As the newest (and only) jacket for 2020, the Sitka Kelvin Lite Down has big expectations. I was fortunate to get my hands on one the day after it was announced. Here’s a preliminary review with all the pros/cons, a comparison to other options, and whether I’m going to spend my own hard earned money on it.
Remember, these reviews are independent, but I’ve always been a fan of Sitka gear (just look at my gear list). Why? They have a great fit, camo patterns based on research, cutting edge materials, and a fantastic warranty. In my opinion, Sitka has always had one hole in their lineup: a warm, windproof, water resistant, and lightweight jacket I can use as my outer layer during archery season. Let’s dive in to see if the Sitka Kelvin Lite Down delivers.
Background & Specs: Sitka Kelvin Lite Down
Sitka claims the Kelvin Lite Down is a “mid-season piece where warmth and packability are key”. Before we dig in, here are some specs:
- MSRP: $349
- Proprietary Primaloft Synthetic/Down Blend insulation (water resistant)
- “Mapped” pure synthetic insulation in high moisture areas
- Two way stretch nylon 20d fabric (i.e. stretches side to side, not up and down)
- Weight: 17 ounces (Size L)
- Subalpine or Open Country camo patterns
- Full specs on Sitka’s website
Nothing beats down insulation’s warmth/weight ratio but it does have a bad habit of not working when it gets wet. To fix that, other manufacturers use “coated” down insulation. I’m not a big fan: the plastic coatings will degrade eventually and they also reduce the insulation properties.
In this jacket, Sitka’s approach is to blend synthetic materials with 900 fill down insulation which appears to be a first in the hunting industry. I wasn’t able to test how water resistant the fill is but I generally trust Sitka’s rigorous testing process.
Let’s be honest: the name of this piece is really annoying. There are now eight(!) separate Kelvin jackets in the Sitka lineup. To make it worse, they each have very different uses, weights, and even types of insulation. Here’s an outline so you can decipher the chaos:
- Kelvin Lite Down
- 17 oz, New for 2020, the jacket I’m reviewing here
- Kelvin Down WS
- 32 oz, ultra warm/heavy down insulated jacket with a windstopper membrane
- Kelvin Lite Hoody
- 16.9 oz, mid-weight synthetic insulated jacket with breathable side panels
- (I currently use this as my outer layer, more on that later)
- Kelvin Lite Vest
- Vest version of Kelvin Lite Hoody
- Kelvin Hoody
- 23.5 oz, Sitka’s warmest synthetic jacket
- Kelvin jacket
- Same as Kelvin Hoody, without the hood
- Kelvin Active Jacket
- 13.7oz, ultra breathable and very quiet. More of a midlayer and one of my favorite pieces of outdoor clothing of all time.
- Kelvin Active Hoody
- 9.7oz Same as above, no sleeves and with a hood.
Phew! Not exactly intuitive. Let’s look at the Pros/Cons of the Kelvin Lite Down and then I’ll talk about how it stacks up to other jackets.
My thoughts: Sitka Kelvin Lite Down Review
Like I said above, this is an unusual review since I’ve only tested the jacket at home in case I want to send it back. Here are my thoughts after a week of (very) mellow use:
Pro: Very warm and cuts the wind
Sitka wasn’t lying, the jacket is definitely warm. It’s much warmer than my Kelvin Lite Hoody, which is basically the same weight. That’s especially apparent in the wind since the Kelvin Lite Down doesn’t have any breathable side panels that lead to cold drafts. That said, it isn’t quite as warm as some fully down insulated options from KUIU but we’ll get into that later.
Pro: Great athletic Sitka fit
If you like an athletic fit, Sitka gear is usually a good option This jacket is no exception and has a nice taper with a well designed hood. At first I was pretty annoyed the jacket only came in medium and not medium-tall since that fits me like a glove. However, this jacket seems to be a tiny bit longer than the standard Sitka medium so it works out. The only odd part of the fit was that the sleeves were a little bulky for the size (maybe my strategy of not training biceps for elk hunting isn’t paying off…)
Pro: Packable and lightweight
The jacket compresses easily but isn’t quite as compressible as a full down jacket (to be expected). It lives up to sitka’s claims with a 17.2 oz actual weight (measured on my scale). That’s nice and light if you spend a lot of time climbing steep terrain and backpacking.
Pro: Semi-durable stretchy fabric
A lot of down jackets have paper thin 10d fabric that will tear at the slightest touch. That’s fine for glassing, relaxing at camp, etc but it does limit where you can use it. The fabric on this appears to be 20d, so it’s more durable than usual which is nice. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t want to bust brush with this thing, but it’s nice to not have to baby it.
Pro: Sitka’s Warranty
I always have to mention this when I review anything Sitka. I obviously haven’t warrantied this jacket but their warranty team is legendary (I’ve worked with them a few times). Your problem is their problem and they get it fixed for you even if it’s your fault sometimes. It’s great to know your investment is backed by great support.
Con: It’s LOUD
This was the dealbreaker for me. Down jacket fabrics tend to be louder since they need to be so tightly woven to keep feathers from migrating out. The Kelvin Lite Down was no exception and made an extra loud “swishing” and “krinkling” noise at the slightest movement.
To test this out, I had my wife stand at 30 yards (my last 3 elk were at 28, 32, and 35 yds) and close her eyes. Without fail she could tell exactly when I moved or went to draw my bow. And that was with a weed wacker running plus street noise… an elk would definitely hear me in the quiet woods.
To be clear, Sitka didn’t design the jacket for stealth and it would would plenty fine for encounters over 50 yards or so (read: rifle season). This would be a dynamite piece for that use but it’s simply too loud for early season archery in my opinion.
Con: Catchy zipper
About 50% of the time I’ve taken the jacket on or off the zipper catches the liner and jams. That’s not a deal breaker but it’s particularly annoying in a $350 jacket.
Tips & Tricks
Even if insulation works when wet, it’s far more efficient/warm when dry. I always recommend a slightly oversized dry sack for your sleeping bag so you can put jackets like this in it during a serious rainstorm.
Alternatives: Sitka and others
My current outer layer is the Sitka Kelvin Lite Hoody. It’s basically the same weight as this jacket but my main complaint is that win cuts through the breathable panels under your arms. Given that the 2020 Kelvin Lite Down is too noisy, that rules both jackets out. Sadly I don’t think Sitka currently has a jacket that is extra warm, lightweight, windproof, and quiet.
I did pick up a KUIU Super Down Pro for comparison purposes. It’s almost 4 oz lighter (13.4 oz) and is still slightly warmer than the Kelvin Down Lite. It’s also a tiny bit less noisy but not enough to make me comfortable using it during archery season. As I mentioned, I’m a bit skeptical of “water resistant” down, but if you’re looking for lightweight warmth it’s not a bad option.
As far as a lightweight synthetic puffy, I’ve heard really good things about the First Lite Uncompahgre 2.0 and I tested the first version (which was nice, but had a bulky fit). It blocks wind better than the Kelvin Lite Hoody since there are no fleece panels, even if it’s 3oz heavier. That might be next on the list…
Summary: Sitka Kelvin Lite Down Jacket Review
The Sitka Kelvin Lite Down is a great combination of weather resistance, warmth, and lightweight. It’s slightly more durable fabric, great fit, and solid warranty are certainly nice to have. Unfortunately it’s construction makes it very loud and the zipper has a bad habit of catching.
Would I buy it? No, for my personal use it simply makes too much noise. While it would be a truly fantastic piece for mid-season or later firearms hunts (read: encounters over 50yds), I’m fairly confident it would alert an elk if I drew my bow at close range. That said, I was really upset it didn’t work out since everything else was great. If it fits with your hunting style don’t hesitate to give it a try.