Sitka selection opinions
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: rooster
09-Jan-23
My wife and kids bought me some Sitka gear for Christmas. The items they chose are not what I would order for myself, and they are good with me exchanging those items for something better suited to my type of hunting. I live and hunt mostly in NW Ohio where average low temperatures through the bow season run from 40 degrees in October down to 15 degrees in January. I hunt mostly from tree stands and walk into my sets which can be up to a 1/2-mile hike. I will say that I am most familiar with the Fanatic system and lean slightly in that direction but I'm hoping that the Sitka users here can steer me into the right choice. I'm asking about outer layers only as I have plenty of quality layering items. Thanks for your help.
From: Pat Lefemine
09-Jan-23
Marc, I’m in NE Ohio hunting right now, I have not used my Fanatic stuff yet. I’ve been wearing Stratus all season from 20-50 degrees.
I would recommend the Stratus bibs, Stratus jacket. Stratus vest, and Stratus cap. I think you’ll get more use for this system in Ohio vs the Fanatic.
From: greg simon
09-Jan-23
I agree with Pat. The fanatic set is great but I use my stratus more.
From: midwest
09-Jan-23
How are the Stratus bibs with burrs. Is it a fleece like material?
From: Pat Lefemine
09-Jan-23
Yeah, it's a tight fleece. Not bad with burrs at all. I tuck my Stratus bibs into my rubber boots and haven't had a burr problem yet. But they will pick up stickers when going through waist-high CRP. But then again, just about everything else will too.
From: rooster
09-Jan-23
Thanks fellas, this is just what I was asking for. I want to be able to get the most use out of whatever I decide upon.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
09-Jan-23
Pat do you throw a fanatic hoodie on when your down to 20 or just the stratus vest?
From: Pat Lefemine
09-Jan-23
Unless it's over 55, I'm always wearing my Fanatic Hoody baselayer. Tonight was 28, I was wearing the Fanatic Hoody baselayer, an Ambient hoody mid-layer, and the stratus jacket.
For pants I was wearing sitka baselayer bottoms, and Stratus Bibs. I could have easily replaced the ambient hoody with the Stratus vest. I'm walking a bit to my stand so I like using the ambient hoody and then packing my Stratus.
From: Lone Wolf
09-Jan-23
Fanatic hoody might be my favorite sitka piece
From: 'Ike'
10-Jan-23
Interesting....Another for the Fanatic Hoodie! Kind of one of those all-around pieces to have....
From: Grey Ghost
10-Jan-23
I just have one season in my new Status jacket and pants, and I'm convinced it will be the best late season outfit I've ever owned. My old Cabelas wool outfit will probably get retired. I wish the Stratus had knee and seat reinforcements, but that's my only minor complaint. I'd buy a size larger than you normally wear just for a little extra layering room.
Matt
From: rooster
15-Jan-23
I went up to our local Cabela's to try on the Stratus stuff. Having always been a large on top and medium bottoms guy, that's where I started. The large jacket fit very well, not too snug or loose should be able to get my layers on without too much bulk. Since Cabela's didn't have the Stratus bibs, I tried the pants. The mediums were too snug and the large were loose enough that I might need suspenders but, I figured the bibs would solve that issue. For reference, I tried on the Fanatic bibs and those kind of confirmed my thoughts. For those who have tried both Stratus and Fanatic bibs is there any real difference in fit? I could tell that the Fanatic series would be way to warm for the majority of my hunting.
From: Scrappy
15-Jan-23
Food for thought, when it's not cold enough for the fanatic set you can hunt in anything. But when it's cold and you need the fanatic set just anything won't work. I would never choose the stratus over my fanatic. If I had to choose one or the other.