Expedition Essentials

What you need to know

Without a doubt, here, as in no other selection, Sitka Gear displays its full potential. But it’s also where we put our criterion to the test to show you the best

possible selection.

First of all, it’s necessary to understand what the main characteristic that converts a sortie into a hunting expedition is:

The time of stay in the hunting area is 24 hours a day for various consecutive days with no feasible possibility to re-provision or for intermediate stays in large towns.

Therefore, can an expedition be a prolonged stay in our habitual hunting area? No, if there’s the possibility of easy re-provisioning. And if it’s a ranch in Montana? You

will have had a long and pleasant trip, but no. And a four day Fly Camp in a hunting area in the Alps more than five hour’s walk from the nearest village? Yes, this

would really be an expedition.

Secondly, we are going to specify the four criteria that we have taken into consideration to offer you the selection:

Destination: Even though it can be a nearby destination, expeditions usually imply long and complicated displacements to far away destinations which means weight

and volume limitations to our equipment.

Load: Although we may not have to carry our own kit during the hunt, it’s a possibility which must be taken into consideration, and so volume and weight are

essential factors.

Length of Stay: Perhaps the main handicap on an expedition is a lengthy stay in the hunting area. This means that we are dependent on our equipment 24 hours a

day for a number of days.

Variety: The biggest challenge in designing an expedition kit is that the variety of destinations, climates, activity levels, and temperatures that have to be catered foris very wide.

Remember that:

Even though we’ve tried to simplify things to the fullest, some garments included in this section perform the same function. That is, they would occupy the same

place in your kit. So you should choose between them. While taking the functionality of both items into account, we have tried to offer you only a single

option, the most recommended. However, in some cases due to their high suitability we have offered two. Although both products would be highly

recommendable for this activity, slight differences in their functions will allow you to choose the one which best fits your needs.

So that you don’t confuse the duplicated garments and the characteristics that can help you choose the one that fits your needs better:

Merino Core Bottom vs Heavyweight Bottom:

The main difference is thermal capacity. Higher in the Heavyweight Bottom, this is therefore relegated to hunts in the colder latitudes or with lower activity levels,

while the Merino Core is lighter and more suitable for higher activity levels. In any case, the combination of both Bottoms is a good option for intensely cold conditions.

Kelvin Lite Hoody vs Kelvin Down WS Hoody:

Although both belong to the Kelvin family, garments with high thermal insulation capacity, their functionality is different. While Kelvin is a second layer that protects

us in medium cold conditions, Kelvin Down is a third layer designed for when temperatures plummet. In intensely cold environments, the two garments

combined is a good option.

Mountain Pant vs Timberline Pant:

We could call the Mountain Pant an “All-Year-Rounder”. It’s perfect for expeditions in milder latitudes. Its lightness gives it exceptional dynamic properties.

Even though we could also call the Timberline Pant an “All-Year-Rounder”, it is a better option for facing expeditions in the colder latitudes. Reinforced and

waterproof kneepads and rear mean greater protection when we move in wet and snowy terrain.

Stormfront GTX Globe vs Blizzar GTX Mitten:

Both designs are similar, a removable layer of thermal insulation plus a third layer of Gore-Tex. The principal difference lies in the thermal capacity, greater in the

Blizzar GTX Mitten, this being relegated to hunts in latitudes of extreme cold, while the Stormfront is lighter and suitable for more active hunts, or cold but not

freezing temperatures.

Traverse Glove vs Merino Glove:

Though both have very similar characteristics, the Traverse Glove offers inferior drying times, while the Merino Glove is a warmer and more comfortable under-

glove. Nevertheless, on expeditions in humid environments it’s advisable to include both.

Mountain Hauler 2700 vs Mountain Hauler 6200:

The Mountain Hauler 2700 backpack is a perfect daypack for expeditions in which horses or porters carry your equipment.

The Mountain Hauler 6200 backpack is our recommendation for expeditions on which we have to carry our own equipment or carry a slain animal.