I have quite a few items of Sitka's stuff that I have picked up on trips to the States over the last few years. I think Sitka were the first firm to produce gear in Gore's Optifade pattern which is designed around how ungulates see rather than how humans see things. The original founders have since sold Sitka Gear to Gore.
First the cammo patterns. They used to make gear in more established cammo patterns before Optifade came out, now they only make Optifade (now in 3 varieties) and some plain colours. The original pattern was "open country" which was designed to camouflage the hunter to deer (in fact ungulates in general) at the longer distances that are more common in the mountainous West of the USA. It has more brown and grey in it. Probably more suited for the open moor and hill in the UK during late Autumn/early Spring. They then brought out the "forest" pattern which is aimed mainly at treestand hunters in the mid and Eastern US. At lot of these pieces in this pattern are aimed specifically at bow hunters. It is designed to camouflage at shorter distances and especially when seen from below. Lots of greens with some white in this pattern. The forest pattern is closest to the the version of Optifade used by Beretta, Harkila and Swedteam over here. Finally they have brought out a wetlands version for wildfowlers. Don't know much about this I'm afraid as I am not a wildfowler!
Next the materials. The guys who started Sitka were real hunters who liked what they saw in modern hiking/ mountaineering clothes. It should be used as a layering system (as should all clothing really) and they make everything from baselayers through to gloves and hats. I haven't bothered with their baselayers because they are available in as good a quality and cheaper from lots of other maufacturers and I don't think cammo longjohns really make any difference! All of the gear is made from the same material as good quality hiking gear - Goretex (Pro, Windstopper, softshell), Primaloft, Polartec. A number of pieces in the forest line are very heavily insulated for sitting in a stand during a Midwestern winter. It will keep you dry, warm and will breathe if layered correctly for the conditions. All of the items are very well put together.
Now the hunting specific features. The "open country" line is quite noisy as it is designed for long distance spot and stalk hunting over open country. The forest line outer items have a slightly peached finish which makes them much quieter as befits their purpose. Most of the jackets have only a small number of pockets as I think they expect you to carry all of your gear in a bumbag or pack, and as noted by a previous poster those that they have are hiking gear style (zipped and vertical). The trousers and bibs are better equipped with pockets. This is not clothing for dragging through brambles, I think it would be wrecked in minutes, but crawling around on grass or the open hill is fine. The hoods adjust nicely and most of them come off for those of us that don't like them. The gloves all fit quite snugly and have grippy bits in the right place for shooting.
Price-wise it is very expensive for American gear but compared to Harkila or Swedteam it is pretty cheap, especially as somewhere usually has it for 20% off and end of line stuff is much cheaper. Amazon often carries it at good prices and even with shipping and taxes here it is cheaper. Internet sales within the US don't have sales tax provided they are shipped from a different state to the delivery address and most places will ship to a hotel.
In summary I would say it was a match for gear from Patagonia or Arcteryx but in modern cammo patterns. It might not be for everyone though as it is not do all stuff, and I would certainly not go rough shooting in it!
(By the way, I have 4 jackets, 2 bibs, 2 fleece, a vest, 3 hats and 3 pairs of gloves. I like it but I sit in high seats a lot. I use other gear for the rougher stuff but always carry their Paclite rainjacket, gloves and hats. I used to have it sent to a mate whenever it was really cheap.)
