Stand Clothing?
Whitetail Deer
Contributors to this thread:
I'm shopping for some new clothing and want some opinions, particularly jackets. I mainly stand hunt Midwest whitetails. I want something that will keep me warm on all day sits in November but doesn't hinder my ability to draw and shoot my bow. Something waterproof to keep the rain and snow out is a great bonus. I tried on a Sitka Duck Oven jacket over the weekend. I know its designed for waterfowl but man it was nice! The nylon shell was a little noisy though. Any suggestions for a Sitka jacket that will meet my previously mentioned needs? Any other brands or model recommendations? Thanks,
I wear a thin synthetic turtle neck that wicks moisture, followed by a thin fleece turtleneck with a wind shear vest. Keeps me warm and doesn’t interfere with the shot because there isn’t anything bulky. I also wear a waist muff that I throw a couple hot hands in if needed. I hate to be cold and I rarely am with this.
Lee
I have no experience with the Sitka jackets, although the Finatic line gets great reviews. I have the First Lite Woodbury jacket which I absolutely love, it is plenty warm and not too bulky.
Yeah I think I'm going to invest in a turtleneck. They make a lot of sense.
Define Midwest. Two turtlenecks and a vest isn't going to do much in my Midwest world where I will be sitting in sub zero temps.
That being said it's a good start. I have a Celsius jacket that I like but I am different than many. I don't like jackets with hoods. I also really like bibs and think they add warmth without restricting movement.
I have used Day One camo for 20 plus years for tree stand hunting.
You will have a tough time finding something that is waterproof and also silent. That is where layering comes in. Put a waterproof layer on when needed, when it is raining there is often enough noise to cover up the material noise. I like fleece or wool on stand.
Midwest = Indiana and Illinois. I too like wool like Ironbow mentioned. I love KOM wool and have worn it for years. I still wear the bibs but my trapper pullover is too tight across the chest and shoulders these days, not the belly...don't go there. lol. I'm going to continue with the KIM bibs, just needing a new top layer. I do have a set of Rivers West that I can incorporate in the rain I suppose. That said a good quiet, warm upper is more important than the waterproof aspect.
I really like my first lite sanctuary jacket & bibs. I also have used the IWOM suit with good results
I like my cabelas Berber fleece. It’s definitely warm. More bulky than Sitka but I’d cheaper. I got mine on sale and paid less for pants and jacket than a single piece of Sitka. I wear mine here in MI from November till January and add layers as needed.
JTV, you need some TreBark camo, you stand out like a sore........thumb. :-)
Cabelas Wooltimate Jacket, it is not waterproof but takes a lot to soak through. Buy one size up and layer. Great stuff! Shawn
Skookum - I live in central IL - it can get pretty dang cold - if I absolutely have to I’ll wear a wind shear fleece top with one of those sock armguatds to keep the sleeve bulk down. I will often wear a good pair of insulated bibs with the vest over it and layer up under my turtleneck. Wicking material on bottom, Arctic weight long john top and bottoms, under the turtleneck. I’ll walk in with the clothes strapped to my stand so I don’t sweat and layer up at the tree. I can hang in some dang cold weather in that as long as I have my hot hands. Killed a buck last year in 7 degree weather on the last day of season. I can’t stand to be bulky.
Lee
My only experience in the last 10 years is with Sitka layering which allows me to hunt the Midwest from early season until 1/20/19. All Sitka, all the time.
Staying comfortable in all weather allows staying out longer and focusing on the shot. Good luck this season.
I think you'd have a hard time beating the Fanatic jacket. I haven't worn all those brands mentioned on this thread, but I was having a hard time staying warm on cold November mornings, and through the late season.
First I tried to go cheaper. I bought the whole dang Cabelas Wooltimate line (pretty close anyways). I had the pullover with windshear. The vest (which I still wear from time to time), the jacket with the huge collar, and the Standhunter bibs. I was still cold. I could grit through November mornings, but late season I was freezing. And I sweat like a horse, so I had to pack all that crap in. It's HEAVY. I like the Wooltimate stuff, but it is super heavy to pack in
So a few years ago, I scrounged together all my birthday and Christmas gift cards, and splurged on the Sitka Fanatic Bibs and Jacket. I still have to layer underneath, but I've hunted down to -4 degrees with my system, and while I wasn't toasty warm at that temperature, I was comfortable enough to sit and sit still and hunt the late season.
I wear a couple layers of merino wool, a Gerbing heated vest, a Sitka Kelvin Jacket, and then my Fanatic jacket up top. I don't feel unduly restricted. Then on the bottom I wear a think merino bottom, a slightly thicker Cabelas polartec bottom, Sitka 90% pants, and then the Fanatic bibs.
Headwear and footwear is doubly important down in the single digits and below. I wear the Sitka hat with the ear muffs, and I wear uninsulated boots (again, I sweat), with Arctic Shield boot blankets. If it's windy, I wear a neck gaiter, which is HUGE for me
Day one, same set maybe 25 years bibs, parka and vest.
I like Sitka gear and wear it most of the time. They make a whitetail line that uses an outer shell that is quieter than the duck hunting line. If you have a Cabela's, Bass Pro, or Scheels near you they will probably have one you can look at and try on.
Coming from a north dakota and northern MN whitetail hunter, the FirstLite Sanctuary bibs and jacket are really really tough to beat imo!
Cabela's "Standhunter Extreme" is an awesome suit. Quiet and warm. And it gets cold up here in Manitoba, extremely cold.
IMHO, a single jackets will rarely suit all weather conditions without being somewhat bulky.
Personally I use "leafy wear" over various layers of clothing.
1. a wicking T shirt.
2. wool shirt.
3. fleece jacket or hoodie.
4. vest, either wool, or a wind breaker style.
5. a neck gaiter (importantant at my age) LOL
6. glove liners
* I use a rain jacket and pants I bought from Costco, (inexpensive) to put on if it begins to rain just so I won't get wet heading back to camp as I very rarely hunt in the rain.
If it is a misting rain or an intermittent shower, I might hunt and use the rain suit under the leafy wear.
The above combo has worked very well for me for many years.
Just me.
I’ll be putting the Sitka Incinerator jacket to the test this year. I don’t like those furry fleece versions that pick up every burr you brush up against and holds water as well.
Check out the ASAT line.... I use it and Predator... both work incredibly well
Mule Power...I LOVE the Incinerator. I prefer it to my Fanatic in most cases. Fanatic is quieter, but I prefer everything else about the Incinerator.
I love the firstlite sanctuary jacket and bibs as well!
I'm with JTV. Have had great luck and comfort with Predator Camo. Mine is all Brown Deception.
I only stand hunt during about a week of MN's rifle season. My stand is a lounger 20' off the ground, facing North, with trees behind me shielding me from any sun.
In front of me is an open swamp. In short I get everything bad and nothing good.
What makes it possible to do 5-6 hours is a Windbloc bag that I can pull up over my whole body. Deer are rare and you seldom see more than one buck in a week.
It's not nearly as cold as it was in my youth but the wind really gets to me.
Imo fall brown was Predators best color and pattern...too bad they dropped it. I have quite abit of fall grey but many times I think it's too light colored.
I took the plunge on used Sitka stuff and am very happy with it. The fanatic line is quieter than the waterfowl stuff.
The Cabelas Wooltimate line is good too.
I hunt CT - deer through Dec 31, occasionally the January season, and I hunt waterfowl through the end of the season in Feb or Mar.
Bought custom coveralls from Gray Wolf Woolens years ago. Added both the insulation and wind barrier.....pattern is Predator Fall Brown. Only wear them on stand and will likely last beyond my lifetime. Excellent cold weather outer layer.
That said, guess I heard too much rave on Bowsite regarding the First Lite combo of Woodbury jacket and Sanctuary bibs. Recently picked up a set (lucked into the ASAT pattern for both) and plan to put them to the test in a few weeks!
I also wear coveralls. The Cabellas insulated ones with Gore-Tex. They’re waterproof and wind proof and you can wear the jacket part down with the suspenders on while you walk in and unzip the legs so you don’t get hot.
There’s a reason most long distance snow machiners up herein Northern AK wear coveralls. They’re warmer than bibs and a jacket and keep blowing snow out of your clothes.