lightweight jacket suggestions?

COLOelkman · Dec 12, 2014

For next year, I'm wanting to get a lightweight insulated jacket to keep in my daypack mostly for bow season or early Oct. rifle. Any suggestions are appreciated!

bucklover · Dec 12, 2014

If you also carry a rain jacket of some sort, then down is a great choice. It is light, packs very small, and if you put your rain jacket over it, in wet conditions, is very warm. Just my experience talking.

COLOelkman · Dec 12, 2014

I do normally carry a rain suit and I was assuming down would be best/lightest. Any brands would be helpful if you know any! I'm rethinking my clothing rather than just take what I have as I'd light to lighten up by about 10-15 lbs for backpack hunting.

grosventrehunter · Dec 12, 2014

I would suggest one of the kuiu down jackets. I have the half zip in my backpack at all times.

trophyhunter · Dec 12, 2014

We go the cheaper route, military grade long johns as layers then a regular fabric camo shirt and a Cabela's uninsulated MTO50 packable rain jacket. If you have good long johns like Morgan brand, you don't need to pack an insulated jacket. To much weight. We wear Gortex or compareible pants...throw on the jacket..good to go into the teens, ready for any unusual storms etc. nothing like being deep in the backcountry staying warm and a dry Butt.

))))------->

jims · Dec 14, 2014

I spend a great deal of time hunting early season in Colorado and Wyo. From Sept through December I generally bring the same cloths....just layer depending on the conditions.

For shirts I've used and abused Cabelas microtex for years and it looks just about like it did when I bought it. Microtex comes in a thinner and thicker weight. Microtex is relatively inexpensive. I use Sitka base layers on top. On warmer days I often use them as an outer layer because they are camo. For base layer bottoms I use Patagonia capaline. It comes in different thickness. For pant bottoms I use Sitka 90's or Ascents. They stretch and are super comfortable. If it's super warm and I want to cover lots of country I often wear polarfleece pants (that has no wind resistence qualities and is super light.

I also have a windstopper-polarfleece vest and 90's outer jacket. For rainjacket I use Sitka Nimbus jacket and Sitka Stormfront pants. They are super light, breath well, and dry fast. Both my 90's and Nimbus rain jackets have pitzips. Do yourself a favor and don't buy a jacket without pitzips!

All of the clothes I've listed dry super quick. I don't buy any clothes that have cotton in them. On my last Alaska dall sheep and mtn goat trips I weighed all my clothes and brought the ones that weighed the least, dried quickest, were the warmest/driest, and took up the least amount of bulk. I often lay out my clothes in the terrain/vegetation I will be hunting a wear the ones that blend in best. I NEVER wear the same camo style pants and shirt. Different camo patterns tend to break up the human profile....about 90% of hunters don't understand this and wear the same tops and bottoms!

COLOelkman · Dec 30, 2014

I looked at Kuiu jackets and a friend has one and said that he likes it but it is very loud material. My main reason for it (on backpack hunts) is to use mostly very early or late in the day when I may be sitting and temps are lower. So probably not throughout the day but on a really cold day I would wear it under a longer more quiet coat. Anyone know of a quieter down jacket?

440sixpack · Dec 30, 2014

LAST EDITED ON Dec-30-14 AT 10:14AM (MST)[p]I wouldn't call the Kuiu jacket and louder than any other of it's type.

You might look at the new jacket Kuiu has coming out in the spring, it's some sort of synthetic down and I think it will use the same material as their guide jacket. it might be the new standard for it's class. a surprising low price too. I want one.

http://store.kuiu.com/product-p/50013.htm

Stay thirsty my friends

COLOelkman · Dec 30, 2014

Thanks 440. I just got their catalogue and it's 4.4 oz heavier than the down but $50 cheaper. I'm hoping to see them in person at the UT Hunt Expo in a couple months!

440sixpack · Dec 30, 2014

I have their superdown stuff, it's light and it's warm but you wouldn't want to wear it alone. way to easy to tear.

Stay thirsty my friends

jims · Dec 31, 2014

It is fairly rainy in the fall where I elk hunt in Wyo and Colo. Down definitely wouldn't be my vest or jacket of choice? Not only can it get wet from rain but also sweat. My preference for a light jacket is a Sitka 90's with pitzips. I've also used an abused a windstopper vest.

I bought a Mountain Hardware down jacket a few years ago for an Alaska dall sheep hunt...never used it on that trip or anywhere else. It is super light and supposedly has a water-resistent outer shell. I would likely roast in it unless I was just sitting in 1 spot and not hiking. If you want a brand new down jacket for fairly cheap let me know!

2stamp · Jan 14, 2015

This year I carried the Uncompahgre Puffy from late Oct-Dec on the Wasatch Extended. I can't remember the weight in comparison to some of the others but I appreciated the warmth more than once.

COLOelkman · Jan 14, 2015

Thanks for the offer Jim's but I don't think I'm looking for a "heavy-duty" down jacket as it's mostly for September-Oct. Sounds like yours might be better suited for late season, colder weather conditions. I watched the KUIU webcast product introduction last week where they discussed their new Kenai jacket which is not down but still relatively light weight. I plan to look at those in Feb. at the UT expo so we'll see if that fits my needs.

BPKHunter · Feb 6, 2015

Lot's of great gear available. My system keeps evolving. I do believe what works for me here in SW Idaho is different than what works best in others, particularly wetter ones. We simply don't get a ton of precipitation at one time.

That said, I have found the simple, but very light and packable "Space Rain" gear from Cabela's is always in my pack. I do have Cabela's Goretex MT050, which is great when I am going out into a KNOW raistorm or a ton of melting snow off trees. Typically many goretex jackets are too heavy.

I have finally spent some $$ on Sitka gear: Mountain Pants, Jetstream Jacket, and Jetstream Pants. Typically these are fine without a lot of rain. Can be too warm in direct sun above 60deg, otherwise just add layers as it gets colder. For heavy rain, I either replace with SpaceRain jacket and pant, or cover with it. Love the flex in the fabric, compared to what I used to use. Love the pockets as well. Seem to hold up well, after using for probably 45 days in the field from Sept to Jan for scouting, Goat hunt, and chukar hunting.

hank4elk · Feb 6, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Feb-06-15 AT 05:25PM (MST)[p]Space Rain & Rain Suede from Cabellas is light/inexpensive and works. I've had mine for years.Pants too.
Add mid layer and your good to go,usually.

I have a Kings Mtn parka with removable liner for known downpour or snow weather later.
Wool after that. Or the down parka for zero...

Ltsheets · Feb 8, 2015

Love my First Lite Uncompagre (sp?) Puffy. It packs small, into one of it's own pockets, and is very warm if needed. Does decent shedding light rain/snow too but I wouldn't rely on it as anything close to "rain gear."

Bwht4x4 · Feb 16, 2015

I took sips of the Kuiu and Sitka kool-aids last year before an elk hunt. When comparing the two side by side it was a no brainer for me to go with Kuiu kool-aid. Their materials and fit are superb, well, if you're tall and thin like me. Their verde camo worked like a champ in the cedars last year in UT. On two different nights I had a bull walk right past me at 9 yards on his way to water. I was just standing there leaning against a tree when he walked by too. No blind!

maxcarp · Feb 20, 2015

Here are couple of things that might fit your needs.I have been looking for something similar to replace my Thinsulate coat liner that I am outgrowing.It works great by itself and makes for a great layering system.I just cannot find another in an Extra Large size.1st a couple from Wiggys
http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=195&CFID=747300&CFTOKEN=99340803
next something a little more basic
http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=247&CFID=747300&CFTOKEN=99340803 this is very similar to what I have now.
I just picked up one of these.It fits well but it doesn't seem to be as warm as Thinsulate.I have not been able to put it to the test since it has been warm here in Southern Nevada.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...aLoft174-ndash-Regular/1621734.uts?destinatio