Mike Islander
WKR
First Lite Gen 2 Uncompahgre versus Kuiu Guide Pro Jacket: Short Review
I've been wearing a Gen 1 Uncompahgre since 2019 and it's a bit worn out now. Been looking for a replacement and tried the new Gen 2 Uncompahgre and the Kuiu Guide Pro Jacket.
PRICE: Gen 2 Uncompahgre = $220, Guide Pro = $279
Uncompahgre fits like you would expect an insulated jacket to fit. I went from a Gen 1 large to a Gen 2 medium. I'm 5'8" with athletic build and 44" chest. I would say the Uncompahgre is very slightly tighter in the shoulders than I normally like, but having worn it a bit I am happy with that fit now. It's not overly long, coming down just below the belt line in front and several inches below the belt in back with a bit of a beavertail. Sleeves are about perfect for me (I wear 32"-33" sleeves). Cuffs are elastic. I would prefer adjustable velcro (for comfort and cooling), but they aren't too tight, just snug.
The biggest thing that initially put me off was the gigantic hood. It must have been designed to fit Steven Rinella's huge head. (I'm actually a fan, but he does have a big head, both physically and personality-wise). Good for wearing over a ballcap or even a inter beanie or hat. A quick cinch of the adjustment cords and the hood fits well on my bare head. The Gen 1 hood drawstring adjuster was huge and located at the back of the head down low. This made sleeping in the jacket very uncomfortable. The new one is still behind the head, but much much smaller and way up near the top of your head. It is far enough up that it won't tend to be under your head when sleeping. The collar goes well up on your face when completely zipped up (just above my upper lip), with plenty of diameter to allow rotating your head. Essentially a nice cold weather jacket. Room underneath for more layers but warm in its own right.
Guide Pro fits more like a fitted shirt. Instead of feeling like an insulated jacket, it feels more like a thick flannel shirt. Additional layers will need to go on top, except for a fairly thin mid and base. It has nice velcro sleeve cuffs. I love the vented sleeves. They are on my Kuiu rain shell and I am a huge fan. Hood adjustments are on each side of the neck. But it also has a drawstring adjuster behind the head, about where the head bone sticks out the most (external occipital protuberance). We'll have to test this more. My initial tests on my office cot put that adjuster slightly touching on my skull when I sleep on my back. However, the adjuster is very small and though perceptible, not uncomfortable in short term testing. I'll need some nights on a sleeping pad to see if this is an issue at all. My guess is probably not.
5 zippered pockets, while the Unc. has 3. Like the Uncompahgre, plenty of room in the hood for a hat, but not quite as cavernous. The zipped collar comes up a bit high but not high enough to come above the chin. Instead it is just high enough for rubbing against the bottom of my chin more than I like. Zipped neck diameter is not enough to tuck in my chin. This almost had me returning it. But since this is probably a jacket for a bit warmer weather, I just won't zip it all the way up unless I'm sitting in a stand. In that case I can position the jacket where it isn't rubbing my chin much, especially since I'll be moving a lot less.
TWO DIFFERENT USE CASES (Duh?)
The Uncompahgre feels much warmer to me and a lot like my varsity jacket from HS wrestling or a WWII bomber jacket in fit (i.e. roomy, cozy, and comfortable). The fabric/insulation is about twice as thick as Guide Pro, but it feels more fragile on the outer fabric. If my Gen 1 experience is any indication, this jacket is not meant for any serious brush bucking. The Guide Pro fabric feels more dense, and the outer appears more durable.
When I put on the Uncompahgre in my office I'm overheated in minute or so. The Guide Pro is thinner in insulation and doesn't feel very warm at first. Surely the tech makes it warmer the longer you wear it? In any case, I'd say the Uncompahgre is more fitting for what passes for deep winter here (maybe down to 20F-30F at dawn during our coldest days), and the Guide Pro is better for bucking brush in late fall, early winter (upper 30s - 50s). I do have to say that the Gen 1 Uncompahgre for some reason is fine all the way into the 60s, maybe due to the way it fits? I'm guessing the Guide Pro will have a decent range, but will need the use of the sleeve vents in warmer weather instead of somehow magically adjusting it's warmth like the Uncompahgre seems to do.
STOCK PHOTOS
Uncompahgre
![mens-uncompahgre-2-0-puffy-jacket_global_fit[1].jpg](https://forumdata.rokslide.com/file/forumdata/data/attachments/757/757611-0ea6404069fa95f871c0c28b72b8f4c8.jpg "mens-uncompahgre-2-0-puffy-jacket_global_fit[1].jpg")
![mens-uncompahgre-2-0-puffy-jacket_global_zip[1].jpg](https://forumdata.rokslide.com/file/forumdata/data/attachments/757/757610-d4f7745920f06f4829b6bc740ca1e338.jpg "mens-uncompahgre-2-0-puffy-jacket_global_zip[1].jpg")
Guide Pro
I've been wearing a Gen 1 Uncompahgre since 2019 and it's a bit worn out now. Been looking for a replacement and tried the new Gen 2 Uncompahgre and the Kuiu Guide Pro Jacket.
PRICE: Gen 2 Uncompahgre = $220, Guide Pro = $279
Uncompahgre fits like you would expect an insulated jacket to fit. I went from a Gen 1 large to a Gen 2 medium. I'm 5'8" with athletic build and 44" chest. I would say the Uncompahgre is very slightly tighter in the shoulders than I normally like, but having worn it a bit I am happy with that fit now. It's not overly long, coming down just below the belt line in front and several inches below the belt in back with a bit of a beavertail. Sleeves are about perfect for me (I wear 32"-33" sleeves). Cuffs are elastic. I would prefer adjustable velcro (for comfort and cooling), but they aren't too tight, just snug.
The biggest thing that initially put me off was the gigantic hood. It must have been designed to fit Steven Rinella's huge head. (I'm actually a fan, but he does have a big head, both physically and personality-wise). Good for wearing over a ballcap or even a inter beanie or hat. A quick cinch of the adjustment cords and the hood fits well on my bare head. The Gen 1 hood drawstring adjuster was huge and located at the back of the head down low. This made sleeping in the jacket very uncomfortable. The new one is still behind the head, but much much smaller and way up near the top of your head. It is far enough up that it won't tend to be under your head when sleeping. The collar goes well up on your face when completely zipped up (just above my upper lip), with plenty of diameter to allow rotating your head. Essentially a nice cold weather jacket. Room underneath for more layers but warm in its own right.
Guide Pro fits more like a fitted shirt. Instead of feeling like an insulated jacket, it feels more like a thick flannel shirt. Additional layers will need to go on top, except for a fairly thin mid and base. It has nice velcro sleeve cuffs. I love the vented sleeves. They are on my Kuiu rain shell and I am a huge fan. Hood adjustments are on each side of the neck. But it also has a drawstring adjuster behind the head, about where the head bone sticks out the most (external occipital protuberance). We'll have to test this more. My initial tests on my office cot put that adjuster slightly touching on my skull when I sleep on my back. However, the adjuster is very small and though perceptible, not uncomfortable in short term testing. I'll need some nights on a sleeping pad to see if this is an issue at all. My guess is probably not.
5 zippered pockets, while the Unc. has 3. Like the Uncompahgre, plenty of room in the hood for a hat, but not quite as cavernous. The zipped collar comes up a bit high but not high enough to come above the chin. Instead it is just high enough for rubbing against the bottom of my chin more than I like. Zipped neck diameter is not enough to tuck in my chin. This almost had me returning it. But since this is probably a jacket for a bit warmer weather, I just won't zip it all the way up unless I'm sitting in a stand. In that case I can position the jacket where it isn't rubbing my chin much, especially since I'll be moving a lot less.
TWO DIFFERENT USE CASES (Duh?)
The Uncompahgre feels much warmer to me and a lot like my varsity jacket from HS wrestling or a WWII bomber jacket in fit (i.e. roomy, cozy, and comfortable). The fabric/insulation is about twice as thick as Guide Pro, but it feels more fragile on the outer fabric. If my Gen 1 experience is any indication, this jacket is not meant for any serious brush bucking. The Guide Pro fabric feels more dense, and the outer appears more durable.
When I put on the Uncompahgre in my office I'm overheated in minute or so. The Guide Pro is thinner in insulation and doesn't feel very warm at first. Surely the tech makes it warmer the longer you wear it? In any case, I'd say the Uncompahgre is more fitting for what passes for deep winter here (maybe down to 20F-30F at dawn during our coldest days), and the Guide Pro is better for bucking brush in late fall, early winter (upper 30s - 50s). I do have to say that the Gen 1 Uncompahgre for some reason is fine all the way into the 60s, maybe due to the way it fits? I'm guessing the Guide Pro will have a decent range, but will need the use of the sleeve vents in warmer weather instead of somehow magically adjusting it's warmth like the Uncompahgre seems to do.
STOCK PHOTOS
Uncompahgre
Guide Pro
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