Ravin and Valhalla Hunting Apparel
Ravin built their reputation on crossbows, not clothing. So when they launched a hunting apparel line, the skepticism was reasonable. Branded apparel from a gear manufacturer can go either way – genuine field-tested product or logo-covered merchandise. After putting these pieces through cold mornings and active days in mixed conditions, here’s an honest look at what they do well and where they fit in a practical layering setup.
The Ravin Sherpa Fleece Jackets
Steel Grey and Dark Hunter – Same Performance, Different Colorways
Ravin offers the Sherpa Fleece Jacket in two colorways – Steel Grey and Dark Hunter – with identical construction and performance. The choice between them is purely visual preference. Steel Grey suits hunters who like a subdued, neutral look that works across terrain types. Dark Hunter is a traditional hunting tone that leans toward woodland and timber applications. Everything below applies equally to both versions.
The Sherpa fleece construction is genuinely quiet – this is the detail that most separates hunting-specific fleece from casual outdoor wear. The dense, brushed surface doesn’t catch or drag on branches and brush the way a stiffer outer shell does, and it produces minimal noise when you raise an arm or turn at the waist. For treestand hunting or any situation where sound discipline matters, the silence of a quality fleece mid-layer is a practical advantage that’s hard to put a number on but immediately noticeable in the field.
Warmth is substantial for the weight. As a standalone outer layer in cold, dry weather at or below freezing, the Sherpa jacket holds its own for stationary hunting – long sits in a stand or blind where your activity level is low and you’re not generating body heat through movement. As a mid-layer under a rain shell or hardshell, it provides the insulation that makes a waterproof but non-insulated outer shell functional in genuinely cold conditions.
The honest limitation is weatherproofing: this is a fleece, not a rain jacket. Wet snow saturates fleece relatively quickly, and wind cuts through it at sustained speeds above 20-25 mph. Pair it with a waterproof shell in wet conditions and a wind-resistant outer layer on exposed ridges. As a standalone outer layer it’s excellent in cold, calm, dry conditions and starts to show its limits as precipitation and wind increase.
Best use cases: late fall and early winter sits in cold, dry conditions; as a mid-layer under a rain shell in mixed weather; long stationary hunts where maximum warmth and minimum noise are the priorities.
The Ravin Sherpa Fleece Vests
Steel Grey and Dark Hunter – Core Warmth Without Sleeve Restriction
The vest versions of the Sherpa fleece come in the same two colorways as the jackets and serve a fundamentally different role in a layering system. A fleece vest adds meaningful warmth to the core – torso, back, and shoulders – without adding any material to the arms. For hunters who are physically active and find a full jacket too warm during movement but too cold without insulation, a vest is often the correct answer rather than a compromise.
Arm freedom is the vest’s most practical advantage on a hunting rifle. Drawing up to a scope, raising a bow, shouldering a pack – all of these movements are cleaner without sleeves that bunch, restrict, or create noise when fabric moves against fabric. A well-fitted vest over a base layer or mid-layer shirt provides the warmth needed for a cool morning start without the drag of a full jacket during the active portion of a hunt.
The temperature range where the Sherpa vest makes the most sense is roughly 35-45°F with moderate activity – cool enough that a base layer alone is insufficient, but active enough that a full jacket would overheat quickly. Below that range, especially in wind, the arms will tell you that more coverage is needed. The vest works well as a standalone piece for those temperatures and as a supplemental layer over a base layer when used under a soft shell for wind protection.
The vest is also the most packable piece in the Ravin lineup – it compresses easily and can be stowed in a daypack when not needed, which makes it useful as a “just in case” warmth layer on hunts where temperatures may drop in the evening or at the stand.
Best use cases: active hiking in cool conditions where a full jacket would overheat; under a soft shell for wind protection and core warmth; as a packable backup warmth layer; long sits where arm freedom matters for optics use or shooting positions.
Valhalla Men’s Thor Softshell Jacket
The Thor is a stretch softshell – the outer working layer for active hunting where breathability, quiet, and freedom of movement are more important than full weatherproofing. It’s designed for the hours of a hunt that involve covering ground: hiking between stands, working a ridgeline, spot-and-stalk approaches where you’re generating body heat and need your outer layer to let that heat out rather than trap it.
Four-way stretch fabric makes a meaningful difference for a working outer layer. Raising a rifle to shoulder, pulling up binoculars, twisting at the waist to glass behind you – the Thor moves with these motions rather than pulling and binding at the shoulders. For hunters who carry packs, this matters: the shoulder seams and back panel are cut to work with pack straps rather than fight them, which reduces fatigue and hot spots on long days.
Wind resistance is solid for a soft shell – better than fleece at comparable weights, enough to make ridge-top glassing comfortable in a moderate breeze that would cut through the Sherpa jacket. Not a substitute for a waterproof shell in actual rain, but adequate for dry and overcast conditions and light precipitation that doesn’t persist.
The quiet factor is comparable to the Ravin fleece. Softshell fabrics in this construction category are noticeably quieter than hardshell or nylon outer layers, which matters for bowhunting and any hunting where moving quietly matters as much as moving comfortably.
Best use cases: spot-and-stalk hunting; hiking between stands on active hunt days; ridge glassing in breezy but dry conditions; as an outer layer over a vest or base layer in cool, active conditions.
Valhalla Women’s Tyr Insulator
The Tyr is a women’s insulated jacket with an anatomical cut – designed with the proportions and range of motion patterns that women’s hunting gear has historically neglected. The insulation provides high warmth-to-weight ratio in a lightweight package that works as a mid-layer under the Thor softshell or as a standalone piece in cool, dry conditions.
The mid-layer application is where the Tyr earns its place in a working kit. Under a softshell or rain shell in cold conditions, it provides the warmth that makes a non-insulated outer layer functional down to temperatures where most softshells alone would be inadequate. The anatomical fit means it doesn’t bunch under a pack or create pressure points at the shoulders and hips that oversized or non-women’s-cut insulators commonly do.
As a standalone piece in cool and breezy conditions – early morning glassing, tree stand sits in the 40-50°F range – the Tyr provides enough warmth for light activity without overheating during movement. The limitation is wind and precipitation: the Tyr is an insulator, not a shell, and needs a wind or weather layer over it to be comfortable in exposed conditions.
Best use cases: as a mid-layer under the Thor for cold-weather active hunting; standalone piece on cool, calm days; early morning and evening warmth on hunts that warm up through the day.
Building a Layering System with These Pieces
Layering works when each piece has a defined role. The principle: base layer manages moisture, mid-layer provides warmth, outer layer blocks wind and precipitation. Here’s how these six pieces combine for common hunting scenarios.
Active hiking, 40-50°F, dry conditions: base layer + Ravin Sherpa Vest + Valhalla Thor Softshell. The vest provides core warmth without restricting arm movement; the Thor provides wind protection and handles the active outer layer role.
Cold, dry glassing or short hikes, 32-40°F: base layer + Ravin Sherpa Jacket (either colorway). The Sherpa jacket alone covers stationary or lightly active hunting at these temperatures in dry conditions.
Wet snow or rain with wind: base layer + Ravin Sherpa Jacket + waterproof shell over top. The Sherpa provides warmth; the shell handles the weather. Neither piece does both jobs alone at this combination of conditions.
Long cold sits near freezing: base layer + Ravin Sherpa Jacket + Ravin Sherpa Vest over or under for additional core warmth. The vest-plus-jacket combination adds meaningful warmth for extended stationary hunting in cold conditions without requiring a bulkier single-piece insulator.
Women’s all-around kit: base layer + Valhalla Tyr Insulator + Thor Softshell as needed. The Tyr handles warmth; the Thor handles wind. Add a rain shell for wet conditions.
Honest Assessment
The Ravin and Valhalla pieces hold up to the core promise – they’re built for hunting, not just branded as hunting apparel. The Sherpa fleece is genuinely quiet in a way that generic fleece isn’t. The Thor’s stretch construction actually works for full-range shooting and pack compatibility. The Tyr’s women’s cut is a real anatomical fit, not a recolored men’s pattern.
The gaps in the lineup are also honest: there’s no hardshell rain jacket here. These pieces cover the mid-layer and active outer layer roles well, but every kit built from this lineup needs a waterproof shell from another source for wet conditions. That’s not a knock on the line – it means these pieces are designed to work as part of a complete system rather than trying to do everything badly in a single garment.
For hunters who are building a layering system and need quality mid-layers and a working soft shell outer, the Ravin Sherpa pieces and Valhalla Thor cover that range effectively. Price them against comparable quality from Sitka, First Lite, or Kuiu before buying – the competition in hunting-specific layering is strong and knowing where the Ravin and Valhalla pieces fit relative to alternatives is worth the comparison.
Quick Reference: Six Pieces at a Glance
| Piece | Type | Primary role | Temperature range | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravin Sherpa Fleece Jacket (Steel Grey / Dark Hunter) | Mid-layer or light outer | Cold sit warmth, quiet outer | 28-45°F (dry) | Not weatherproof |
| Ravin Sherpa Fleece Vest (Steel Grey / Dark Hunter) | Mid-layer | Core warmth, arm freedom | 35-50°F (active) | No arm coverage |
| Valhalla Thor Softshell Jacket | Active outer layer | Wind protection, stretch mobility | 35-55°F (active) | Light rain only |
| Valhalla Tyr Insulator (Women’s) | Mid-layer or light outer | Warmth, women’s anatomical fit | 35-50°F | Not weatherproof |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ravin Sherpa Fleece Jacket warm enough for a treestand in cold weather?
In cold, dry conditions at or below freezing with no significant wind, the Sherpa jacket is adequate for stationary treestand hunting for most hunters in the 28-40°F range. Below about 25°F, or in any wind, you’ll want a waterproof or wind-resistant outer shell over it. The Sherpa’s genuine advantage for treestand use is its silence – it doesn’t rustle or catch on stand components the way a stiffer outer shell does. For extended cold sits, combining the Sherpa jacket with the Sherpa vest adds meaningful core warmth without requiring a single bulky piece that might restrict movement for the shot.
What’s the difference between the Steel Grey and Dark Hunter colorways?
Nothing functional – the construction, materials, and performance are identical between colorways on both the jackets and vests. Steel Grey is a neutral, muted tone that works across terrain types and doesn’t read as strongly “hunting apparel” if you’re using the pieces for general outdoor use as well. Dark Hunter is a traditional hunting colorway with more contrast that leans toward woodland and timber applications. Choose based on aesthetic preference and what the rest of your kit looks like – there’s no performance argument for either.
Do I need to buy a rain jacket separately to complete this system?
Yes – none of these six pieces are waterproof shells. The system covers mid-layer warmth (Sherpa jackets and vests, Tyr insulator) and active outer layer (Thor softshell for wind and light moisture), but genuine rain or wet snow requires a waterproof hardshell or rain jacket over whatever combination you’re running. That’s an honest gap in the lineup rather than a flaw – single pieces that try to be both warm, windproof, waterproof, and quiet typically compromise on multiple fronts. Treating the Ravin and Valhalla pieces as the warmth and mobility layers, and sourcing a quality waterproof shell separately, produces a more capable overall system than trying to make one piece do everything.
How does the Valhalla Thor Softshell compare to Sitka or First Lite softshell options?
Sitka and First Lite are the benchmarks in the hunting-specific apparel category for softshells – their Kelvin and Furnace/Sawtooth lines respectively are well-tested across multiple seasons and hunting styles. The Thor competes on the basics – four-way stretch, quiet fabric, pack-strap compatibility – but at a lower price point. The gap between Thor and premium alternatives shows most clearly in fabric refinement, pattern accuracy in specific hunting environments (Sitka’s Optifade system is purpose-designed for specific terrain types), and the accumulated refinements that come from years of serious field testing by dedicated hunting apparel companies. For a hunter buying their first quality softshell, the Thor is a reasonable entry into the category. For a hunter who has used premium hunting softshells and knows what they need, the comparison is worth making before committing.
Is the Valhalla Tyr truly a women’s cut or is it just a smaller men’s jacket?
The Tyr is marketed as an anatomical women’s fit, which means proportioned for women’s torso geometry – narrower shoulders, more room through the hips, and sleeve length scaled appropriately. Whether it truly fits as described depends on your individual proportions, and “women’s hunting jacket” covers a wide range of actual fit quality in the market. The best approach: if possible, try it on with the base layer you plan to wear under it and with the pack you plan to wear over it, and check shoulder seam placement (should sit at the shoulder edge, not hang over it), range of motion through a full arm raise, and whether the back length covers the lower back in a forward-leaning position. If the fit works for your proportions, the insulation and construction quality are solid.
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