• The XL fit is generous enough to accommodate everything from light weight synthetic liners to full on down bivy jackets without compressing the insulation, reducing dead air space and decreasing the thermal efficiency
• Sleeves are the proper length 
• It fits exactly the way I think all these jackets should

DESIGN

• Modern technical mountain jacket slash parka (I am not really sure what the difference is between the two) made for high activity and severe weather in difficult terrain
• The cut is longer than most and the back hangs down lower for additional protection when sitting or bending 

FEATURES

• Gore-Tex Pro Shell
• 3 layer waterproof, windproof, breathable laminate (means there is no hanging liner just a smooth ultra low nap fabric with a light grid texture on the interior) construction
• Cuffs are a combination Velcro and 1 inch wide elastic gathers that allow outstanding adjustability as well as the ability to slip your hands in and out when donning and doffing without readjusting the cuffs.  Very convenient and efficient 
• Bottom hem draw cord is elastic and one hand adjustable
• Waist draw cord is one hand adjustable from inside of each hand pocket 
• The separate collar and drop down hood works perfectly with a climbing helmet and is adjustable three ways so it is just as effective when wearing a baseball cap.  It works beautifully no matter how foul the weather 
• Pocket set is basic and just right.  Two hand pockets (8 inch openings) are easy to get into and out of with gloves and positioned high enough to still be usable with a backpack belt.  There is one Napoleon pocket on the exterior left and another one on the interior right.  Both are sized to keep a cell phone or full size iPod standing upright.  Nice 
• Pitzips, an absolute must for me, are 16 inches long, seam taped, double water resistant zippered, and fairly easy to operate for maximum ventilation 

PERFORMANCE

• Sleeves are long enough to slip down over my hands past my finger tips when the velcro adjustments are opened all the way allowing air to move up and down from the top of the neck to the cuffs (active ventilation slash chimney slash bellows effect) when I am moving.  I can also remove my gloves and walk without exposing my bare hands to the elements.  This helps to manage excess interior heat and moisture slash perspiration keeping the inside of the jacket (and base layer) dry and me warm   
• As long as the the DWR treatment is maintained on the exterior fabric it will keep you dry from the heaviest precipitation
• When it isn't raining the fabric passes water vapor, or breathes in the common vernacular, as well or better than any Gore-Tex jacket I have ever used   

DURABILITY

• This is a light jacket but the Gore-Tex Pro Shell (Gores beefiest consumer exterior) fabric has proven to hold up very well in the mountain slash alpine environment. It strikes the perfect balance between weight and durability in my opinion

NOISE

• 73 db is the loudest of this group.  Remember that it is also the lightest which is an interesting correlation

COLOR

• No camo but there is a black and medium grey in the current line that might work for some of you.  It is unfortunate that the "Oregano" color shown is no longer offered

KNOCKS

OVERALL IMPRESSION

• 36 ounces

FIT

• This is a size Large and is too small for me to accommodate anything but light slash thin insulation layers.  I have no idea how my Dad wore it.  However, if I had the right size I think it would fit and work properly with whatever I needed to wear under it

DESIGN

• Standard mountain parka design from the time (1976) modeled after the venerable Military M-65 Field Jacket but with modern materials 
• This is one of the first commercially available Gore-Tex shells.  The liner is not mesh but a light nylon that is not bonded directly to the other layer so I should describe it as hanging although attached at all the edges   

FEATURES

• Six pockets total (one Napoleon, two hand with two cargos directly over the top, and a mid back full width sweater pocket or what TAD Gear calls a duck pocket).  The main pockets have removable wool liners for hand warming and are positioned too low and could not be used with a backpack belt 
• One way, helmet compatible hood with Velcro strips to facilitate folding into the integrated collar and a woolen face mask 
• 20 inch one way pitzips with double storm flaps.   
• Adjustable waist draw cord
• Velcro adjustable cuffs with no elastic.
• Two double front zipper with Velcro storm covers 

PERFORMANCE

• It worked well when it was put into service more than 30 years ago and with an occasional wash in DWR renewal treatment, it still does the job today.  This jacket retailed for a little over $400 in 1976 (my Mother is still fuming over that one), I would say it has proven to be a pretty good value

DURABILITY

• The exterior can best be described as a light Cordura or heavy poplin material.  Whatever it is, it is comfortably flexible but stout.  It seems every bit as tough as the WT Tactical Hard Shell below

NOISE

• 65 db

COLOR

• Forest green exterior, orange (for signaling, pretty smart huh) interior

KNOCKS

• Little things, like antiquated fixtures and hardware
• It is considered heavy by current standards
• Pocket set.  Too many and poorly placed

OVERALL IMPRESSION

• Size XL weighs 22 ounces but because the Stormfront runs small there is less fabric in Sitkas XL then the others

FIT

• Dimensional proportions are correct but an XL is not big enough for me to wear anything heavier than a light weight liner jacket for insulation.  Unless their sizing changes (to match those of the Stormfront Lite Jacket) I need an XXL in the Stormfront Jacket to wear the range of insulation layers necessary for fall, winter and early spring outings on the mountain 
• Sleeve length is good
• The hem line is shorter than any of the other jackets here 

DESIGN

• Generic technical mountain jacket with a very modern look.  Seems people either love it or hate it.  I like it 

FEATURES

• Gore-Tex Performance Shell (Gores medium duty fabric) 
• 3 layer waterproof, windproof breathable laminate construction so there is no hanging mesh liner
• Same interior lining as the Arcteryx
• Velcro cuff closures are adjustable but they have no elastic 
• Bottom hem cord is adjustable from inside each hand pocket 
• Hood is not quite big enough to wear a helmet but you could make it work in a pinch.  It is only adjustable two ways but it seems to fit very nicely with a ball cap when you are all cinched up and it is raining hard 
• Has a separate collar with a drop down hood which allows you to zip the jacket all the way up without putting the hood up which I like 
• Pocket set is good.  Two main hand pockets are positioned high enough but a little small (7 inch opening) when wearing heavy gloves.  There are two exterior and two mesh interior Napoleon pockets which is probably two more than I need
• Pitzips are 18 inches long, seam taped, double zippered water resistant zippered and work well

PERFORMANCE

• Does a very nice job of keeping the wind and rain out. 
• Ventilates well when the conditions are favorable, meaning when it is dry  

DURABILITY

• So far so good.  I think it is heavy enough to stand up to the rigors of Western hunting

NOISE

• 71 db

COLOR

• Optifade Open Country camouflage (people either love it or hate it and I love it) and a medium green solid

KNOCKS

• Noise
• Sizing of the Stormfront 
• No double front zipper
• No elastic in cuffs
• Hood is not removable

OVERALL IMPRESSION

• XXL weighs 21 ounces

FIT

• The XXL fits me properly which means I can wear the full range of insulation layers without reducing its effectiveness 
• Sleeve length is long enough and right on for me
• I would describe it as a full cut but not excessive or sloppy 

DESIGN

• Very clean 
• Sparse or efficient depending on your point of view but there is nothing extraneous or unnecessary on this jacket and that showed on the scale

FEATURES

• Torays 3 layer Dermizax laminate
• Uses a micro grid cloth backer
• Waterproof, windproof, breathable
• 4 way stretch is nice (a requirement for pants) but not necessary if the jacket fits properly.  In fact, I think the stretch feature will cause some people to buy a jacket that is too small and that will negatively their insulation layer 
• Seam sealed
• Separate collar with a drop down hood that is adjustable two ways 
• 14 inch pitzips with double slider water resistant zippers 
• Two main hand pockets have 8 inch openings that run down a little farther towards the bottom hem which may put them in conflict with a pack waist belt
• Inside vertical pocket is perfect for an iphone or ipod 
• Bottom hem shock cord is one hand adjustable from each side at the hip  

PERFORMANCE

• So far, it is waterproof, windproof and is vapor permeable on par with the best here  

DURABILITY

• This jacket is not ultra light according to the numbers but it sure feels like it is.  It will be interesting to see how well the exterior fabric, which feels something like Schoeller cloth, holds up to my Arizona, New Mexico and Northern Idaho outings 
• The water resistant zippers work well but they don't strike me as particularly stout or heavy duty, we'll see how they do  

NOISE

• 70 db

COLOR

• Vias camouflage (nice looking and reminds me of Cabelas Outfitter) is crisp, sharp with tan, brown, black and grey.    Frost Grey (looks like it would be good in the snow)

KNOCKS

• Main hand pockets are set a little low
• Needs a double main zipper
• Hood adjustment cords can whip around in the wind
• Needs a removable snap on hood, like all the others 
• Zippers could be a little beefier, I think 
• Velcro adjustment tabs on cuffs are too wispy, there should be more for greater adjustability
• There is no elastic in the cuffs and no stretch there at all so I have to undo the Velcro every time I take the jacket off then readjust it again when I put it back on.  Really irritates me

OVERALL IMPRESSION

• XL weighs 30 ounces, middle of the pack

FIT

• The way it should be.  Big enough (not quite as roomy as the Arcteryx or Kuiu) to handle insulation layers ranging in thickness from light synthetic liners to thick down puffy jackets without doing compressing and reducing the dead air space.  Sleeves are the correct length to allow active ventilation techniques

DESIGN

• A capable mountaineering jacket from a bunch of honest to goodness mountaineers that has been beefed up and modified for military special operations use.  I think it is damn near perfect for its intended purpose 

FEATURES

• Waterproof, windproof and highly vapor permeable by virtue of its three layer eVent laminate
• The exterior is treated with a DWR and all seams are taped Interior is also a micro grid cloth backer
• Two way adjustable (friction adjusters took a little getting used to) helmet compatible hood but there is no separate, free standing collar which is a little disappointing 
• 19 inch pitzips with double sliders water resistant zippers
• All zippers have protective fabric covers for additional protection from precipitation and physical damage 
• Inside vertical mesh water bottle pockets on each side indicative of its mountaineering heritage 
• Two vertical access bicep pockets with a 2x3 inch fuzzy Velcro patches on each that is very handy for a lot of things 
• Two main hand pockets with 9 inch openings set above the waist belt where they belong 
• Bottom hem shock cords are one hand adjustable from the side 
• Cuffs are almost identical to the Arcteryx, Velcro adjustment strips and wide elastic gathers which are my favorites   

PERFORMANCE

• Theorectically 3 layer eVent will breathe better than 3 layer Gore-Tex because eVent has larger pores but because Gore-Tex has an oleophobic coating it will last longer and stand up to contamination better than eVent.  How much longer will Gore-Tex last?  Don't know but I am beginning to think that laminate breathability trumps laminate durability.  Given a choice between Gore-Tex and eVent in the same jacket, I would take eVent because in my field trials it does breathes better.  How much better?  Hard to quantify but it is enough to notice a difference.  A significant difference 
• This jacket performs on par with the best in the business and I would not be afraid to use it anywhere    

DURABILITY

• Outstanding.  I think it is the most durable of all these jackets.

NOISE

• 70 db, middle of the pack

COLOR

• MultiCam camouflage which has become the darling of special operators everywhere and for good reason I think.  No other colors available at this time. 
• I would also like to see a winter slash snow version.  Sort of a dirty Polar Bear look

KNOCKS

• Its kind of heavy but it is a beast so it is an acceptable trade off to me
• Its also kind of loud but again it is a beast so unless you are doing up close and personal work it is an acceptable trade off to me
• Needs a removable snap on hood, like the rest 
• Needs a separate collar, with a drop hood
• This jacket should have a double main zipper (other Wildthings jackets, like the excellent Alpinist, have them)
• Not terribly packable but again, that is a trade off I can live with

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Stout, burly, heavy duty but more refined and efficient than the APECS issue parkas.  Like the Arcteryx, this jacket is made by people (Wild Things Gear) with a lot of first hand mountaineering experience and it shows.  Yea, it is a little heavy but it is aimed at the military Special Ops community so it has to be exceptionally tough to survive extreme environments, terrain and vegetation. 

FIT

• Full, this XL is one of the roomiest tested and will easily handle any insulation layer you choose to put under it.  In fact, any bigger and it would be too big.  Cuffs are just long enough for ventilation purposes  

DESIGN

• A badly needed update and upgrade to one of the most successful hunting jacket lines of all time.  It is a hunting jacket with mountaineering jacket features, as opposed to the others reviewed here which are mountaineering jackets with hunting features.  The big deal about this jacket is that they figured out a way to keep the sturdy but quiet MTO50 fabric minus the old, heavy mesh interior hanging liner which also allowed them to add pit zips.  Yea!  It is a big improvement but it ain't perfect.  The hood (loud buzzer sound) especially needs some attention    

FEATURES

• All zippers are water resistant and way (sorry) beefier than anything else discussed in this article.  I like that a lot because there is nothing worse than a blown zipper in the middle of a cold hard rain when you are miles from the truck. 
• 12 inch pitzips. 
• 7 pockets but that is not a good thing in my opinion. 
• Two way adjustable hood  
• Velcro adjustable sleeve cuffs 
• Bottom hem waist cinch cords are one hand adjustable at the sides. 

PERFORMANCE

• It is waterproof, windproof and does breathe when the exterior is dry although not as well as the others because of the thicker exterior fabric I suspect.  This jacket does a very nice job of turning back the brush and it does it with a low, muffled sound which is its best attribute

DURABILITY

• If my old MTO50 jacket, pants and bibs are any indication this new jacket will log many years of service.  It won't tolerate barbed wire fences or stand up to Agaves but it will do just fine against most everything else I will ever encounter in the Western U.S., Canada and AK 

NOISE

• The quietest of this group at 62db

COLOR

• Realtree AP, Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity camouflage patterns.  Sorry, no Outfitter Camo yet

KNOCKS

• Heavy
• The soft exterior fabric holds more water (melted snow or rain) than the more traditional hard shell exteriors which adds to the overall weight when in the field
• Pockets.  There are too many of them and they are poorly placed.  The two main hand pockets are only 7 inches wide which is snug when wearing gloves and they are set too low on the body so they will be useless when wearing a pack hip belt. Worse, opposite the outside main pockets are two horizontal zip pockets on the inside.  One pocket on top of the other is very no bueno.  There are also two outside opposing Napoleon pockets on on the chest and a vertical pocket on the sleeve.  I say scrap four of the seven and shave some ounces off this porker  
• Needs a removable, snap on hood
• Hood adjustment toggles are on the interior, they are hard to get to when all bundled up and they rub on my face after a while
• Hood brim is the worst of the bunch, it won't lay down on and dove tail with my baseball cap like the others which creates a void.  Voids are bad.  Needs fine tuning
• Sleeve cuffs.  There is no elastic in the cuffs, the Velcro adjustment tabs are too short and in the wrong place to work effectively

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Quality is very good.  This was the jacket I wanted to see before finishing this article.  My go to hunting jacket for many years was the Cabelas MTO50 Quiet Pack Rain Jacket but as I have said many times here and other places, it was a dated design (that used a hanging mesh liner, no pit zips, wasn't sized for insulation layers, etc).  I was very critical of Cabelas for resting on their laurels (good sales numbers) and not giving it a face lift to lead the niche or even keep up.  Well, they finally did it and it is pretty good, not great yet, but a definite improvement, so thank you Cabelas.  Keep pushing.  Address the issues mentioned above and it will be very good or even great. 

• My XL Regular (military sizes include Short, Regular and Long lengths) weighs 34 ounces

FIT

• Big.  A full cut and then some primarily through the chest because it is designed to accommodate body armor  

DESIGN

• The highest and best evolution of the old M65 Field Jacket

FEATURES

• Quieter, less bulky, more breathable 3 layer Gore-Tex Best Defense fabric engineered to remain waterproof, windproof and breathable even after exposure to jet fuel, gasoline, hydraulic fluid, DEET and other contaminants
• 14 inch single zippered pitzips
• Water resistant zippers
• Velcro adjustable cuffs, no elastic
• 8 pockets (2 sleeve, 2 Napoleon, two cargo on top of two hand warmers)
• two way adjustable, helmet compatible, tuck away hood
• Adjustable waist hem
• Adjustable bottom hem
• Abrasion resistant elbow reinforcements

PERFORMANCE

• Very solid.  Does what it is supposed to do and more.  Softer exterior finish goes a long way towards making this behemoth 40% quieter than its ECWCS predecessor but the exterior doesn't seem to retain any water (like the MTO50 cloth)  

DURABILITY

• This is the Humvee of waterproof, windproof, breathable hunting shells.  It lacks the refinement of the Arcteryx or WT and others but it is mil spec tough.  This is a dependable rig which is why it is issued to our Marines and that counts for something  

NOISE

• 67db

COLOR

• MARPAT (Marine Pattern) Woodland, one of my favorite camos

KNOCKS

• Heavy but muy mas macho 
• Main pockets are set too low
• Too many pockets
• Needs a snap on slash removable hood

OVERALL IMPRESSION

This is a jacket you know you are wearing but its heft offers a certain amount of security and piece of mind, like a big quilt or a suit of armor.  The MARPAT camo is very cool, it is also one of the most effective in my opinion.  The weight could be trimmed down a little by losing some of the extra pockets but if you remember who this jacket is made for you have to appreciate how far the military has come in making sure out our troopers get top notch gear.  The APECS jacket is a great example of that progress.  Ernie Pyle would be very proud.

I wonder though, this jacket uses proprietary Gore-Tex Best Defense fabric and it is outstanding.  It is tough, relatively quiet, soft slash pliable and relatively light.  So, my question is, since Gore-Tex owns Sitka Gear, why aren't we seeing this excellent fabric represented in the Sitka Stormfront?     

CONCLUSION

Which one(s) do I like best? 

• For all around - The Arcteryx Theta AR is still the best on the market so if I had to get on a plane tomorrow morning and go anywhere it would be the one I would take.  Period. 
• For hunting heavy cover slash sharp terrain - the WT Hard Shell SO 1.0.  It is the correct balance between rugged durability and light weight.  It is a cross between the Arcteryx and the APECS.  Love the MultiCam. 
• Hunting open country - The Kuiu Chugach, as long as it continues to prove that it is up to the task (an that is still an open question to me), because it is light, quiet, packable and very comfortable to wear.

EDITORS NOTE - Noise measurements were done using a digital sound meter from Radio Shack and as uniformed for all jackets as possible.  It isn't scientific or even definitive in my mind but it is objectively quantitative which is all I needed for these purposes. 

And regarding KNOCKS - these are all good products, I could use any one of them on my next outing and do just fine.  Am I splitting hairs and being nitpicky, yes of course I am, but the competition at this high level is fierce and distinctions based on my opinions are important.  After all, I am looking for what I feel is the best in class.

Snap on slash removable hoods - If Carhart and Rivers West can do it, why can't these guys?

Thanks.

Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

We can be educated and persuaded but not bought, bullied or bs'd. Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.