Love this jacket! I don’t usually write reviews but found reviews helpful when ordering this jacket and think this is a great product. I generally wear a small but after reading reviews I decided to chance a Medium as I planned to wear this jacket in Montana Rifle season. I’m so glad I went for the medium because I was able to put multiple layers on and the jacket still fit over everything comfortably (2020 opener was a blizzard and this worked great as an outer layer). Am looking forward to using it during 2021 archery as well. Additionally, this jacket still looks great and is flattering without layers underneath.

5 stars for hood size, wind protection, warmth, comfort, sleeve length, and quietness of the fabric.

All in all jacket is great, I catch myself wearing it when I’m not hunting as well and having to convince myself that this is NOT a barn jacket! Will definitely be ordering another one in the future so I can designate one for hunting and one for everyday!

Firstlite

Where do I start...
I absolutely LOVE this jacket.
This jacket has the perfect fit and the perfect weight and is everything I look for in a jacket. The overall design is very flattering.
I wear this jacket almost every single day, from casual activities to hunting activities, this jacket has it all for me.
The bottom of the jacket sits at my hips and is comfortable.
There is just enough length in the arms to allow movement without pulling te sleeves super tight. I’m a huge fan of the tapered sleeves that are just loose enough to push them up on my arms without falling back down.
The hood is big enough to cover my whole head plus a hat underneath unlike other jacket hoods. The material blocks wind very well.
At the neck, the zipper pulls up high enough to cover my nose and mouth which is perfect for my late fall hunting activities when the weather starts turning cold.
The overall fleece lining (hood and sleeves included) is warm and I only need to add another layer underneath when the weather or wind gets colder.
The outside material is quiet.....amazing for hunting!
All pockets are big and have quiet zippers (another huge plus for hunting).

I’m so happy this jacket is offered in other colors besides camo for every day use.
The only thing I would ask for is for this jacket to be made in black and grey as well!

Hands down my favorite jacket and the jacket I recommend to all of my family and friends!

I bought this jacket for a late season cow hunt in Idaho. Temps ranged from 1°F to 25°F throughout the hunt. I wore a base layer + a thick fleece underneath and this was perfect early in the day when it was really cold. As it warmed up, I removed the fleece and wore just this and a base layer. I am normally an XS and bought the S so that I could fit the extra layers, and it still fits nicely when I just have a base layer on. The cut is snug but still allows for plenty of movement, and the fabric is stretchy and comfy. We hiked all day and this felt pretty breathable, but blocked the wind and precipitation nicely. I will continue to wear this hunting, as well as for any cold weather activity where I need to stay dry but want breathability, such as XC skiing and backcountry touring.

Bought this jacket for 2nd rifle elk season in Colorado. As a general "mountain athlete" I have plenty of merino layers and jackets for layering, insulation and water/water wind proof. This way my first camo-patterned jacket, however and not an obnoxiously bright jacket. I planned to layer this over down or fleece on colder days and simple base layers on warmer days (or when hiking straight up a hill side to reach a ridge). This jacket withstood the test! I originally ordered a small and it was very fitted so I swapped it out for a medium in order to better accommodate warmer layers. I was able to snug up the hood and bottom of the jacket to really seal in warmth when needed. From 5 degree temps and snow one day to 60 degrees by the end of the week, this jacket was worn every day. The only thing I might suggest to improve would be pit zips to better dump heat when hiking quick or climbing ridgelines. This is, no doubt, my go-to jacket for western big game hunting where breathability and versatility are crucial.

I bought this jacket for my daughter this summer. She has used it on backpacking trips and hunting. The jacket is so light it almost feels insufficient for weather. We were hiking in alpine terrain, a storm blew over and she was warm and happy in this jacket. It fit her well. This is her go to jacket for outdoor adventures and hunting.

This jacket is impressively well made, The hood is awesome and doesn't constrict your field of view. It feels more like wearing a sweatshirt than a heavy jacket with it's brushed interior, so I put it to the test. I wore it on a float trip in Eastern Oregon, and used it as my primary outer layer on a pretty unpredictable weather trip. It worked flawlessly against light rain, heavy wind, and was a champ when the temps dropped at night with a light mid layer. It layers extremely well. The arms have that little extra room in the upper that makes it really comfortable with other items under, but is tapered to the wrists making it perfect for archery hunting. This jacket does it all. Best of all, it is completely silent.

I use this jacket for everything. I originally bought it for cooler days on the mountain during September elk hunting in Montana. I thought it would be a great throw in the bag, slip on quick jacket for glassing and sitting. While it was great for the intended purpose, I’ve found myself using it for all hunting (from spring turkey to duck hunting). It is now my go to piece of First lite. The material is comfortable, not bulky, and super quiet which is great being an archery hunter. I was worried it would be too hot to hike in but it regulates temperature well, much like my other merino pieces. It blocks some wind, but is by no means windproof. The hood is surprisingly warm and doesn’t get in the way. I would highly recommend adding this to your must have list.

So going through the reviews I really worried about sizing, I decided to order a large, so I had room for layers if I need. It fit exactly how I wanted it to super stoked on it! As a side note I usually wear a medium in soft shells. I use this shell for hunting in varied weather in eastern idaho/western wyoming.

The Catalyst jacket (and pants) have quickly become the first two items I grab when I know I'm in for a long day in the mountains with all the varied weather that Idaho throws at us during big game season. I use the jacket as my outer layer and have been really pleased with how well it keeps me comfortable in deep cold/wind/light rain while also not getting in the way. The shooter cuffs are SO nice - I typically don't like when cuffs are tight around my wrist but these are not uncomfortable in the slightest and make the jacket a true workhorse on even my longest days. The only complaint I could possibly think of is that the hood is just a bit big for my noggin and leaves space for wind to get into. Once I have another layer on underneath that also has a hood and I want to double up on hood warmth, I'm always glad that extra space is there. This jacket is a staple piece for us rocky mountain hunters.

I bought the catalyst soft shell jacket and pant set for this year’s hunting season. My hope was that I would be able to regulate my body temperature to avoid a Raynaud's attack. For those of you that don’t know what Raynaud Syndrome is... it’s a condition that constricts small arteries in your body in response to cold. In turn, limiting blood supply to the affected area (fingers and toes). In short, I have to stay warm to keep blood flowing to my fingers and toes. I mostly spot and stalk hunt so this set up did get in 20+ degree weather (PNW) when paired with the Kiln top and bottom. Now, when temps moved up to the 30s, I had to dress down to just my kiln top. I did make an attempt to sit in the catalyst set however, after about an hour I needed to move again (now that can be because I wasn’t wearing the best boots either... lesson learned).
Just as mentioned above in the other review, the cuff is a bit snug but not uncomfortable at all. I typically wear a medium however after speaking to a First Lite rep I chose to go with a large (med base layer tho) with the intention of laying more than the average person. I love that the jacket and pants are super quite, even when brushing up on foliage and branches in the dense woods.
I give this set a thumbs up and can’t wait to get my puffy to pair with the catalyst set.