure weight pre and post, then with each jacket in the same indoor conditions with same lightwt base will run the same distance and measure base layer weight post. I will have a fan running to simulate some wind and think this will give a decent “measure” of breathability on exertion. I will couple that with a subjective clamminess when hunting and with layers too.

 

[fngTony]

Sun hoodie + x1 + 50lb pack on a hike. Curious about sweat wicking, breathable, and friction wear on the x1.

 

[robby denning]

Thanks for taking this on Zach! Looks like a lot of work already went into it—will all be curious to follow along

 

[WeiserBucks]

Grumman and Grumman Lite are within 0.7 ounces of each other. Why would anyone choose the lite?

 

[fngTony]

Grumman and Grumman Lite are within 0.7 ounces of each other. Why would anyone choose the lite?

I saw that and wondered if it was a typo.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

The Praxis pant looks awesome but it’s 100% polyester with no scent control which means on a back country hunt That thing is gonna stink to high heaven after two days. I have never had good luck with full poly without scent control lasting more than couple days until it smells like a homeless encampment. I get why they use Poli because it’s much quieter, but I wonder why they didn’t add some polygene or something to it.

 

[Zach Herold]

Sun hoodie + x1 + 50lb pack on a hike. Curious about sweat wicking, breathable, and friction wear on the x1.

Roger that! Good idea and a good thing to test out!

 

[Zach Herold]

Nice. I plan to use the headwall in my mid-temp archery jacket review as one of the top
end pieces. I am really anxious to get this in (ordered recently) and check it out.

Glad to see someone doing the whole line up review. Stone glacier makes good apparel, they seem slept on by a lot of folks but i think its because they started late and have been building their clothing line. Obviously they get good traction for their down products and the helio, but it seems their other clothing gear is not mentioned often in discussions.

Anxious to see the report from this thread

Curious, how do you plan to test breathability? Subjective? Heres my plan for this testing:

I plan to wear a sitka lightwt base and run a mile or two on the treadmill and measure weight pre and post, then with each jacket in the same indoor conditions with same lightwt base will run the same distance and measure base layer weight post. I will have a fan running to simulate some wind and think this will give a decent “measure” of breathability on exertion. I will couple that with a subjective clamminess when hunting and with layers too.

That's a great idea! I hadn't thought about how to test that yet. I typically get hot, so if I start moving, I shed layers like mad ha ha. I'll have to think on that!

Do me a favor, tag me in your post I want to hear how it turns out for you!

Thanks!

 

[Zach Herold]

Thanks for taking this on Zach! Looks like a lot of work already went into it—will all be curious to follow along

Thanks and I'm looking forward to it!

 

[Zach Herold]

Grumman and Grumman Lite are within 0.7 ounces of each other. Why would anyone choose the lite?

That's a great question! I intend to hopefully find out!

 

[Zach Herold]

The Praxis pant looks awesome but it’s 100% polyester with no scent control which means on a back country hunt That thing is gonna stink to high heaven after two days. I have never had good luck with full poly without scent control lasting more than couple days until it smells like a homeless encampment. I get why they use Poli because it’s much quieter, but I wonder why they didn’t add some polygene or something to it.

I don't know, but I plan to put it to the test and find out what's what!

 

[MT_Wyatt]

That's a great question! I intend to hopefully find out!

I think it’s simply packability and how it layers. There isn’t enough savings in size or weight to make me super excited to use one personally, but it’s a lot easier to layer with the light vs regular Grumman. They’ve said the weights are really close because more baffling is required (ie stitching) to stabilize the smaller amounts of down evenly.

 

[Zach Herold]

I think it’s simply packability and how it layers. There isn’t enough savings in size or weight to make me super excited to use one personally, but it’s a lot easier to layer with the light vs regular Grumman. They’ve said the weights are really close because more baffling is required (ie stitching) to stabilize the smaller amounts of down evenly.

Yeah more stitching is definitely used in the lite.

 

[aMurderOfCrows]

Curious how the sun hoody compares to something like the Core crew light. That’s been my favorite hot weather base layer because it’s is actually really light weight.

 

[Zach Herold]

Curious how the sun hoody compares to something like the Core crew light. That’s been my favorite hot weather base layer because it’s is actually really light weight.

I"m not sure, I have never tried the Core Crew Light.

 

[BlackSheep125]

Stone Glacier is no stranger to backcountry hunters, but this year they’re diving deeper into the archery-specific side of things. I’ve been asked to put their 2025 Archery Line to the test, and I’ll be updating this thread throughout scouting season, summer prep, and full-blown archery hunts. If you're wondering how this gear really performs in the field—stay tuned. Below you'll find "Gear Being Tested", "Gear Information", "First Impressions", "What's Next", and "Attached Pictures"

Gear Being Tested: Stone Glacier Halo Sun Hoody, X1 Jacket, Headwall Jacket, Praxis Pant, 206 Pant, Cirque Lite Vest, Grumman Lite Down Jacket, Mirka Gloves, Reflex Gaiters, and 2 Small Game Bags

Gear Information (Quick Summaries and Intended Use):​

• Halo Sun Hoody – Built for hot weather and high-output days: river bottoms, pronghorn flats, and high-country scouting. Ultralight, UPF 50+, and breathable with odor control and thumbholes.
• X1 Jacket – Designed for early-season weather. Lightweight and waterproof shell that packs into its own pocket—ideal for squalls without added bulk.
• Headwall Jacket – Quiet, windproof shell with light insulation. Perfect for early to mid-season use when noise discipline matters.
• Praxis Pant – Silent polyester pant with zip vents and knee pad compatibility. Great for stalking situations and early/mid-season versatility.
• 206 Pant – Early-season focused, stripped-down pant. Lightweight, breathable, and minimal features—designed for high-mobility hunts.
• Cirque Lite Vest – Versatile layering piece for nearly all mountain scenarios. Active insulation with breathable sides—great for moving without overheating.
• Grumman Lite Down Jacket – Built for early/mild conditions. Minimalist design, ultralight 850+ fill down jacket with solid warmth-to-weight ratio.
• Mirka Gloves – Meant for archery and shooting. Breathable gloves offering a balance of dexterity and durability with touchscreen functionality.
• Reflex Gaiters – Best suited for early-season scouting and light-condition hunts. Short, quiet, and durable with excellent debris protection.
• Small Game Bags – For backcountry meat care in hot and rugged conditions. Lightweight, breathable, and easy to hang and transport with reflective tabs.

First Impressions:​

Now that I’ve had a chance to handle everything in person, here are my early thoughts. These are just surface-level takes—how they perform in the field will come out in future updates:

• Halo Sun Hoody – Super lightweight and breathable. Very comfortable, and I think it’ll be a go-to piece for sunny, active days.
• X1 Jacket – Packs down tiny and feels great on. Should be perfect for unexpected showers without the bulk.
• Headwall Jacket – One of the quietest windproof layers I’ve handled. Love the pit zips and hood design. Fits a little big.
• Praxis Pant – Quiet fabric and solid features like side vents and knee pad compatibility make this promising for close encounters.
• 206 Pant – Feels incredibly light and mobile. Fit is excellent, but I do wish it had dual thigh pockets.
• Cirque Lite Vest – Impressive warmth-to-weight ratio. Side panel material looks like it’ll dump heat well while on the move.
• Grumman Lite Down Jacket – Crazy light and packable. The kind of piece you forget is in your pack until you need it.
• Mirka Gloves – Good dexterity and thoughtful design. Velcro cuff and finger reinforcements are a nice touch.
• Reflex Gaiters – Durable feel, great adjustability. Should keep debris and water out without excess noise.
• Small Game Bags – Light but tough. The side handles and reflective accents are genuinely helpful features in the dark.

What’s Next:​

This thread will be updated every few weeks with thoughts from the field—layering performance, breathability, noise, durability, and overall system synergy as the temps and terrain change.

A final written review and a full video breakdown will be posted during or shortly after archery season.

If you have specific questions or want to see certain things tested (noise comparisons, layering combos, weight under load, etc.), drop them below—I’ll work them into future updates!

@robby denning

X1 or M5? I know they serve different purposes, but based on your experience if you could only choose one?

 

[Zach Herold]

SYSTEM UPDATE!!

I’ve had the chance to put a few key pieces from the Stone Glacier Archery Line to work over the past few weeks. So far, I’ve tested the pants, sun hoody, Reflex gaiters, and the Cirque Lite Vest across multiple outings including shed hunting, scouting, and warm-weather hikes.

• The Praxis and 206 Pants have performed great. They’ve handled varied terrain well during shed hunts and scouting trips—quiet, breathable, and comfortable while on the move. The fit of the 206 Pant and the thigh zipper is awesome, and they’ve proved to be very durable so far.
• I tested the Halo Sun Hoody on full days with temps hitting 90°. It kept me decently cool, but more importantly, it protected me from the sun. One thing to note: the neck area feels a bit restrictive. It’s not hot like a scarf, but the way it’s designed sits right on your throat, and it’s noticeable.
• The Reflex Gaiters have been a standout. I’ve used them on multiple outings and really like how they stretch and stay in place. They do a great job of keeping dirt, rocks, and debris out of my shoes, and the low-profile design is spot on.
• I’ve only had the chance to wear the Cirque Lite Vest once so far, but the breathable side panels were invaluable. It dumped heat exactly as intended during high activity.

I’ll continue rotating through the rest of the system and update again soon as I get more time with the jackets and gloves. Let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like to see tested or compared in the next round.

 

[Zach Herold]

SYSTEM UPDATE!! #2

Quick update on the Stone Glacier Archery Line as I continue putting it to work in a range of environments. I’ve had more time in the gear during extended scouting trips—both desert floor and mountain timber—and overall it continues to impress.

• I’m still loving the Reflex Gaiters. They’ve become a go-to piece for almost every outing. The stretch, fit, and ability to keep junk out of my shoes continues to deliver.
• I’ve found even more uses for the Halo Sun Hoody beyond the field. I’ve worn it during lake days and casual outdoor stuff, and it’s been great for sun protection and staying cool while active. It also dried fast after getting wet at the lake, which was a bonus.
• I’ve been scouting heavily in both the Praxis and 206 Pants, covering everything from hot, dry desert to cool pine country. Both have held up well. I’m still partial to the 206 Pant because of the fit and venting, but I think the quiet fabric of the Praxis Pant is really going to shine in close-encounter archery scenarios.

I’ll be transitioning into some higher elevation glassing trips soon and plan to start rotating in the outer layers and insulation. Updates coming soon.