I’m on quite a few data points with the Ambient 60 UL - It’s a great winter baselayer. Moves moisture quickly, adds warmth, and the deep zip is key for venting. I love it. I also like the Ambient hoody for next to skin on cold weather. I think it shines like that.
It’s better than the wick options from FL, on par with the Chinook from SG. The design is exactly what folks who stink up the LW hoody have been wanting for a while.
I’m not sure why all companies don’t incorporate the boot hooks in the pants like Fjallraven has been doing on most of their pants. Absolutely brilliant - most times I don’t need gaiters, just need to make sure the pant stays tight to the boot. Their Keb line is great.
I think most items from Pnuma are heavy. They have some interesting stuff, but I don’t really find it working with my setups. I”m either looking for light and versatile for mountain hunting or warm and quiet for white tail.
I have the ambient jacket - like the lack of a hood for the midlayer application. I don’t think I’d like a quarter zip version—the full zip allows for more applications and I rarely want a hood on my midlayer—baselayer and outerlayer will have hoods and the ambient pieces aren’t durable enough...
I just got one. Definitely designed to be next to skin. Marries perfectly with the EVO jacket. The grid fleece is different than most they use—reminds me of the helio hoody from SG. This is a whole different animal than the other ambient options. I think it would work good as a base layer...
I have an assortment of items to sell:
Large, Stone Grey Kuiu Peloton 240 Hoody - Used sparingly around town. I love the layer, but the jacket fits better in my system than the hoody. Rare color - $125
New With Tags - Large, Swazi Doughroaster in Navy Blue - this fit a bit big on me, so I...
If I had $500 right now:
Kutana Stretch Woven Pants
A set of Peloton 97 (hoody and zip offs)
Axis Thermal Jacket
I think those are the best things Kuiu has going.
I don’t know why more companies don’t put the lace hook on the bottom of their pants like Fjallraven does. Most of the time I don’t need a full gaiter and could get away with just a way to secure the pants to my boots.
Barklow said they wanted the hoodie to be as lightweight as possible. I also don’t believe the hoody is an outerlayer, nor has the face fabric proven to be durable, so the lack of pockets is because this is a midlayer. I’m very impressed with it.
If you want a midlayer that can serve as an...
You are describing a jacket that Kuiu used to make called the Chinook—nylon grid face, pit zips. Really light and useful. You might be able to find it on ebay. I wouldn’t recommend using any lightweight rain jackets for durability purposes.
What’s the merino % ? Seems like Barklow hinted that this improved on the apex line because the fabric takes a print better…I have not experienced fading on my Apex Hoody (and this hoody lacks the kangaroo pocket, correct?).
outdoor research astro man hoody is the best I’ve found. I like the quarter zip neck. I think the equinox guard hoody from sitka has a nice fabric that feels cooler than their core lightweight hoody.
I like a lot of Sitka products, but I’ll say that this just catches them up to the competition and without seeing the merino%, I’m not sure it makes them any better. The benefits of Merino are significantly lessened by the introduction of other fabrics. I think that once you get below 80-85%...
If you can afford it, Sitka outer layers (especially those with Gore Infinium Windstopper). I like the heavier wool options from first lite (The furnace, and the kiln). I think first lite makes the best all around hunting pants in the corrugate foundary. For hot weather, the Kuiu Kutana pants...