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Right here’s the factor: You don’t precisely want costly clothes to treestand hunt for whitetails in 45- to 30-degree temperatures. Throw on a pair of lengthy johns, heavy bibs, and an insulated coat and also you’ll in all probability be simply advantageous for a morning sit or two. However if you wish to hunt critically and pull all-day sits — day after day in more and more nasty situations — you’re going to want extra technical gear to remain heat, dry, and cozy. That’s the place First Lite’s Core sequence is available in.
I subject examined the Core jacket and bib this fall throughout the coronary heart of my Wisconsin bow season and located the system to be one of many quietest and most comfy whitetail fits that I’ve ever worn. On the draw back, I did discover some sturdiness points that you just would possibly need to take into account earlier than you pull the set off on this $900 combo (for the jacket and bib). We’ll dig into the small print beneath.
Core Jacket Specs and Key Options
- Sizes: Small to XXXL
- Camo: First Lite Specter
- Physique cloth: Nylon with DWR
- Micro-fleece liner
- Zip-off detachable hood
- Chest pockets which can be accessible whereas carrying a bino harness
- Security harness pass-through port
- Twin-zippered hand pockets
- Ports for entry to inside pockets and hand hotter muff on the bib (magnetic closures)
- PrimaLoft Gold Insulation (80gsm within the physique and 60gsm within the sleeves)
- Worth: $450
Core Bib Specs & Key Options
- Sizes: Small to XXXL
- Camo: First Lite Specter
- Physique Cloth: Light-weight nylon with DWR
- Micro-fleece liner
- Full-length aspect zips
- Zip safe chest pockets
- Kangaroo-style handwarmer pockets
- Twin entry cargo pockets optimized with magnetic high flap and aspect zip closures
- Worth: $450
Testing the First Lite Core Collection
I bow hunted in northwestern Wisconsin from mid-October to early November with the Core jacket and bib, carrying them on nearly a dozen sits. Temperatures ranged from 60 levels to the mid 30s. I noticed wind as much as 18mph and solely mild precipitation (total we’ve had an unseasonably gentle fall up right here). All of my looking was from tree stands. Like most private-land whitetail hunters, I’d stroll a couple of hundred yards from my truck, climb into my stand, after which wait.
How the First Lite Core Collection Carried out
Consolation and Quietness
The very first thing I observed about this go well with was how extremely comfy it’s. Each the outer nylon materials and internal fleece are tremendous gentle to the contact. Though the jacket is insulated, it doesn’t really feel cumbersome or heavy. I by no means felt just like the Michelin man whereas sitting in my stand, even when layered up.
I’m 6 foot 2 and weigh 185 kilos and the Giant match me effectively with loads of room for layering. With the jacket, there was just a little additional materials across the waist however I didn’t thoughts in any respect.
The second factor I observed was how splendidly quiet the jacket and bib are. As a result of that outer nylon materials is so gentle, it’s additionally tremendous quiet, each when rubbed towards itself or different objects. That is key for drawing a bow undetected, but in addition for creeping into your setup. That is subjective, however to my ear, this was the second-quietest whitetail looking go well with that I’ve subject examined behind solely the Sitka Fanatic, which is a cold-weather jacket with a berber-fleece outer layer.
I appreciated the quietness of this go well with when a pleasant buck grunted his approach into my setup to chase some does and run off a youthful buck. I drew my bow stealthily with does straight below my stand and made an ideal shot on him at 25 yards. The Core jacket and bib earned a pair bonus factors on that night hunt.
Heat and Weatherproofness
First Lite says this combo is right for temperatures from 30 levels to 45 levels, and I’d say that’s about proper. With the correct layering beneath I might comfortably put on this go well with in 20-degree climate, but when it have been a lot colder than that, I’d go for heavier gear.
I by no means felt chilly whereas looking within the Core and I often wore solely a base layer, lengthy sleeve shirt, and uninsulated pants beneath it.
One factor I used to be fortunately stunned by was how waterproof the Core sequence was. One morning I hunted in a really mild, sporadic rain and stayed completely dry. For just a little harder testing I sprayed the arm of the jacket below my kitchen sink for a full minute and located that water by no means soaked by way of. I attribute that to the DWR end on the jacket however I’ll be curious to see how that end and water repelling efficiency would possibly (or won’t) maintain up over time.
Nonetheless, this isn’t a totally waterproof go well with. For those who’re planning to hunt in regular rain, go along with professional rain gear. However the Core sequence ought to stand as much as snow and lightweight, occasional rain.
Intelligent Options
Each the Core jacket and bib are filled with options that whitetail hunters will respect. Ranging from the highest, the jacket has a detachable hood that matches snugly. It additionally has a harness port within the again so you possibly can put on your treestand harness beneath your jacket, which I want to do.
The jacket has openings on the perimeters, simply above the pockets, so you possibly can entry internal pockets and the kangaroo-style pocket within the bibs. These ports are closed by a strip of magnets (they routinely snap shut when not in use). I discovered it was an not easily seen solution to preserve my palms heat. It’s particularly good for bowhunters, who don’t prefer to put on gloves. One small closing contact is that the jacket has a small loop within the cuff, which you’ll be able to connect to a thumb launch, guaranteeing that you just don’t drop it out of the tree — or overlook it.
The bibs have adjustable straps on the perimeters so you possibly can tighten them to suit. They’ve magnetized cargo pockets on the legs. The comfortable kangaroo-style pocket within the entrance is a superb place to stash handwarmers on chilly days. And, they’ve full-length zippers on the perimeters.
Sturdiness Points
The one criticism I’ve for the Core go well with is potential sturdiness points. Whereas the outer nylon is gentle and quiet, my pattern was not burr- or briar-proof. Whereas strolling into my setups on a couple of events, I needed to slip by way of some thickets with burrs and thorns. After pulling stray burrs off the jacket I later inspected the sleeve and noticed that outer materials was pulling out and coming unwoven — not precisely coming aside on the seams, however type of. First Lite’s guarantee reveals that sort of injury “pilling, abrasion, pin holes or different beauty put on and tear which doesn’t have an effect on the efficiency of the garment,” in all probability wouldn’t be lined.
The jacket remains to be purposeful in fact, however at $450 I desire a looking jacket to final a number of years of arduous use and that features the occasional burr patch.
This wouldn’t be a difficulty in the event you hunt open hardwoods and don’t should tromp by way of thick stuff to get to your spots. However for public land hunters who should cowl a wide range of habitat to get in deep to their setups, the long-term sturdiness of the Core go well with could possibly be an issue.
How the Core Stacks Up In opposition to the Competitors
Within the final couple of seasons I’ve subject examined a handful of different top-end whitetail looking fits as effectively, most notably the Sitka Incinerator and Kuiu Proximity. Curiously, I’d say the First Lite Core sits proper between the 2 when it comes to heat and value, however for my part it’s extra comfy than each. Right here’s my fast tackle every:
Sitka Incinerator
That is the warmest and most weatherproof of the three, however it’s additionally the most costly and bulkiest. For those who hunt quite a lot of sub-freezing temperatures otherwise you get chilly simply, this may be an excellent go well with to contemplate.
First Lite Core
That is the second warmest and second most costly of the three. I discovered it to be probably the most comfy and quietest of all of them. However my long-term sturdiness issues are actual.
Kuiu Proximity
That is the least cumbersome and least costly choice of the three. I discovered the Proximity to be good for gentle climate however not appropriate for chilly temps.
Learn Subsequent: Sitka vs Kuiu Whitetail Gear
Ultimate Ideas
General, I used to be impressed with the First Lite Core system and plan to put on it on extra deer hunts this yr and into the long run. I feel it’s a great jacket/bib combo for a severe whitetail bowhunter who prioritizes consolation and tranquility — perhaps simply not one who has to cross a burr patch with the intention to get to their stand.
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