Kuiu Reviews

[shorty]

I am looking at buying an insulation layer mainly for mountain hunts. Does anyone have any experience with the Kuiu Kenai jacket and paints? Is there something else that you recommend?
Thanks in advance

[Ken H]

You will be happy with anything you buy from Kuiu. I use both Kuiu and Sitka, I am now purchasing more Kuiu as I find it more comfortable.

[Saul Goode]

I'd also check out their Super Down jackets & pants. Like Ken said, you'll be happy with what ever you get. Might not like the price though.

[kaleh01]

I have their earlier rain set and I love it! Very light and keeps you dry! I would note that these sizes were a little small on me. I went medium, should have went large to allow for another under layer.

[LJalberta]

Also, on one of their blog posts from earlier this year, they stated they were working on setting up a Canadian distributer. If you're in no rush to order, it might be worth the wait, and that way you'll know exactly what you're paying instead of getting dinged for 20-30% at the border.

[Lr1000]

Super down pants are amazing! I also like the down jacket for hunting purposes more the. The synthetic, more warmth and compressible.

Between myself my brother and my dad we have pretty much every piece of Kuiu and Sitka. As I like the optifade camo more I prefer Kuiu. In my pack I generally started to carry this for clothing.

Ultra rain gear
Sitka down hoody
Super down pants
Peloton 200 zip tee
One heavy weight Marino wool shirt
One light weight Marino wool shirt
Marino wool long undies
Attack pants.

I've generally started to leave my guide jacket at home, unless it's looking to be amazing weather and I leave all my down gear at home. I still like to just through on my down hoody when around camp or glassing. And dress very light while hiking.

[BigChevy]

Great gear and I'm sure you will be happy with any items you buy from them!
I own a lot of their stuff from packs and tent to their clothing and have never had any issues aside from breaking a tent peg when I was hammering it into the ground with my axe. I phoned them and told them exactly what I did and they sent me two more free of charge and no questions asked.

[El-Brento]

I have the Chinook pants and guide jacket in verde camo. I'm really happy with both and the verde blends well with rock above the tree line and evergreen forests

[sillyak]

Their gear seems to be pretty good. Not quite the attention to detail that Arcteryx and the like have, but made out of less noisy material and obviously a bit more suited to hunting.

The thing the really bugs me about Kuiu is their ridiculous promo pictures. I saw one of a guy rappelling in his Kuiu gear, another of two guys on a glacier. Because hauling around 20 lbs of climbing gear is ultralight hunting. You don't need promo shots like that to make your gear look "extreme."

Pretty minor beef though and in no way reflects on their products.

[old dog]

Love my Kuiu gear but with the dollar exchange right now along with duty, you can just about double the list price.

[Cripler]

Kuiu is looking at a Canadian hub to ship out of to save the customer the duty. Anything in the clothing line is worth what you pay for.

[jrileyw]

Was wondering if anyone is using the Kuiu sleeping bags?
Have heard they are a cold pile of garbage as the insulation is stuffed in
length ways so while you sleep it all heads south and ends up in the bottom
of the bag.

[deercamp]

wait on a sale at wholesale and buy sitka. nice stuff but not worth double what you pay for sitka IMO. Made almost to light in some things, there light rain gear got shredded in one hunt. they took it back and refunded at least.

[pilotguy89]

Originally Posted by kaleh01

I have their earlier rain set and I love it! Very light and keeps you dry! I would note that these sizes were a little small on me. I went medium, should have went large to allow for another under layer.

Being a little bit optimistic with a medium Kale....? LOL I have the older rain sets as well and they are great for a lightweight suit.

[shorty]

Thanks guys.
Sounds like it is great stuff I just have to get my head wrapped around the exchange rate right now.

[fast_pass88]

Originally Posted by jrileyw

Was wondering if anyone is using the Kuiu sleeping bags?
Have heard they are a cold pile of garbage as the insulation is stuffed in
length ways so while you sleep it all heads south and ends up in the bottom
of the bag.

I get mine next week and will be spending a week in it right away, I'll let you know how it is. As far as the down shifting, lol that is a joke. 99% of modern sleeping bags with both horizontal or vertical baffles have flow gates to keep it from shifting. The kuiu bag is essantially just a marmot plasma (one of the best on the market) except kuiu made it with stretch fabric. Without seeing one in person, that's the only difference in specs I can tell.

[raised by wolves]

I got sucked in on Kryptek, Kuiu, and Sitka.

Kryptek:
I love the cam pattern, disappointed with the actual Kryptek brand of clothing. The seams tend to fail on the softshell stretch fabric. The first fail was the inseam on the Caddog pants after walking under 500 metres to my blind. I contacted Kryptek several times and no response to voicemails nor emails. The Caddog jacket is mediocre. Mine is rather uncomfortable due to the pit zips, and the pockets on the upper arm are useless being directly on the front of the biceps so they can't be used. The lightweight pants (can't recall the name) have a weird cut and are uncomfortable across the crotch, the waist is much too low being held up by my junk, and the inseams let loose. The raingear does not breathe or vent. The only piece I keep is the Caddog Vest and it's nothing special. Nothing positive to say about Kryptek proper, but I liked the Highlander and Mandrake patterns so I acquired a couple of smocks from Platatac in Australia.

Sitka:
Hit and miss. I liked the idea, but I find their softshell is too light (and yes, I understand layering, before some retard chimes in) and not very durable. I had a set that seemed quite solid but I watched my buddy's gear fall apart on an alpine hunt. It would have been cool to set a stop motion camera on him. It was bad.

Kuiu:
I liked the Kuiu the best of the three because they carry different weights of softshell and insulation so it's a bit easier to match clothing to the environment being hunted. The Vias camo pattern really does a great job of breaking up the shape of the body and the Verde is awesome both in and above the treeline.

All that said, I sold all this gear, except for the Kryptek that fell apart, and went back to my Arcteryx gear for mountain hunting. Added a few pieces from the LEAF line like pants and shells for the extra pockets and weatherproofing.

[NIKON]

I just purchased Onca's insulated jacket. Light weight Great quality and very pack able. Check out their website. Ship out of Cranbrook BC.

[madcarpenter]

The kenai is amazingly warm and comfortable.

I have the hooded kenai and it's been great, it's not as quiet as I hoped for though.

Overall another great kuiu piece.

[kaleh01]

Originally Posted by pilotguy89

Being a little bit optimistic with a medium Kale....? LOL I have the older rain sets as well and they are great for a lightweight suit.

Aren't we funny these days... Well played sir

[pilotguy89]

Originally Posted by kaleh01

Aren't we funny these days... Well played sir

I am just kidding... I still think of myself as a small and I am into the XL relm now!!!!

[diamond k]

Originally Posted by NIKON

I just purchased Onca's insulated jacket. Light weight Great quality and very pack able. Check out their website. Ship out of Cranbrook BC.

I would have a look at this stuff. Made out of same fabric as Kuiu but half the price. No worries on duty and exchange.

Looked at it yesterday at the SCI banquet yesterday and was impressed.

[Elk Hunter17]

I just bought the onca down jacket and I really like all their gear.

[NIKON]

Originally Posted by diamond k

I would have a look at this stuff. Made out of same fabric as Kuiu but half the price. No worries on duty and exchange.

Looked at it yesterday at the SCI banquet yesterday and was impressed.

Yah it's really good quality. Similar but actually their own fabrics. Made in Spain. The pattern blends well in poplar. Here's a pic I took while looking for sheds a week ago.

[Ken H]

Originally Posted by NIKON

Yah it's really good quality. Similar but actually their own fabrics. Made in Spain. The pattern blends well in poplar. Here's a pic I took while looking for sheds a week ago.

I looked at the onca gear and was not to impressed with the rain gear. I purchased a pair of their gloves that are very comfortable. Overall good gear but not in the same class as Kuiu.

[NIKON]

Originally Posted by Ken H

I looked at the onca gear and was not to impressed with the rain gear. I purchased a pair of their gloves that are very comfortable. Overall good gear but not in the same class as Kuiu.

Each to their own bro! I owned Kuiu and sold it. Onca's materials are in a class of their own. I run my Onca shell pants through the thorn briers this spring and they never penetrated. Very tear resistant. Best on the market.

[510-Gem]

Some of the best gear I have owned is the Cabelas brand stuff. Priced really well, highly functional and tough as nails!

[elk396]

Cabbalas stuff is no good for a 10 day sheep hunt, need kuiu. Have to cut down on every ounce when you are packing. It's a bit pricey right now with the exchange, but it's light, cool, tough. I've tried the other stuff, and I agree that it's tough, but you need high functioning gear in the mountains. Poor quality gear can turn a hunt of a lifetime into a nightmare.

[Lr1000]

I would not go so far as to say you need Kuiu. Although I sport it and think it's awesome stuff, some of the best sheep hunters I know do not use Kuiu or Sitka and refuse too.

[bonedogg]

Way too much money with poor service , went back to Sitka