New Hunting Clothes | Sitka Clothing

By: Brandon Rapp 

With archery season here, you may find yourself like so many other hunters thinking more and more about getting some new gear. Of course, when you’re sitting on the beach or at a July 4th picnic you’re probably not thinking about base layers and systems for holding your body heat. You’ve forgotten about when last year’s buck smelled or spotted you, and even more about that single digit day with 10 inches of snow where you were never so happy to be back in the truck with the heat on full blast. Now though, with a few cooler days under our belt those memories have started to resurface as you walk by the racks at the store to kick the tires on this year’s threads.  

More than likely you’ve gone through several pieces from brands like Browning, Under Armour, and Sitka Gear. Some of it you’ve seen on hunting shows and in magazines so you know it works. Understandably a lot of people are surprised when they see the price of the garment. It’s just a jacket, or a pair of gloves how could it cost that much? 

Hunting is an all-around investment. You may not realize it because you’ve been hunting all of your life. You picked up a piece of clothing here and there so now you have a closet full. If you were to explain though to someone who wants to start hunting with no experience that is exactly what hunting is. It is obviously an investment of money in an initial purchase of clothing and weapons. Everyone hunts to be successful so you’re probably willing to spend enough to succeed at some point. It’s also an investment of time and effort. Maybe hanging a trail camera or planting a food plot could be part of investing that time and effort. Choosing how much time to spend hunting is also a consideration when you spend some of your time working and with family. Investing in your hunting clothes is no different.

Sticker Shock  

Most hunters would have no problem spending almost anything on a new rifle or a new bow, and it makes complete sense. It’s your biggest tool for success so why wouldn’t you have the best to give you the best chance to get the job done? Every year clothing companies are doing research to make better products that keep you from getting seen or smelled giving you the chance to use that new rifle or bow you bought with your hard-earned money.  

The sticker shock was tough for me to get past too but what I’ve found with higher quality hunting clothes from companies like Sitka Gear is what I’ve found when I spent the money on a quality rifle, it works and it lasts. I’m taking my gear from chasing bear high up in the Sproul State Forest to whitetails in the Skippack Creek bottoms north of Philadelphia. It gets annoying when you find you’re leaving parts and pieces of your hunting clothes all over only to have to replace them every year. For me, it made sense to get familiar with the companies that make tough comfortable gear that will keep me hidden, scent free, warm or even cool when I need it to be.  

A good way to start without spending a ton of money is buying a hat, pair of gloves or even a vest. This way you can get a glimpse as to what one of these clothing manufacturers can offer you in the way of quality for some of their other gear. A lot of these garments will have a different fit or feel depending on the company’s philosophy and group of hunters they consider their target audience.  

When it comes to our hunting gear so many of us try to buy the best equipment we can afford. Investing in your hunting clothing, like your other gear should help to bring you more comfortable and successful hunts for years to come.