GREAT GEAR RECOMENDATION - Sitka Nimbus Jacket
Glassing for Coues deer on a clear, crisp December day. Sitka's Nimbus Jacket, despite my initial reservations, has become my go to shell when stealth is the order of the day. The Zeiss 15x60 binos on a Manfrotto 3001BD tripod and 700rc2 head set up is still a good one that has stood the test of time.
For years I have been telling anyone that would listen, including the biggest names in the outdoor clothing industry, that the camo crowd deserved a real technical shell. As a backpacker, climber, skier, and mountaineer I have at least two dozen high quality technical shells in a variety of colors to choose from. However, if I need that same technical shell capability in a quiet, camouflage fabric, my choices are severely limited. The Sitka Nimbus Jacket goes a long way to bridging that gap.
Before I go any farther with this let me define a couple of terms for the purpose of this article. First. What do I mean by a technical shell? A protective outer jacket that features waterproof/breathable and windproof fabrics, no hanging liner, taped seams, water resistant zippers, minimal but efficient pocket design and layout, adjustable cuffs and hood, and pit zips. The technical shells I use are durable but light to mid weight, somewhere between 20 and 30 ounces. Some best-in-class examples of technical shells are the TAD Gear Predator Hardshell, Wild Things Alpinist, and Arcteryx Beta AR. Second. Who is the camo crowd? Hunters, birders, military special operators, backcountry law enforcement, wildlife biologists, wildlife photogs, etc, etc. By the way, add those groups together and they dwarf the clientèle that the outdoor industry currently caters to. Why the camo crowd is ostensibly ignored in this regard is the subject of a future article but in a nutshell it has to do with prejudice and politics. Plain and simple.
The Nimbus works well with layers and a pack which is key to a good technical shell. Other gear pictured is a first run production model of the Outdoorsmans backpack, Lowa Ranger GTX boots, Propper Soft Shell pant, and an iCom F11 radio.
OK, there are a few camo pieces out there that work for me like the Propper APECS Parka and the Cabelas MTO50 line but they miss the mark. The APECS is too heavy, too many pockets and not as quiet as I would like but it is built for heavy use and I like the MARPAT digital camo patterns. The Cabelas MTO50 Quiet Pak jacket, heretofore, has been my favorite hunting outer wear for the past seven or eight years but it suffers from a dated design. It doesn't have pit zips, still uses a mesh hanging liner and is a touch too heavy. However, it is quiet, very durable, and available in a number of camo patterns.
Why does the Sitka Nimbus knock the MTO50 out of first place on my list? Pit zips, no hanging liner, weight and water resistant zippers. The Nimbus is a technical shell in camo. The MTO50 is still a hunting jacket, a good hunting jacket but still a hunting jacket that has been overtaken by the competition.
If you hunt like I do. Guy Eastman calls it Strike Hunting, Patrick Smith calls it Solitaire or Backpack Hunting but my style is even more austere. I rarely use a tent, sleeping bag or fire, I am usually solo and as far away from anything or anybody as I can get. I call it bivy hunting and it is my passion. Not quite Survivorman with a rifle but close. It is out there on the ragged edge and my success, performance and ultimate safety depends on staying dry and warm with minimal weight. For me, the Sitka Nimbus Jacket works better than the Cabelas MTO50 Quiet Pak jacket.
Those are Zeiss 12x56s mounted to the Manfrotto pistol grip and 190XV tripod. Very nice glasses but the Zeiss tripod mount is no good. Note the Zipped down REI MTS T-Neck and no insulation layer for max ventilation while working hard.
Now the Nimbus is not perfect in my opinion. I am not fond of the slick rubbery interior lining but it does seem to enhance the evaporation of perspiration. I would like to see the lower set of pockets go away and the twin Napoleon pockets on the chest turned into hand pockets. Although, thanks to some good old fashioned innovation, the lower hand pockets can still be used while wearing a pack. I would love to be able to detach the hood. And finally, I wish the exterior fabric was as quiet as the MTO50. With the exception of the noise issue, which is big for bowhunters, those are all nit picky personal preference things. I have no doubt that the Nimbus will continue to evlove and benefit from Sitkas new relationship with the good folks at Gore-Tex.
I have used it several dozen times over the past three months in just about every condition and the take away message here is that the Sitka Nimbus Jacket works. It is light, reasonably quiet, and durable enough. It does not leak, cuts the wind nicely and comes in camo but best of all, for me and my style of hunting, it ventilates well and that is critical. Well done Sitka. Keep pushing the envelope. You have the lead so run with it.
Wade Nelson
Editor
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Posted by Wade Nelson at 1/7/2009 9:25 AM 
Categories: Shell Layer
Tags: best camouflage hunting shell best hunting jacket
Categories: Shell Layer
Tags: best camouflage hunting shell best hunting jacket
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