On the last weekend in October, I awoke in an old farmhouse Airbnb I was sharing with three other women in a very rural part of upstate New York. I made my way to the kitchen long before daylight to make a cup of coffee before pulling myself together for the day ahead. We were in the middle of a women’s waterfowl hunting weekend, and our target that morning was Canadian geese. One by one, the ladies stumbled out of bed, rubbed their eyes, and then started talking excitedly about the day ahead. We gathered our things, pulled on our gear, and piled into the truck for the 30-minute drive.
I was suited up in the Sitka Women’s Hudson Bibs and Jacket, which are made in the Optifade Waterfowl Marsh pattern. It was projected to be a damp, rainy, unseasonable chilly day, but I wasn’t concerned about it, knowing I had this set protecting me from the wild elements.
Goose hunting can involve long, unforgiving hours waiting for the birds to circle in. Good waders and bibs are essential, as cheap or poorly made products will perform cheaply and poorly. Good gear matters.
The Sitka Hudson Bibs utilize GORE-TEX, the waterproof, breathable fabric membrane that blocks water while allowing water vapor to pass through. The material is designed to be a lightweight, waterproof fabric for all-weather use. Combine Sitka’s camo patterns and known gear quality with GORE-TEX technology, and the outcome is a waterfowl bib that performs the way it should. That’s a good thing for both brands, as a product that carries both of those names will undoubtedly be met with high expectations from consumers. This bib and jacket combo can handle it.
SITKA Women’s Hudson Waterfowl Bib
- Pockets: there are plenty of pockets to utilize
- 3-layer GORE-TEX stretch technology provides waterproof protection that doesn’t restrict motion.
- Reinforced knees and bum: the extra durable material on the reinforced knee and backside ensure the user is dry and the gear holds up.
- Bib Design: The high (but not too high) bib design keeps the chest warm, dry, and cozy.
- PrimaLoft® insulation is strategically body-mapped for optimal insulation while minimizing bulk.
- Fully adjustable sculpted hood rotates and swivels for complete weather protection that doesn’t impede vision.
- Water-sealing gasket cuffs prevent water from getting up the sleeve, even when submerged.
- Bellowed shell pockets accommodate a full box of shells but lay flat when empty.
- GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Concealment Waterfowl Marsh is designed for layout and blind hunting in the marsh, standing crops, and cut stubble fields.
- Adjustable Hem: The adjustable hem allows you to customize the fit.
- Reflective Strips: The reflective strips on the back of the jacket provide excellent visibility in low light conditions.
We spent two mornings waiting on geese in drizzly conditions, but I was comfortable throughout the duration in these bibs. There is plenty of room to move while wearing both the bibs and jacket. The only thing I’d call a con would be that both items are relatively heavy.
By the end of the weekend, our group of women had ended nearly 50 flights and went home not only with some goose meat but plenty of new hunting friends.
