Gear Talk

SITKA has unlocked a new category of hunting footwear with the Ascent line, designing and building it to be the best lightweight hunting shoes on the market. They combine the stability, support, and off-trail traction of a hunting or hiking boot with the lightweight, breathable comfort of a fast-moving trail runner.

A single tick bite can do a lot more than ruin your day afield. Meet the gear built to keep bugs and sun off your skin.

Why would a hunting brand move into fly fishing? The same reason SITKA started in 2005: gaps nobody else was closing.

John Dudley tested this gear from September to season's close. Here's his skin-to-shell layering system for the coldest sits.

A whitetail deer has 297 million scent receptors. Humans have 5 million. Here's how to close the gap.

Find out the 8 pieces of gear that can handle any hunt, from desert heat to alpine blizzards.

Not sure whether to run a turkey vest or tool belt? Get the side-by-side breakdown of when each one wins.

Hunters once camoed up in red and black buffalo plaid. Here's how camo evolved into science-backed patterns like Optifade.

Chris Bee says if he had one setup for all fall, it'd be this. See why the Fanatic system is built for the rut.

Chris Bee breaks down his whitetail system season by season, from 80-degree early sits to sub-30 degree late-season cold.

Call less than you think, especially on pressured birds. Get all 10 turkey hunting tactics that actually move the needle.

Baselayer, mid layer, outer shell: get the complete duck hunting layering system, from blind bag essentials to wader tips.

SITKA released thousands of mosquitoes onto a blood-filled swatch to lab test Equinox Guard. See what stopped them cold.

Swap oversized totes for clear, labeled bins and a drawer cart, and you'll stop digging through gear the night before a hunt.

John Barklow and Adam Foss went full cold-water immersion, then timed how fast SITKA's Hyperdown system brought them back.

Bootfoot, neoprene, breathable: get the pros and cons of all 6 wader styles before you pick your next pair.

Ditch your boots, widen your stance, learn to freeze on cue: 5 tactics for closing the last 50 yards undetected.

Chest, waist, inseam, feet: get the exact measurements to nail your wader size before you order the wrong one.

A hunting photographer spending 100+ days a year in B.C. backcountry breaks down the system that gets him through nasty fall.

A GORE engineer breaks down the trade-offs built into every Windstopper fabric, and how to pick the right one for your hunt.

Deer rely on movement and silhouette, not color, to spot you. Get the full camo and layering system that keeps you hidden.

Base, insulating, outer: the science behind every layer, plus why 'be bold, go cold' beats overdressing on the move.

From scent control to shot placement, get 8 tips for turning a spring bear hunt into meat in the freezer.

Merino wool, fleece, or just jeans? Find the right baselayer combo to stay warm without overheating in bibs.

Waders keep you dry to the chest, bibs keep you mobile and warm. Get the breakdown on which one your next hunt needs.

Hunting participation is up 26% since 2016. Get the complete beginner's guide, from gear to licenses to finding a mentor.

Bowhunter Adam Foss breaks down his full sheep-hunting kit, piece by piece, and why his system keeps evolving.

Steven Drake spends 100+ days a year living out of his truck. Get the full tour of his hunting rig and setup tips.

David Halloran breaks down every pocket of his turkey vest, from pot calls to backup strikers. Get his full loadout.

Deer may not see your blaze orange the way you think. Here's what their eyes actually pick up on.

Elk key on movement and contrast, not color, so breaking up your outline matters more than matching the terrain underfoot.

Blaze orange gets credit for hunter safety. Socks deserve some too, staving off the blisters that end hunts early.

Hypothermia and frostbite are real risks in the field. Get the three-layer system built to keep hunters warm and focused.

Deer are red-green colorblind and process motion twice as fast as humans. See how OPTIFADE camo is built around their vision.

A UGA vision researcher helped SITKA reverse-engineer camo colors from how deer and turkeys actually perceive light.

Beau Brooks hunts turkeys across 15 states each spring. See why staying light and mobile is his whole game.

Beau Brooks walks through the Turkey Tool Belt, built to keep you nimble when a boss gobbler sounds off two ridges over.

Get step-by-step tips for keeping your waders clean, waterproof, and breathable season after season.

John Barklow breaks down the Aerolite Collection, a 100% waterproof GORE-TEX system built for the coldest hunts.

Connor Gabbott shares the gear that's survived his harshest late-season hunts in coastal BC's February cold.

Chris Derrick breaks down his whitetail kit, from breathable early-season layers to the warmest gear for all-day sits.

Beau Martonik breaks down his 5 must-have whitetail pieces and exactly when he reaches for each one.

SITKA's customer service lead Hayden breaks down which wader repairs you can DIY, and which need the pro Repair team.

Beau Martonik shares his trick for reaching the stand dry, because breaking a sweat on the walk in guarantees a cold sit.

Mountain Evo or Jetstream? John Barklow breaks down features and best-use conditions to match the jacket to your hunt.

Steven Drake breaks down SITKA's full big game pant lineup, from knee pads to weight, so you can match one to your hunt.

Subalpine or Elevated II? Beau Martonik breaks down when to wear each pattern based on terrain, foliage, and your stand.

Merino or synthetic? John Barklow and Chris Derrick break down the real differences to help you pick the right baselayer.

John Barklow compares the new Mountain Evo Jacket to the classic Jetstream, both 100% windproof, to help you pick.

SITKA Ambassador Beau Brooks breaks down calling techniques and regional strategies that'll change how you talk to turkeys.

An Olympic archer's tricks for tighter groups at distance: smaller peeps, lighter arrows, a locked-in follow-through.

SITKA ambassadors share their worst-weather hunts, from a -22F Iowa treestand to a snowstorm packing out two Stone's sheep.

SITKA built camouflage around how animals see, not how hunters wanted to look, and called it something else entirely.

Full waterproofing or max breathability? Learn the difference between GORE-TEX and WINDSTOPPER to pick the right layer.

Even the best gear takes a hit from the wild. Learn how the SITKA Depot keeps your kit in the field season after season.

A veteran whitetail guide breaks down his silent-gear system, right down to taping his stand and harness with hockey tape.

From decoy touch-ups to washing your GORE-TEX (yes, really), here's how to use the off-season to get your gear ready.

An overweight bag forced a 12-pound cut in an airport hangar, fast. Get the tricks for packing a lighter kit.

From conditioning stones to Scotch-Brite pads, learn how to maintain glass, slate, aluminum, and box calls all season.

Clean, lube and lock down every part of your bow, from cam bearings to release, with this off-season checklist.

John Barklow breaks down why a backcountry clothing system needs every layer working in harmony, not piled on at random.

Chasing tighter groups? A precision reloader shares five habits, from patience to weighing powder by the kernel.

From the one-arrow drill to filling pin gaps, a pro archer shares four practice habits that translate to the field.

From a one-ounce backup headlamp to a $20 bill, a veteran backpack hunter shares the small gear that's saved his hunts.

Birds see a color spectrum we can't. See how SITKA used bird vision science to build a more concealing white for snow geese.

Stuck trucks and wet fields pushed one goose crew to ditch the trailer for a lightweight cart built for four hunters.

Outdoor writer Bryan Rogala put SITKA's mountain pant and pack through elk season and called them the best gear he owns.

An in depth guide to all things reloading with SITKA Ambassador, Randy Newberg. Everything from bullet and powder selection to seating depth to develop the perfect elk load.

Photographer Steven Drake breaks down Lightroom presets, IG export settings, and how to nail a hyperlapse from shot to edit.

SITKA ambassadors share the small comforts, from spare contacts to a camp chair, that keep them sharp on a long hunt.

SITKA engineers tested fabric in a subzero chamber to build the quietest whitetail jacket yet, cutting draw noise in half.

SITKA's CS team answers the top questions on baselayers, insulation, and outerwear so you can dial in your system.