As my bird dogs and I neared the end of a cat tail slough, I watched two roosters flush wild 80 yards ahead of us, out of range. I grimaced, felt my lower lip crack, and tasted blood as a 40 mph gust ripped across my face. Yet another wasted effort.

　　It had been a brutal week in South Dakota, with waist-deep snow covered in an inch of ice, temperatures approaching -20, and birds scooting across the icy landscape ahead of us. We were trying to keep up, but it was impossible. Every step sent me and the dogs plummeting through layers of snow and thick cover, and the birds were not holding well.

　　Those were just some of the many conditions I tested the latest version of the iconic SITKA Jetstream jacket this hunting season. Claimed to be the bestselling jacket in the SITKA lineup, versatility is the name of the game.

　　In short: Ive packed this jacket on chilly November whitetail hunts in Tennessee, worn it in duck blinds on frigid Nebraska mornings, and sweated through it while hiking the plains of rural America in search of prairie grouse and pheasants. Is it the only jacket you need? On some hunts, sure. Probably not on others.

　　But the SITKA Jetstreams ($375) best-case use depends entirely on the conditions you face and how active you plan on being. I can say, though, its versatility is unmatched, and the performance is admirable despite a lightweight, minimalist build, with few drawbacks. Its the best softshell jacket Ive worn.

　　See how the Jetstream stacks against the Best Hunting Jackets of 2025-2026.

　　SITKA Jetstream Jacket Check Price at SITKACheck Price at Bass Pro Shops

　　8.1 How we rate products Rating Details Warmth 7.2 Waterproofness 8.0 Breathability 8.5 Fit 9.5 Specifications Materials: WINDSTOPPER by GORE-TEX, recycled fleece, recycled polyester Waterproofness: DWR finish Type of Jacket: Softshell Insulation: Grid fleece Colors: Optifade Subalpine, Optifade Open Country, multiple solids Pros Windproof Good water resistance Versatility — great standalone piece or layer in cold weather Excellent hood cinches The perfect jacket for active hunts Cons Price Not the warmest Morgan Nowels Windproof Performance of the SITKA Jetstream Jacket

　　(Photo/Morgan Nowels) While in South Dakota, it became quite apparent to me what makes this jacket such a fantastic feat of manufacturing in the outdoor textile industry. The GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER flat out blocks all wind. In extreme conditions, it will absolutely keep you warm.

　　On day three of my hunt, I faced dangerous wind conditions. Not a cute little windstorm, Im talking the type of wind that damages property. I had pulled a 21-foot travel trailer across country to sleep in, and that morning I was awakened by the trailer rocking and being pushed off the blocks I had placed it on.

　　Oh shit is the understatement of the century. I quickly shot out of bed, put on the Jetstream, and rushed myself and the dogs out of the trailer. If I wanted to avoid an insurance claim, I needed to act fast.

　　In a true arctic blast, I shot around the camper, worked quickly to get it back up on the blocks, and then jacked it up onto the truck. With the crisis averted, I took some time to take a few notes on the jackets performance.

　　Somehow, I was sweating a little, even though the weather app on my phone showed a temperature of -17. Sure, some of that could be attributed to the adrenaline dump I just went through. But I also noticed that the wind was cutting through all the layers on my lower half, yet I didnt feel it at all on my upper body, protected by the Jetstream.

　　The WINDSTOPPER did its job. It blocked me from extreme chill and allowed my bodys core to keep heat trapped, rather than sucked away by the wind. I am entirely sold on the technology and its importance in extreme conditions.

　　Thin, Efficient Insulation

　　(Photo/Morgan Nowels) In addition to the WINDSTOPPER, the Jetstream kept me warm thanks to its thin, recycled fleece-backed liner. Its not a ton of insulation. In fact, its hardly any at all.

　　However, its just enough to add a touch of warmth. It also makes the jacket more comfortable. When Ive worn it in earlier parts of the season with only a tee underneath, it feels comfortable against the skin.

　　Versatility of the SITKA Jetstream Jacket Both the WINDSTOPPER and thin, efficient insulation make the Jetstream one of the most versatile jackets in my kit. On some hunts, its all I need, and on others, its a perfect outer layer in a system of hunting jackets and baselayers.

　　In mild fall temperatures, think early-season elk and October mule deer hunts, its the only jacket you need. Its great solo in temperatures above 50. On a few deer hunts in Tennessee, its all I wore, and it was perfect for sitting around camp in Nebraska.

　　However, the really cool part about this jacket is that the temperature rating Id use it in drops significantly lower if high output is in the plan. When I was chasing roosters in South Dakota in sub-zero temperatures, I wore it in conjunction with the Kings Camo XKG pinnacle jacket. Those pieces were all I needed to stay warm, despite truly extreme weather. Thats amazing.

　　When hiking and covering ground is in the cards, it is a phenomenal jacket. Dare I say it is the jacket? It breathes surprisingly well, and the pit zips let you dump heat when youre on particularly strenuous hikes.

　　If youre stationary hunting in winter conditions, it wont suffice. But if you stack a puffy and a solid baselayer underneath, the WINDSTOPPER provides a perfect barrier that lets your insulating layers do their job.

　　Extra Features

　　(Photo/Morgan Nowels) As a softshell jacket, the Jetstream is pretty barebones in design outside of the impressive windstopping capabilities. However, there are a few things of note.

　　There are three cinch points on the hood. Theres one on each side of the face and one on the back. In the massive windstorms I faced, I was thankful for the extra hold. With all three points cinched up, the hood stayed up as I chased dogs across the plains.

　　As far as storage goes, there are four pockets: two on the hips and two on the chest. Theyre pretty standard, but I will say that theyre large. You can really stuff em full of all sorts of things.

　　What Could Be Better

　　(Photo/Morgan Nowels) The cuff design on the SITKA Jetstream jacket is unique. There is no Velcro strap, and it cant be adjusted. In place of a strap, SITKA slapped a synthetic piece of gray material on it that is stretchy and breathable.

　　I, for one, like the design. It fits easily over gloves and isnt too loose when Im not wearing gloves. I prefer it over an annoying Velcro strap. However, I could easily see how some may not like it, which is why Im listing it as a negative. Youre going to have to decide if its for you or not.

　　The jacket is also noisy, thanks to its water-repellent, DWR-finished build. Its not any noisier than other softshell jackets, but it isnt a good whitetail top. Whitetail hunters should opt for the SITKA Stratus 2.0, which is very similar.

　　Lastly, the complaint everyone has with SITKA: price. $375 is steep for a softshell jacket. The Jetstream isnt fully waterproof, and its not all that insulating on its own. Usually, one of those qualities is what pushes a hunting jacket into the four-bill range.

　　And the Jetstream is neither. Youre going to have to fork over some serious change for it, and youll have to buy other jackets if stationary hunts in extreme cold or big rainstorms are in the cards.

　　Final Thoughts on the SITKA Jetstream Jacket

　　(Photo/Morgan Nowels) Despite the price, the SITKA Jetstream is still well worth it. Its been a while since Ive been as impressed by something as I am by the WINDSTOPPER found in the jacket. It will keep you warm and protected in conditions that seem far beyond the limits of a soft shell.

　　No, it isnt waterproof. However, I can provide some insight into its water-resistance, a term brands love to use that isnt all that descriptive. Its highly water-resistant. Ive worn it through light rainstorms and been punished by icy snow in the Jetstream. It kept me perfectly dry. Outside of true downpours and wet snows, its all you need.

　　The durability is unmatched. SITKA put more reinforcing panels in high-wear areas on this iteration, and mine has shown almost no signs of wear. There are two pick spots on mine. That may not seem durable, but if you saw the thorn patch I wore it through in Tennessee, youd realize its impressive. I go through that particular thorn patch often on my whitetail grounds, and no other jacket has made it through it as unscathed.

　　If youre a Western big game hunter, you need this jacket. If youre an upland bird or duck hunter, you need this jacket. Heck, even if youre not a hunter, its worth a look in the solid colors. Despite its unassuming appearance, its capable against the nastiest conditions Mother Nature can throw at you. In the world of softshell jackets, its the best Ive used.

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