Since our early season closed yesterday, I will now be hunting our rifle season which opens in two weeks, and then possibly our late season which opens the day after Christmas. So, it's likely I will be hunting in colder temperatures than I have up to this point. As of right now, my system has kept me comfortable down to around ~28 degrees, but it's pushing it. I'm layering with: UA 3.0 Base (with UA cold next to skin) Stratus Pants Fanatic Hoody Shacket Stratus Jacket This with some strategically placed heat packs (and a hand muff) kept me ok in the slightly below freezing temps, but I'm not sure if it will suffice down into the 20s and teens. So, if you had to pick (those who own both of the following), would be a better investment at this point? Core Heavy Weight Zip T Core Heavy Weight Bottoms Or keep my current layers, and get the fanatic bib and jacket to fill in for the Stratus as the outer layer? I'm not interested in other bases as much since with my discount, I can get the Core series as cheap or cheaper than other non Sitka options.
If you are cold in the Stratus with those layers, the core heavyweight isn't really going to carry you any further into lower temps. Best option would be a cold weather set like the fanatic.
A nice thing about the incinerator is it will pack down very small, the fanatic takes up a lot of space, pretty bulky.
I just got the Fanatic bibs and coat and love it. I prefer to have min under layers walking in and put out, then put heavy layers on at stand. Like Buckeye said, They are very bulky. I wrap them together and fold in half and strap to back pack on exterior. That's what I was wearing the other day when I shot that buck. I got them because of the fleece exterior, I felt they were much quieter then the Incinerators. The big difference is Incinerators are water proof and Fanatic has wind stopper.
I would go the fanatic route. I got a fanatic set and then added a HWT. Wearing the HWT today actually, I don't think that it would help much more than the 3.0. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
I have both the stratus set in which I layer Fanatic hoodie, Celsius shacket or Fanatic vest. I also have Fanatic bibs and Jacket. I had my stratus set on the orher day in 29 with shacket and hoodie and was comfortable but a bit cold. At 29 degrees with my Fanatic suit on I could wear no layers besides Fanatic hoodie and be toasty warm. I just knew it was going to warm up into 50s so stratus got game day. Problem with Fanatic set is walking in is bulky and too warm...have to leave legs of bibs open and jacket open. I like having both. Stratus with layer is my 30-60degree set up Fanatic is 0-40deg set...at 40deg you are pushing it. .
Also I wore my Fanatic suit last year in a steady light freezing rain about 33-35 degrees and even though its not waterproof I never felt wet.
Well most of you reaffirmed what I should do. I've put it off because the Fanatic set is so expensive and it's not a piece I plan to have to use often. I've been lucky enough to tag out by the beginning of November the last few years. Sent from my Turbo 2.
