Unassuming, Yet Capable in Extreme Conditions: SITKA Jetstream Jacket Review

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: I’ve 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 Jetstream’s ($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. It’s the best softshell jacket I’ve worn.

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

Windproof Performance of the SITKA Jetstream Jacket

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, I’m 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 jacket’s 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 didn’t 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 body’s 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

In addition to the WINDSTOPPER, the Jetstream kept me warm thanks to its thin, recycled fleece-backed liner. It’s not a ton of insulation. In fact, it’s hardly any at all.

However, it’s just enough to add a touch of warmth. It also makes the jacket more comfortable. When I’ve 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, it’s all I need, and on others, it’s 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, it’s the only jacket you need. It’s great solo in temperatures above 50. On a few deer hunts in Tennessee, it’s 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 I’d 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. That’s 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 you’re on particularly strenuous hikes.

If you’re stationary hunting in winter conditions, it won’t 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

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. There’s 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. They’re pretty standard, but I will say that they’re large. You can really stuff ’em full of all sorts of things.

What Could Be Better

The cuff design on the SITKA Jetstream jacket is unique. There is no Velcro strap, and it can’t 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 isn’t too loose when I’m 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 I’m listing it as a negative. You’re going to have to decide if it’s for you or not.

The jacket is also noisy, thanks to its water-repellent, DWR-finished build. It’s not any noisier than other softshell jackets, but it isn’t 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 isn’t fully waterproof, and it’s 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. You’re going to have to fork over some serious change for it, and you’ll 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

Despite the price, the SITKA Jetstream is still well worth it. It’s been a while since I’ve 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 isn’t waterproof. However, I can provide some insight into its water-resistance, a term brands love to use that isn’t all that descriptive. It’s highly water-resistant. I’ve 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, it’s 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, you’d realize it’s 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 you’re a Western big game hunter, you need this jacket. If you’re an upland bird or duck hunter, you need this jacket. Heck, even if you’re not a hunter, it’s worth a look in the solid colors. Despite its unassuming appearance, it’s capable against the nastiest conditions Mother Nature can throw at you. In the world of softshell jackets, it’s the best I’ve used.