Kuiu, back orders, and customer service

29 November 2014, 05:05

I wanted to alert everyone about a recent problem with Kuiu. First, let me say, I love their gear. The quality and function are not in question. What is in question is the fact they have outgrown their business plan.

Joyce ordered some Chugach Rain gear including the jacket, pants, and gaiters on August 24th. The jacket and gaiters were sent out and the pants are backordered. We have patiently waited for an email outlining the expected shipping date for the pants and had received none.

On November 22nd I sent an email asking if the pants were ever going to be sent. A robo reply came back from customer service stating they were very busy and would reply in 1-3 days. On Day 4 (November 26) I sent another email. In the email I outlined how much I liked their gear and how their business has grown by word of mouth and could suffer from the same word of mouth.

I received a detailed email today outlining their problem.....

"It's absolutely your choice on whether or not to stick out the waiting game for your backordered item(s). The rapid growth we have experienced over the past few years has been far beyond what was ever expected, and we are doing our best to coordinate ways to get ahead of demand."

We will likely wait for the pants at this point but I couldn't help wondering what happens to those that are buying last minute gear for a hunt.

The other disturbing fact for me is that I have received mailers and emails from KUIU continuing to advertise these products, including the Chugach pants, for sale at 25% off.

I just wanted to warn everyone of this issue.

Cheers
Jim (and Joyce)

29 November 2014, 05:10

Big Wonderful Wyoming

There are some cool concepts with the gear, but they by and large make it hard for a bigger guy to wear anything they make.

Even their hats are midget sized.

My wife's friend lives in the same town, we are headed up there in the spring to go see her, I'll probably stop by.

I have a feeling that any questions I have about them going up a couple sizes will be met in the store the same as it was via their website.

29 November 2014, 05:22

Matt Graham

quote:
Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
There are some cool concepts with the gear, but they by and large make it hard for a bigger guy to wear anything they make.

Even their hats are midget sized.

My wife's friend lives in the same town, we are headed up there in the spring to go see her, I'll probably stop by.

I have a feeling that any questions I have about them going up a couple sizes will be met in the store the same as it was via their website.

I would suggest it is difficult for a young company to expand a product line, with extra sizes... and stay on top of inventory. Very hard to be 'something for everyone'. XXL looks to be the biggest upper-body, at the moment.

Hopefully the situation the OP mentioned is rectified soon... I see they just sent their catalogue out with the SCI Safari magazine too, presumably to all members.

29 November 2014, 05:44

Beretta682E

Hey Jim

The Kuiu stuff was impossible to get when I went to the Great Up North. So I got the Stika stuff that was awesome. I also got some under armour stuff that was pretty good.

Thanks for the advice.

Alaska with bad gear is "cold wet miserable" or is that with good gear.

Mike

29 November 2014, 06:26

surestrike

Jim,

I too am impressed with KUIU gear. I will take it over Sitka gear any day given a choice. Being 6'4" with a 36" inseam I am forced to un hem their longest pants to make them just long enough. With that in mind I hope they get their inventory issues settled soon as I'd hate to see this company fold up.

I wear a size 52" long suit jacket and KUIU's 2XL stuff fits me just fine in the shoulders, chest and sleeves. Like any garment that fits me in the shoulders it is baggy as heck through the waist but I'll take it anyway! KUIU's gear really is fantastic.

29 November 2014, 10:30

cal pappas

Jim:
Have you experience with AK Outdoor Forums? Will you be allowed to post your comments there?
Cal
PS. The shooting shed is warm and I use it weekly. Next week I think I will pick up H&H Royal in .500BPE and will be targeting it often. You're welcome anytime.

29 November 2014, 21:59

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:
Jim:
Have you experience with AK Outdoor Forums? Will you be allowed to post your comments there?
Cal
PS. The shooting shed is warm and I use it weekly. Next week I think I will pick up H&H Royal in .500BPE and will be targeting it often. You're welcome anytime.

Happy belated T-Day Cal,

Thanks for the renewed invite and I assure you in four weeks, after I retire, Joyce and I will be visiting regularly.

I will put the same info on Kuiu on the AK Outdoor Forum.

Cheers
Jim

30 November 2014, 06:02

Anjin

quote:
Originally posted by surestrike:
Jim,

I too am impressed with KUIU gear. I will take it over Sitka gear any day given a choice. Being 6'4" with a 36" inseam I am forced to un hem their longest pants to make them just long enough. With that in mind I hope they get their inventory issues settled soon as I'd hate to see this company fold up.

I wear a size 52" long suit jacket and KUIU's 2XL stuff fits me just fine in the shoulders, chest and sleeves. Like any garment that fits me in the shoulders it is baggy as heck through the waist but I'll take it anyway! KUIU's gear really is fantastic.

As I have noted elsewhere here and on other fora, KUIU does indeed have inventory stocking and supply chain problems that are typical of small companies with great products and intense demand.

Jason knows that and is trying to cope with it.

Within the past year, he has focused on products that use the fantastic light, waterproof fabric made exclusively by Toray Industries, a chemical company here in Osaka, Japan. It is state-of-the-art. (I've followed this since years ago I worked for Monsanto, which back then had the range of products including textiles that Toray has maintained.)

In fact, as a remedy for those supply problems, he has outsourced all garment production for those products under a contract to Toray, which makes them in a plant in China.

There are those who prefer not buying non-US products, but remember, they were mostly coming from Canada before, and considering the expense of the materials and difficulty of getting them, it only makes economic sense to source from the maker, a big company and one who produces in a low cost market. I do not know Jason, but I understand his situation perfectly.

As for sizes, I do see that as a problem and it is exactly why I am holding off on buying some of the line until I can get back to the US and try them on.

30 November 2014, 06:15

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by Anjin:
quote:
Originally posted by surestrike:
Jim,

I too am impressed with KUIU gear. I will take it over Sitka gear any day given a choice. Being 6'4" with a 36" inseam I am forced to un hem their longest pants to make them just long enough. With that in mind I hope they get their inventory issues settled soon as I'd hate to see this company fold up.

I wear a size 52" long suit jacket and KUIU's 2XL stuff fits me just fine in the shoulders, chest and sleeves. Like any garment that fits me in the shoulders it is baggy as heck through the waist but I'll take it anyway! KUIU's gear really is fantastic.

As I have noted elsewhere here and on other fora, KUIU does indeed have inventory stocking and supply chain problems that are typical of small companies with great products and intense demand.

Jason knows that and is trying to cope with it.
Within the past year, he has focused on products that use the fantastic light, waterproof fabric made exclusively by Toray Industries, a chemical company here in Osaka, Japan. It is state-of-the-art. (I've followed this since years ago I worked for Monsanto, which back then had the range of products including textiles that Toray has maintained.)

In fact, as a remedy for those supply problems, he has outsourced all garment production for those products under a contract to Toray, which makes them in a plant in China.

There are those who prefer not buying non-US products, but remember, they were mostly coming from Canada before, and considering the expense of the materials and difficulty of getting them, it only makes economic sense to source from the maker, a big company and one who produces in a low cost market. I do not know Jason, but I understand his situation perfectly.

As for sizes, I do see that as a problem and it is exactly why I am holding off on buying some of the line until I can get back to the US and try them on.

By sending out an email offering 25% off everything he makes? Let's see! Joyce has been waiting three months for her pants, if someone orders a couple off that sale how long will they wait?

30 November 2014, 07:35

Big Wonderful Wyoming

Funny how much Kuiu I see on the outdoor network and in advertisements. Like 20% of the Kuiu made is sent to these so called tv personalities.

I am six foot tall and weight 240. I am hardly a completely outsized big and tall customer.

Gut size around 40-42 depending on the pant size and a XXL or XL shirt/coat. I have ordered numerous hats and none of them fit. I am a 7 and 3/4 hat size.

30 November 2014, 20:58

mt Al

Seems very much like the left hand (Kuiu marketing) and the right hand (sourcing) aren't in synch. Not very surprising and who can cast the first stone? Hope they fix their messaging and timing, giving people the impression that they can actually get what they buy.

Logistics and financing of imported garments isn't for the weak at heart. When Jason was with Sitka he worked with some real pros. Yes, they had and most likely have their problems, but the group has extensive experience with all kinds of other brands that are much larger than Sitka or Kuiu.

I've never tried Kuiu but hope to some day, people really seem to love it. Their messaging a few years about why they switched vendors was laughable and juvenile, so this one (!, NO impact!) potential customer is holding off till they get their crap in one bag. I really doubt Jason's running things, hope he has some experienced staff to help him out and manage the details.

01 December 2014, 03:32

Duckear

Sounds like they need to raise their prices.

01 December 2014, 07:54

surestrike

quote:
I have ordered numerous hats and none of them fit. I am a 7 and 3/4 hat size.

No kidding..I have the same problem with Under Armour. Their stretch fit XL caps are about a 7 and 1/2. So much for gear that fits pro athletes.

quote:
By sending out an email offering 25% off everything he makes? Let's see! Joyce has been waiting three months for her pants, if someone orders a couple off that sale how long will they wait?

I agree Jim.

Their inventory control and customer service obviously sucks. I was simply commenting that it's to bad as they do make a very good product.

01 December 2014, 08:59

gunslinger55

So is this stuff better than Sitka? I am pretty happy with my stuff

01 December 2014, 09:13

medved

Jim,

none of the mountaineering clothing are working for you?

there is not only Kuiu on the planet as it seems all the time customers are not able to get what they want when they need.

Phil.

01 December 2014, 16:57

Big Wonderful Wyoming

quote:
Originally posted by gunslinger55:
So is this stuff better than Sitka? I am pretty happy with my stuff

Jason (the owner, the old owner of Sitka) uses fabric that has not been used in the hunting world before. Toray is a Japanese fabric company that makes a wide variety of fabrics suited to the outdoors. They have only been used in ski jackets before this.

Jason has some garments that use Schoeller from Switzerland another fabric line typically found on ski/mountaineering garments.

Kuiu is cheaper than Sitka, and made of materials that have never been used in hunting gear before. To say they are better would be a lie, they are very different.

Kuiu is designed to be lightweight, often times in huge sacrifice for waterproofing. Kuiu is not Kodiak island gear.

02 December 2014, 08:30

Larry Sellers

BWW - Have you personally used Kuiu gear on Kodiak Island? I assume by your reference that it is not designed for there that you have? Please elaborate on your statement with some facts please. Thanks.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser

quote:
Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
quote:
Originally posted by gunslinger55:
So is this stuff better than Sitka? I am pretty happy with my stuff

Jason (the owner, the old owner of Sitka) uses fabric that has not been used in the hunting world before. Toray is a Japanese fabric company that makes a wide variety of fabrics suited to the outdoors. They have only been used in ski jackets before this.

Jason has some garments that use Schoeller from Switzerland another fabric line typically found on ski/mountaineering garments.

Kuiu is cheaper than Sitka, and made of materials that have never been used in hunting gear before. To say they are better would be a lie, they are very different.

Kuiu is designed to be lightweight, often times in huge sacrifice for waterproofing. Kuiu is not Kodiak island gear.

02 December 2014, 09:47

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by medved:
Jim,

none of the mountaineering clothing are working for you?

there is not only Kuiu on the planet as it seems all the time customers are not able to get what they want when they need.

Phil.

Phil,

Kuiu gear has worked very well for me. It's the extended backorder situation I outlined that I find unacceptable. I merely decided to share the experience which it appears, others have also experienced.

I have other non-Kuiu mountain gear as well.

Cheers
Jim

02 December 2014, 10:00

Big Wonderful Wyoming

I never said that I had.

I have spent an entire lifetime testing (as a profession in the military) fabrics from all over the world, and designing or redesigning military aircrew survival equipment.

Know what waterproof fabric looks like. I have taped hundreds of miles of gore-tex material repairing military gore-tex waterproof flight gear.

I also have both Toray and Schoeller fabric materials I have bought from other companies. I have tried to use both Schoeller and Toray fabric outdoor gear in heavy water enviroments.

In my test, and having lived in Alaska several times (in Sitka that gets more rain than Kodiak, and in Eagle River) nothing made of any Toray or Schoeller fabric can stand up to take the rain that a gore-tex high end fabric can.

Toray and Schoeller breath way better than Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex is way heavier, and more water resistant.

Toray, Schoeller and Gore-Tex all work very well, but rubberized rain gear like SE and Bering sea Alaska fishermen wear is better. Is it the best hunting gear? No, and it's heavy.

As to wether I have ever owned anything Kuiu, I have not had a single item I have bought from them fit me, even their damn baseball caps.

I don't think anything I currently know about in Kuiu's line is heavy cold rain gear. I haven't been on the website in about 6 months, maybe he has new stuff.

Toray (has lots of fabric lines, some are very similiar to Gore-Tex), Schoeller fabrics are kind of like modern version of Ventile cotton used in the 1950s. The water vapors are smaller than the fabric, Schoeller fabrics are incredibly wind resistant and water resistant, as water beads off the fabric. They are not waterproof. Schoeller has no layers.

A lot of mountain hunters are buying Jason's gear and I don't have a problem with that. I just think you have to realize that just because Kuiu as a company is new and they are using new fabrics to the hunting world, they are not necessarily the best fabrics for all applications.

Saying that if I drew a sheep tag in Wyoming or was hunting Mongolia I'd buy Kuiu because of the weight and I like the patterns (of course nothing the company makes fits me). Jason used smart people (people who have PHD's in Camo) who understand camoflage to design the patterns. No one else has done that since he did it with Sitka.

In the old days of Tajikistan it was normal to spend $1500 on King of the Mountain or Weatherby wool gear, I don't think Jason is making something that replaces the wool from those days either.

He has carved himself into a mountain hunting niche, and that's all he seems to want to do. But it is obviously selling well if he could get his supply chains figured out he'd be doing really well. Congrats to him.

02 December 2014, 17:10

Larry Sellers

BWW - Not trying to be a but, just that I am actually looking for clothing/gear to take to Kodiak Island and since you professed to be an expert on Kuiu gear and Kodiak Island in your posts thought maybe I had found a good contact. Guess not, based on this last post? Thanks anyway and have you ever stayed at a Holiday Inn in Alaska?

Anyone else out there have specific ideas or suggestions for Kodiak Island clothes shoot me a PM. Thanks.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser

quote:
Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
I never said that I had.

I have spent an entire lifetime testing (as a profession in the military) fabrics from all over the world, and designing or redesigning military aircrew survival equipment.

Know what waterproof fabric looks like. I have taped hundreds of miles of gore-tex material repairing military gore-tex waterproof flight gear.

I also have both Toray and Schoeller fabric materials I have bought from other companies. I have tried to use both Schoeller and Toray fabric outdoor gear in heavy water enviroments.

In my test, and having lived in Alaska several times (in Sitka that gets more rain than Kodiak, and in Eagle River) nothing made of any Toray or Schoeller fabric can stand up to take the rain that a gore-tex high end fabric can.

Toray and Schoeller breath way better than Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex is way heavier, and more water resistant.

Toray, Schoeller and Gore-Tex all work very well, but rubberized rain gear like SE and Bering sea Alaska fishermen wear is better. Is it the best hunting gear? No, and it's heavy.

As to wether I have ever owned anything Kuiu, I have not had a single item I have bought from them fit me, even their damn baseball caps.

I don't think anything I currently know about in Kuiu's line is heavy cold rain gear. I haven't been on the website in about 6 months, maybe he has new stuff.

Toray (has lots of fabric lines, some are very similiar to Gore-Tex), Schoeller fabrics are kind of like modern version of Ventile cotton used in the 1950s. The water vapors are smaller than the fabric, Schoeller fabrics are incredibly wind resistant and water resistant, as water beads off the fabric. They are not waterproof. Schoeller has no layers.

A lot of mountain hunters are buying Jason's gear and I don't have a problem with that. I just think you have to realize that just because Kuiu as a company is new and they are using new fabrics to the hunting world, they are not necessarily the best fabrics for all applications.

Saying that if I drew a sheep tag in Wyoming or was hunting Mongolia I'd buy Kuiu because of the weight and I like the patterns (of course nothing the company makes fits me). Jason used smart people (people who have PHD's in Camo) who understand camoflage to design the patterns. No one else has done that since he did it with Sitka.

In the old days of Tajikistan it was normal to spend $1500 on King of the Mountain or Weatherby wool gear, I don't think Jason is making something that replaces the wool from those days either.

He has carved himself into a mountain hunting niche, and that's all he seems to want to do. But it is obviously selling well if he could get his supply chains figured out he'd be doing really well. Congrats to him.

02 December 2014, 17:42

Big Wonderful Wyoming

Forgot to turn the jackass filter on last night. I hate when I do that.

02 December 2014, 17:58

gunslinger55

I have a ton of Sitka and I don't know much about the company (ie owners, etc) other than they have athletic cuts that fit me well tops 2XL, pants 38-40 depending, and stretch fabric that make them really comfortable and mobile. Durability wise I don't use them hunting in southern AZ. In alpine conditions and forest with no thorns etc they are great. The silver keeps the odor down and can use 3x longer at least without odor problems. I bought the top end goretex jacket and pant-the "dewpoint" if I remember correctly. Stretchable, goretex, super lightweight, well made, but very expensive. The mountain pants are great, the timberline are great. For me its hard to find pants that fit right. I have spent a lot on hunting clothes through the years and the sitka seems to be the best stuff. It's all very lightweight and I use it all the time in the Americas. Jetstream jacket and vest are awesome. Its all engineered as a system so they are low bulk and work together. I would definitely be bringing all this on my next AK hunt. They weren't around on my last one. Good customer service too. If you can afford it I think they work well, the best I have found. I am not really happy with the camo pattern (open country) as the last 2 elk hunts were in forest and they are pretty bright. I think the "timber" version is better, but when you have a few grand in one pattern you are not going to run out and switch. At least not me. If I buy any more I'd get the dark timber. But looking at pictures the digital blends well and they both work. I have found movement and odor is more important than camo anyway.

My 2 cents.......

02 December 2014, 22:27

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
Jason used smart people (people who have PHD's in Camo) who understand camoflage to design the patterns.

Yup!!

05 December 2014, 21:15

Larry Sellers

Kuiu shipping update!! Just received my Chugach NX Rain Jacket and Rain Pants in Vias Camo. Ordered them on Monday, received them today. That's fast in my opinion. Tried them on a few minutes ago and the fit is perfect.

I will take these items to Kodiak Island and other wet places, no matter that some here say they will not work there. Also as far as sizing goes, maybe a personal downsizing would be the answer instead of complaining that Kuiu doesn't make their size??

Don't do hunt reports here but will do a performance report on the Kuiu in a few months.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser

05 December 2014, 23:30

FMC

My recommendation would be to wear your Kuiu stuff on a daily basis (outer layer) if you like, but take along some non breathing rubber rain gear. The Kuiu stuff may be water repellant and light weight, but it's not waterproof and if you rely upon that as rain gear you will get wet......I'll even toss you a bone and say "damp."

Don't overlook rubber gloves with liners- no gortex, shit don't work and acts like a sponge.

No cotton, no Gortex. I just wear UA base (poly) layers, woolen pants and merino shirts, one lightweight jacket one fleece with the HH at the ready. I prefer clothing that breathes when there is a lot of hiking otherwise you sweat like a pig, that's a no bueno when it's cold.

Not taking sides, just offering some help- I've had 2 of my Kodiak hunts ruined (5 & 7 out of 10 days) from rain and sleet.

PS FWIW there is nothing quieter in the field than going through brush in wool.....no swish swish that most man made fabrics make.

Good luck. Kodiak is just a fantastic place to hunt.

12 December 2014, 07:11

Cold Trigger Finger

Yup, just cause the gear is named after a town or island in Alaska don't make it Alaska gear !!!!!! . I would like to try out some Sitka gear in some of the devils club patches in Katlian Bay and Naqwasina Sound. In a nice Ketckikan downpour. Or see how it keeps wet snow out after crawling thru devils club patches along the Lowe River. .It would prolly work good over fleece gear under Grunden's or Helley Hansen commercial rain gear. But then, so does Cabela's Dry Plus and that costs less than half as much.
As far as camo patterns go. Light colored open patterns don't make you look like a bear sneaking up on a prey species. The camo pattern pictured above looks pretty good. As long as your not waving around.

12 December 2014, 15:28

A7Dave

quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:

Phil,

Kuiu gear has worked very well for me. It's the extended backorder situation I outlined that I find unacceptable. I merely decided to share the experience which it appears, others have also experienced.

I have other non-Kuiu mountain gear as well.

Cheers
Jim

I concur. I have one piece of Kuiu gear and it is the Chugach pants. Too long for my short inseam, but it works well. I placed an order two years ago which I cancelled after several months with no delivery. Their recent sale got another order since I won't need the gear till next August - but I'm wondering how long it will take to get the stuff.

I like their philosophy, but delivery problems over a month from order are ridiculous. Also, it is tough to order very expensive stuff, sight unseen. I emailed them last year suggesting that they attend the Alaska Outdoor show in the spring (at the Sullivan Arena Complex) and bring their stuff since many guys are reluctant to put down the coin for gear they've never seen or felt. Hell, the trip is a tax write off for them but they didn't come. Lost opportunity to attract more hard core mountain hunters. Also suggested they come to some agreement with Barney's to carry their stuff. Alas.

13 December 2014, 03:24

llamapacker

Kuiu makes a line of waterproof clothing specifically for Alaskan weather conditions. I've worn it in the rain for 8 straight days and it was every bit as try as my old Heely Hansen rain gear, which is also excellent, BTW.

Some amazing misinformation in the above posts. Yes, they also make a line of "guide" gear, and "attack" pants that are water repellant, but NOT waterproof. Not all hunts are conducted in coastal Alaska conditions. They even make a line of highly breathable, warm weather gear.

The original 25% off flyer was specifically only for "in stock" items. I see no problem with marketing your existing inventory at discounted pricing, but not discounting high demand (back ordered) items. Marketing 101.

You knew the item was back ordered when you placed the order. You agreed to wait. If you were in a hurry go elsewhere and pay more for an inferior product.

I am willing to plan ahead and take advantage of the savings Kuiu has brought to the performance hunting clothing market. Nobody is forced to buy from them. When you do, you will find products that generally exceed your expectations.

And I have no affiliation with Kuiu. I did meet Jason once on a backcountry hunt in the early days of Kuiu. I confess to not really liking the Vias camo pattern in the store, but when I saw how well it actually worked in the field I was hooked.
Pretty is as pretty does for me, and their clothing has never let me down.
Bill

22 December 2014, 19:06

Big Wonderful Wyoming

quote:
I confess to not really liking the Vias camo pattern in the store, but when I saw how well it actually worked in the field I was hooked.
Pretty is as pretty does for me, and their clothing has never let me down.
Bill

Man I am 100% with you on this. I thought "great another jerk marketing his own camo pattern". Then I did a little research on him and found out that everything Jason did turned to gold. He's a true mountaineer, and I think it would be great to have a couple beers with him and learn about how he grew both businesses.

I have been trying to do that as I go on in life. I believe that everytime you meet someone who is a leader in a field you are interested in, you should make every effort to learn from them.

His camo patterns look weird. They aren't designed for people they are designed for animals. 99% of every camo pattern on the planet is designed for people. The look's cool factor is huge.

26 December 2014, 13:06

A7Dave

Just received their Ultra Merino 210 "nu-yarn" zip-t. A large size, it is a very nice piece of gear, but very slim. I am 5-11, about 180-185# and in ok shape for a 50+ year old guy. Not what I would consider extra large.

I probably should have ordered extra large. Arm length is a bit long. My shirts are usually 16 neck and 33/34 length. The extra length for the Kuiu is fine - I can roll the sleeve back an inch. Torso length is long, which I like.

As others have complained, the garment is shaped for a super athlete. While I could lose 10 pounds if I quit drinking fine whiskey and good beer, I'm still not heavy by any standard, this shirt is tight! I'm considering returning it. If I take it on a sheep hunt, I'll wear it constantly for a week and this would probably not be a good thing. Ok around the waist, but rather tight around the chest - not pleasant to bring the zipper all the way up. Tight around the neck and armpits.

Have a Guide DCS jacket on order from the fall sale. Gave up after 4 months last time I ordered, but I'll hang in this time around. Will give a report if I get it before March...

26 December 2014, 17:52

mt Al

quote:
Originally posted by A7Dave:
Just received their Ultra Merino 210 "nu-yarn" zip-t. A large size, it is a very nice piece of gear, but very slim. I am 5-11, about 180-185# and in ok shape for a 50+ year old guy. Not what I would consider extra large.

I probably should have ordered extra large. Arm length is a bit long. My shirts are usually 16 neck and 33/34 length. The extra length for the Kuiu is fine - I can roll the sleeve back an inch. Torso length is long, which I like.

As others have complained, the garment is shaped for a super athlete. While I could lose 10 pounds if I quit drinking fine whiskey and good beer, I'm still not heavy by any standard, this shirt is tight! I'm considering returning it. If I take it on a sheep hunt, I'll wear it constantly for a week and this would probably not be a good thing. Ok around the waist, but rather tight around the chest - not pleasant to bring the zipper all the way up. Tight around the neck and armpits.

Have a Guide DCS jacket on order from the fall sale. Gave up after 4 months last time I ordered, but I'll hang in this time around. Will give a report if I get it before March...

5-11, 185: "Large" should fit and I'll bet you knew that because most/all of your other size Large cloths fit fine! Pisses me off when a company can't follow simple, time tested sizing/grading.

What often happens at companies like this is their staff are not normally shaped, in that their often in really good shape! They get their sizing samples from China, slip them on (the skinny guys) and feel like they have to add value to the day by making the mistake of making decisions. I've been there, it's funny. A skinny guy with little man's syndrome, for example, will say, "I'm a large and this is too big". Or a guy in incredible shape who's 6' 1" will slip on a normal Large and feel like the sleeves are too short. All as if they were representing the real customer(!) and knew more than the Chinese people who've been doing this for many years for other companies.

Proper sizing takes people with an understanding of the normal market, as well as experience actually doing fit tests with real people.

My opinion: you shouldn't have to force fit a size Large and if they can't make stuff that fits, send it back. You're going to be miserable wearing that thing! In spite of the whole Fan Boy syndrome for Kuiu there are other options (not just Sitka).

27 December 2014, 17:47

Big Wonderful Wyoming

So many other options. Nothing stopping anyone from wearing straight up mountaineering clothing from Mountain Hardware or Mammut.

The best wet weather option to me is Swazi.

30 December 2014, 05:10

Frostbit

Got an email today saying that the pants ordered August 24th are now in stock and will ship as soon as we again give them a payment method.

In the email received 12/29/2014 there was a paragraph bolded in yellow that said the order would only be good until 12/06/14 and if the transaction was not completed by then the deal was off.

Five minutes later a second email came in with a new bolded area with a drop dead date of January 6th.

We like their gear. I completed the order.

Cheers
Jim

30 December 2014, 08:54

Big Wonderful Wyoming

quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
Got an email today saying that the pants ordered August 24th are now in stock and will ship as soon as we again give them a payment method.

In the email received 12/29/2014 there was a paragraph bolded in yellow that said the order would only be help until 12/06/14 and if the transaction was not completed by then the deal was off.

Five minutes later a second email came in with a new bolded area with a drop dead date of January 6th.

We like their gear. I completed the order.

Cheers
Jim

Jim,

I hope it fits well.

I have a five gallon bucket for a head. Wear a 7 and 3/4s minimum cowboy hat. About 50% of all the baseball caps I try on are too small.

I am 6 feet tall and weigh about 240-250 depending on the season. I pump iron and ride my bike 9.4 miles a day back and forth round trip to work.

I am not at the peak of human fitness or development. I am also not 30 years old anymore, and don't have to maintain a military fitness standard.

Every piece of their clothing that I have tried has not fit. The adage above about hating a piece of gear is true. It doesn't matter how nice it is, if it doesn't fit, you won't wear it for very long.

I don't hate the company, but I think they have weird sizing.

LL Bean is a company that seems to get it right most of the time. They have an excellent line of gore-tex soft shell clothing in their hunting line that is the equal of anything I have bought or been issued by the military. I was what the Marines call a POG "person other than grunt", or the Army calls a Fobbit "person who lives on the Forward Operating Base" and never goes into actual combat. That part is about 95% true.

I was a parachute rigger for the majority of my career, a good part of it was in the tail hook squadrons, the majority was in P-3s. It has been in-vogue to deploy p-3's to the cat box for quite a few years, and I made a lot of those deployments. Got to sweat to the oldies in Iraq and Djibouti and got to freeze to death in the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan, Maine and Iceland.

Building flight gear and working on flight gear like I did I have a pretty good sense of what is good and what is bad. I personally don't think there is anything wrong with Kuiu the gear. For some reason Jason has dicked up sizing that only fits a few people. The sewing is quality, the materials he uses are top notch. The newest Gore-Tex is still more water resistant than the stuff he is buying from Toray out of Japan. Toray for the most part uses a treatment. Gore-Tex doesn't wash out. I have a long term love affair with Schoeler, we got issued Schoeller fabric in some of our ninja outfits in Afghanistan. It's awesome. As long as it isn't raining cats and dogs for 10 days.

Kuiu sells a quality product, it would be nice if they made a long torso (because my body was built for someone 6'6) and went up a couple sizes in pants girth.

30 December 2014, 09:51

Frostbit

Sorry Dude!! You and Surestrike are going the way of the Dinosaur I guess.

30 December 2014, 15:52

Big Wonderful Wyoming

quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
Sorry Dude!! You and Surestrike are going the way of the Dinosaur I guess.

We sure aren't cool.

I was walking into Sportsmans Warehouse in Wasilla a few months back, and this absolute lineback of a dude had a Kuiu jacket on. I asked how it worked and he said it was all that the company made that fit him.

Could see him a mile away in that camo pattern in the store.

So I know I am not the only one.

31 December 2014, 05:01

Frostbit

quote:
Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
Sorry Dude!! You and Surestrike are going the way of the Dinosaur I guess.

We sure aren't cool.

I was walking into Sportsmans Warehouse in Wasilla a few months back, and this absolute lineback of a dude had a Kuiu jacket on. I asked how it worked and he said it was all that the company made that fit him.

Could see him a mile away in that camo pattern in the store.

So I know I am not the only one.

I walked into Barney's with my Kuiu Jacket on once and a couple of guys from Texas browsing in the store wanted to know what I thought of the gear. Keven kind of glared over at me. I smiled and told the guys from Texas that anything in Barney's was worth every penny.

Jim

31 December 2014, 12:56

zhaba

What worries me more is hat when they can not keep up with demand they are going to different manufacturers to supply their gear which then differs in quality!! I would sooner wait for the equipment to come from their original supplier than the other places they get it from and quite frankly its shit!!! and I love their gear!

31 December 2014, 22:22

BaxterB

quote:
LL Bean is a company that seems to get it right most of the time.

I have been an LL Bean fan for decades. they have always treated me right, and I have had great luck with their products. the fact that they still maintain a hunting line in this day and age is not lost on me either.

02 January 2015, 07:36

Big Wonderful Wyoming

quote:
Originally posted by BaxterB:
quote:
LL Bean is a company that seems to get it right most of the time.

I have been an LL Bean fan for decades. they have always treated me right, and I have had great luck with their products. the fact that they still maintain a hunting line in this day and age is not lost on me either.

Their hunting store is wonderful. Saying that I have not been there since 2009. The store is staffed with retired guys and gals that have hunted quite a bit. The shop generally has ok prices on new guns, and occasionally amazing prices on used guns. It's a great store. Bill Goreman had a arrangement with Blaser, Merkel and a couple Italian shotgun companies. I can't remember who though. Beretta, Beneli, and a I want to say somebody like Perazzi, not necessarily Perazzi.

The fishing store was the same, great people.

I used to live about 5 miles from it, and after work I'd head in and see what was on sale. They do this deal on their store items where they knock 30 percent off, then do it again, then do it again. I bought a lot of good gear on those end of year model close outs. Or if they wanted to move floor stock to ensure that only the best stuff was on the floor.