ACCESSORIES AND APPAREL: Sitka Polygiene Core Hoody
From inception, Sitka has made its mark as a complete clothing system rather than a collection of individual garments. Because any layering system starts next to your skin, a foundational challenge of active wear is funk management. When Sitka redesigned its base layers for 2015, it teamed with odor-control specialists Polygiene to develop a new line of next-to-skin clothing employing silver chloride technology. Commonly used in active wear by scores of big-name apparel manufacturers, Polygiene is especially well suited to a brand like Sitka, which specializes in active hunting in a wide range of conditions. Among the newest base pieces, none is more versatile than the Sitka Core Hoody ($99 to $149). Available in both lightweight and heavyweight versions, either can be used as a first layer, a midweight, or a top layer, depending upon conditions and level of activity. Like all Sitka pieces, they’re designed to wick moisture away from your body, and the addition of Polygiene prevents the buildup of odor-causing bacteria. The heavyweight’s front zipper is extra long for ventilation, and it closes comfortably along the side of your face rather than across your chin and lips. The shaped hood fits snugly to eliminate blindering when rotating your head, and a body-mapped fleece lining provides insulation where you need it, not where you don’t. Simply put, the new base layers from Sitka represent a hunting apparel company at the top of its game.
