Sitka Rain Jackets - Stormfront vs. Cloudburst vs. Dewpoint - Which Works Best for Your Hunt!
Finding the perfect rain jacket can be a daunting task. Finding the right one for your hunting style and the weather in which you will be hunting can be difficult without trying them out in the field. While searching for the best Sitka Waterproof Jacket for your hunt, it's nearly impossible to find comparisons for the 3 rain jackets Sitka offers. The Stormfront, Cloudburst, and Dewpoint are all top of the line rain jackets by Sitka, but the one for you may be different than the one you were planning on buying. Here is Sitka rain gear comparison:
- Most durable hard-shell in Sitka's line
- Foldaway Hood
- Extended Tail
- Water tight cuffs
- 4 Strategicaly located pockets (2 chest, 2 sleeve)
- Pockets are placed to be easily accessed with a pack on
- Elevated hand pockets to keep rain water out
- Pit-Zips
- Most versitile in Sitka's line
- 2 Hand pockets
- 2 Chest pockets
- 1 Sleeve Pocket
- Hood Zips into collar
- Pull Cords for Hood in chest pocket
- Pit Zips
- Lightest weight
- Most packable
- Ideal for the ounce counter
- Pit Zips double as hand pockets
- 1 True Pocket (Chest)
Ok, ok I know, it's a chart with a bunch of info on it. So I am going to tell you short and sweet what rain jacket to buy depending on where you will be hunting.
Stormfront: You will be hunting in long periods of rain, sometimes for days. This is perfect for the guy that needs to wear his rain jacket while bushwacking or hiking through dense brush. Alaska comes to mind for the Sitka Stormfront Jacket. So if you have a trip to Alaska, get the Sitka Stormfront Jacket.
Cloudburst: This is the rain jacket I use the most. I don't worry too much about the weight I am packing in since I am usually on day hunts or maybe an overnighter. I get all of the features of the Stormfront with a bunch of pockets, but I won't be diving through brush so I don't need the full durability of the Stormfront Jacket.
Dewpoint: This is for the backpacker. The guy counting ounces that is going to be hunting bivy style and needs the waterproofing of Gore-Tex but does not need the features with pockets and a stowaway hood.
Also while you are looking for rain jackets, don't forget the rain pants!
Whichever you choose, it will keep you dry! Backed by Gore-Tex's Lifetime warranty, you can rest assured that it won't leak, won't break down, and if it does Gore-Tex will hook you up.
Bushwacking it going through the wet firs/cedars/vine maple and stuff. No blackberries.
So is the cloudburst best then for that?
If you are going to be bushwacking through some nasty stuff and beating it up a bunch the Stormfront is the best. But if it is an occasional bushwack the Cloudburst will hold up great. I had the same issue as you when it came to my rain gear not drying out. Last year with the Cloudburst jacket it would dry out overnight without any issue at all. So overall if you need the extra durability and will be in the rain for days on end, you need the Stormfront. But if you don't need that heavy duty of a jacket and don't want to spend that much $$, I would say go with the Cloudburst for sure!
If you wanted to save money and weight but have the ability to bushwack would you get a tougher pant or tougher jacket? For example, stormfront pant and dewpoint jacket.
Hope that helps.
Thanks