Ultimate SKRE Gear Review

[realunlucky]

Hey guys just wanted to get a review going again this year of SKRE Gear and continue to follow along how its been preforming for everyone so far. A few of you may remember that last year I won the free set of hardscrabble from SKRE and reviewed them along with most of the 2017 clothing line up last season. Review is here if you haven't checked it out yet. http://www.rokslide.com/forums/clothing/62181-skre-complete-review-giveaway-travis-bertrand.html---. I was very excited when SKRE announced a new camo pattern SUMMIT and immediately knew I wanted to run it for 2018. I was luckily enough to attend the western hunting expo in salt lake city and get to cruise the large booth SKRE had there showcasing their products. Summit Pattern | Hunting Apparel & Camo | SKRE Gear. I knew from last season that most of the Skre clothing line fits me well and works well for my style of hunting. After talking with the guys I was excited to learn they will be bringing out new pieces shortly and some pieces had been revamped from last season. I picked up a few things and have high hopes to start collecting a few more a little here and there before the 2018 hunting season kicks off in full swing. I hope those of you that have experience with SKRE will post up comments and pictures here on this thread and help make it the ultimate Skre review.

Quick comparison to some the other popular camo patterns. SKRE mnt stealth, SKRE summit, stika open country, stika elevated 2, kuiu vias, kuiu verde

 

[realunlucky]

After testing my 2017 gears performance I knew that I for sure wanted to run the hardscrabble set again.

Last year I was a little unsure of how much use I would get out of a softshell since I had used a puffy and hardshell for the last few years. I was truly blown away by the convenience of just throwing on a single insulation piece and heading out.The 2018 hardscrabble jacket has the same look and feel as the previous years model. It still has the bonded fleece insulation and the amazing pit zips. One thing I did noticed was stronger velcro on the cuffs feels very much more substantial when tightened.

. One other quick note looks as if they changed the waist and hood draw strings to some that have less stretch. Great move as now you can draw them tight without a bunch of excess hanging down.

chest pockets that can also vent to dump heat

pit zips are very generous and can quickly dump excess heat. YKK zippers are smooth and quite.

couple of views with the hood up and down for an idea of fit

 

[realunlucky]

At the expo booth SKRE had a dressing room and I got the chance to try on a bunch/most of thier clothing line up. I immediately knew they had changed the cut of the hardscrabble pants. Asked Mike Wand about it at the booth and he said the pants are resized in the waist, hip, and groin areas. Also they lengthened the fly reenforced the button and widened the belt loops. I've been wearing them out shed hunting the last week or so and really love the new fit.

I really encourage everyone to try this new design and see if it's not the most comfortable pants you've worn in a really long time.

Looking at the picture everyone will notice of couple of big changes to 2018 hardscrabble pants design. SKRE changed the zipper pulls to rope pulls. I found this makes the pull easier to use and less likely to make noise. The biggest change is the deletion of the pocket flaps i think this really allows the vented pockets to open easier with one hand and to open a bit wider and enhance venting better.

same excellent hip zip vents

zipper keeper stores zipper up or down position keeps it silent and from moving out of position

widened and reenforced belt loops still has the non slip waist band

 

[realunlucky]

Picture from today in the snow.

 

[Jardo]

I bought nearly all the skre items last year on comofire. I don't have the rain gear or puffy, but I got everything else. For me, it's ok. Not the best, not the worst. I bought it hoping it was a cheaper alternative to kuiu or Sitka with the same quality . It's just not able to compete at this level yet. I'm really rooting for this company and I believe they will eventually be competitive with Sitka and kuiu. They are close but both kuiu and Sitka are just better designed, fit, and function for me. If you're on a budget, Skre will fit the bill. If you want the best available, kuiu and Sitka is my choice.


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[bmart2622]

I like the fit of the SKRE pants over any of the other companies, they fit like actual pants and dont taper like skinny jeans like Sitka and First Lite do.

 

[realunlucky]

Finished up my weekend shed hunting the Midwest. Plenty of miles hiked but just a bit early and most bucks still packing thier antlers.

Nice to wear some comfortable clothes that are also durable and don't have to be babied when busting brush in whitetail bedding areas. Quite and durable is where a softshell like the hardscrabble jacket really shines

 

[fngTony]

I expected summit to do well in mixed and open terrain but now I’m impressed with how well it looks with some snow.

 

[realunlucky]

Been wanting to try the SKRE merino wool this year. I ran the wasatch series last season was happy with it but want to try all the added benefits of wool. Anyone ran both or compared the two?

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[fngTony]

Been wanting to try the SKRE merino wool this year. I ran the wasatch series last season was happy with it but want to try all the added benefits of wool. Anyone ran both or compared the two?

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I’m on the opposite side, have the wool bottoms and wanting to try the wasatch.

Their wool is a little lighter than my sitka wool which I like and can wear it in broader temperatures than the Sitka. It’s sewn very well with good stretch and recovery. A word of caution the bottoms are cut small.

 

[realunlucky]

I’m on the opposite side, have the wool bottoms and wanting to try the wasatch.

Their wool is a little lighter than my sitka wool which I like and can wear it in broader temperatures. It’s sewn very well with good stretch and recovery. A word of caution the bottoms are cut small.

Thanks fng for your feed back. I asked SKRE about sizing and was told the kaibab line has been resized for 2018 to a more true to fit and that they added length to the kaibab bottoms due to user feedback. Nothing better than a company that listens to consumers and strives to make every product better. I got a set of the 2x kaibab merino can't wait to see how it compares to what I've been using.

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[realunlucky]

This will give you tree stand guys an idea how the summit hardscrabble set looks like in the air.

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[realunlucky]

Finally found some Kansas treasure.

Been perfect weather for a madtrapper hoodie. I found I wore the trapper almost daily on all hunts. It's 100% polyester with a soft interior and slick exterior that does a great job resisting snags and burs. An effective mid layer but I also wear it a bunch around town as just a really comfortable hoodie. SKRE added a performance mid layer this season with a merino hoodie hope to give this a try also.

New SKRE logo is really sharp looking and in my opinion a big improvement over the old one. I appreciate that they went away from white embroidered to a better matching silver color thread.

 

[realunlucky]

Finally got home to couple packages from SKRE can't hardly wait to try them on and get out after some muledeer sheds

anyone know if I should wash the merino wool garments first or just throw them on and go?

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[robby denning]

I’d just wear them. Then you can comment on how they are out of the bag like so often I end up wearing mine.


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[fngTony]

Did you by chance get the kanati merino hoody?

 

[realunlucky]

Did you by chance get the kanati merino hoody?

Yes I got all the merino wool-neck gaiter, beanie, kaibab and kanati hoodie. I wanted to wait a bit and run it though the paces before posting up thoughts but I'll try and answer any questions or post up some pictures if you want

 

[fngTony]

Yes I got all the merino wool-neck gaiter, beanie, kaibab and kanati hoodie. I wanted to wait a bit and run it though the paces before posting up thoughts but I'll try and answer any questions or post up some pictures if you want.

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Just one quick question is the inside of the hood something other than a bright white? Drives me nuts when that gets overlooked.

 

[realunlucky]

Just one quick question is the inside of the hood something other than a bright white? Drives me nuts when that gets overlooked.

I totally agree it's the tiny details that add up. Quick answer is the inner hood is the same as the backside of printed merino I wouldn't call it a bright white. Hold on though with the cut of the turret hood it's tight fitting to the garment when it's down and pretty snug when it's up your unlikely to ever see the interior of the hood. Here is a few photos

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[realunlucky]

Here is a picture of the kanati inside out.

This hoodie is 95% merino wool and 5% spandex. It has a really nice stretchy feel to it and seems pretty durable at first impressions. You'll notice the flat lock seams and thumb holes make it comfortable and convenient to layer over.

Kanati is a 300gsm wieght hoodie feels like a good mid layer time will tell with some actual use. IMO it has the same flat no shine finish as the other merino wool from SKRE and of course wool makes this extremely quiet. It goes without saying I'm hoping to achieve the antimicrobial and antibacterial benefits of wool for the much touted enhanced odor control after multiple days in the field.