sdsliberty
FNG
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2014
- Messages
- 51
I'm a little crazy when it comes to purchasing gear. I'm working through a few options for a mid weight outer/insulation layer. Goal is to get a piece with the versatility to use in my system in both the midwest for tree stand whitetail (archery through early rifle) and CO 1st/2nd rifle. I really like the appeal of the streamlined backpack setup of an insulating layer(s) and a rain shell, but am pretty torn on some stellar reviews of the soft-shell options. Here are the pieces I'm considering and some of my very neurotic thoughts on each. I've settled on a pair of Timberline pants (really need to figure out sizing here too!) and maybe a pair of Ascents if I ever get into an early season active archery hunt.
Kelvin Lite Down Jacket - Seems to be pretty durable and warm. Has decent wind protection as well. Could work great as an outer layer for midwest archery and a insulating layer for CO 1st/2nd as well as under my Fanatic set late midwest tree stand. I like the ideal of the standard fit for a outer/insulating layer as well, not worried about having to play with chasing between a medium and large like I do with some of Sitka Gear. My biggest concerns with this are the use for archery season. It does say it's stretchy, and doesn't appear to be too bulky. Would excel glassing and in the tree stand well through the first half of the season.
Kelvin Active Jacket - May be a little lighter in warmth and wind protection than the down jacket, but quieter. I've read a lot about people loving this jacket over the last year. Doesn't look like it has the stretch that I would like in a performance fit jacket for archery. Sounds like it would excel while on the move and would be good for an outer layer in chilly early tree stand season.
Kelvin Lite Vest - My thoughts on the vests are that they would be excellent through archery tree stand and be great for active hunting as well. May not have the overall warmth that the Active Jacket would, but with a performance fit it would be easy to layer another insulating layer on top of it.
Jetstream Jacket - The piece that has me most conflicted. As a performance fit if I stay true to my size I would get a medium and would not likely be able to fit much insulation beneath it. I'm concerned about the lack of stretch with that size through archery season. And what would I do - insulate over it? If I size up I would be able to fit a puffy or vest underneath it if I had to, but then I negate the puffy/hard shell combo and don't have rain protection while also trying to make a performance fit piece work by sizing up. In my head I feel like a performance/standard insulating layer(s) with a standard/expedition hard shell would be a pretty nice fitting combo.
Jetstream Vest - Very similar to my thoughts on the Kelvin Lite vest, but with excellent wind protection and a little less insulating warmth. Would be an excellent archery and active piece, performance fit and easy to layer over - but does it make sense layering over wind protection?
Kelvin Lite Down Jacket - Seems to be pretty durable and warm. Has decent wind protection as well. Could work great as an outer layer for midwest archery and a insulating layer for CO 1st/2nd as well as under my Fanatic set late midwest tree stand. I like the ideal of the standard fit for a outer/insulating layer as well, not worried about having to play with chasing between a medium and large like I do with some of Sitka Gear. My biggest concerns with this are the use for archery season. It does say it's stretchy, and doesn't appear to be too bulky. Would excel glassing and in the tree stand well through the first half of the season.
Kelvin Active Jacket - May be a little lighter in warmth and wind protection than the down jacket, but quieter. I've read a lot about people loving this jacket over the last year. Doesn't look like it has the stretch that I would like in a performance fit jacket for archery. Sounds like it would excel while on the move and would be good for an outer layer in chilly early tree stand season.
Kelvin Lite Vest - My thoughts on the vests are that they would be excellent through archery tree stand and be great for active hunting as well. May not have the overall warmth that the Active Jacket would, but with a performance fit it would be easy to layer another insulating layer on top of it.
Jetstream Jacket - The piece that has me most conflicted. As a performance fit if I stay true to my size I would get a medium and would not likely be able to fit much insulation beneath it. I'm concerned about the lack of stretch with that size through archery season. And what would I do - insulate over it? If I size up I would be able to fit a puffy or vest underneath it if I had to, but then I negate the puffy/hard shell combo and don't have rain protection while also trying to make a performance fit piece work by sizing up. In my head I feel like a performance/standard insulating layer(s) with a standard/expedition hard shell would be a pretty nice fitting combo.
Jetstream Vest - Very similar to my thoughts on the Kelvin Lite vest, but with excellent wind protection and a little less insulating warmth. Would be an excellent archery and active piece, performance fit and easy to layer over - but does it make sense layering over wind protection?