First Lite Customer Service = GARBAGE

[Bocephus131]

I really like their wick stuff, kiln hoody, and triad socks.

Last time I ordered a hoody and some merino base stuff. I sent the hoody back because the stitching was terrible. It was loose with little rat nests and the seam endings had long dangling ends. I probably would have kept it anyway but it wasn't quite right for me. Return was easy and they sent me a label quickly.

I'm not surprised they wouldn't warranty a shredded crotch but it would still be a worthwhile play to retain a customer. There's too many high level competitors in the market for that.

If I would have wrestled a grizz and he tried to eat my crotch it would be a different story. These just literally fell apart with light use. Sounds like a lot of the same story with First Lite gear. To your point they did nothing to try to retain me or even own that the Obsidian pants are trash. It was just "there is nothing we are willing to do" hell Walmart has taken better care of customers than that.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Try again in a couple weeks. Maybe change your story to your email crashed. Etc

I tried once and no dice. Then like a year later when I was about to just toss them. They were like yeah no problem.

But they litterly sent me a different size and color back

 

[hh76]

You should have done some research before buying. Lots of reviews on their website saying the same thing.

 

[Reburn]

You should have done some research before buying. Lots of reviews on their website saying the same thing.

This is hilarious.

Your literally giving him grief for not reading when you literally didnt read his post that they were a gift.
pot meet kettle.

OH the irony.

 

[robby denning]

Long story short, and knowing First Lite is a sponsor here I hope this doesn't offend anyone. I was gifted a pair of Obsisdian merino pants which retail for $180 with tax close to $200 pants. After a couple minimal uses this past fall I was sitting on an elk wallow.

hey don't ever stress about posting a bad experience with a sponsor. All we ask is that you're fair and honest. These sponsors need to offer the best CS in our minds and I don't remember ever discouraging posts about failed product/service

I've posted about failed gear from sponsors (Swaro' FL, and others). It's how they get better.

sorry about your pants.

 

[IdahoBeav]

My $20 five year old Wranglers from Wal-Mart have held up better than a supposedly premium brand of First Lite.

To be fair, is there a high end hunting pant that is as tough as denim jeans?

 

[dashender7]

Another vote here for First Lite product is next to worthless and seems to be driven by a lot of marketing prowess and product placement. My brother in law got all hyped out on their stuff and probably has $2k worth of their hunting clothing. All I've ever seen it do is rip and tear and come apart with minimal use time and time again in the field. I've seen enough to stay away period. Meanwhile my $50 Midway jacket and single pair of KUIU attack pants have held up week after week.

 

[Bocephus131]

To be fair, is there a high end hunting pant that is as tough as denim jeans?

Wrangler flex pants aren't denim jeans. A $200 pair of marketed "hunting" pants should last more than a couple trips to the elk woods imo.

 

[sndmn11]

I'm fortunate that I haven't had anything happen that wasn't my fault with my immense collection of FL. I have a first run Uncompahgre with a literal dozen patches of hear aid tape.

I do think that they should have fabric patches available. I did the sit, slide, and drop over a high deadfall this year and ripped my corrugate guide pants. I asked for a scrap to sew on but was told nothing existed. For some reason my gear aid tape keeps coming off. Mixing and matching patch material with base material has never worked out well for me because one usually shrinks/stretches/tightens up/etc differently than the other.

 

[Dirtbag]

I had full First lite kit and it barely made it through 2 seasons. It was the reason I switched to Kuiu and I havent had any issues with durability since.

 

[Titan_Bow]

When I look at pants from most of the high end brands, it surprises me that they are so expensive. Typically they are single stitched and maybe if you are lucky double stitched on the crotch. Look at high end backpacking/ hiking brands and you find similar fabrics, and like Prana Zions or Kuhls, double and triple stitched seams.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jayhawk]

Had a pair of Sitka pants that I ripped a hole in the seat of crossing a barbed-wire fence. Sent them in and they patched em up and sent them back with a new hat .... for free.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Maybe I'm not that hard on my gear but I've had a couple pairs of Corrugate guide pants for 3-4 years. Beat them up through deadfall and western washington thick stuff a decent amount. Besides the fabric pilling the only real damage is a burn mark from an ember on the ankle of one pair. Multiple times I've thought "oh that probably ripped em" and they were fine. One of the only pants I've found that fit over my thighs. Even the guide lites are cut for chicken legs.

One of my quarter zips the fabric is pulling apart under the armpit but I've worn that piece the most and washed it a ton. Besides when it's stretched out putting it on I don't notice it.

Was a little frustrated when I got the guide lites on sale, they didn't fit and I couldn't trade them for corrugates after the sale ended. They were the same price during the sale I'm pretty sure...

 

[t_carlson]

To be fair, is there a high end hunting pant that is as tough as denim jeans?

Sitka Mountain Pants are bulletproof.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Buy some of these expensive ?
but def worth every penny imo
these and a base layer where good to 0** for me during the 2021 blizzard

USA Made Red Plaid Wool Hunting Pants - Johnson Woolen Mills

Find red plaid wool hunting pants by Johnson Woolen Mills, featuring large stag designs.

johnsonwoolenmills.com

 

[Gobbler36]

living in Idaho i tried to support first lite but after numerous failed pants, and jackets, I’ve moved on to kuiu and just good ol rei stuff and a few Sitka outer wear pieces and have been much happier. Had a kuiu issue with a vest and got a internet credit no questions asked.

 

[87TT]

I know it's not what all the cool kids are wearing but, I have been wearing the same pair of Kryptek Valhala pants for 7 seasons. I am hard on clothes and hunt hard. I have snagged and torn so much that they look like zigzag stitch camo from my wife's repairs. Still got more life left. I bought some new ones when they were on sale but haven't used them yet. I only own some FL zip off thermals and some suspenders.
FL did exchange the thermals when I found them too large with speed and courtesy.

 

[Lowg08]

I must either have great luck or something. I use almost exclusively FL and I have never had any issues outside of a busted crotch in some Kanabs. They replaced.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I went through 2 pairs of Kanab 2.0s, both warrantied with crotch blow outs. After getting a replacement the third time I sold them. I went all in with FL about 4-5 years ago. At the end of season, I’d have to send 4-5 things back every year for warranty. They’d always fix or replace, but got to the point I was on first name basis with the warranty rep, figured that wasn’t normal and moved away from them.
I’ve had great durability with Kuiu, only two issues in 4 years, both resolved immediately. Anything wool I’d look towards Duckworth.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Hmmmm… sorry to hear about your issues.

my experience with FL CS has been quite good. They swapped two pair of Kanabs with blown crotches for me.