Thank you for your service. Very interested in seeing the heat retention test as well as products from First Lite. Keep up the great work and thanks again.
Thanks for the review. The ASIO late season jacket and bibs is on my list for 2025. I’m hoping to check them out at the Great Outdoor show this weekend. Huge ASIO fan here. Great products and customer service.
One thing I think is important to note, is that the Fanatic having that thick berber fleece on the outside makes it warmer. When guys are claiming the fanatic is warmer, this is why. Berber fleece is extremely warm. I have used the first lite sanctuary 2.0 that has 200gm of 37.5 synthetic insulation (no real info out there on how this compares scientifically to primaloft gold or silver) and the sitka fanatic having only 120 gm of primaloft silver and can tell you first hand, in the places where there is berber, the fanatic is the warmer jacket. In places where sitka forgoes using berber, the sanctuary 2.0 is warmer. That berber makes a significant difference. Look at the code of silence coldfjall. It uses only 100gm of a lesser known insulation but is covered in berber. That piece is what many say is the warmest on the market by a good margin. It is also worth noting that the fleece inside the fanatic is of a warmer and higher quality than that used in any of the other jackets. First lite has started using that type of inner fleece lining in their new phase series and other pieces they make and it is definitely warmer than your standard soft-shell fleece. Good review, but there are things that look misleading on paper that one will only find out through many uses of both items to compare.
@@watchinggearreviews Oh, I agree with you. The Berber makes a difference. That’s why I’m going to do a heat retention experiment with each of the jackets I’m reviewing. It’s those details that are hard to account for. I almost pulled the trigger on the Code of Silence but I just didn’t have the time to do it justice with a solid review. I want to test the First Lite as well. Check out my Pnuma Highpoint if you haven’t already. It has the Berber fleece too.
@@watchinggearreviews the one thing I failed to say is I have worn each item I review. I don’t do that unboxing B.S. check my other reviews and you’ll see.
@@theeverydaybowhunter I dont envy you haha. It is very hard to make good reviews and take everything into account. I am actually a big first lite fan but even I couldn't deny the fanatic in practice was warmer. I haven't personally gotten to try the code of silence coldfjall but the reviews on it specifically name other jackets in the industry and say that it is much warmer than them. On paper that sounds crazy but I believe them after my experience with the berber on the fanatic. I'll check out the high point review as well. I have been intrigued by it for a while.
@ everything is subjective and what is hard to account for are the base layers being worn in conjunction with them. I do my best but everyone has different preferences and I’ll never be perfect for sure lol.
I bought the Sitka fanatic outfit last year including the 1600G Alpha Evolution boots with elevated II. This season was the first time ever I did not get cold at all sitting in the stand at 15°. The kangaroo pocket on the jacket makes a huge difference!
My brother wears Asio and one thing he never complains about is being cold. If anything it’s what to wear on the way in because you’ll roast if you don’t have a plan. Looking forward to first lite late season review.
@ it’s all good. I appreciate all reviews that you do. I’m heavily contemplating pulling the trigger on Asio cold weather gear with the price because we rarely see temps down in the teens where I’m at for very long. Usually I’ll break out my IWOM if I’m hunting on the ground.
You know the ol saying ...often imitated but never duplicated.... I can't speak of asio, it definitely looks like good gear and something I would try. However, the fanatic was 100% designed for the late season bow hunter in every aspect. I do wish the fanatic did have prima loft gold. But with all of the creature comforts that come with the fanatic, it makes this comparison a wash. Excellent review..
Great video! I had found the Asio gear site while researching for late season clothing last year, and also found your channel due to your context on Asio. Their clothing seems well made and at a better price point than Sitka, and I love the raptor camo. That said, I’ve been running Sitka for many years now and it’s held up so well for me that I’m honestly not sure I’d want to replace it with another brand. The biggest hindrance is the price, but like you said I got all my other Sitka stuff on sale so I’d probably do the same again. But the Asio gear sure is tempting. I actually really like the look of the Pneuma Highpoint series as well, but I don’t like the fact that the bottoms are a pant rather than a bib. Being from Alberta, the bibs I think are a must have for extreme cold. I was wondering though - do you think that the Sitka Incinerator might be a better direct comparison to the Asio late season? I’ve got both the older versions of the fanatic and incinerator (mine is down filled rather than primaloft gold). The incinerator set has held up so well, it still looks new. The fanatic set though is definitely looking a bit worn, but I think that’s mainly due to the difference in the outer material.
The Sitka stuff is great and built for bow hunting, so not much to complain about except the price. The Incinerator uses Primaloft Gold with Cross Core insulation. This is a step above regular Gold. The clo value is 1.4 which means it is supposed to be comparable to 800 fill down whereas regular Gold is comparable to 550 fill down. So I would say the Asio would fit right between the two if you were categorizing them. The Incinerator is slightly lighter than the Asio by about 6 ounces.
@ Right! I had forgotten that the new incinerator has the gold/cross core combination. That makes sense on how it would compare with the Asio late season.
Well the fanatic was not designed for busting through brush. It’s designed for static insulation. I have been hunting for 50 years and have never had better clothing. Yes it’s pricey but you get what you pay for. Not saying Asio is bad . Also the double zip just looks uncomfortable and too much work and movement involved .
I agree. This is to show how these products compare and contrast so hunters can determine what works best for their style of hunting. I love the Fanatic, but I also get questions about how it compares with other brands. That’s where these videos came from. Thanks!
But you stated it in a way that the fanatic was not built well and you didn’t that I recall clarify your opinion on that. From the way it sounds a person is going to hear that and make a decision based on that. If you did clarify ok.
@ I’ve talked about it in previous videos and should have reiterated it in this one too. That’s why I start the video saying the Sitka is the benchmark in the industry and set the standard for cold weather bow hunting clothes. But you’re right, I could have been clearer about it.
I haven’t really looked at it too hard because they are primarily a solid color brand outside of their tactical focused gear. I don’t do solid colors for deer hunting because of the contrast. I’m sure they have good gear, but I haven’t seen anything really hunting focused for whitetail specifically that’s caught my eye.
I think the fanatic shouldn't be tested against this asio. 2 different grades of installation. It should've been the asio vs the sitka incinerator jacket. Apples to apples. The fanatic isn't sitkas "heavyweight" cold weather jacket.
Like I said in the video, it's in a class above the Fanatic. But it is also the only Late-season offering from Asio. This comparison is here to educate hunters interested in these two who most likely don't know what each insulation type is. The Incinerator Jacket is actually a step above the Asio. It uses Primaloft Gold with Cross Core insulation with aerogel. This has a much higher CLO value than the normal Primaloft Gold the Asio jacket has.
I had to come back and edit this. I did my math wrong and now that I corrected myself, the estimated CLO Values for the Incinerator vs the Asio are between 15-18 vs. 10-12 CLO. The Incinerator is definitely in a class above the Asio. Thanks for putting me on the spot and making me take a harder look at this.
Fellow PA hunter. First, thanks for your service. You always have great gear reviews and information. Keep em coming.
Thanks! I appreciate it.
Thank you for your service. Very interested in seeing the heat retention test as well as products from First Lite. Keep up the great work and thanks again.
I appreciate it! Testing starts tomorrow! I am done my control tests.
Thanks for the review. The ASIO late season jacket and bibs is on my list for 2025. I’m hoping to check them out at the Great Outdoor show this weekend. Huge ASIO fan here. Great products and customer service.
It is a great piece of gear.
One thing I think is important to note, is that the Fanatic having that thick berber fleece on the outside makes it warmer. When guys are claiming the fanatic is warmer, this is why. Berber fleece is extremely warm. I have used the first lite sanctuary 2.0 that has 200gm of 37.5 synthetic insulation (no real info out there on how this compares scientifically to primaloft gold or silver) and the sitka fanatic having only 120 gm of primaloft silver and can tell you first hand, in the places where there is berber, the fanatic is the warmer jacket. In places where sitka forgoes using berber, the sanctuary 2.0 is warmer. That berber makes a significant difference. Look at the code of silence coldfjall. It uses only 100gm of a lesser known insulation but is covered in berber. That piece is what many say is the warmest on the market by a good margin. It is also worth noting that the fleece inside the fanatic is of a warmer and higher quality than that used in any of the other jackets. First lite has started using that type of inner fleece lining in their new phase series and other pieces they make and it is definitely warmer than your standard soft-shell fleece. Good review, but there are things that look misleading on paper that one will only find out through many uses of both items to compare.
@@watchinggearreviews Oh, I agree with you. The Berber makes a difference. That’s why I’m going to do a heat retention experiment with each of the jackets I’m reviewing. It’s those details that are hard to account for. I almost pulled the trigger on the Code of Silence but I just didn’t have the time to do it justice with a solid review. I want to test the First Lite as well. Check out my Pnuma Highpoint if you haven’t already. It has the Berber fleece too.
@@watchinggearreviews the one thing I failed to say is I have worn each item I review. I don’t do that unboxing B.S. check my other reviews and you’ll see.
@@theeverydaybowhunter I dont envy you haha. It is very hard to make good reviews and take everything into account. I am actually a big first lite fan but even I couldn't deny the fanatic in practice was warmer. I haven't personally gotten to try the code of silence coldfjall but the reviews on it specifically name other jackets in the industry and say that it is much warmer than them. On paper that sounds crazy but I believe them after my experience with the berber on the fanatic. I'll check out the high point review as well. I have been intrigued by it for a while.
@ everything is subjective and what is hard to account for are the base layers being worn in conjunction with them. I do my best but everyone has different preferences and I’ll never be perfect for sure lol.
I bought the Sitka fanatic outfit last year including the 1600G Alpha Evolution boots with elevated II. This season was the first time ever I did not get cold at all sitting in the stand at 15°. The kangaroo pocket on the jacket makes a huge difference!
@@MrChiumiento it definitely is a good setup. Especially with the bibs. 1600G!! Wow! Are they bulky?
Watching ng your videos and your reply to my questions really helped me pick my new camo . THANK YOU!!!!!!
@@jeffjenkins1766 No problem. Glad I was able to help.
My brother wears Asio and one thing he never complains about is being cold. If anything it’s what to wear on the way in because you’ll roast if you don’t have a plan. Looking forward to first lite late season review.
I won’t be able to do First Lite until next season unfortunately.
@ it’s all good. I appreciate all reviews that you do. I’m heavily contemplating pulling the trigger on Asio cold weather gear with the price because we rarely see temps down in the teens where I’m at for very long. Usually I’ll break out my IWOM if I’m hunting on the ground.
You know the ol saying ...often imitated but never duplicated....
I can't speak of asio, it definitely looks like good gear and something I would try.
However, the fanatic was 100% designed for the late season bow hunter in every aspect. I do wish the fanatic did have prima loft gold. But with all of the creature comforts that come with the fanatic, it makes this comparison a wash. Excellent review..
Absolutely. It is all in what you want from your gear. It is definitely designed for the late season bow hunter.
I agree with you - it would be great if the fanatic was insulated with Primaloft gold.
Great video! I had found the Asio gear site while researching for late season clothing last year, and also found your channel due to your context on Asio. Their clothing seems well made and at a better price point than Sitka, and I love the raptor camo.
That said, I’ve been running Sitka for many years now and it’s held up so well for me that I’m honestly not sure I’d want to replace it with another brand. The biggest hindrance is the price, but like you said I got all my other Sitka stuff on sale so I’d probably do the same again. But the Asio gear sure is tempting. I actually really like the look of the Pneuma Highpoint series as well, but I don’t like the fact that the bottoms are a pant rather than a bib. Being from Alberta, the bibs I think are a must have for extreme cold.
I was wondering though - do you think that the Sitka Incinerator might be a better direct comparison to the Asio late season? I’ve got both the older versions of the fanatic and incinerator (mine is down filled rather than primaloft gold). The incinerator set has held up so well, it still looks new. The fanatic set though is definitely looking a bit worn, but I think that’s mainly due to the difference in the outer material.
The Sitka stuff is great and built for bow hunting, so not much to complain about except the price.
The Incinerator uses Primaloft Gold with Cross Core insulation. This is a step above regular Gold. The clo value is 1.4 which means it is supposed to be comparable to 800 fill down whereas regular Gold is comparable to 550 fill down. So I would say the Asio would fit right between the two if you were categorizing them. The Incinerator is slightly lighter than the Asio by about 6 ounces.
@ Right! I had forgotten that the new incinerator has the gold/cross core combination. That makes sense on how it would compare with the Asio late season.
Well the fanatic was not designed for busting through brush. It’s designed for static insulation. I have been hunting for 50 years and have never had better clothing. Yes it’s pricey but you get what you pay for. Not saying Asio is bad . Also the double zip just looks uncomfortable and too much work and movement involved .
I agree. This is to show how these products compare and contrast so hunters can determine what works best for their style of hunting. I love the Fanatic, but I also get questions about how it compares with other brands. That’s where these videos came from. Thanks!
But you stated it in a way that the fanatic was not built well and you didn’t that I recall clarify your opinion on that. From the way it sounds a person is going to hear that and make a decision based on that. If you did clarify ok.
@ I’ve talked about it in previous videos and should have reiterated it in this one too. That’s why I start the video saying the Sitka is the benchmark in the industry and set the standard for cold weather bow hunting clothes. But you’re right, I could have been clearer about it.
@ It is definitely not built for busting through brush as compared to the Asio. One is definitely tougher than the other.
Can you do some looking into born primitive? I have been seeing a lot of hunting influencers advertise their stuff lately.
I haven’t really looked at it too hard because they are primarily a solid color brand outside of their tactical focused gear. I don’t do solid colors for deer hunting because of the contrast. I’m sure they have good gear, but I haven’t seen anything really hunting focused for whitetail specifically that’s caught my eye.
I think the fanatic shouldn't be tested against this asio. 2 different grades of installation. It should've been the asio vs the sitka incinerator jacket. Apples to apples.
The fanatic isn't sitkas "heavyweight" cold weather jacket.
Like I said in the video, it's in a class above the Fanatic. But it is also the only Late-season offering from Asio. This comparison is here to educate hunters interested in these two who most likely don't know what each insulation type is. The Incinerator Jacket is actually a step above the Asio. It uses Primaloft Gold with Cross Core insulation with aerogel. This has a much higher CLO value than the normal Primaloft Gold the Asio jacket has.
I had to come back and edit this. I did my math wrong and now that I corrected myself, the estimated CLO Values for the Incinerator vs the Asio are between 15-18 vs. 10-12 CLO. The Incinerator is definitely in a class above the Asio.
Thanks for putting me on the spot and making me take a harder look at this.