I’m definitely not one to recommend as I got mostly all Sitka gear. Got the Sitka Delta waterfowl jacket and Dakota when it gets colder, and they’re lightweight base layers. Few of the guys I hunt with use Drake gear. From all the waterfowl hunting I do, don’t want an insulated water proof shell. Want it in insulated then layer appropriately, sometimes in October in the rain to have something insulated like the Sitka Hudson jacket. Plus I wear it a ton trout fishing in the spring too

 

Some good advice there from camocam92
Break that piggy bank 682 and buy sitka you are worth it Nothing cabelas makes is good anymore since it is not made in the USA for years and even when it was the best gortex and dry plus they sold still leaked warm but leaked. The guys I am still in touch with that waterfowl hunt seriously sware by sitka And before some smart ass says how I would know about cabelas gear ( and mine is all made in USA) drop up some snow storm I have four sets I still use blowing snow and smelting and two unopened Five cabelas and one remington and the gortex tinsulate 3 piece cabelas my favorite was 700 bucks in 84 and seen over 20 years of hard hunting in pei and sask and never fell apart and sees every snow storm still but made in the USA and I wear a second one every day ( it's original spare) in the winter as my regular parka I always bought the best made for the time when it came to hunting clothing expensive or not I wanted to be as warm and dry as possible
If you were not so dam big I got like two sets in the plastic also of cabelas dry plus which would get one by with the bibs but would not go near you too short and too small I was just a little guy when those were bought
Cheers
F'k I hate winter and best 700 bucks I ever spent still going almost 40 years later Cabelas hunting clothing today is no better than wally mart or crappy tire all overseas made poor quality but some are fine with it so to each their own

 

You are a member on the refuge form what are those boys suggesting
Cheers

 

I’m been wearing Sitka Gear since 2018 I believe. I’ve owned my wading jacket since 2019, and probably been duck hunting/fishing and whenever it down pours and have to do work outside. A good 30-40 days a year and has shown zero signs of wear. The water proof cuffs around the hands are legit. I also own a ton of their big game line, so clothing in the sub alpine camo pattern and a full fanatic and equinox set in EV2. And the piece I probably use the most is the Delta wading jacket and mountain pant.
Their gear is top notch, I was buying my stuff in the US a couple years ago. That way I never paid shipping or duty and minimal taxes

 

The price can be a bit alarming on some of the stuff. There’s definitely pieces not worth the price tag like their base layers, but the main outer peices are totally worth it. When I was gone to work I’d catch my dad wearing my gear on the cell cams steady, to the point I ended up buy him some presents lol A good portion of my friends have converted to Sitka especially for waterfowl. Everything is well though out to where the pockets are located, all the vent locations, and magnetic buttons on the pockets

 

Also since theses posts have your attention not sure if you seen him yet but we have a MONSTER buck hanging around us this year NO BS largest I have ever seen in NS very tall and light colored and well over 250 on the hoof looks like one from sask he is so thick and nice rack
Seen him three times so far and the other night at 11 standing at the top of the driveway so I went out on the step not 30 yards away and he just stared me down No fear finally flagged and snorted and jogged away
Get that blind ready my friend since you know what I see here ends up behind you sometime in the season and he is just one of four here right now for sure Nice pair of 8 pointers also travelling together ( and in my beans ) and a tall rack six point and lots of does two with fawns but spots gone That is what the old eyes see so there is more I am not seeing for sure
take care

 

I am not deer hunting this year its only me that eats it at the house even with givin some away its too much meat i get tired of eating it so i am passing it up this year.I acquired permission to hunt 40 acres of private land out around mira anytime i want land owner is a cousin so maybe next season for now just goin to chase bunnies and birds lol...

 

I also recommend Sitka. The price is expensive but worth every penny. I also recommend the same approach. Buy a light waterproof outer (Hudson Jacket) and then some good inner layers. Way more versatile for the amount of money your spending. Wear the Hudson early season then layer and be fine late season.

First Lite is another brand I highly recommend. Sitkas competitor and a bit less expensive.

I have been wearing both for a couple years now and have abused both. Walking through thorns, alders etc. Had them on moose hunts and just around the house. They are probably the most durable piece of clothing I have owend.

Also both companies (Sitka and FirstLite) have pretty decent warranties - there is a problem send it back and the fix/repair for free or a reasonable cost. Sitka waders a buddy put a hole through the boot - paid shipping back to Sitka and they replaced the boots for free, I tore the crotch out of my sitka waders, sent them back (only paid shipping_) the re-stitched, and completley overhauled the waders (I had owned them for 5 year before I tore the crotch)

FirstLite is direct to consumer from thier website

Sitka - YoungGuns in Porters lake has the best/only selection in NS - worth the visit to touch and feel before you buy.

 

WELL BYS i went and did It i ordered the feckin hudson lol thru CDN waterfowl outfitters in Ont they gave me 10% off cause of the sale in the states no free shipping but there a solid mom and pop shop so i like dealin with them.I hope the warrenty is good and it last a long time cause i hate bein cold, wet and miserable unless the birds are flyin lol...

 

Congrats Have no fear the old sock stash will fill again in a few months

 

Got the new jacket i'm very impressed it even got drain holes in the cargo pockets alot of waterfowl jackets forget that little detail now can't wait for the next rainstorm/snow and noreaster lol.I went one size over normal for the layering glad i did there built for skinny guys its nice and light as well.

 

I figured that from looking at the pics Not much made for big boys unless noted as such Glad you like it
Cheers

 

Take a look at Under Armour as a cheaper option. I find that stuff decent quality for the price. It seems just before Bass Pro bought out Cabelas their clothing went downhill fast. I have some of the old Cabelas stuff and it's great probably wouldn't touch any of the new stuff now. Cabelas had a lot of nice stuff even around 10-15 years ago, all gone now though.

 

Every piece of gear I still have from cabelas is quality because it was all bought when made in usa and canada I agree it went down hill in a hurry when they started to get everything made overseas
Junk now iMHO Stiff like those worsterline I think they were called shirts and their wool pants and vests made by woolrich etc etc Pack boots made by sorel in canada unlike now
I still have a pair of them I use smelting i bought in 1985 one coat of the old snow seal a year and good to go
Cheers

 

I bought a set of banded waders in 16 i think. Ripped a hole in the boot on 2nd season. Other then that theyre great best waders ive had other then my simms sockfoot i use for fly fishing. The banded waders are warm and comfortable got the 13 stout for my big gut and still have lots of room for layers. Had to order them from the states years ago and the duty bit me in the ass when they came into canada but they were worth it. Ill buy another set when theese are wore out

 

I checked out bandeds site its a 2 yr warrenty i went tru 2 cheap pairs last yr on the atv hunting ponds cause i was keeping the cabellas for the boat and wading in ocean .Its the gore tex and warrenty that are leading down this road lol .

 

I believe I read you are in CB is that right? next time you come to the HRM either go to YoungGuns or give me some notice and maybe we can meet up so you can look, touch feel the waders. I can also show you some other Sitka layer options to consider. Might be some good ideas for xmass and birthdays . They are expensive but the old saying "cheap aint quality and quality aint cheap!" rings true here.

Yeah im in CB i don't go to hrm much but birthday and xmas is being thrown into the conversation as we speak lol guess i'l have to put my prices up in the forge lol...I'm gettin old i just want light warm and waterproof gear i got one of those front zippers on my fly fishing waders there the best innovation yet lol makes takin a leak easy....Espeacialy when your layered up in the cold....

 

If Xmass and Birthdays are in the mix then I highly recommend the Dakota or Gradient Hoodies (Gradient is on sale 50% off the Sitka site right now). IMO they are pretty much the same. They have a water resistant outer layer and a nice fleece inner. I hunt salt water, fresh and fields and I find the Dakota is a great all-round complement to the Delta/Hudson jacket.

I usually run hot so I normally wear just the Dakota hoody and an underarmour longsleeve. This suits me for 75% of the hunting scenarios and I find it is warm enough to -5 degrees. The water resistant outer is great for those foggy mornings, snowy days or light passing rain showers. Any heavy rain or really cold temperatures I layer up with the Dakota/Hundson jackets.

 

so @682bubba waterfowl has been on the go for a bit now - what's the thoughts on the jacket?

 

LOVe it so far two downpours no leaks i can carry calls and shells tucked away in the pockets no more wet shells decoying and i love layering up and down depending on weather temp.It dries quick and no wind comes thru we'll see in the nor'easters.The only real issue is the main zipper its stiff and hard to start sometimes hopefully it lasts.One thing that pleasantly surprised me is the gun don't get caught up in the jacket when you shoulder the gun my ole jacket it did it alot.I am glad i got it one size to big because it moves free all layered up my other jacket was bulkey and tight when i added extra sweaters.And one last issue i found is both top pocket zippers leak in the rain so i keep my keys and phone in a water proof bag in the pocket and my shells in the handwarmer pockets.
I'll do another reveiw at end of season after the real bird hunting weather comes in i hope to get a lot of seasons out of it for the price and not have to use the lifetime warranty at least 5 yrs lol we'll see.Hows that for a reveiw.....

 

For the zipper try some wax if you haven't thought of that already

 

When the zipper is closed up...run the lead of a carpenters pencil up and down the teeth 7 or 8 times...should help

 

UPDATE ON SITKA JACKET/Two years of hunting with jacket water proof to say the least but not indestructible lol the zipper sucks.The rubber on the end of the sleeves is starting to rub off and now the liner in the cargo pocket is ripped.i'll probally send it back the end of hunting season for warranty work if shipping is not crazy or fix the pocket myself.So far out today in downpour just my wrists were wet and its got the best hood i ever used.Was it worth the price i think a 150 to 200 less would be a better price.

 

Send it back, I am surprised your having that many issues. I have had mine for a while now and no issues. I sent my waders back for warranty ($60 shipping) and they went above an beyond. I had a small hole in the crotch. they got the waders, cleaned them, resealed everything and replaced the boots no charge. Also shipped them back to me free.

 

I bought my duck hunting jacket on sale at Canadian Tire 4 years ago for $35 down from $175. Still going strong. Only problem so far is the Velcro came unglued from the rubber straps for tightening the cuffs. I'll use some rubber cement soon to fix that.

 

Let's do a list to get back on topic:

Top Tier Brands

Sitka
First Lite
Kuiu

Runners Up

Kryptek
Badlands
Kings Camo
Under Armour

Value Brands (aka only buy when on sale)

Cabelas/Bass Pro lines (Cabelas Instinct, True Timber, Redhead etc.)
Canadian Tire Specials (Yukon Gear, Huntshield)
Wal Mart (RealTree) * On the edge of welfare see below

Thrift Store Brands

The Salvation Army Thrift Store
Guy's Frenchys
Bargain Harleys
Giant Tiger(Mountain Ridge)

*caveat, some diamonds in the rough can be found at the second hand thrift stores as you might luck out on a name brand when either a grizzled hunter dies and their wife dumps off their hunting clothes or a hunter gets divorced because they spend too much time poking around in the wrong bush and their wife again dumps their clothes off at Sally's.

I will throw in my 2 cents on clothing. I have a variety of clothing accumulated over the years for different temps and conditions. Is it all needed probably not. But no matter the weather I can loot my closet and be comfortable and spend the whole day in the woods and be dry and warm. I don't own any top tier brands, most of my gear is from Cabelas dating back over 10-15+ years ago when they made good quality stuff and all of it I got on sale. You can't buy the stuff I have now, collectors items I guess but should last me. I have some mid weight stuff from Under Armour for the early season and it's decent quality. I am testing some different types of boots at the moment, but I think no matter what those get rotated out every few years. Saying all that to be brutally honest the Columbia black winter puffer jacket I got on sale for $120 is just as warm as any hunting jacket I own, throw a cheap wal mart blaze orange vest on that and you are good to go. You don't need name brand stuff to kill a deer, like I said it probably comes down to how comfortable you are going to be afield and how long you can stay out there clothing does help with that I also didn't get as cold when I was younger. Dress in layers and take extra socks and gloves. My secret weapon for layering is a hand made wool sweater under my jacket.

 

Cabelas back in the day when made in the usa was never a value brand it was the top of the line and expensive. All of my hunting gear was cabelas even my under ware and all of it is still with me and my waterfowl gear is over 39 years old and 22 of those years it was hunted hard during waterfowl seasons in various parts of canada and in those days that is what all the guides wore also the Cabelas ambush gortex parkas and bibs and they were 600 bucks a set in 85 when I first got my first set for xmas
I have three sets of these vintage gortex cabelas made in usa sets two in camo and one in hunters orange and an old browning and remington camo waterfowl sets of gortex which are no where near as good and they get used every winter to this day snowblowing raggy but still here . The cabelas I bought after with the dri plus membrane were junk and foreign made and tossed out
Cheers
The browning here and about 35 years old and still going strong but also made in the USA back then and quality

 

If i was hunting in a deer blind i'd probally have a heater and a helly hanson hoodie lol,but for waterfowl you need rain and wind proof,I think if a guy got a good price on a surplus army gortex jacket it would be the best bang for the buck for all hunting .Camo is sold for style the old days it was a checkered wool plad jacket wool pants and a hat with flaps nowadays its camo underware ffs lol does it make a differance to the animals i don't think.....

 

many guys wore the army gortex back in the day waterfowl hunting and as you say good coats but i never see them any more in the surplus stores I have been in any more or if there made for little boys not in our sizes
Cheers

 

I have Under Armour and a good amount of Rocky gear, but I mostly wear a Yukon Blaze orange fleece jacket from CDN Tire.
I think I bought that jacket in 08 or 09 and have worn it every season since, mostly because hunting season has lots of warm weather to deal with.

 

Now that is primitive hunting, using a pointed stick.

 

I 100% believe that the performance of the gear (warmth, waterproof, etc.) is more important than the camouflage pattern. Different camouflage patterns sell gear to foolish humans. Most important thing is to break up the human form.