Sitka Gear Reviews

From the October/November 2011 edition of NZ Hunter, by Greg Duley
Available via PDF at the bottom of the review.


“Founded by Jason Hairston and Jonathan Hart in 2005, Sitka Mountain Gear™ was an idea spawned by necessity. Having just climbed 3000 vertical feet in the dark, with intermittent snow flurries and driving sleet, Hairston and Hart hunkered down behind a gnarled White bark Pine to get some reprieve from the elements and a little food in their bellies.

Cold and wet with sweat from their climb, they knew they didn’t need to be this uncomfortable in their gear. So, on that September morning, at timberline, surrounded by bugling bulls, they decided to create a company to fulfil this need.  Utilizing their personal experiences in mountaineering, Hairston and Hart set out to design clothes built to tackle mountains. We could say that we simply make the best high-performance system of hunting clothes on the market, but it’s more than just quality - it’s a philosophy: Turning Clothing Into Gear! Hunt Hard!”

The above is some of the introduction to Sitka Gear found on their website. Last year Sitka and WL Gore of Gore-Tex fame merged, with Jonathan Hart continuing to head the combined company, while Jason Hairston left to start a new clothing business.

So why is Sitka any different to the many other outdoor clothing companies out there? To best get a feeling for this I suggest you visit their website and watch some of their really informative short films.  Sitka is trying to supply a complete clothing system tailored for the different hunting markets found in the USA. They have light and fast clothing systems for the hard and high hunters, ranging through to the warmer systems for the tree stand type Whitetail hunters who need extreme cold weather gear.

They really believe in a holistic layering system, with each item complementing the one underneath it to provide the complete outdoor clothing package to keep you hunting no matter the conditions.

Gore's Optifade

Sitka gear incorporates all of the latest Gore high tech membranes and also the latest Gore camouflage systems – their Optifade Concealment.

Originally designed for the military, Gore call this “The Science of Nothing”. They have combined the macro and micro patterns of the animal kingdom’s alpha predators to make hunters look like nothing – instead of something. Traditional types of camo rely on mimicry - they are trying to make you look like a tree, or a rock, or some other part of your surroundings. In the words of Gore: “No one can disagree that today’s photorealistic reproductions of sticks and leaves is mindboggling, but are we boggling the right minds??? After all, mimicry type camo is the evolutionary approach of prey to hide from predators, not the other way round. Prey animals scan their world quickly looking for threats in the form of anomalies in the fractal array. As long as none are detected, no threat is perceived and they are not alarmed. Prey animals like deer etc are also dichromats. Their colour vision differs dramatically from ours. Additionally their visual acuity is diminished as an evolutionary trade off for their wide fi eld of view. They cannot resolve the detail that we humans can.  Optifade is trying to make you disappear altogether, breaking you up completely until you look like nothing. Traditional mimicry camos work best at a designated distance, and beyond this they tend to block up into a solid mass of grey in the eyes of your prey. This effect is called insoluminance.”

GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Concealment incorporates a…

» Micro-pattern of small fragmented shapes that consider the way ungulates (deer etc) perceive color and space, making you fade into the background – the same way a leopard’s spots help it evade detection while poised to ambush.
» Macro-pattern of large fragmented shapes that break up the  symmetry of the human body, making you unrecognizable as a predator – similar to the way a tiger’s stripes break up the shape of its body as it stalks prey.

Sitka have two different versions of Optifade on their products, Open Country and Forest. These are pretty self explanatory about where they are designed to be used.

The Sitka System

Sitka have products in the usual three categories – A base/wicking layer, a mid/insulation layer, and the outer shell/protection layer - nothing new here. But then they also have another four layer types between the mid layer and outer shell – they call them Mobility, Insulation, Weather Resistant and Windproof.

Core

Sitka use Merino as their highest spec base layer, due to its high heat/weight ratio, warmth when wet, wicking capabilities and natural odour resistance. They also have a 100% polyester version with ATB 100 Silver encapsulating odour control technology for the extreme lightweight situations. Both types are available in T and zip tops, and boxer and long john bottoms.

Mid

Next they have their Traverse mid layer in top and bottoms, which consists of a range of super stretch polyester knits with a tight woven jersey face and a micro fleece backer.

Mobility

On top of this comes their Ascent mobility layer which consists of a high count stretch polyester weave with a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) finish. The jackets and pants are fully fitted and appointed with pockets, zips, etc. Also they have the Mountain Pant with an integral low profi le webbing belt, scuff panels and removable knee pads. Further to this is the Timberline with waterproof breathable dry seat and knees.

Insulation

Then there’s the Kelvin insulation layer utilising a synthetic material called PrimaLoft, available in vest, jacket and pants.

Weather Resistant

Followed by their Weather Resistant Contrail shirt and 90% jacket and pants.

Windproof

Next is the Windproof Jetstream jacket and vest.

Shell/Protection

Finally they have the outer shell layers – the lightweight Gore-Tex Stormfront and the insulated Gore-Tex Coldfront jacket and pants. There is also a lightweight Stormfront Lite version jacket and pants.

Headwear

On top they have a JetStream hat and beanie made of WindStopper, a Traverse micro fleece beanie and balaclava, and a cap made from the same fabric as the Ascent series.

Gloves

For your hands they have Gore-Tex, WindStopper and micro fleece, as well as Core and Merino gloves.

Necessities

In the accessory line which they call necessities they have gaiters, suspenders and a Bino Bivy.

Packs

To complete their line they have seven different sized packs, ranging from a 13 litre bumbag up to the 73 litre Bivy 45. This last has many pockets, compression straps, a quick release bow harness, expandable main compartment, quick detachable rain cover and many other features. Like most US packs, at 2.8 kgs it weighs more than a simple one compartment tramping type pack of this size, but it has way, way more features.

All the above are in their Open Country line and therefore in Optifade Open Country camo. They also have their Forest line which is largely designed around the tree stand Whitetail hunter needing extreme cold weather gear for long periods of inactivity in freezing temperatures. There are extra layer and shell types in this line, some offering Gore-Tex protected down insulation and with different construction designed to give you quiet mobility to shoot your bow in a tree stand. They also have more heavily insulated gloves. Some of this line won’t be that applicable to NZ hunting situations.

In The Field

The Safari Supply Co are the NZ distributers for Sitka Gear, and they sent me a range of gear to test on up and coming hunting trips. We were supplied with a Merino Zip T core, a Traverse Zip T shirt, Mountain and 90% pants, a Contrail wind shirt, a 90% jacket, a Kelvin jacket, a Stormfront coat, Stormfront Lite pants, a Jetstream Beanie, Sitka cap and Bivy 45 pack. Our NZ Hunter Precision Rifle’s team of Ian, Norm and I who were going to be on our stand at the Tahr Show went hunting for the week instead. Kevin Milne joined us and we took all the Sitka gear along for some serious field testing. As this was the week following  Canterbury’s first big snow fall, the heavy snow level on the lower feed slopes meant the tahr were confined to the bluffs higher up. I’d told the guys we wouldn’t have to climb too far as the tahr would come down in the evening but unfortunately that wasn’t the case!

On the first morning I spotted a reasonable looking bull high across the valley from us in the vicinity of two other bulls and a group of nannies. While not actually attending the nannies, it was pleasing to see the bulls were still in the same area. The more we looked at him through the spotter, the more I thought he looked like he could go 12 inches, so we decided to climb and get a closer look. It took us till late afternoon to climb to a position where we could better evaluate him, where we quickly decided with his width and nice sweep he would easily go 12.

After a great shot with his 338 Lunatic, Norm knocked him off the top of the rocks and out of our sight. As things were starting to turn icy we retreated and left the retrieve until the following day. The next morning we left Ian down below with a radio to guide us as things often look different once you get up there, and began the climb. By midday we had to leave Elsa the dog behind as it was getting tricky. She was amazingly capable in the steep stuff and her claws got grip where we had to chop footholds, but if it iced up while we were up there, she would become a serious liability. Finally I hit the top just from across where Norm’s bull had disappeared to then spy a tumbling blood trail coming from the top right back down the snow gutter past us and disappearing way down out of sight below. I called Norm on the radio and he was able to sidle round into the gutter lower down where it flattened off a bit and sure enough, there was his bull - 1300 feet below us - we had risked life and limb for nothing!  Norm’s bull went 12 ½ inches with 8 ½ inch bases – not bad for your first tahr!

We spent the rest of the trip looking for a bull for Ian but although we found plenty of 11’s and 11.5’s, there were none I could be sure would go 12 inches. On the last day Ian shot a nanny for meat that was the long shot for the trip, giving him a set of horns for the competition at the Tahr Show next year.

Conclusion

So how did the Sitka Gear stack up?

Pretty damn good I have to say. The Merino base layer did exactly what any quality Merino layer would do – it was warm, wicked pretty quickly, and didn’t smell at all after 4 days of strenuous climbing. The Traverse Zip T is certainly a quality micro fleece layer with an outer surface that didn’t pick up burrs etc. The 90% top was great for moderate exercise in the cold, but too hot for a serious sweat up. To be fair this is how I find any windblock type fl eece. The Contrail wind shirt weighed nothing but stopped all the wind after you’d finished the climb, eliminating that chilling effect of evaporating sweat. Once you’d cooled down and had settled in for a serious glassing session, the Kelvin insulated jacket in this situation replaced where I would usually have used a down jacket. Being synthetic it is a little heavier than down (663gms verses 425gms for my 800 loft down jacket), but would still be warm when wet – unlike down!

I was really impressed with the mountain pants. These were the best cut hunting trousers I’ve tried, and really comfortable to wear. They have an excellent built in belt system, and a sticky rubbery layer inside the waist band that stops your shirts etc from coming untucked. The knee pads were far from a gimmick and actually superb for protecting my much abused knees while kneeling on rock etc while peering through the spotter. The only thing they lacked was the dry seat, but of course the Timberline pants have this so that’s the trousers I’ll be ordering! We never had any rain down south until the drive out, so the shell layers didn’t get a wet weather test until a week later back in the Kaimanawas. 

We got caught in the next good southerly blast of the winter and spent most of Sunday in falling snow and sleet. In these conditions the 90% pants under the Stormfront Lite leggings worked superbly. With full length leg zips, it was easy to put the leggings on when the blizzard hit. The Stormfront Jacket is really light and comfortable, and certainly kept the rain out. I would normally prefer a longer length rain parka and not bother with waterproof leggings, but that’s not the American way. Most of them carry leggings, so there’s no point having the extra bulk and weight of a full length Parka. And when you consider the Jacket at 595gms and the leggings at 425gms both together only weigh about the same or less than our big name NZ made parkas, there is some merit to that argument. They are not soft outer layer bush stalking rain wear by any means, but when its really raining I find noise less of an issue anyway.

The Jetstream beanie was really comfortable and warm, without that too tight feeling that a lot of the other wind block beanies have. I also liked the fit and warmth of the cap. The gloves were ok but I far prefer mittens with separate liners. They are easier to get on and off, and are warmer too - something for Sitka to add to their line in the future. The Bivy 45 pack certainly has a pocket for everything, and once you’ve figured out a system of where you’re going to put things, you should never lose anything again! It is quite a useful size that can be your main pack on a weekend or a bit longer trip and then a very comprehensive day pack once you’re there.

A lot of thought has gone in to this Sitka gear, providing light weight performance products for the demanding hunter. I will say that the majority of their outer fabrics aren’t as quiet in the bush as straight polar fl eece, but they also don’t pick up hook grass seeds etc like polar fleece does. The Optifade camo is an interesting concept that certainly appears innovative. Unfortunately photos don’t do it justice somehow. We found when looking around at whoever was wearing Optifade clothing that in some situations it did actually make you disappear. You tended to look right past them. Now our eyes aren’t the same as a deer’s and the colours did seem too light for a lot of our terrain - especially in the North Island - but there is certainly more to this than meets the eye.

Sitka gear is aimed at the top of the range, and it is certainly priced accordingly. Some of the labels on the clothing say made in China, so it looks like you can get quality products out of that  country if you’re prepared to pay accordingly. I don’t think many Kiwi hunters are going to rush out and buy a complete Sitka outfit, but there are certain pieces of gear not available elsewhere in New Zealand that some hunters will add to their kit. Then if the gear stacks up, they’ll add more in the future as they can afford it. I know the Timberline pants, Stormfront leggings, and that little Jetstream beanie are going to be on my wish list!

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