In a past life I was heavily involved with product development, and I specifically helped create women’s hunting apparel. At the time, I was new in the industry; but I had a passion for products, innovation, and advocating for women to feel confident in themselves and anything they wanted to accomplish. My personal journey in the outdoors fueled my desire to help build products that allowed women to be successful in the field. There is a huge demand for outdoor products that appeal to the female demographic – but not just based on looks…we need products that are functionally specific for us.
In my experience, women were not taken seriously when it came to authentically developing outdoor products. Most of the time, men were the ones in the “driver’s seat,” and the development process had very little room for input from the core consumers – women. It is a statistical reality that there are fewer women who hunt or fish than men, and an even a smaller number of women who are considered hard-core hunters. Given that the customer base for the hardcore woman hunter is small; some brands don’t consider it a ‘smart investment’ to dabble in the market. Today (thankfully) there are a handful of brands that have finally recognized that women want and need legit gear.
One of my favorite brands that takes the female hunter seriously and continues to be an industry leader in providing authentic quality hunting apparel and gear for the hardcore female hunter is SITKA Gear. SITKA – thank you for doing it right, and doing it well. I can speak on behalf of many fellow female hunters out there when I say thank you for taking us seriously.
I am not sponsored or endorsed by any brands (including SITKA), but you will hear me say time and time again and I have personally witnessed that SITKA does product development the right way. Many women, including myself, have become loyal customers because of the SITKA story, their quality, and the reputation of their brand. While their products are expensive, it is important to remember that quality always comes at a cost. SITKA’s functional and efficient fabrics, fit, and technologies are the best on the market. And to me, they will always be the brand that took women seriously in the outdoor market first.
It’s important to point out that SITKA has amazing products because they identify and utilize input from legitimate women hunters who are authentic and as hard-core as they come. These amazing ladies have been the face of Women’s SITKA Gear, and in my opinion inspire me to be a better hunter and outdoor enthusiast. I want to personally thank all the women (and men) behind the scenes that are making it possible. As a consumer, one of the greatest feelings is when you are finally noticed and heard, and when a brand answers your call with exceptional gear and products. By doing so, they create an undoubtedly loyal and inspired following.
As my passion for products, innovation and advocating for women to feel confident in the outdoors continues to grow, I will continue to authentically test products and provide unbiased feedback to help you get what you need. If you have questions or need help determining the right gear for you, don’t hesitate to reach out; my goal is to help you get out there!