Sitka Ambient Hoody Review (Is it an All-Season Solution?)

If you are looking for an all-season hoody that you can carry in your pack and throw on when you get chilled in the early season, wear as an outer layer in the midseason, and use as a layering item in the late season; then you are in the right place.

I test a lot of hunting clothes and normally can tell if an item is worthwhile or not pretty fast. When I picked up the Ambient Hoody for the first time, I thought this was too light to do anything for me. Man was I wrong.

In this Sitka Ambient Hoody review, I’ll take you through what I learned this past archery season and why I think the Ambient Hoody is one of Sitka’s best items and an all-season solution.

Sitka Ambient Hoody Review

In early October, I had the Ambient Hoody in my pack for a morning hunt. It was supposed to be around 60 degrees and there was a 20% chance of rain. The temperature dropped to 50 degrees, and it started raining at 8 o’clock and didn’t stop until around noon. So much for just a 20% chance.

I threw on the hoody and went from being cold and starting to get wet to dry and warm instantly. While the hoody isn’t waterproof, it does have a durable water-resistant (DWR) coating and it worked well. The Primaloft Evolve insulation never got wet and it kept me warm even though the outside of the hoody was pretty soaked by the end of the hunt.

When I walked back to my car, I had to bust through a ton of mountain laurel, and the hoody, with its 20D ripstop nylon, held up really well. The material isn’t the quietest in the world, but it’s not bad either. It wasn’t something I thought about much when wearing it, but it does have some swish to it.

Bottom Line Up Front: I highly recommend the Sitka Ambient Hoody. Now let’s get into what I learned through the season and why I think this is one of Sitka’s best all-around garments.

NOTE: Sitka fixed most of the small issues I found with the Ambient Hoody with the release of the Sitka Ambient 100 Hooded Jacket. It is the same hoody, with enhancements like pockets, but still with 100g or Primaloft Evolve insulation and the 20D ripstop nylon outer.

*These buttons link to the New and Improved Ambient 100 Hooded Jacket (same great hoody, now with pockets!).

Why I Recommend The Ambient Hoody

When I received the Ambient Hoody to review, I really didn’t know where it would fit into my layering system. I have a lot of great bow hunting clothes and I didn’t think I needed anything like this. After that initial use, it became a mainstay in my pack. This is truly what Sitka claims it to be, an outer layer for the early season and a great mid-layer for the rest of the season.

I wore the hoody in just about every scenario. Cold mornings on my hike to my stand where I expected to sweat a lot, yet it really breathed well and I didn’t overheat. I walked out from my spot quite a few times where it was cold and I didn’t feel like taking it off and I felt comfortable the entire walk out.

I really felt that it performs extremely well as a mid-layer. It is just so warm and insulating that I had to force myself to wear some of the other gear I was testing instead of wearing it. It is extremely packable and I stuffed it in my pack as an emergency item on almost every hunt that I wore Sitka gear items.

You can use the Ambient Hoody throughout the entire season in temps from the upper 60s down into the teens as a layering item. I think this hoody is one of the best pieces of hunting clothing that Sitka makes. I think that highly of it. It only takes a minute to hold it in your hand and you can feel the quality and it is just flat-out comfortable.

I am 5’8″ tall and 185 lbs. I have the large and it fits perfectly

Pros

In the end, there were a lot of positives about this hoody. This is what I found.

Warm, yet extremely breathable.
Wicks moisture away quickly and efficiently.
Highly water-resistant and warm even when wet.
Fit is true to size.
Very packable and lightweight.
Chest pocket for your phone.
Can be used all season long.

Cons

There are not many cons, but there are a few. Here’s what I found.

No kangaroo pouch or hand pockets.
Not thick brush friendly.
Does have some swish to it (but still fairly quiet).
Price. It is listed at $279.

The Ambient Hoody vs Other Sitka Hoodies

This is not your standard hoody. When comparing this versus hoodies like the Fanatic, the old Equinox, the new Core Merino, or Intercept hoodies; there is no comparison. This is in a class all by itself. The Primaloft Evolve insulation reminds me of a Sherpa-lined jacket’s insulation.

The exterior is made of 20D ripstop nylon. It is not anything like these other hoodies and probably why the price is what it is. Plus, it is so lightweight, that you will initially think that it can’t possibly be warm. Well, it definitely is.

Conclusion

So, if you are looking for a hoody that can be used as a water-resistant outer layer that breathes well and wicks moisture away from your body while keeping you warm but not overheated, this might be for you. If you want a hoody that can be used as a mid-layer and help keep you warm on the coldest of days, then it might be too.

As you can see, this Sitka Ambient Hoody Review should show you that this is one of those rare items that can be used all season long and you’ll be saying to your buddies (like I did) that you should buy it too.

I can’t recommend it enough.