Hunting & Fishing Kuiu, Kryptek, Sitka?

[Herb Stoner]

I have a Kuiu jacket and a couple pair of pants and like them. Light, flexible, decent rain protection and breathability is good as well. Seems durable though I don't wear any camouflage gear other than when I’m out scouting or hunting. Other layers are mostly non-hunting brand stuff as I spent a lot of years in other parts the outdoor industry (instructing /guiding, skiing, alpine climbing, long-distance backpacking, etc). Look for off-season deals on well made outdoor goods (arcteryx, mammut, smartwool, la sportiva, mountain hardwear, Patagonia, Simms, REI, etc).

If its really coming down I wear a Simms guide jacket that is pretty bombproof. It’s a fly-fishing jacket by design and not camo - just 2 tone dark green but not an issue most places. On a recent trip I wore that and a pair of shell pants designed for ice climbing more than the kuiu due to the weather.

An observation I’ve made over the years is that this side of the outdoor industry has sorely lagged as far as good clothing, camping gear, etc. Fortunately, companies like Sitka, kuiu, first light, etc are starting to change that but, sadly, this side of the outdoor industry still has a lot of bulky, poor performing, lower quality stuff compared to other corners of the industry.

 

[WoobieJ]

Update - Super down pro jacket is amazing. It’s so light, so warm. Pit zips are great for dumping heat. It was 45 & windy at night while varmint hunting with this, axis pants and merino crew shirt on under and I had to leave the pit zips open if I wasn’t riding around in the ranger.

 

[Hippy_Steve]

Another plus for kuiu here. I love their gear.

 

[FishinGuns]

I’m a fisherman first and own a few thousand dollars in Simms gear and believe Gore-Tex whole heartedly. This year I acquired a stout sum of Sitka Gear waterfowl layers and it’s the real deal. Their new waders, Gradient fleece layers, Delta jacket, Pantanal Parka and bibs that were discontinued, Fahrenheit jacket (insulator), and various hats, gloves, and their beloved neck gaiter. I honestly think it’s better than Simms by a small margin. Just rugged, well thought out gear that has kept me warm and dry. I waterfowl hunt and steelhead fish in both brands now.

As far as Merino wool baselayers, I caught a nice deal on Duluth Trading’s Black Ram Merino tops, bottoms, and boxer briefs. It’s newer tech where the fabric a a single nylon core and the merino is wrapped around it, supposedly increasing durability. All I can say is it smokes Under Armour all day long. Merino baselayers are high in my book right now. Really liked them ice fishing two weekends ago with the varying levels of exertion all day. Warm, dry, and happy happy happy ?

 

[Oldbugr]

I'll cast my vote for kuiu. I started buying clothes from them this year and love their gear. And it works, that's the important part for me.

 

[Jsmith410]

If you’re stand hunting I like my Sitka fanatic bibs. First lite base layers are great as well.

 

[jb0311]

For base layers, I just go with smartwool. It has never failed to keep me warm or comfortable, is much cheaper, and I don't need my base layers to be camo anyway. It helps that I get a 40% off prodeal (I also have a firstlite prodeal), but I would still rather go with that than to pay more for the same thing just because it has a camo pattern on it. I have been wearing the same base layers for years with no sign of wear on them. Either way, merino wool is a must for me, as I often hike quite a bit, before sitting for hours.

 

[knuckleballz]

I have some Sitka gear but I prefer my kuiu clothing over my Sitka. Make a list of what you need and stock up when it goes on sale. The kuiu gear has been a better value for me for the performance compared to sitka

 

[Big Ern]

Kuiu is the best. Just make sure their "cut" fits as it is very athletic. Sitka is excellent and has more sizing options.

Also, take a look at First Lite. They make some nice gear, especially their wool pieces.

 

[BattleBorn]

Sitka makes the best pants. The KUIU and Kryptek are extremely baggy and snag on everything. Kuiu is nice and light but the Sitka take a beating much better. Every pair of my KUIU pants (4 pairs) had small tears with one season of use. Cant say that about the Sitka ones.

 

[VVhoisJohnGalt]

I wear mix and match pieces from about 8 different companies. Wear what fits for the need you have.

Don’t worry too much about having a matching jumpsuit of the same pattern same company. Most likely one or two pieces will not fit perfect or work the best for the need you have.