3 Sitka Jackets COMPARED | Sitka Hunting Gear Review – Worth The Hype?

I’ve been in some pretty crappy conditions when hunting big game. I’m one of those people who had never tried any Sitka jackets prior to this review. Heck, I hadn’t even tried any Sitka pants, gloves hats, or even base layers. While most of my gear has held up pretty well to the elements, not all of it has. Enter this Sitka jackets review.

In my constant search for quality hunting gear, I began noticing a trend. Sitka appeared to be one of the few hunting apparel companies keeping up with some of the big mountain gear brands that I had grown to love like Patagonia, Arc’ Teryx, and The North Face- gear that didn’t just look cool around town, but had truly been tested in some harsh environments and was regularly coming out with cutting edge technology.  

Noticing this, I kept seeing three clothing pieces by Sitka come up over and over and over again as “must try” options: the Sitka Ambient Hoodie, the Sitka Aerolite jacket, and the Sitka Kelvin Lite Down (now replaced with the Sitka Kelvin Hyperdown Jacket). Being a nerd of the techy details with outdoor gear, I had to see what the fuss was about. Did “PrimaLoft Evolve” live up to the hype? Was the Kelvin Lite Down really as spectacular as many reviews praised it to be? I wanted to find out. 

How It Was Tested – Sitka Jackets Review

I received these Sitka jackets in late spring of 2023 – too late in the year to test them until the fall hunting season…which I did. In fact, I put them through the paces during fall elk and mule deer hunting, skiing, running, and the harshest conditions of all – acquiring the perfect Christmas tree for the family while in a blizzard.

As you can imagine, weather varied a ton through the span of those seasons from the heat of early September chasing elk to (literally) being blown over in a blizzard on top of our local ski mountain. Here are some specifics of my testing and the results for each piece:

Sitka Ambient Hoody: This piece can confuse a guy’s brain. How can you have something that’s almost warm enough to wear as an insulation piece but not so hot that you have to peel it off to hike? That’s what I found though. On a mule deer hunt that ran late into October, I found the temps to be at 15 degrees F with a robust wind coming out of the north.

I was fine in a base layer (KUIU Peloton 97) while hiking but got fairly cold once I stopped. I had both the Kelvin Lite and Ambient Hoody with me but decided to throw the Ambient Hoody on by itself to glass. I was immediately warmed. I also found myself wearing it while hiking on a late season archery mule deer hunt (similar temps as above).

Sitka Kelvin Aerolite: I was initially very skeptical about this thing being warm. I’ve tested other jackets in the family of synthetic insulation with about the same fill weight and felt like this would provide much less warmth than those.

I was wrong. I’ve worn this far more than I thought I would through a vast array of activities that range from archery elk hunting, getting our family Christmas tree (in a blizzard with a shell over the top of the Aerolite), and even on family bike rides in the dead of winter. It blocked the wind really well, yet I never overheated. It has served to be a very solid piece…so solid that I sold the vast majority of my other synthetic jackets to keep this one.

Sitka Kelvin Lite Down: I’ve owned enough down jackets to cloak a small army. They’ve included a variety of different fills, face fabrics, brands, and features, and the Kelvin Lite is easily among my top favorites. It has great insulation where needed without extra bulk where it doesn’t. One trip in particular proved this to be true.

After spending a majority of a morning making it to the top of a ridge I planned to hunt, I was freezing. I had worn only a midlayer with the temperature hovering around 15 degrees and a very gusty 20 mph wind hitting me for most of the hike. Once I stopped to glass I was sweaty, cold, and my layers were fairly soaked. The Kelvin was perfect to pull out of my pack to warm me up. I was able to spend the rest of that morning planning a stalk on a buck I was interested in.  

Specs and Materials – Sitka Jackets Review

In short, you could call the Ambient Hoody a great option for using as a mid-layer, the Aerolite a great option if you’re expecting moisture, and the Kelvin Lite Down a great piece for insulation in dry conditions. Here’s how each of the Sitka jackets break down: 

Sitka Ambient Hoody – I had heard a lot about the Sitka Ambient Hoody prior to getting it for testing. Nearly everyone was raving about it. Having had tested just about every other mid-layer known to man, I was really pumped to get my hands on it. To say I was impressed would be a dramatic understatement.  Here’s what the Ambient Hoody includes:

• 20D ripstop nylon fabric with 4-way stretch nylon panels with DWR coating
• 100 grams PrimaLoft® Evolve insulation
• Fitted hood
• Half-zip pullover design for comfort and easy layering
• Advertised weight: 13 ounce
• Tested weight: 13.3 ounce (Medium)
• YKK Zippers

How does the Sitka Ambient Hoody Stack Up Compared to Other Mid-Layers?

I’ve used quite a few active insulation pieces over the years and was really interested to see how the Ambient Hoody held up against some tried and true pieces I’d grown to love.  These include the Arc’Teryx Proton FL, the Outdoor Research Vigor, the Patagonia TechFace R1, and a variety of other options.  

Sitka advertises the Ambient Hoody as something with enough insulation to keep you warm when static, but breathable enough to keep on while you move. I would say that’s very, very accurate.  

There were moments when I was too hot in the Ambient Hoody, so I would say each person should set their expectations accordingly. Sitka did release an Ambient 75 Hoodie that would likely work much better if you expect a lot of ongoing output. 

Sitka Kelvin Aerolite – I’ve had quite a few jackets over the years that were designed to fit the Sitka Aerolite’s niche: warm-when-wet insulation. There was nothing that really stood out to me as different when I first received the jacket and looked it over. I was fairly ”meh” about it. However, after using it all fall and on several occasions with a lot of wind, snow, and activity, I changed my mind to the point that I actually sold nearly all of my other synthetic jackets in favor of the Aerolite.

Here is what it boasts:

• Synthetic PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core™ technology (similar properties to down for compressibility, but greater chance of keeping you warm if wet)
• Insulation infused with silica aerogel – a material that’s more than 95% air for insulation
• 20-denier polyester face with DWR finish, 20-denier polyester backer Stretch cuffs for easier layering
• Fitted hood
• Deep, zippered chest pocket that safely stores your valuables (and uncrustables…)
• YKK Zippers
• Advertised weight: 16 ounces
• Measured weight: 15 ounces (Medium)

Sitka Kelvin Lite Down – One of my favorite features of the Sitka Kelvin Lite Down is the face fabric. Unlike many down jackets, it doesn’t have a face fabric that seems like it’ll rip or snag if it barely catches on what’s left of a hangnail. It feels fairly stout as face fabrics on a puffy go. I mean, I wouldn’t bust brush with it, but I wouldn’t hesitate wearing it for just about anything else.

Here are the stats:

• 900 fill Primaloft Gold Down Blend Insulation
• 60 grams of Primaloft Gold Active Synthetic Insulation under the arm and lower back
• Down Weight: 110 grams
• Advertised Weight: 17 ounces (Size L)
• Actual weight: 16 ounces (medium)
• Two Way Stretch Nylon Face
• Two Zippered Hand Pockets
• Zippered Chest Pocket
• YKK zippers

Make sure to check out our other gear reviews and the Backwoods Pursuit YouTube Channel to help you decide what gear will help you stay out in the field longer!

You can see how versatile this entire system is. In fact, one could argue you really do not need anything else for an entire hunting season from an insulation perspective (other than potentially some long john bottoms or puffy pants for those extremely cold days). In fact, it’s the only system I ran from September through late November and even on into ski season in the winter.  

One of the things that drew me to and impresses me so much about Sitka is the thoughtfulness of their gear. In my personal opinion, and I certainly haven’t tested all of the hunting-specific clothing brands, I feel they are the most innovative, hunt-specific apparel company in the industry. This is, no doubt, due in large part to the dedication of John Barklow (Senior Product Manager at Sitka) to finding and developing the best gear for the backcountry.  

Each of these pieces exemplify that with unique features like 60 grams of insulation under the arms and lower back of the Kelvin Lite, Sitka is always looking to push the envelope in developing top notch hunting clothing. Sitka was one of the first jackets to use PrimaLoft Evolve among hunting brands, along with using the “insulating properties of trapped air to create a low-bulk, but warm-when-wet performance.”

Product Features I Appreciated – Sitka Jackets Review

SITKA KELVIN AEROLITE 

• Features a different, more breathable inner fabric that runs up the sides of the jacket is a similar idea the Arc’Teryx Atom . I’m sure this is one reason I never felt overly hot while active in this jacket.
• Adjustable sleeve cuffs: A long elastic strip inside the jacket provides some assurance the sleeves won’t ride up or fall down more than you want. 
• A zipper guide, generous chest pocket, and hidden cinch cord at the waist really make a nice feature set.

SITKA KELVIN LIKE DOWN

• The lighter insulation at the back and under the arms: I am generally one of the guys to get cold on trips in the mountains, so I was a little worried this wouldn’t make it feel very warm. I didn’t find that to be the case at all. The thing I appreciated the most was the weight saved without compromising warmth. 
• Generous interior pockets: These things are huge. Sure, they make for a nice option to stuff the jacket, but it’s also really nice if you have a lot of stuff you need to pack away. 

SITKA AMBIENT HOODY

• Piece of elastic at the hood: It kept the hood secure and in place without feeling overly restrictive.
• The zipper: It’s just high enough to tuck your chin in for added warmth as well. 

Sizing and Fit – Sitka Jackets Review

One of the main reasons I haven’t picked up pieces from Sitka in the past is the lack of offerings in the size that typically fits me best (small). None of the pieces we reviewed were available in a small, so I opted for a medium in all of them.

Although they were bigger than I typically like, none of them swallowed me the way some mediums do. I found both the Kelvin Lite Down and Kelvin Aerolite allow me to comfortably layer under each. The Kelvin Aerolite did have a more boxy feel to it with the length in the front having a shorter cut. That’s a bit of personal preference, of course, but worth mentioning as it can get drafty if you don’t pull the waist cinch in tight. 

What I disliked – Sitka Jackets Review

BOXY FIT (Aerolite)

I didn’t like the boxy fit of the Sitka Kelvin Aerolite. It’s short in the front and has a dropback hem that makes me feel a little like I’m wearing a miniskirt which isn’t flattering. I know, I know – I shouldn’t be worried about how I look when hunting – and I don’t. But let’s be honest, at $329.00, I want to wear this more often than just a few weeks in the fall. 

SLEEVE LENGTH

I didn’t like the length of the sleeves. This circles back to my complaint with Sitka’s sizing and being allergic to making a men’s small. I know what I’m in for when I have to buy a medium. It would, however, be nice not to have a ton of material bunched at the bottom of the sleeves, but that’s a personal preference. Some folks welcome the extra length.

Aside from those two things, there really isn’t anything I don’t like about all three pieces.

Above I mentioned my favorite features about each piece , but what I love most about this combination is that it truly functions as a complete system. I could (and did) wear the Sitka Ambient Hoody as my mid-layer for every hunt for September through November. In fact, there were some days it served as my only insulating layer as well and performed excellently. 

It was nice to simply add in the Kelvin Aerolite or Kelvin Lite Down for warmer insulation while glassing as the season drug on as I found myself without tags filled and still hunting into November. 

My Rankings – Sitka Jackets Review

I spent years being loyal to another hunting brand when it came to clothing. One of the things that made me begin looking elsewhere for other options was the obvious poor quality in every piece I ordered. Sitka pays special attention to little details that shouldn’t be skipped when shelling out a couple hundred bucks for a mid-layer like other brands seem to.

Each product from Sitka is exquisite with the big and little details in alignment. 

While not heavy, the Sitka Kelvin Aerolite and Ambient Hoody aren’t mind-blowingly light. This goes into the next section (value) too, but I was hoping to see something special to justify ranking value at 5/5 for each piece. They’re exceptional at what they do, but not ‘ultralight’ if that’s what you’re after.

The Kevlin Lite Down on the other hand is worth every ounce. Coming in at only 17 ounces for a large, it’s well worth stuffing in your pack for every trip. 

These jackets are definitely on the upper end of the price spectrum for nearly all outdoor brands and value is always in the eye of the beholder. For many, they would say the value is high no matter the cost if it’s exactly what they’re looking for in a product.  For me, value is partially that, but is partially relative to the price of other products serving the same purpose. 

MSRP on the Kelvin Aerolite: $329.00

MSRP on the Kelvin Lite Down: $359.00

MSRP on the Ambient Hoody: $279.00

The quality, materials, and thoughtfulness are all very apparent in each piece.  However, I struggle to say they provide that much more than similar jackets with similar feature sets to justify ranking value at a 5/5. 

With that said, if you have the cash, they’re extremely nice jackets. And, if you can catch them on a deal, don’t pass up the opportunity. At the time of this writing, Sitka had several of these pieces with a steep discount (50%).

The Kelvin Lite Down and Kelvin Aerolite are both clearly advertised as insulation pieces that probably won’t survive being drug through piles of buck brush over and over and over again. The Ambient Hoody, however, does advertise its 20D shell as ‘being built to take a beating.’ Luckily, I had the chance to test tha

The first hunt I had the chance to test this on was an archery elk hunt in September. After wearing the pack for one day, I had the most bizarre wear on the underside of the garment around the armpits. It was so atypical that I reached out to Sitka. They confirmed that it was bizarre, sent me another Ambient Hoody, and I’ve had zero issues like that since. The flaw here was due to something abrasive between my pack and the mid-layer.  

Since that hunt, I have purposely drug it through piles (and piles) of buckbrush, crawled on the ground, and beat it up fairly aggressively. There are a few snags here and there (see images), but nothing like what I’d expect to see under the conditions I put it through. 

The Kelvin Lite Down and Kelvin Aerolite are both durable in that they held up well being taken in and out of my pack multiple times per season. Sitka advertises the Kelvin Lite Down as having a face that is ‘two way stretch’, but that’s really underestimating a face fabric that I feel is one of, if not the most robust face fabrics of all of the down jackets I own.  

Sitka Customer Service

As referenced above, I had a really bizarre wear on my first Ambient Hoody. This chafing was from one day in the field caused by an abrasion on my pack, NOT the fault of the product. In fact, as I reached out to many other friends who had run the Ambient Hoody, none of them had seen anything similar. 

Sitka echoed the sentiment, chalked it up to an anomaly (i.e. abrasion caused by me, not the material), and put another one in the mail to me for testing. No questions on their warranty.  

Conclusion – sitka Jackets Review

I tend to be a skeptic by nature; I’ll doubt something until I have reason not to. Up to this point, I had tested and invested a lot in some of the other big brands. I noticed that Sitka had really started to up its game in the last 5 years and piqued my interest as to what they had to offer. After spending nearly a year trying all three of these pieces in a variety of conditions, I can confidently say they live up to the hype…so much so that I sold off most of my other gear and predominantly wear these ever since getting them a year ago.

So, Sitka? To answer the question, “What do you wear when hunting bear, elk, deer, and other large animals if you want to stay comfortable and protect your skin from the elements?”  You wear gear that’s versatile, great quality, and reliable – all of which Sitka provides.

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