Using Sitka during my Mountain Lion Hunt in Nevada
Note: this article was originally written for the Huntin’ Fool magazine in the August 2021 issue on page 12.
Measurements taken January 2021
I vividly remember when women-specific camo started to hit the market. After years of wearing hand-me-downs, youth clothing, or oversized men’s clothing, including Carhartt bibs for most of those years, I happily bought the pink-it-and-shrink it lines because finally something was made “just for me,” except it was terrible. Slowly but surely, brands noticed the increase in women hunters and therefore the demand for something functional, durable, and comfortable that complimented our build a little more than a boxy cotton shirt with a few pink leaves mixed in. Over the years, I’ve found it extremely difficult to find product reviews on women’s gear that tested them against their competitors. Typically, avid outdoorsmen (both men and women alike, if I’m being honest) will buy a line and stick to it without truly knowing if they’d prefer a different route because the dollars add up quick. For that reason, I’ve taken the top four women lines for western-based hunting and tested them since January 2021. From mountain lion hunting in Nevada, to shed hunting in New Mexico, to bear hunting in Montana, with multiple hikes per week in Utah in between as I’ve trained for the upcoming season, I put this gear to the test. Investing in quality gear isn’t cheap, and it can be extremely difficult to find what you need in a store. On top of that, it’s 2021 and COVID-19 continues to cause delays in production for most outdoor brands!
To make sure it was an even playing field, I sent the exact same parameters to all four camo brands and they sent me the system that made the most sense to them for a very specific type of hunt – New Mexico archery elk, mid-to-late September, weather usually in the low 30s-40s with highs of 70-80, and midday showers are always a possibility. Keep in mind that each brand has additional pieces available that might be a better fit for other types of hunts, depending on time of year, terrain, and method of hunting. However, to narrow this review down, I’m focusing on archery elk, and I’ve been fortunate enough to archery elk hunt as far north as Montana and as far south as New Mexico for five out of the last six seasons, with 2021 being my seventh season chasing bugles, so you could say I’m pretty picky about the gear I take!
I’ve included every single piece that was sent for testing so our audience knows what’s suggested on a similar hunt. Please keep in mind that this review is based on MY body type and build, which could be very different than your own. Therefore, I’ve included my measurements. Refer to them to make your best judgment on which line would work for you.
Kryptek
Shed hunting in New Mexico
Overall, the Valhalla is a very lightweight and breathable line for those early season hunts, but it’s a little thinner than I’d like for the hunt description I provided. I could see this being a better option on an August antelope or velvet mule deer hunt when the sun is beating down on you. Due to the thickness and material, it’s quieter than the other lines in this review. Perhaps their Dalibor line would be a more appropriate fit for this hunt. In general, it’s not the ideal fit for my body type, but not every woman is built like me and that’s OK!
I absolutely love the Hera down vest, especially because I’m a fan of hoods and many vests do not come with one. When archery hunting, vests are a favorite layering item so that my core stays warm and my arms aren’t constrained while drawing back. I can appreciate the Valhalla pants being a great length for my height because it’s usually one of my biggest complaints about pants among different women’s lines, although I wish I would’ve sized down in them. With that being said, I shy away from this style of pant due to the material catching on brush while hiking, and especially archery hunting where it could potentially create more noise if it caught on something while closing the gap on an animal. In general, I prefer a much slimmer athletic fitting pant. Function and durability are important, which is why I’d recommend a thicker and more rugged pant for this type of hunt. Their Dalibor pant seems to fit that description, although I didn’t personally get to test them out. Also, I like to wear gaiters over my pants, and having a slim fit pant is nice so that there’s not extra material bunching up underneath the gaiter. Keep in mind that if you like having a wider leg throughout the length of the pant, Kryptek is a great option. It is also the most affordable among the lines in this review.
For what it’s worth, I’m a firm believer in supporting quality individuals, and I can personally say that Butch Whiting (CEO of Kryptek) is a top-notch guy who backs our military more than any other camo line. If this resonates with you, just know your money is bleeding red, white, and blue!
PRODUCTS TESTED: Hera Vest (S), Valhalla Pant (4), Valhalla Shirt (S), Kiska Beanie (OS), Kiska Headband (OS), and Krypton Glove (S)
Prois
Hiking in Utah; also worn on Montana bear hunt
This line is, without a doubt, the best fitting line for my body type. The Tintri pants are what I naturally gravitated toward because of the adjustable waistband and the slender fit throughout the entire leg. The material was a little noisier than I’d like, which is due to the water-resistant finish, but they were the perfect thickness for a September hunt, and the length was spot on. I’ve had more compliments on these pants from both men and women than any other pair of pants due to how well they fit my build. I’d highly recommend them if we have similar body types.
The Torai jacket is another favorite of mine from this line. It’s deceivingly warm, but it also has zippers in the armpits for ventilation. My only complaint is the velcro on the wrists. I try to stay away from velcro for archery hunting because it can be loud, especially if something unintentionally separates it.
Prois was designed by outdoor women and it’s a woman-owned company, so I’m not surprised that they have the fit dialed in. It was my first time testing the line, but I’ve seen multiple other women wear it who are curvier than me and it still fits them great – their words, not mine! I’m very impressed by the fit and comfort of every piece I tried, and I’d be willing to bet that they have more options on their website specifically made for women than the other lines.
PRODUCTS TESTED: Tintri 1/4 Zip 2.0 (S), Callaid Down Vest (2-4), Torai Jacket (2-4), Tintri Pants (2-4), Tintri Neck Gaiter (OSFM), Torai Gloves (M/L), Olann Merino Glove Liner (S/M), Callaid Down Beanie (OSFM), and Tintri Cap (OSFM)
First Lite
Shed Hunting in New Mexico
I’m a huge fan of solid colors for hunting, so I was drawn to this line that had solid options in just about every piece. I’ve been interested in trying merino wool for years, and First Lite was one of the first companies in the space to make a big push with merino wool. They were also one of the early adopters of a fully outfitted women’s line. I like that I can sweat nonstop in their tops and still be odorless. I would suggest going up a size in nearly any top of theirs because they fit extremely snug for my liking. I typically wear a small, but the Kiln hoody was more of a base layer fit in a small, and the Sawtooth Hybrid jacket fit perfect in a medium, even though I’d typically order a small. While the Alturas Guide pants are too short for me, I do like the elastic waistband on the backside that prevents the pant gap that women complain about, as well as the pocket placement and sizing on them. Due to the length being over 2" too short, going without gaiters wasn’t an option for me. Speaking of, I absolutely love the way their short Traverse gaiters hug your foot and ankle area. It’s a nice alternative to the heavy-duty tall gaiters that most brands offer. While I don’t typically get excited about a glove, both pairs they sent are my new favorite gloves I’ve ever put on. I’ve always cut the fingers off my thinner gloves because I can’t stand shooting a bow without feeling the trigger on my skin, so I feel like the Talus fingerless gloves were truly made for me.
PRODUCTS TESTED: Kiln Hoody (SM), Sawtooth Hybrid Jacket (M), Wick Quarter Zip (SM), Alturas Pant (SM), Kiln Long Jane (SM), Talus Fingerless Merino Glove (M), Traverse Hunting Gaiters (S/M), and Shale Touch Hybrid Glove (M)
Sitka
Nevada Mountain Lion with Bull Ridge Outfitters
In terms of functionality and thoughtful pieces, Sitka takes the cake. You can truly see the testing that went into making this line. Their Timberline pant is a staple piece in their women’s line due to the reinforced waterproof knees, which is why I don’t put these at the top on the comfort scale. It’s a tradeoff to have that extra durability. I would’ve loved to have these while belly crawling to fill my archery antelope tag and for long glassing hours in dewy grass on those early mornings. It’s worth mentioning that I wish I would’ve gone down a size to a 26 because they were saggy in the seat and I had some extra room in the hips and waist. Again, I’m not a very curvy girl, so take that with a grain of salt.
The other piece that really stuck out to me was the Heavyweight hoody, which has extra fabric that folds over your hands if it’s not quite cold enough to pull out the gloves and a built-in neck gaiter for added warmth or concealment. Covering your neck can be a game changer for added warmth as well as concealment if you have super fair skin like me.
Their Fanatic Core Lightweight base layer is the softest, most comfortable base layer I’ve ever put on, and it even has a port for your favorite pee funnel so you can take care of business without having your pants around your ankles. Is that too much to include in an article? Whoops!
While we can’t ignore the price tag on their product, I believe this line would hold up to anything you put it through. It’s more of an investment, but it’s worth considering if a woman gets after it regularly out west.
PRODUCTS TESTED: Core Lightweight Crew (S), Heavyweight Hoody (S), Kelvin Windstopper Hoody (S), Traverse Glove (M), Fanatic Core Lightweight Bottom (S), Timberline Pant (27), Cloudburst Jacket (S), and Cloudburst Pant (S)