Anyone wearing the Kuiu rain gear? Thought? Experience with it?

I know, I know - this is a well discussed topic in the Alaska forum. Please bear with me. I like Helly Hansen gear too, but need something less of sweat suit for climbing.

Our guide had it on a recent BC goat hunt and he ended up with several rips in the pants from walking through the thick underbrush.

Not sure how portly you are (no offense), but it is only made to fit those that are very thin, or very fit.

That being said, at 6'0 and 250 it does not fit me.

Even his hats are so small they don't fit me. I have returned every I tem I have ever bought from them regardless of what size it was marked.

I like their stuff, but it doesn't work for me.

That being said it is priced right, and neat looking. The build quality I thought was pretty good.

I have doubts as to how well it will hold up to a no-shit SE Alaska "live in rain up to your navel" kind of wetness.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...7621043/m/2581044791


dogcat,

Husband ripped up his raingear on a February mountain goat hunt with Bolen/Lewis. Spike loaned him a set of Kuiu. Since my husband will not be attending the Dallas Convention he is having me pick up a set for him at the Kuiu booths. He really loved their product.

Thanks. I will check it out at DSC. I am 6' 3", 250 lbs and not as athletically trim as I once was at age 60. I need to try it all on.

The Helly stuff works and fits, but it is a sweating making machine.

Ross, you'll have a hard time making it work, size wise.

I reverse engineered their stuff and found other options.

Schoeller fabric is a ski fabric developed in Switzerland by Schoeller. I googled Schoeller fabric and came up with some water proof breathable pants that do not have a membrane.

I bought mine from a ski/climbing shop, and then found some others that were discontinued by Propper (the military uniform company).

The climbing pants are called Mammut. Probably not a lot of climbing stores in Oklahoma City.

Sierra Trading Post often has them discounted, they come in Henry Ford Black and not much else. The jackets might be a more suitable hunting color.

Kuiu tested Schoeller made gear and ended up sticking with their Japanese made Toray. Even Kuiu claims that Kodiak/SE Alaska/Scotland type rain can not be beaten by anything other than solid rubber rain gear. Any "breathable" garment will get too wet to function.

http://blog.kuiu.com/2011/07/2...sthash.lq2TTmlC.dpbs

Schoeller is an awesome fabric for climbing pants but unless there is a waterproof membrane associated with it, it's water resistant at best. I've got several pairs of pants made from it and they are awesome mountain pants but not awesome rain pants. I put something over them when it rains! We've been testing out some rain wear from New Zealand this fall made by Stoney Creek and so far I'm really impressed. Plus it comes in solid colours!

The wonderful dichotomy of Alaskan outfitters..........the waterproof NO cotton, NO Goretex guys v.the breathable water resistant guys............

It is definitely made for skinny folks, is breathable (not water proof) and can be prone to tears. Even the packs don't fit well on us more "manly" men.

A guy I was with hunting Grizzly last year had his jacket tear on day one and also got wet in the non coastal (Wrangles) rain -> it is water resistant, but not water proof.

Shame as I would buy their products- their f/f is nice. Just not for me.

Dunno if they've changed their recipe, current stuff is "Toray" (Yukon suit) and it was tough stuff in north coast brush. We had more sleet than rain but it held up for this kind of weather better than anything else I've tried, when comfort is concerned. This was the first time I wore it guiding, and last hunt of the season so time will tell. I packed my HH as backup but never put it on.

I know its not the high dollar, cool stuff. But I always had good success with Cabela's Dry Plus. . Wearing it from PoW to the north end of Chichagof. Falling timber, thinning trees and hunting. . I'm a sweat hog so anytime I'm out in the brush I have almost as much water coming out as I do coming onto.me from outside. They were quiet and almost as tough as a pair of Carharts. The nice thing I liked about them was. As long as I was able to keep my core temp up, all my synthetic long johns would dry. And I could get my 28" thighs in the pants that were only 2" larger than my 34" waist at that time.
Most of the other breathables available at the time were built for someone on a microbiotic diet. That was over 20 years ago now so I don't know if their as good any longer. . Worth a try tho.

My sheep partner is a hard core, steely-eyed missile man who swears their rain gear is the best made. I don't own their rain gear, but do have alot of their clothing - all top notch.