When Sitka started their 40% off sale which got them down into the only ridiculously outrageous range, I bought the incinerator bibs ($750) and hyperdown coat ($550). Together at retail $1300. Who would pay this??? With the 40% discount, $780, it was still ridiculous, but I paid it. I couldn't find the incinerator jacket in my size, so I went with the puffy jacket. I've had this stuff for about 3 weeks now. I got it right after deer season ended (so much for timing).
I'm the guy who is always getting down from his tree perch after an hour in 30 degree weather (40 if the wind is blowing good) because my feet/hands are frozen and I'm literally shivering. If it's less than 40, I'm looking for a shooting house with windows, ladder stands are off limits. I generally wear expedition long underwear, fleece lined pants, Cabela Dry Plus jacket/pants and I still get miserable if I am quietly sitting, not to mention I look like Randy from Christmas Story.
Today, 1/31/26, 10 am, no sun, there is snow on the ground, it's still snowing some, coming in sideways no less, it's 17.4 degrees, wind averaging 8 mph with 16 mph gusts, 60% humidity, and a wind chill of single digits to zero according to my Kestrel. I figgered today was a good time to test this fancy pants gear and see if I got ripped off.
I donned a pair of fleece lined blue jeans, Wranger, I think, a t shirt, a lightweight hoodie (about the thickness of a thin sweatshirt, an ankle high pair of Thorlo wool hiking socks, my Woody Max Muck boots, a winter weight fleece baclava face mask, some heavy weight fleece gloves, and my shiny new bibs/puffy coat and outside I went to my shooting bench and I sat down in a folding chair with plastic seat/back. I got still and waited for the cold to steep in.
After 10 minutes, my fingers started feeling the cold but not uncomfortable. After 30 minutes my butt and back, where the chair was compressing the down, started feeling cold. My toes were just starting to feel the cold. I moved 200 yds to another chair with an academy hunting seat pad and sat down again. By now my back/butt were warm again. I didn't lean back in this chair so my back stayed warm. The pad insulated my butt. The wind was blowing my neighbor's 3x5 American flag proudly straight out and if I looked directly into the wind, the cold would hurt my eyes. Yet I was still warm and my core was happy. I sat for another 30 minutes until my toes, now the weak link, began to get cold, but I could have sat for another hour at least until they were complaining. This Sh*t works!
The construction of the bibs is outstanding. Pockets and zippers are appropriately placed. The last 8" or so in the leg don't have insulation as they are apparently designed to be tucked in your boots. It's a tight fit into my Mucks which are narrow. I am vertically challenged and of trim stature and was surprised to find the bibs cut to my frame quite well (after hemming 4" off the bottom). I'm a small, 31w, 38 chest and the medium bibs fit good. The jacket is a M and I do have some extra room in the jacket. There is plenty of room for a heated vest and/or a heavy sweater.
The puffy jacket doesn't look like it would be warm. It weighs nothing. However once zipped and the bottom/hood tightened to the right fit, it is amazingly warm. With the 15 mph gusts, I could feel some wind coming through the sleeves, but I never felt cold. This isn't a jacket you want to walk through briars with as the fabric is definitely not bramble-proof. If you shoot a deer and it runs into the thickest stuff around which they ALWAYS do, you will want to take this investment off before chasing your prize.
I spent an hour outside and could have easily spent another hour out before my toes got cold/numb. My hands could stay comfortable with a battery or chemical heat pack. If I can keep my feet warm or move around, I could stay warm all day.
Bottom line, is the Sitka gear worth it? Well, it's going to allow me to hunt better locations in the cold and stay comfortable much longer. So yeah, it's a good investment for me (at 40% off). I wish I had bought it years ago.
Now I need to find some warm boots. What you guys think about the Sorrel Caribou? Do alpaca socks really work.
