Braken Wear Testing by Ryan K Sanpei

[Ryan K Sanpei]

Les,
Here's a mini collage. Definitely not the best representatives and not all of what the islands have to hunt, but hopefully it'll give you an idea.

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

" Feral Cattle"
Now you're talking!

Yeah, that's a pretty fun hunt. I was once 15 yards from a mature bull, but decided to pass as I felt my longbow at the time didn't have enough juice. My friend who was behind me ended up taking it with his Mathews. Talk about a meat haul... Wish I had my Kifaru back then.

 

[robby denning]

I can't imagine the meat haul


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[Ryan K Sanpei]

Les, I found the old article.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you mention Hawaii? Grass shacks? Visions of white sand beaches? Hula dancers or feasting at luaus? Many travel to the islands seeking the beautiful weather, sightseeing opportunities and five star amenities. However, Hawaii has much more to offer including many outdoor activities. Surfing, spear fishing, deep sea/shore fishing, scuba diving, hiking, and bowhunting just to name a few.

Bowhunting in Hawaii? Really? Many people are astounded to find out that bowhunting even exists in Hawaii. Hawaii is composed of eight major islands, and seven out of the eight major islands have some sort of hunting opportunity year-round whether it be private, public or both. The eight major Hawaiian Islands starting from the north are Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii; commonly known as the Big Island.

Niihau known as the Forbidden Island, is the eldest of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s a privately owned island but hunting is available through their guide services. They have hunting opportunities for boar, hybrid sheep, and some exotics which include eland, aoudad, and oryx. Visiting the island of Niihau may be a once in a lifetime experience.

The Garden Isle of Kauai is a common destination for honeymooners. Their lush green mountains, magnificent waterfalls, deep canyons and white sand beaches appeal to many travelers. First class golf courses and beautiful hotels are synonymous with the island of Kauai. It’s a beautiful island that offers hunting opportunities. Goats, pigs and black tailed deer are the game animals which inhabit this island. Black tailed deer are unique to the island of Kauai and were introduced in the 1960s from Oregon. The Na Pali Coast is one of the few areas in Hawaii that offer a pack in style bowhunt for goats and pigs. The trail is easily identified, but hunting the goats may be tough when they are bedded along the steep and rugged cliff sides. Along the way you’ll see spectacular views of the crystal blue ocean and if you’re fortunate you may bump into an animal or two located right along the trail. Many of the hunting opportunities are located on the western end of the island near the famous Waimea Canyon, Hawaii’s own version of the Grand Canyon. Look carefully and you may be able to spot a few goats running to and fro on the canyon walls.

Up next is the Gathering Place, a rightful name for the island of Oahu. It is the busiest island of them all. I call Oahu my home. The capital city, Honolulu, is located on this island. The naval base of Pearl Harbor is one of the many famous landmarks on this island. Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head Crater and the famous surfing beaches of the North Shore are common tourist attractions. Although it’s not the best island to live on if you’re a bowhunter, opportunities are still available. Hunting is open in some areas for wild pigs and goats. The goats are located on the west side of the island. Hunting for goats isn’t for the faint of hearts. These goats reside on the nastiest cliffs and ledges because of heavy pressure. If steep, rocky ledges, heights and hot weather are not your thing, you may want to stick to the pig hunting. The pigs live in the heavily vegetated valleys of the Pali; just be prepared for a quick shot in some dense cover. If you enjoy the nightlife and shopping, with an opportunity to arrow a hog, Oahu may be your destination.

A twenty-five minute plane ride from Oahu will take you to the island of Molokai. Commonly referred to as the Friendly Isle, the people of Molokai will treat you like family. A testament to the friendliness of the island, Saint Damien, selflessly devoted his life to the Hansen’s disease patients who were once exiled to the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa, which is now a National Historic Site on Molokai. With a general population of approximately 7,500 be prepared for a relaxed lifestyle. Stoplights, retail malls, McDonald’s and night clubs do not exist on this island, and, due to its low population Molokai is rich in natural resources. An abundant amount of fish, sea life and game animals inhabit the island and surrounding waters. Although you can hunt for goats and pigs, Molokai is known for their axis deer. A majority of the deer hunting takes place on the southern and western sides of the island. These sneaky deer love to bed in the cover of the kiawe trees. When the pressure’s on, they’ll nd even thicker cover to hide in whether it be in the entangled brush near the beach or in the dense cover of trees in the forest line. During the morning and evening hours, you may catch them traveling in the gulches heading to and from their bedding or feeding areas. Some prefer to hunt them from a ground blind or a treestand, but if you’re up for the ultimate challenge, spot and stalk is the way to go! Most of the hunting is done on private land, but if you get an opportunity to hunt with one of the locals, you may be leaving with some prime axis deer meat as well as made a friend for life.

Similar in ways to Molokai, the Island of Lanai is a stone’s throw away. In the past, Lanai was known for their plantation lifestyle, giving them the nickname the Pineapple Isle or Pine Isle. For tourists, the island is now known for its two major hotels, Lanai at Manele Bay which is located on the beach and The Lodge at Koele which resides in the mountains. For the hunters, the island is known for mouflon and axis deer hunting. These animals are found throughout the island. Lanai is known for their deep gulches that drain into the ocean below. Most of the hunting is done in hot weather so be sure to pack in a lot of drinking water. The mouflon and deer literally live from the mountains to the sea. This public land hunt takes place every year, beginning with bow season. The axis deer season begins in February and the mouflon season begins in July. Private land hunting opportunities are also available for these two species. This is one public land hunt that I truly enjoy and would recommend to anyone who’s up for a spot and stalk challenge.

Maui offers the best of both worlds, a little city life mixed right in with the country life. Maui is composed of two major mountain ranges, the west Maui Mountains and Haleakala. Because of Haleakala’s elevation, it actually snows on Maui. This island is a great travel destination for the outdoor enthusiast. The beaches and mountain ranges are second to none. Although the hunting areas are primarily done on private land, opportunities are available through guides and outfitters. Axis deer, goats, and pigs are the game animals of the Valley Isle. In some areas the deer feed and bed on rolling hills which makes it tough for bowhunters to get in close. In other areas, you can hunt them in terrain very similar to Lanai and Molokai. The goats can also be found in varied terrain, some living in the deep, rocky gulches, while other herds thrive in rolling hills and pasture land. If hog hunting’s your priority, you’ll probably find them in the dense cover of the mountain ranges. The Valley Isle is a great place to take the family, with something of interest for everyone. Maui is truly a captivating island and is one of my favorite islands to visit and hunt.

Last, but not least, is the island of Hawaii, commonly referred to as the Big Island. The Big Island is the youngest of all the islands and is home to Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. All but two of the world’s climate zones generate everything from lush rain forests to volcanic deserts. Maunakea and Maunaloa are the two major mountains found on the island of Hawaii. With Maunakea reaching elevations of 13,000ft, snow capped mountains is not an uncommon site for the residents. Beautiful black sand beaches found along the coastline is another unique and major attraction. Many fishing enthusiasts from around the world travel to Kailua, Kona just to get a chance to do some world class sport fishing, but if bowhunting is your thing, then head for the hills as I’m sure you’ll find a place to hunt. The Island of Hawaii offers both public and private hunting. Feral sheep, hybrid sheep, mouflon sheep, pigs, and goats are the game mammals of the Big Island. Bowhunters from across the islands travel to Big Island in search of sheep. On one day you could be chasing sheep in elevations from 6,000 to 10,000 ft and on the very next day, you could be spot and stalking goats sea level on lava rocks. Much of the hunting is done on lava rock terrain which is composed of two types of hardened lava, pahoehoe and a’a. The pahoehoe is smooth and easy to walk on, but the a’a is loose, noisy, and known to eat hunting boots. Careful planning and packing would be advised due to the varied terrain and mixture of climate zones. With tons of hunting and fishing opportunities, Big Island is the sportsman’s paradise.

As you can see Hawaii is much more than white sandy beaches. For me, it’s my year-round bowhunting playground. If the outdoors, beautiful weather and bowhunting peaks your interest, then maybe, just maybe, Hawaii might be your next travel destination. I’m sure it won’t be hard to convince your wife to relax and sunbathe on the beaches of Hawaii, or gear up and go bowhunting with you!

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Dang you Ryan, I thought you were just going to cost me money for gear but you're talking me into a Hawai trip too.

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[Ryan K Sanpei]

Dang you Ryan, I thought you were just going to cost me money for gear but you're talking me into a Hawai trip too.

That's a good thing.... Right?

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

Here's a look at the microscopic holes. If you look at the black areas, it shows up well.

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

The thumb loops.

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

Here's the chest pocket. Large enough to fit this rangefinder. You can also see the flat lock stitching. It's a tight stitch and the thread they used is holding up well.

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

For those that asked, here's what a snag looks like. Keep in mind it was only from the thorns that had hooks/claws. It seemed to snag in the holes. It can be a give and take when it comes to breathability and durability.

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

Here's what happened when I pulled on the snag. The single strand eventually broke. As you might be able to tell, I pulled a few. Not sure what it'll do in the long run. If I left it alone, it would resemble the above image (for now). If I run into future snags, those will be left alone. This was my forearm and I was purposely pushing the thorny brush away.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

That's a good thing.... Right?

Not for my bank account

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[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Thanks for the pictures and explanation. Most warm weather gear I've had has done similar things, even some cold weather stuff. I don't really know how much durability can be expected against thorns though.

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[Ryan K Sanpei]

Thanks for the pictures and explanation. Most warm weather gear I've had has done similar things, even some cold weather stuff. I don't really know how much durability can be expected against thorns though.

You're welcome. Agreed about the thorns. Especially the ones we encounter. Every one of my shirts has snags, just some more than others. I've had some that end up looking like leafy wear. So far this shirt seems promising in terms of durability.

 

[Brock A]

Good stuff Ryan! Nothing like a good legit test!! Nice work.

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[Obi-wanshinobi]

Is it made from the same material as KUIU's Tiburon shirt?
The 2nd Gen Tiburon shirt actually has some nice stretch to it.

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

Good stuff Ryan! Nothing like a good legit test!! Nice work.

Thank you Brock! Appreciate the kind words!

 

[Ryan K Sanpei]

Is it made from the same material as KUIU's Tiburon shirt?
The 2nd Gen Tiburon shirt actually has some nice stretch to it.

From kuiu's website:
olympic-caliber breathability and durability
The most technically advanced warm weather hunting shirt ever created. This shirt features Toray’s Dot Air technology with micro openings that allows even the slightest breeze to pass through and cool the body. 4-way stretch and Toray Makspec odor-reducing treatment increase the comfort and all-important odor control for the best hot weather performance possible.
-Flat Lock Stitching
-Anatomical shaping for fit and comfort when climbing
-Concealed angled zippered chest pocket
-¼ zip mock collar for extra comfort and added ventilation


From Braken Wear's website:
The ultimate warm / hot climate top. The Summer top is constructed from fabrics with air flux technology, manufactured to maximise breathability.

AIRFLUX fabric technology with microscopic pin-holes to allow unrestricted air flow, keeping your skin cool in the hottest conditions. 100% polyester composition for super fast drying time, keeping you light and dry. Lightweight and ultra-quiet fabric by Toray. Microscopic holes throughout maximise air-flow and evaporation. Perfect for the active hunter - keeping you cool, dry and comfortable in the hottest conditions.
-Flat lock stitching
-1/2 front zip
-SILENTSLIDE YKK zippers
-4 way stretch
-Air flux fabric
-Anatomically fit shape
-Thumb Loops

I've never tried any of kuiu's tiburon stuff. Both say that it's from Toray but in terms of material "names", one says dot air and the other says airflux.

This Braken Wear states 4 way stretch and it does stretch, but in my opinion, very minimally. It doesn't affect performance for me though as it fits well. Maybe a little snug for me in the pit area, but it doesn't impede my upper body movement. Most of my medium shirts do fit snug in the pit/chest area.

 

[mallacootasmoothie]

From kuiu's website:
olympic-caliber breathability and durability
The most technically advanced warm weather hunting shirt ever created. This shirt features Toray’s Dot Air technology with micro openings that allows even the slightest breeze to pass through and cool the body. 4-way stretch and Toray Makspec odor-reducing treatment increase the comfort and all-important odor control for the best hot weather performance possible.
-Flat Lock Stitching
-Anatomical shaping for fit and comfort when climbing
-Concealed angled zippered chest pocket
-¼ zip mock collar for extra comfort and added ventilation


From Braken Ware's website:
The ultimate warm / hot climate top. The Summer top is constructed from fabrics with air flux technology, manufactured to maximise breathability.

AIRFLUX fabric technology with microscopic pin-holes to allow unrestricted air flow, keeping your skin cool in the hottest conditions. 100% polyester composition for super fast drying time, keeping you light and dry. Lightweight and ultra-quiet fabric by Toray. Microscopic holes throughout maximise air-flow and evaporation. Perfect for the active hunter - keeping you cool, dry and comfortable in the hottest conditions.
-Flat lock stitching
-1/2 front zip
-SILENTSLIDE YKK zippers
-4 way stretch
-Air flux fabric
-Anatomically fit shape
-Thumb Loops

I've never tried any of kuiu's tiburon stuff. Both say that it's from Toray but in terms of material "names", one says dot air and the other says airflux.

This Braken Wear states 4 way stretch and it does stretch, but in my opinion, very minimally. It doesn't affect performance for me though as it fits well. Maybe a little snug for me in the pit area, but it doesn't impede my upper body movement. Most of my medium shirts do fit snug in the pit/chest area.

Braken wear's website did originally call the fabric Toray dot air but it has since changed to Toray airflux.

 

[bojangles808]

looks just like the tiburon top but at a better price. great review ryan they coming out with a scorcher pant anytime soon? hunted with a guy over here on maui couple weeks ago and he had some of their prototype stuff looked nice.