Core 4 Element??? Good or bad??

[armyjoe]

So I have a pile of Kryptek but I'm getting bored of the pattern. I have a shopping addiction hahaha

What are people thoughts on C4E clothing? I already have some First Lite Max 1 camo and really like that pattern.

- How well does it hold up to abuse
- Sizing - does it run true to size or large/small fit
- What pieces are worth it to purchase and what should I pass on.

I plan to use it mostly for early archery season and AZ elk and couse in the desert.

 

[Terrapin]

Mine all fell apart after one year. Zippers failed, merino blew out. I might get some flak, but it's cheap Chinese crap that looks good and has good marketing. I'm no fan boy, but I think I'm going to stick with Sitka and Kuiu. My .02

 

[armyjoe]

Thanks man. Appreciate the feedback

 

[Yeti]

I bought some pants for early season archery here in California they didn't last one trip into the mountains.

 

[ahlgringo]

I have had my set of mm core4 for four seasons now- going strong. Prefer the pants to my sitka 90%. Just my opinion though. And yes i am slogging through the CO backcountry- not sitting on my couch. I will say their puffy is shit though. Got rid of that thing quick.

 

[Browtinemt]

Hit and miss for me. I like the merino bottom (2 yrs use), pivot shirt (3 yrs use), the torrent jacket (2 yrs) and the highline pant (2 yrs use)... dislike my older switchback pants (3yrs) and merino top (2 yrs)...all are pre Easton though. It's held up through some pretty nasty "what am I doing?" trips. Merino bottoms have 150+ days between hunting and work with only a hole in the knee, maybe I've just had a good pair though. Fit is true to jean and chest size for me except the merino top which runs small, like fat guy in a little coat small. I agree with Terrapin that the zippers are crap and stitching is suspect. I bought it all from camofire, and having owned it for a while I think that's what it's worth. If looking for pants I really like the design of FL's corrugated guide pants, but have no experience with them.

 

[krueger]

Same here, I have two pairs of the switchback pants for three years and they are low quality in my opinion. They were pretty good the first couple of trips for the first season but then the pockets came unstitched, the material worn holes in the knees and on the back and the water restraint coating lost effectiveness. I expected them to be a lot more durable for the price.

I wouldn't but C4E again.

 

[Trial153]

Only thing I bought from them were a pair of merino boxer brief underwear, they were scratchy and ill fitting I tosses them quick.

 

[KMT]

I have had the switchback for three seasons. Last season, they started coming unstitched. But they were 1/3 the price of Sitka or kuiu on CamoFire. For me, a better buy than the big names. I've had kryptek clothing. That was expensive and pure crap. I've had the c4e torrent rain gear for two seasons. Pants and jacket for $160 combined on CamoFire. Worth the price for me.

 

[conhawa]

Bought a bunch of it and sold everything but the Element pants. First time using it....the zippers pulls came off track on all of my shirts and a pair of pants. I contacted C4E about the zipper problem, and they did not offer to fix or replace them. They said that they were looking to correct the problem in the future. I fixed the problem myself on the sewing machine, but I wasn't happy with their response.
I replaced everything with Sitka, and it is much better quality.

 

[yak]

The only C4E that I own is the Torrent rain jacket. I haven't field tested it thoroughly yet, only a few weekend trips. I like it and would recommend it to a friend. The rain gear is priced well for the quality as compared to the high end rain gear (Sitka, FL, Kuiu, etc...). I probably would have gone with a more high end brand if I was hunting in the Alaskan bush, but I primarily hunt in Colorado, so the C4E rain jacket works for me.

 

[NJDiverDan]

I guess I am the odd ball with C4E. I really like the Element pants, element jacket and I think it is the assault shirts. Part of it is fit as I am 6'4" and most of the other "tech" close do not fit me. As for durability, I have put probably 30-50 days of hunting in my element pants / jacket with zero issues. I also have the torrent rain jacket, but have only needed it a few times. I did not like their merino shirts, fit was very weird for me. Mine is also all pre Easton and purchased on camofire. Going on my 3rd year with it all so we will see as far as longevity.

 

[tttoadman]

I have had most of my C4E since early 2013. I have all of the merino and have had 0 problems with any of it. I have the assault midweight shirt. I have all three of the pants. The element pants are heavy as hell, but they are warm and tuff. I have the torrent jacket. It is quiet but will soak up water on the outside making it heavy and cold. I am pretty happy with it. They don't make a primaloft vest, so I bought Sitka for that. My brother bought the element jacket, and the collar seams weirdly baggy to me. I have beat the crap of this stuff bushwacking for blacktails in OR. I bought the highline pants because I think they were made just for me. My first request back to them was to make bigger cargo pockets. The switchback pants are starting to lose some stitching on the top of the cargo pockets, but these have the most use of anything I have. That is the only thing I have noticed. Take this for what it's worth, but I tend to be extremely low impact on my gear. I am still in the woods doing battle, but I seem to get longer service from my gear than most others.

 

[mrbillbrown]

IME, Their merino is scratchy and runs small. Customer service is crap and I won't own any more of their stuff.

 

[Dan-o]

I currently only wear their merino tops and bottoms. I had Switchback pants and liked them but they fell apart after three years. Got my money's worth out of them.

Other than the Core 4 merino tops and bottoms I wear Sitka gear.

 

[Tauntohawk]

I love the element pants, not crazy on the jacket. Switchbacks are nice and I've beat them pretty good just tend to opt for my kanabs. The Merino I wear all the time and thought it has held up exceptionally it isn't as smooth and soft as first lite but was half the price.

Wouldn't pay retail but the camofire price tag made it hard to match.

 

[lintond]

I bought quite a bit of C4E off camofire two years ago. I have since switched to Kuiu and Kryptek, but part of that might be my inner gear addiction.

I still have the torrent jacket and element pants. I use the pants for upland hunting because they are too heavy for archery. I have since switched from the switchback pants to the valhalla pants to the tiburon. I didn't find the merino to be itchy but certainly not as comfy as the kuiu and first lite that I have now.

 

[HuntHarder]

I had some problem as most, my C4E gear does not make it a season in Az. My pants were torn to shreds after a few hunts, I also noticed that their stuff fades pretty fast too.

 

[CA Karen]

Hmm, nary a problem with mine and I have all 3 weights of pants, merino wool, the mid mountain vest and one of the synthetic long sleeve shirts. Works great for my Utah backpacking hunts. My down jacket it Mt Hardware, but rain gear in Kuiu. Have the 250 wt merino from Kuiu but it is very itchy....won't pay for their merino again.

 

[TNsavageman]

I buy their stuff on camofire... Cheap.... I have been happy with what I have got so far.