Sitka Equinox Guard Hoody & Pants Review (Field-Tested)

If you’re trying to find out if the Sitka Equinox Guard Hoody and Pants are a solid option for early-season bow hunting or even spring and fall turkey, then you’re in the right place.

I picked up the pants and hoody last year just before spring turkey as I wanted something that would work on those hot May days and would fight against ticks and bugs. I also wanted it to be flexible enough to carry me through the warm and hot weather of early-season bow hunting.

I ended up not only using the Sitka Equinox Guard system through turkey season, but I used it for summer deer scouting, and tons of hunts through the fall archery season. Now, I test a lot of hunting gear as you can see on the blog here, but in this Sitka Equinox Guard Hoody and Pants Review, you’ll see why I think this combo is one of the best on the market.

For this review, I wore a size large hoody and a size medium pants. I am 5’8″ tall and 185 lbs.

So let’s get started.

Review Criteria

My criteria for reviewing hunting clothing are based on a post I wrote about optimizing camouflage, scent, and stealth in bow hunting clothes. You can read about my methodology and criteria here.

In addition to these criteria, for early-season hunting gear, I am looking for clothing that is quiet, comfortable, moisture-wicking, has water repellency, and ideally, provides insect protection. I also want this clothing to help beat the heat in the early season and keep me cool.

Scent control is always a priority for me, but is not something I have high expectations for in early-season hunting clothes due to how hard it is to implement into a thin moisture wicking garment.

Common Features for Both

The hoody and pants are treated with Polygiene Odor Control Technology for enhanced scent control. They also come in various solid colors and camouflage, including the Elevated II, Optifade Subalpine, and now Timber variations. I wore the Elevated II camo for this review.

The fabric is treated with Insect Shield, which repels a variety of insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges. Even with this bug-repellent treatment, the hoody wears very light, wicks sweat exceptionally well and has excellent breathability.

Sitka Equinox Guard Hoody and Pants Review

I started this review in May of last year during turkey season. The bugs were bad and having this system for that feature alone was a lifesaver. Unfortunately, I needed it even more when I used this system for multiple hunts during the archery season from September into November.

The Insect Shield protection incorporated into this system was something I really wanted to test after fighting Lyme Disease with long runs of antibiotics two years in a row. I found this to be one of the Equinox Guard’s strengths through a very buggy season.

Sitka Equinox Guard Hoody Review

Price: $149

The Sitka Equinox Guard Hoody truly surprised me with its fit and lightness. As soon as I put it on, I noticed how well it fit my body. It was significantly more comfortable and better fitting than the Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody I reviewed last year.

The hoodie felt light on my body, which is a crucial factor when you’re out in the field for extended periods. The half-zip design allowed for excellent airflow, which helped keep me cool when walking to my stand in the early season heat. Despite the warm conditions, the hoodie dried quickly from sweat or light rain, keeping me comfortable throughout my hunts.

The built-in face mask was another feature that stood out. It was lightweight and breathable, which made it comfortable to wear for extended periods. The Insect Shield treatment was a game-changer during my spring turkey hunting.

I was in areas where the bugs were relentless, but the hoodie kept most of them at bay. Despite the humid conditions, the hoodie remained breathable and comfortable, which is a testament to its design and the materials used.

Pros

1. Lightweight and breathable, making it ideal for warm, muggy weather.
2. Insect Shield technology effectively keeps bugs away (The hood fits over the brim of your cap completely and the built-in mask assists for full Insect Shield coverage).
3. The hoodie is extremely quiet and flexible, making it easy to draw your bow.
4. The hoody has Polygiene Odor Control, but the website description does not specify if this is Polygiene Stay Fresh (an antimicrobial) or Polygiene Odor Crunch (an odor adsorber like activated carbon).

Cons

1. It’s on the higher end of the price range, which might not be suitable for all budgets.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

The bottom line is this hoodie is a high-end option that can be used in multiple hunting scenarios where heat, sweat-wicking, and bug protection are needed the most. I came away loving this hoodie and highly recommend it.

Sitka Equinox Guard Pants Review

Price: $249

The Sitka Equinox Guard Pants are some of the best hunting pants I’ve ever tested. They’re slightly heavier than other early-season pants, which initially made me skeptical. However, after wearing them in the field, I found that this little bit of added weight made them extremely versatile, allowing me to wear them well into the mid-season when I added a baselayer underneath them.

The pants feature zip vents on the sides, which I consider to be essential during long hikes to my stands. Despite being slightly heavier than other early-season pants I’ve tested, they managed to keep me cool in the heat. Zip vents are something I look for in all the hunting pants I wear, so I was happy that the Equinox Guard Pants had them.

The water-resistant and durable fabric of the pants was another standout feature. They held up well in various conditions, making them excellent for bow hunting. The built-in leg gaiters were particularly effective during my hunts in buggy swamps and creek bottoms.

This was one of the worst seasons I can remember for bugs and ticks. The Insect Shield treatment did really well and I hunted comfortably while other guys I was hunting with weren’t so lucky.

Pros

1. Durable and water-resistant, with a design that resists abrasion from underbrush.
2. Internal leg gaiters provide added protection from ticks and other insects.
3. The pants have hip zip vents for added breathability (which I love).
4. Diaganol zippered leg pockets are built for easy access for bow hunters.
5. The pants have Polygiene Odor Control, but the website description does not specify if this is Polygiene Stay Fresh (an antimicrobial) or Polygiene Odor Crunch (an odor adsorber like activated carbon).

Cons

1. The pants cost $249, which might not be suitable for all budgets.
2. The pants are not as cool as you might expect from early-season pants, which could be a drawback in extremely hot weather environments.
3. Not as quiet as I would like, but they are not terrible either. I assume it is the DWR treatment and built-in durability that keep them from being optimally quiet. In comparison to other products I have tested for early-season use, these pants were the noisiest in a group of very quiet pants.

Verdict: Highly Recommended

The Equinox Guard Pants are some of the best hunting pants I have tested. The quality, attention to detail, function, insect protection, and versatility are above and beyond others I have tried. If you want an early-season pant that can be worn a long time through the season, these are it.

To get a great deal and free shipping on the Sitka Equinox Guard Pants, click here.

Camouflage

When it comes to camouflage, I have strong feelings about the effectiveness of disruption-style patterns. They’re designed to confuse and distort a deer’s vision, making the hunter blend seamlessly into the environment and this is extremely important when bow hunting. Sitka’s Optifade Elevated II camouflage pattern, which is used in the Equinox Guard Hoodie and Pants, is a prime example of this style.

Sitka has been an innovator in the field of deer vision-optimized camouflage. They’ve conducted extensive studies to understand how deer perceive their environment and have used this knowledge to design their camouflage patterns. The Optifade Elevated II pattern is a testament to this research.

It uses a combination of micro and macro patterns to create a disruptive effect, which is particularly effective in confusing deer vision and is optimized for elevated, tree stand hunting. See my list of the best camo for deer hunting here.

The pattern is a mix of light and dark colors, which helps to break up the human silhouette at both close and long ranges. This is crucial when bow hunting, as it allows the hunter to get closer to the deer without being detected. The pattern is also versatile and works well in a variety of environments, from open fields to dense forests.

In my personal experience, the Optifade Elevated II pattern has been very effective. It’s allowed me to blend into my surroundings and get closer to deer than I’ve been able to with other patterns. The effectiveness of the pattern, combined with the other features of the Equinox Guard Hoodie and Pants, makes this combo a great choice for early-season bow hunting.

Conclusion

In this Sitka Equinox Guard Hoodie and Pants Review, I found that both are high-quality options for early-season bow hunting. They offer a great balance of comfort, durability, and practical features like the side zip vents on the pants and the built-in mask on the hoodie.

While they are on the higher end of the price range, their versatility and performance justify the investment. However, if you’re on a budget you might want to consider other options. This is some of the best hunting clothing I have tested for early season hunting and I highly recommend it.