quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
Interesting, there was no such line 3 years ago that I knew of. Is it Gore fabric or something else?

I suspect something else. There was a time when GoreTex and Polartec where at the cutting edge of fabric development and their names were synonymous with the best clothing but that's not the case any more. There are so many knock offs that are as good or better now a days. Our outfitter in NZ was really high on the Stoney Creek stuff so we picked some up. I'd never heard of it before but it sure has proven durable and in the case of the rain gear, waterproof so far. It's the first breathable jacket I've owned that actually beads water off. Apparently Stoney Creek is under new leadership in the past few years so perhaps that's why the expanded line and serious mountain gear.

I wish Stoney Creek well if they have a become a top end line. They were very "also-ran" when I lived in Australia.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
I wish Stoney Creek well if they have a become a top end line. They were very "also-ran" when I lived in Australia.

I can't comment on their previous quality as I'd never heard of the clothing until July but after using it on several backpack trips since then, I can say it's held up well and kept me dry.

I've got 2 sets of raingear that I use regularly. HH impertech jacket and bibs and a set of Sitka goretex. I'll bring both sets if weight and space allow. If not I use the Sitka for more active hunts and the Hellys for coastal hunts. The goretex doesn't last forever and doesn't keep you as dry. Sitka gear is a little spendy but so far I've gotten three seasons out of them. The Sitka is well made and comfortable to wear. I also like the fit and function of the Hellys and they are more reasonably priced.

Used the Kuiu Yukon for a week, wore it as my clothes with layers underneath. Worked like a hot damn on the North Coast for a week guiding in the mountains 100 miles south of Ketchikan. Was mixed weather, rain / sleet / snow, not pure deluge like the coastal bears. For those conditions it was the best gear I've worn.

Angus,
Thx for Shari g this. It helps.

quote:

Kuiu Yukon

Respectfully,
I just don't get it. Waterproof, breathable gear that is neither except under certain conditions with a coating that must be maintained. Oh and it costs an arm and a leg. Its a con that ranks right up there with scent lock (carbon that can be reactivated in your drier, Right).

Sorry, i certainly don't mean to step on any toes and i have some of the stuff. But, i wouldn't and didn't take it to Ak. hunting.

Get a lot of rain there in North Texas? I'm giving you a hard time, you could own an operation in Alaska and spend six months a year up here for all I know.

Curious though, because I decided to use it this year guiding due to an offer from Kuiu. We're on the north coast BC a hundred miles south of the wettest place in Alaska, Ketchikan, and thus one of the wettest places in the world. Sadly must report it held up great, and was a significant relief from the HHs. It did need to be hung under the fly sheet at night, or laid out beside you in the tent, but by morning had less moisture in them than my HH did, and were a lot more comfortable to get into.

NOTHING is perfect, and I'd still recommend clients bring HH until I have a full season of outfitting in the Kuiu, that'll be more testing and exposure than an average client's lifetime of usage. But if it continues to perform like it did on the last late season goat hunt (our most miserable weather), I really won't be able to deny the new Toray stuff is the most comfortable rain gear I've used.

Well, not usually. We just came out of 100 year drought with the wettest year in the states history.
That being said I do know how a multi layered membrane waterproof breathable fabric with a DWR is supposed to work. Simply put if it is raining it won't breath. Wear off The DWR finish by doing something such as wearing a backpack and it's not water proof.

I have Sitka gear. I have gore tex gear. I have Event gear, which is the best of the bunch. Great for resorts, not so much when it must work or else.

It is what it is. I wouldn't have such a problem with it if the crap wasn't so expensive.

As skiers we used to have what we called double gore tex days.

I really do wish the stuff worked as advertised.
If you tell me it holds up to the environment you work, play, and live in; I will buy it.