Deep in the wilderness is not the time to find out your hunting clothes don’t meet your expectations. A technical clothing system for the backcountry hunter must be versatile, lightweight, and capable of keeping you warm and dry. Dynamic mountain weather and remote locations do not treat the unprepared hunter kindly. Whether you're living in a desert, coastal forests, or high above tree line, the clothing system you build must perform.
Built correctly, a technical clothing system will effectively manage moisture and dry quickly, helping to regulate body temperature, keeping you focused. It's not enough to randomly add layers of clothing on top of one another and expect high performance. Technical clothing should work harmoniously, utilizing fabrics, constructions, different weights, and the fit to create a system that becomes unnoticeable to the wearer. Every layer in a SITKA clothing system has its part to play.
BASELAYERS
Core Lightweight Hoodie & Bottom
A base layer is the foundation of all clothing systems. This layer helps manage body temperature year-round, no matter the season or weather. Wear this layer as a stand-alone shirt in hot weather, then layer over the top as temperatures begin to plummet. The efficient transport of moisture assures comfort no matter the system or pursuit.
SOFTSHELL PANT
Ascent Pant
A softshell hunting pant is your first line of defense against abrasion and the elements. Our Ascent Pant is lightweight and breathable and will keep you cool and dry for those hot days charging in the mountains. Advanced 4-way stretch synthetic blend moves with the hunter and stands up to heavy abrasion in the scrub and scree. Mesh-backed pockets deliver extra ventilation, and an internal mesh knee pad pocket provides added protection when field dressing an animal.
INSULATING MIDLAYER
Ambient 100 Hooded Jacket
The Ambient is everything we like in a mid-layer insulation piece — versatile, packable and durable, but adapts to changing weather conditions and levels of activity. Utilizing low-bulk PrimaLoft® Evolve active insulation, this half-zip pullover hoodie delivers plenty of warmth when you’re still, breathes well and manages moisture in active situations and dries quickly if it gets wet. This techni- cal hoodie is ideal under a shell during cold weather hunts, on its own during brisk spring and fall evenings in camp, or tossed into your pack for summertime backpacking trips into the high country.
WINDPROOF JACKET
Jetstream Jacket
This crucial outer layer blocks heat-robbing wind is vital to staying warm. A Windstopper jacket becomes a force multiplier, limiting convective cooling yet is breathable enough to manage moisture during active pursuits in cool weather. Often a Windstopper top is enough for warmth without adding additional bulk to the system. A Windstopper jacket provides immense efficiency by blocking wind and shedding light precipitation, reducing the time and effort required to stop and change layers.
STATIC INSULATION
Kelvin Aerolite Jacket
A puffy jacket is an essential part of any clothing arsenal, no matter the season. The lofted insulation traps heat as it radiates from the body, helping conserve energy and keeping our minds focused on the task. Applied when glassing, eating, or hanging around camp, the static insulation of a puffy jacket traps precious body heat critical for warmth and comfort.
Kelvin Aerolite Jacket
Compressible synthetic insulation that excels in inclement conditions.
Shop NowRAIN GEAR
Dew Point Jacket & Pant
GORE-TEX hunting rain jackets and pants are a mandatory layer when getting hammered by an afternoon squall on an exposed ridge or navigating back to camp in a blinding snowstorm. Waterproof breathable rain gear manages moisture and keeps you dry in the worst weather, allowing you to depart the wild on your terms. Rain gear should have a place in all backcountry hunter's packs as insurance against harsh conditions.
A technical clothing system is capable of exceptional performance. It's crucial to understand the individual components that create a holistic, skin-to-shell layering system. Having confidence that your system will perform as prescribed–whether you’re deer hunting, sheep hunting, or duck hunting–provides a margin of safety and assurance, allowing you to focus more on the hunt and less on the forecast.
