Sitka Core Lightweight Crew Long Sleeve Shirt: 6 Details You Should Know

The Sitka Core Crew is designed to be a base layer.

And if you’ve ever hunted in cold weather before, you know that base layers are important. They keep you warm when it’s cold, and cold when it’s warm. And a good set of base layers can be the difference between a successful hunt and getting skunked.

So if you looked up “sitka shirt”, “sitka gear shirts”, “sitka core crew long sleeve”, or anything to do with Sitka shirts, I’ve got you.

You want to make sure buying expensive pieces of gear will pay off, and I’m positive you won’t find a more in-depth review on this shirt than here. And as a bonus, I threw in the lowest prices I could find for Sitka shirts below!

So let’s get started, here’s a few thoughts about this base layer.

The Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt Is Dang Comfortable

Like seriously, dang comfortable. It feels good and it’s lightweight. Here’s a few more details.

#1: It’s Made From Comfortable Materials

These Sitka shirts are made from brushed polyester, meaning loose threads and short fiber ends are removed. This ensures that the shirt feels smooth and doesn’t itch. On top of that, the material stretches, a nice feature which eliminates any pinching you’d feel around your armpits or over the back.

A Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt and Sitka Mountain Pants in front of a stream and green grass.
Wearing this Sitka Gear shirt with the Mountain Pants.

The Sitka Core Crew wicks away sweat with ease, and keeps you dry while you’re on the move. On top of that, it’s finished in an anti-microbial Polygiene coating that prevents bacteria and odor buildup.

#2: It’s Super Lightweight

This is an awesome bonus when it comes to the Core Lightweight line. Everything is light, which makes it perfect for chilly mornings and warm days. It’s not going suffocate you, and at 5.3 ounces, you’ll barely even notice you’re wearing this Sitka Gear shirt.

A Small Detail About The Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt

Small details matter.

Seriously. They make or break an item.

Good thing for you, I only noticed one little thing about this base layer shirt.

#3: It Comes With Thumb Straps

I had no idea that these came with Sitka Gear shirts. Basically it’s just an elastic band that stretches from the end of sleeve, between your thumb and index finger, and attaches on the other side. It keeps the sleeves from riding up on your forearms.

The thumb straps of the Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt attached to my hand.
The thumb strap attached to my hand.

I personally find them annoying, but I’m sure there’s others out there who would love them.

The Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt’s Practical Side

The shirt comes with thumb straps.

Who cares?

Well, you probably don’t I guess. Maybe you want to know more about the different colorations these Sitka shirts come in and how durable they are. Yeah, just keep reading, there’s a few things I’ve noted in there.

#4: It Comes In Effective Camouflage

This base layer comes in three different colors. Opitfade Sub-Alpine, Optifade Open Country, and Pyrite (gray).

The Optifade camouflage patterns works really well. There has been several times where I’ve approached deer that could smell me, they could hear me, but they had a lot of trouble seeing me.

The Sitka Logo on a Sitka Shirt.
The Optifade patterns blend in well.

The Sub-Alpine camouflage works well in greener environments, such as spring turkey hunts. The Open Country coloration works well in dry, gray areas like you’d find out in western sagebrush or during the winter.

#5: It’s Durable

Due to it’s lightweight nature, I was concerned about the Sitka Core Crew’s durability. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. After using it as my only layer during a bush wacking, thick, spring turkey hunt, I haven’t found any tears or holes. And if you’re wearing this under other layers, you almost never have to worry about snagging it on a branch.

Glassing country in my Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt.
Glassing for turkeys on an open hillside.

The only piece I’ve seen any wear on is the thumb straps, which like to attract burrs and fray.

#6: It Layers Up Comfortably

This Sitka gear shirt is a solid base layer. It slips under any hoodie or jacket nicely, and works well with other items from Sitka, such as the Jetstream Jacket or Mountain Jacket. I would be more than willing to use this shirt for seriously cold days.

Glassing a hillside in the Sitka Mountain Jacket and Pants and a Sitka Gear shirt.
The Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt slips comfortably under the Mountain Jacket.

Concluding Thoughts On The Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt

This Sitka Gear shirt is comfortable and it does its job.

I have nothing but praise for it as a base layer. Besides the thumb straps (which, once again, is personal opinion), I can’t find anything wrong with it.

If you’re looking for a solid base layer, for any hunt, I’d seriously recommend the Sitka Core Crew Long Sleeve Shirt.

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