Kuiu durability

[GoDawgs48]

Been a lurker for a while and figured I should make an account. People who own lots of kuiu - how’s the durability? I recently purchased a Kenai hooded jacket, and while it’s certainly lightweight and warm, I’ve been frankly unimpressed with the durability. After extremely light usage (wearing around town a few times and a light day hike) there is an unacceptable amount of pilling. Before I get too heavily invested into a Kuiu system, I’d like to know if this is just specific to the Kenai jacket or is a recurring problem. If the latter is the case - what are some alternate recommendations?

 

[bcv]

I destroyed my Kenai in a year. Bought some like new but used yukon set and all the zippers froze shut. The pants are useless. None of the zippers work and the sides will not zip shut. The yukon jacket is basically a pull-over now. I change the oil in my truck wearing it. Attack pants have holes. The super down pants elastic doesn't work and velcro is shot. I threaded some para cord around the waist to keep them up. The guide jacket is worthless. Sleeves fit abnormally strange and warmth to weight doesn't make sense. Basically, the only pieces that have held up are their merino tops for me. I have one top from 2014... Pilling, Yes, but they still get used. In short, Kuiu died when Jason did. I buy sitka now. I hunt the same as I always have and my sitka gear is holding up.

 

[Team4LongGun]

OP-welcome to the site. I can't say I agree with the previous post......I have had great experiences with Kuiu gear. I don't exclusively wear it head to toe, but their stuff has been solid for me.

 

[Loggerdude]

I like the stone glacier also, I only use mine for hunting about 25 days a year. Makes it where I can hunt more comfortable and longer. You can get away with pajamas if you just Road hunt.

 

[Honyock]

I've been happy with my Kuiu items. Maybe I'm not hard on my gear but I haven't had any issues with Kuiu.

 

[700MtnMan]

I have quite a few KUIU pieces and have had excellent service out of them.

 

[Theringworm]

I own full sets of both Sitka and Kuiu. Don’t ask me why, I guess I just like trying out new gear. I started with Sitka and have migrated to Kuiu. Each has their plus’s and minus‘s however I have nothing significantly negative to say about either.

To answer the OP, I have worn my attack pants, Chugach rain gear, Yukon rain gear and several outer layers through some of the nastiest stuff Alaska can throw at you 3 of the past 4 years without any issues. Dense alders, devil club, sliding down wet or frozen mountain sides, over boulders, in freezing temps, crawling on all fours. Basically most any situation you can imagine encountering and I have done it. Zero issues. Sure I get a pull on a shirt from a thorn or something but any shirt would pull in a situation like that. Nothing that would deter me from ordering again. No obvious wholes from wear or malfunctioning zippers. They do have warranties if you need them. I have never used it though.

Stone Glacier, Sitka, Kuiu…….its basically all very similar. Find what you like and run with it. I have really liked some of the SG pieces they have come out with lately also. At the end of the day, the animals don’t care what you wear.

 

[TheViking]

I own full sets of both Sitka and Kuiu. Don’t ask me why, I guess I just like trying out new gear. I started with Sitka and have migrated to Kuiu. Each has their plus’s and minus‘s however I have nothing significantly negative to say about either.

To answer the OP, I have worn my attack pants, Chugach rain gear, Yukon rain gear and several outer layers through some of the nastiest stuff Alaska can throw at you 3 of the past 4 years without any issues. Dense alders, devil club, sliding down wet or frozen mountain sides, over boulders, in freezing temps, crawling on all fours. Basically most any situation you can imagine encountering and I have done it. Zero issues. Sure I get a pull on a shirt from a thorn or something but any shirt would pull in a situation like that. Nothing that would deter me from ordering again. No obvious wholes from wear or malfunctioning zippers. They do have warranties if you need them. I have never used it though.

Stone Glacier, Sitka, Kuiu…….its basically all very similar. Find what you like and run with it. I have really liked some of the SG pieces they have come out with lately also. At the end of the day, the animals don’t care what you wear.

Agree with this!

I’ve worn kuiu exclusively for 5-6 years now and have never had any issues! I’ve got snagged on a few things and done some small damage, but ANY pair or pants would’ve done the same. I still wear a pair of attacks that I’ve had this whole time that damn near still look new.

All the top brands are great. All fit, feel and function slightly different. Buy a few different pair from the classifieds and test them out.

 

[rclouse79]

I bought one pair of attack pants, and that was enough for me. They might as well have been made out of tissue paper.

 

[TheViking]

Been a lurker for a while and figured I should make an account. People who own lots of kuiu - how’s the durability? I recently purchased a Kenai hooded jacket, and while it’s certainly lightweight and warm, I’ve been frankly unimpressed with the durability. After extremely light usage (wearing around town a few times and a light day hike) there is an unacceptable amount of pilling. Before I get too heavily invested into a Kuiu system, I’d like to know if this is just specific to the Kenai jacket or is a recurring problem. If the latter is the case - what are some alternate recommendations?

The Kenai jacket is probably their least durable piece - it’s an insulation piece, not for brush busting. They’ll even tell you that.

 

[Dos Perros]

I have a Patagonia NanoAir that is essentially the same thing as a Kuiu Kenai. Same insulation, the shell is the same or damn close. I've beat mine to shreds. It has many tears and holes with Tenacious Tape patches. That's just par for the course if you want ultra light gear, IMO. Else, buy heavier and more durable.

 

[camelcluch]

I have a first year Kenai that still looks new. It get decent use through hunting season. I have Attack pants that are about 8 years old and Alpine pants that are close to the same. I own a ton of Kuiu and never had one issue with durability. The Alpine pants are my go to in September and see about 20 days of hunting.

 

[Axlrod]

I bought one pair of attack pants, and that was enough for me. They might as well have been made out of tissue paper.

They have a lifetime warranty.
I have 6 pairs of attack in solid colors that I wear to work daily. going on 2 years been worn and washed hundreds of times and there are no holes or noticeable wear on any of them. A few camo pairs that are 4 or so years old and zero issues. Of all my hunting or work pants, Kuiu attack are by far the most durable I have owned.

 

[rclouse79]

They have a lifetime warranty.
I have 6 pairs of attack in solid colors that I wear to work daily. going on 2 years been worn and washed hundreds of times and there are no holes or noticeable wear on any of them. A few camo pairs that are 4 or so years old and zero issues. Of all my hunting or work pants, Kuiu attack are by far the most durable I have owned.

Lifetime warranty? Good joke. I emailed after the first trip I wore them and the pant leg got a big tear in it. They gave me the phone number to a place I could pay to have them shipped and sewed. The inside of both cuffs wore through after a handful of hunts along with the back pockets where I sat and glassed. I noticed my buddies Kuiu gators wore through the same place my pants did. I do like the fit and zips, so I have continued to sew and patch them. I am glad they worked well for you.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

I've got quite a bit of Kuiu, like an irresponsible amount, and I like their system and designs so I'm always shopping their sales and picking up more. I won't be buying any more of their Merino pieces. I have the same four First Lite Merino shirts that I've had for probably 4 or so years now and they've all outlasted the Kuiu Merino. The worst one was the 145 hoody. Man I love that thing too but I can't even wash it in my washer without getting holes in it. The warranty dept told me people hand wash theirs if they don't have a front loading washer, they blamed it on my agitator from the top load machine. The FL stuff has no problem with it though. My Attack pants have some snag pulls but I don't care because they're camo hunting pants. The solid Attack are fine as I've not run them through West Texas brush yet. The Kutana pants have all taken a beating and they're still pristine. All the other various layers and outers I have are performing as well as they should so I've no complaints.

 

[ElDiablito]

Been wearing Kuiu exclusively myself for maybe 5 years. No complaints whatsoever. The Kenai jacket is one of my favorites and has held up extraordinarily well for as much as I’ve worn it.

As far as the warranty - I’ve only had one issue - a buckle broke on a gaitor. I called them and they promptly sent me a new pair.

 

[CMF]

Attacks, tiburons, northridge rain jacket, peleton shirt, hats, 260 hybrid all been good.
Kutana Gaiters are showing more wear than I'd expect for their use.
The merino hasn't held up at all, but I think that's a merino problem not a kuiu problem, since the woolx underwear I tried didn't make it half as long as kuiu merino top.

 

[jtivat]

Attacks will snag and get thread pulls very easy but as for rips or worn through mine have been fine.

 

[Mudpuddle]

I have the peloton 200 and 240 and both have held up well. They're midlayers, so I wouldn't expect to bust through brush or briars and come out unscathed, but the zippers have held up well and there is minimal pilling. The 240 is used for everyday use and hunting and I wear it quite a bit.

 

[jenkinsd]

Hunted predators all winter with Axis Pants. High Desert Country, In the 30's and 20's , snow and wind. Wore Gators, had no problems with Sage and Bitter Brush.