Both companies do a good job with their patterns, but they focus too much on big game hunting. Merino wool is well known for its warming properties. Along with other materials and the thermoregulation with the 37.5 technology, First Lite products excel at keeping you warm. The use of gore texas well as the other materials used gives them an advantage. I’ve just put in a hard season with the Sitka jetstream as my main jacket, and it withstood the elements very well.
With good success i mean here in MS it doesn’t get too cold but being as humid as it is, it feels cold as hell. Last year i hunted on two occasions where i was freezing even with two base layers plus the Kryptek stuff. Those days were exceptionally cold for MS though. The fanatic hoodie and the Stratus jacket. It’s made for pretty much stand hunting only.
Table of Contents
Patterns
We are not looking at the outright cost of the product here but more looking at what you get for the price paid. Technology is an interesting part of hunting outfits and one the is often overlooked. As we see, the material is the main deciding factor in the weight of the product, and overall, Sitka uses more lighter-weight materials than First Lite. Sitka’s core lightweight weighs 5.1 ounces and is made from polyester. Both companies use anatomical shaping for fitting, which articulates the elbow, knee areas. First litebegan their product line by looking at works in other industries like skiing, biking, and climbing.
I think first lite base layers are better and sitka gear is laid out better than first lite. I have the solitude bibs and jacket with furnace top and bottoms and lightweight top and bottoms. Have amazing outer layers and their gear is the best late-season solution. Their gear generally focuses on stand hunting and tough, weather-resistant outerwear. The Stratus and Fanatic line use OptiFade camo patterns to blend in and are extremely silent. I used to be a tree stand only hunter in the Midwest, but I moved out west and do backpack spot and stalk hunting in the mountains.
Tectonic Daytime Deadfall Deer Feeder: First Look
Features like articulated paneling, removable knee pads, and reinforced stress zones make these pants flexible and durable. As you can see, both of these brands have roughly comparable performance, so that brings it down to whichever one offers more value for money. First Lite’s prices tend to be about 10% to 20% cheaper than those of Sitka, so you end up getting a better deal with their gear. Once again, since both companies use DWR in their products, you’ll be able to lie down on snow without it melting and making its way through your clothing.
For glassing or true cold, I carry a SuperDown jacket and pants and also have the Chugach NX for rain. For base layers i have Kuiu merino; a 3/4 zip long sleeve and the zip-off bottoms. IMO both of these brands are expensive overkill for treestand hunting. These brands of clothing are designed more for backcountry hunting performance, harsh conditions while you are moving and exerting yourself. Spend your money how you like, obviously, I just think it’s overkill.
Durability: First Lite vs Sitka
TBH, I probably never would’ve gotten into Kuiu if I would’ve been okay paying the premium for the Sitka rain gear. But when I needed rain gear, Kuiu had a sale running and, because the rain gear worked so well and was so light, I’ve pretty much surfed their sales into a full set. The upside is the materials and low weight. The only downside is that Kuiu and I don’t agree on things like pocket design and placement, but I’ve made my peace with it. You will find the Fanatic Jacket is the heaviest of the lot, weighing over 46 pounds. It is made of jacquard fleece and is the softest and quietest of the lot.
While some of their gear leans on the heavy side, their Stalker camo hunting pants are surprisingly light. As I pointed out before, if you’re into stalk hunting as a whole, getting a Kryptek set will not cost you a fortune and it will be a blast to hunt in. A pair of Alaios pants is great for early spring hunting for example. But the big boss here is the Tartaros camo hoodie – warm, durable and not expensive at all. The secret lies in their newer Merino X tech.
EP209 CHECKLIST To Get Your Spots Ready For Deer Season
Later in the morning, after covering my bibs with my standard Fanatic Lite Jacket, I spooked a doe and fawn by simply rubbing my sleeve against the tree. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. The Fanatic Pack is comfortable and rides extremely easy. The adjustable straps are functional, and the Berber fleece adds an appreciated element of hush.The Fanatic Pack looks and feels like a pillow on your back. It’s quiet in the stand and provides adequate storage for all of your gear.
It’s a nice garment and works well for the two or three cold days we get down here. I don’t regret buying it, but I could get something similar- not the same- at Academy. The grey in the fanatic series from sitka has a really blue hue to it. Most people agree deer see vlue really well. From the snow-capped Rockies to the hardwoods of the Midwest, one doesn’t have to look hard to find bowhunters wearing Sitka apparel.
First Lite Seak Vs Sitka
Juju is great, but they don’t really have a dog in the right when it comes to late season warm bibs like Marty is referring to. Marty, I’m sure you’ve googled it,; but there’s no shortage of discussion out there on this very topic. Today merino is still at the heart of their operation; while they have many products that don’t feature merino, they are most famed for their use of merino in hunting clothes.
Sitka uses form fit technology and Gore-Tex stretch technology on their products, which I am really impressed with. The sleeves on the jack fit perfectly and never ride up my arms. When it comes down to it, I would argue that Sitka has better fitting clothes, at least in my opinion. Alex Templeton didn’t know if her buck had made it through rifle season. She’d been watching him for nearly two years at that point, seeing him mature over the years on trail camera photos from her family’s Missouri farm.
Roundup: Sitka vs First Lite vs Kryptek Outdoor Gear
I personally wear the Fanatic Lite jacket and bib with a Stratus vest when it gets cold up here, however, I tend to run hot. The new versions of both the Stratus and Fanatic are much quieter than their predecessor. Andrews1958; Oct 13, 2017; Replies 12 Views 17K. With 2 layers of waterproof, polyester-woven lining, this is the warmest deal and the most expensive one too. It keeps you stealthy and dry and makes sure that you do not have hindrance in movement or bow clearance.
The bibs are not here yet and I have not used the fanatic stuff yet either…. I got the sanctuary bibs because of stick ums walking in….the fanatic is fleece the sanctuary is not. While Sitka does excellent in wind and rain, First Lite fair better in breathability. The use of merino and their 37.5 technology allows the hunter to stay warm when needed and cool when needed. This is due to the excellent breathability created with this technology.
My Gear
Whether an early season piece or already insulated this garment fits to prevent inefficiencies in heat retention caused by dead space. Due to Affirm’s lending policy, some products on our site may be ineligible for financing. All available payment options for your cart will be displayed at checkout. I love all three and own several pieces from each company. I wouldn’t just stick with one brand because you’d be missing out on some great gear.
Warmth
Considering First Lite built most of their collection around the use of merino wool, it tends to leave a lot of their products a little on the heavier side. How I hunt, there is absolutely no use for equipment that you need to be careful with. Durability is a huge consideration when I’m purchasing my hunting gear, especially with the high price tags some of these products come with. Then of course Sitka does just about everything well. They don’t use as much merino wool as the other two and I’m kind of a fanatic with that stuff but they are still awesome. The downside of Sitka is the pricing, it is quite a bit more on average than the other two but there are discounts to be had late fall and early spring.
English 
Romanian