Sitka 90% Jacket: “90% of the time, it works every time”…

Back in the day, the go-to clothing system for mountain hunters and hikers was a synthetic base layer, followed by a fleece shirt for warmth, and then a hard shell waterproof jacket for protection from wind and rain. Here’s the problem with that setup: Hard shell waterproof jackets will keep you warm and dry while walking or stationary glassing, but they simply do not breath enough during high output hiking or climbing to keep you from sweating and becoming wet. They are also loud and stiff, making them uncomfortable to wear. The fleece shirt you used for insulation works well under the hard shell to keep you warm, but when you’re hiking hard or climbing you will over heat, forcing you to remove the hard shell outer.  Now you’re cold because the fleece shirt by itself does nothing to block the wind and rain, and digging into your pack over and over again to pull out your hardshell can get old in a hurry.

   Enter Soft Shell Technology…

 The Sitka Gear 90% Soft shell jacket takes the wicking & insulating properties of the base layer / fleece shirt, and combines them with a stretch woven outer fabric  treated with a water resistant finish (DWR). This creates the ultimate single clothing piece with the ability to wick moisture, breathe incredibly well, is highly wind resistant, and will keep you dry during light/medium rain storms. The material is also stretchy and quiet, making it very comfortable to wear and much more durable than the hard shell fabrics. Perfect right? Just about…, you will still want to pack a waterproof hard shell in case of a heavy rain, however for “90%” of the time this jacket will be all you need.

 We use our 90% jacket’s all year round either as a single piece in the early season, or we add an additional fleece or wool layer under it for later when the temperature drops. We also use them in the winter as a layering piece under a insulated jacket or hard shell. For hunters looking for the ultimate do-everything jacket the Sitka Gear 90% Jacket is money well spent. Oh and if there’s any Sitka employees reading this…. please build me a hooded version!