Sitka or Rivers West

[.300WSMImpact!]

I am trying to set myself up for next hunting season, and am looking to buy new gear, but I am not sure what is better for price or product. I hiked a lot last year in mediocre gear got wet, and it adds lots of weight, any experience or advise would be great,

thanks

[The Hermit]

I'm biased as I sell Sitka Gear, but do so in part because in my not so humble opinion it is the best product. I find RW to be noisy by comparison. Take a stick and a hand full of fescqu and rub them against both products and you will find the Sika Gear to be more quiet. I also like the athletic fit, and the camo pattern of the Sitka Gear better.

I sell Sitka Gear to HBC'ers at better prices than ANYONE. Decide what you want and ping me for pricing.

[Duk Dog]

Granted it was a few generations ago that I had some Rivers West gear but IMO it was crap that failed miserably. At least with the past generations of their gear if you were at all active you sweat like a pig in it. The gaitors were junk, a zipper blew on my jacket, you get the idea. Not a fan.
Can't comment first hand on the Sitka stuff other than it is really pricey. I've heard mixed reviews from those that own it - most love it, but some have had certain garments fall short of expectations.
I wish I could find some of the Russell Outdoors Gear - the APX line of their stuff to see what it is like.

[JohnB]

I really like my Sitka gear; just wish it didn't cost so much. I don't have Rivers West but did see some at Wholesale sports; don't care for the camo color (seems to dark).

[BillyBull]

I have been using the Sitka 90% and Ascent pants with layering for the past number of years... and for me they have been by far the best pants I have enjoyed hunting in...

x2 on the cost ... the first generation stuff mtn mimicry is what I have and it was pricey ... the cost of the new stuff is just too much IMO.

Hermit, I will ping you on a cost for the 90% jacket, do they still make the mtn mimicry pattern for it?

[waistdeep]

I have RW and it just not breath, move at all and I sweat. Not a fan but now have expensive jacket and pants that i guess i have to live with :(

[lorneparker1]

I have both and am very happy with both

[Ride Red]

Duk Dog,

We just got back from the states and Wholesale in Burlington Wash, has Russell camo. Personally I'm not a Wholesale Sports fan, but they serviced the crap out of us down there ( unlike the Langley store ). I found some shoes also, but they didn't have them in stock. The girl told me she would phone around. After shopping for awhile, she found us and said they were at another store and would ship them to me. I can't say enough about the customer service we received down there.

[Duk Dog]

Duk Dog,

We just got back from the states and Wholesale in Burlington Wash, has Russell camo. Personally I'm not a Wholesale Sports fan, but they serviced the crap out of us down there ( unlike the Langley store ). I found some shoes also, but they didn't have them in stock. The girl told me she would phone around. After shopping for awhile, she found us and said they were at another store and would ship them to me. I can't say enough about the customer service we received down there.

Thanks for the feedback, guess I'd better have a closer look at my local WSS.

[.300WSMImpact!]

hey thanks for all the feed back, sitka seems the way, I do like the idea of being more quiet

[Ron.C]

Talk to Hermit who runs VantagePoint Outfitters. His prices on Sitka Gear are better then any I've seen.

[spear]

Sitka is a lot lighter than RW west too in comparable items, packs better aswell. Not sure how the warranty is on either

[BC4Bowhunter]

I have used Rivers West for a number of years as well as Sitka too. I think it would depend on what kind of hunting you are going to do. If you are hiking RW is not the gear to use as it does not breathe at all and I would go with the Sitka. However, I found if I am in my treestand or on my quad especially in the rain or snow the rivers west kept me warm and dry all day. The Sitka gear worked well too but I found sitting in a treestand all day in the rain or snow then heading back to the truck I would get a damp chill with the Sitka product. If I was hiking all day I would use the Sitka. Noise with both products was never a problem both are quiet and both are very durable IMO.

[yama49]

I have owned both, and would not buy RW agian. I will stick with sitka, i would own more of it but, its pricey.

[Maxx]

I have used Rivers West for a number of years as well as Sitka too. I think it would depend on what kind of hunting you are going to do. If you are hiking RW is not the gear to use as it does not breathe at all and I would go with the Sitka. However, I found if I am in my treestand or on my quad especially in the rain or snow the rivers west kept me warm and dry all day. The Sitka gear worked well too but I found sitting in a treestand all day in the rain or snow then heading back to the truck I would get a damp chill with the Sitka product. If I was hiking all day I would use the Sitka. Noise with both products was never a problem both are quiet and both are very durable IMO.


x2 ...you are bang on IMO

[huntcoop]

I would never buy Rivers West again. It feels great, looks great, wears extremely comfortable but leaks like a . First time I wore my pants they leaked. My buddy has gone through 3 pairs, via warranty factory replacement, all 3 leaked.

Still looking for good, warm, leak proof gear.

[islander7mm]

I have the RW Ambush jacket and have been happy with it. My one complaint is that dampness creeps up the sleeves in the rain so that your undershirt is wet up to the elbow. I like the pockets on the RW and it does keep me warm and dry in the winter months.

[ufishifish2]

Sitka Gear - I got tonnes for Christmas and was so impressed that I wore the core layers everywhere I went for the first 4 days. Now I am not so impressed. It is crazy expensive and still comes from China. Somebody is really getting greedy here!!!
Anyways, the stitching is coming apart in many places on both the core pants as well as the undershirt.
Next time, if spending that much $$, I would check first and only buy quality products made in North America.

[Jonny outdoors]

I have the rivers west gear , great for heavy rain sitting in a blind or tree stand but spend any time hiking and you get soaked.I am in the same boat this really like the sitka gear but I tend to be hard on camo and If i dropped that much cash on camo and it didn't last i would be choked.

[wsquared]

Re: Sitka or Rivers West
I picked up Sitka's Traverse zip tee for the 2009 hunting season, worked well for a late Sept./early Oct hunt. The stitching was unravelling a bit at the wrist after that trip. I dealt with Sitka directly, washed it up sent it back and got a replacement. The Sitka boxers I got for Christmas 2009, were comfy, and wicked well at first. Going on longer XC ski outing/ snowshoeing proved them to be cut poorly, having seams come together behind your sac. So they crawl up and chafe. I contacted the store ( Schnee's in Montana) where my wife got them, and after the OK from Sitka, they took them back, and refunded the purchase. Sitka was aware of the issue, and were being redesigned in spring 2010 when I contacted them. The Celsius hat is excellent , as it is warm, lightweight, cuts the wind, wears all day without being itchy, and stays in place. Also fits well those those of us afflicted with B&C sized heads. I don't see it on their website anymore, looks like the Jetstream beanie or Stratus hat would be similar.