Kuiu Proximity Review

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

dB levels compared to other clothes?

 

[go4thegusto]

dB levels compared to other clothes?

As quiet as anything I have found that is windstopper. I am a 10 yard stickbow guy so very particular about noise.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

As quiet as anything I have found that is windstopper. I am a 10 yard stickbow guy so very particular about noise.

Asking since the NIOSH app is free.

Folks talk about "loudness" but it is always 100% arbitrary. Having a comparison between "perceived quiet" and "perceived loud" but with actual numbers can be helpful. What are the dB levels when going through the draw motion (minus the bow)? When using the Fanatic (for example) what are those numbers as a reference?

Will be interesting to see how the Proximity line holds up after a full season.

 

[Kotaman]

I agree with most above. I also have Stratus, Fanatic and Incinerator. This falls right between the Stratus and Fanatic. Proximity is very quiet. Gonna be a place for this in the arsenal. Will be interesting to see how KUIU develops their whitetail line. With the success of the Proximity already, I’m sure there will be more to come.

 

[Ho5tile1]

Used my proximity jacket this morning it was only 40. I had it over the kuiu peloton 118 and the 200 I was not cold but it’s far from the fanatic, not sure how low I can take it I was hoping it would be ok alone in 40 but it was border line for me. I do run cold once I’m up in the saddle though.


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[Kotaman]

I’m anxious to see how low this will go with my Pnuma Heated vest…

 

[connordude27]

Well we had 40+mph winds all night and a colder morning. This morning the temp was 30-35° with light winds. Tried a saddle for the first time and it really goes nicely over the proximity pants, the leg straps tucked up high enough that I could still get in the zippers no problem.

I was absolutely cooking. I had a cheap Walmart synthetic thermal top on, the Ultra Down jacket then the proximity and from the climbing I was absolutely soaking wet. Didn’t really cool down after 2hrs. Just stayed hot. I probably could’ve undone the pit zips but with how wet things were, I thought that would be a bad idea. My complaints on this? The ultra down is LOUD!

Anyways, this isn’t the last trip out this fall. Still have a few tags that I intend to try to fill out of a tree. So once again hopefully I will have some much better info and if this fall will cooperate, hopefully I can get some better adverse conditions to test in.

 

[Kotaman]

View attachment 467129
Well we had 40+mph winds all night and a colder morning. This morning the temp was 30-35° with light winds. Tried a saddle for the first time and it really goes nicely over the proximity pants, the leg straps tucked up high enough that I could still get in the zippers no problem.

I was absolutely cooking. I had a cheap Walmart synthetic thermal top on, the Ultra Down jacket then the proximity and from the climbing I was absolutely soaking wet. Didn’t really cool down after 2hrs. Just stayed hot. I probably could’ve undone the pit zips but with how wet things were, I thought that would be a bad idea. My complaints on this? The ultra down is LOUD!

Anyways, this isn’t the last trip out this fall. Still have a few tags that I intend to try to fill out of a tree. So once again hopefully I will have some much better info and if this fall will cooperate, hopefully I can get some better adverse conditions to test in.

Rule #1: NEVER HIKE IN A PUFFY. You will be miserable as soon as you stop.

 

[OMB]

I wore the jacket over the weekend for a morning sit in 40 degree temps. Only worry a Pro Merino 200 underneath because I knew temps would be rising. I was pretty impressed with warmth and how quiet it is. Pocket layout is great. Can't wait to evaluate under colder temperatures, but I think Kuiu knocked it out of the park for their first whitetail dedicated piece. Plenty of room for layering something like a Kenai jacket or super down vest underneath, and I like how they cut it a bit long to actually cover my back when I'm sitting. Most likely ordering the bottoms before it gets too much colder.

 

[eltaco]

I just received my Proximity set this week and really looking forward to getting into the field with this gear. As with any online order, you really don’t know what you’re getting until it shows up, but I’m happily impressed now that I’ve got it in hand.

I did go to check out the Sitka Fanatic and Stratus for comparisons sake last night. I would suggest the Proximity is closer to the Fanatic in thickness, but definitely in between the two pieces of Sitka gear. I plan to be in the stand with it tomorrow and will comment from in the field use. I can tell you that I start sweating quickly with it on in my house. I expect this will get me into the teens with 1-2 base layers and comfortable into the 40s-50s without.

Kuiu markets this as “highly wind resistant”. I am able to blow through the fabric, but it’s not easy. My FL solitude is probably 2x easier to blow through, and FL Catalyst is comparably like blowing through cheesecloth. I didn’t try to blow through the Sitka gear, so I’m curious if that is truly impossible to push air through. Can anyone confirm? I really do think this Kuiu Proximity gear will hold up to some stiff winds… looking forward to verifying it.

 

[Ho5tile1]

Well with the fanatic I’ve sat in 30 mph winds with higher gusts and it didn’t get through at all. I have driven down the road at 70 and the wind didn’t get through the arms hanging out the window….


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[bigmike23]

I just received my Proximity set this week and really looking forward to getting into the field with this gear. As with any online order, you really don’t know what you’re getting until it shows up, but I’m happily impressed now that I’ve got it in hand.

I did go to check out the Sitka Fanatic and Stratus for comparisons sake last night. I would suggest the Proximity is closer to the Fanatic in thickness, but definitely in between the two pieces of Sitka gear. I plan to be in the stand with it tomorrow and will comment from in the field use. I can tell you that I start sweating quickly with it on in my house. I expect this will get me into the teens with 1-2 base layers and comfortable into the 40s-50s without.

Kuiu markets this as “highly wind resistant”. I am able to blow through the fabric, but it’s not easy. My FL solitude is probably 2x easier to blow through, and FL Catalyst is comparably like blowing through cheesecloth. I didn’t try to blow through the Sitka gear, so I’m curious if that is truly impossible to push air through. Can anyone confirm? I really do think this Kuiu Proximity gear will hold up to some stiff winds… looking forward to verifying it.

That's disappointing to here about the wind resistance. If you can push air through it's not wind proof. The big bad wolf who ate the 3 little pigs couldn't push air through the Stratus and Fanatic. It feels like you're trying to blow air through a garbage bag. You can't do it. If thats the case I'm sending back the proximity set when it arrives this week

 

[bigmike23]

Got the set and am sending it back tomorrow. It is nowhere near windproof. Not remotely close. I can push air through the jacket and pants with ease. I had my Stratus set on hand for comparison and there simply is no comparison. You cannot push air through the Stratus no matter how hard you try.
Any features this set offered is nullified imo by this con.
The jacket fits nice and it's soft. But there's idiotically no insulation or wind stopper on the bottom half of the sleeves for the first foot from the wrist for some reason. The pocket layout is nice.
The pants are good but definitely need refinement. The pockets seem silly to me as they stack on top of each other. If you fill one up it's difficult to fill the other. The burr pickup is going to be horrendous. They need to go the route of the sitka Fanatic and make the area from the knee down non fleece to reduce burr pickup. The raised back is nice and the jacket is long so there's no way you're getting a chill up your back.
When Kuiu inevitably updates the set to be windproof I will be first in line. It is dramatically less bulky than the Fanatic series and with the same insulation as it has now combined with a wind stopper membrane I suspect it would take you down into the teens, Eliminating my Fanatic set totally with way less bulk.
The beanie and neck gaiter are worthless imo. The sitka gaiter is way way warmer and more wind resistant. And the status and Fanatic beanie both are far warmer and with actual wind stopper. Both the beanie and gaiter from Kuiu is paper thin and has no wind resistance whatsoever despite them having polartec wind resistant material which does nothing.

 

[Ho5tile1]

Yea sad to say you are correct all though I’m gonna keep my set. Here in NW Florida this is all we really need as it don’t get that cold very often. when it dips down those few mornings in the teens or low 20s I have my fanatic Or stratus for that. Was really hoping it would be warmer then it is. I wore it in the low 40s with a peloton 200 and peloton 118 under it and was fine but I could tell much lower and I would start to get cold. I do run cold however. I do like the fit and the pockets. I see what you mean with filling one up just makes it harder to get stuff in the other kinda silly. Over all though I like it it’s a good start for stand hunters but for 600 bucks I would think it would have a real wind stopper in it.


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[eltaco]

I ended up holding onto my set and hunting with it over the past week or so. I actually filled my buck tag while using this equipment on Friday.

A couple of experiences:
- Our KS weather has been warm. All of my hunting with this has been in the 40s-60s.
- The gear is presumably designed for lower temperatures, but it’s notable that it breathed well enough for me to hunt in warmer temps comfortably. I’m really not sure if a fully windproof material would have allowed this without profusely sweating.
- The set is quiet. I drew on my buck at 15yds and shot him at 5yds… completely undetected. He didn’t even look up or detect the motion/sound.
- There’s something to the scent reduction in this material. I did have other deer notice me in the stand but despite their efforts to catch my wind, were unable to. Multiple deer attempted to wind me one evening, and all stayed within shooting range.
- Velo performed quite well from tree stand heights.

Admittedly, wind proof isn’t my highest priority with our typical weather. I’ll plan to wear this throughout the rest of the year and will report back after some dedicated time in much colder temperatures. That said, I don’t do a lot of hanging off of trees when cold and high wind with archery gear, so I may not be the best use case for that concern.

 

[connordude27]

Continuing this, we had a pretty great cold front come through last night dropping the temps from highs in the mid 60s to high 20s today. So I sat tonight with it on. I wore the set with a pair of jogger sweatpants underneath, and just a long sleeve thermal for the top. It was right at 18-20° when I got out of the stand, light breeze.

On the neck gaiter note, it’s very very warm, BUT the holes that are in the mouth/nose area definitely let the wind in and make my face a bit chilly facing into the wind. That’s my only complaint. I love the elastic pull on it and with the beanie and the hood, everything was snug. I went full draw and even with everything on, I felt that my anchor points were great and there wasn’t excess material that would’ve caught anything if I had released.

I am a little curious if there is a variance in quality with the fabric because I am not experiencing some of the issues brought up with the wind resistance. One of these days I’ll bring it to work and see what kind of PSI it’ll take to push wind through it on the air compressor.

Overall I continue to be impressed with this set of clothing. So much so that lll probably get the fleece zip up when it comes out.

 

[Jake_B]

Agreed with above. I’ve only had a few chances to wear mine so far this season but win has never been an issue

 

[ElkArcher918]

So I received my Kuiu in the mail and have been looking it over. Here are my initial thoughts on things. I am 5 11” and 170 for reference. I hope some of the photos show in a little better detail some of the features. Here is a photo of the whole setup.
View attachment 455142
The hat is their Wind Pro Beanie, Wind Pro Neck Gaiter, the Proximity Jacket, the Proximity Pants, Axis Gloves.

Lets start with the beanie. I have a fat head and their XL is a nice going to stay on my head but not give me a headache fit. Including when I’ve got a bit longer hair. This reminds me of the Under Armor fleece beanies. It doesn’t let wind come through, we had some 40mph winds earlier today and I couldn’t feel it on my head. It is also thin enough that my hearing did not seem overly impaired. I think once it actually gets cold out, the trade off in warmth to my ears versus hearing will be worth it.

Working our way down, I love the neck gaiter. I think that the holes cut out to breathe through are awesome. I don’t have glasses but I imagine this might help with some of the lense fogging that occurs once the mercury dives. The cinch in the back is a little hard to loosen one handed but it seems like it’ll be set and forget, especially with the wire in the nose that you can form to the bridge of your nose. The gaiter fits nicely into the jacket and seems like it’ll go down over the neck if I want to wear paint instead. It is the same thickness as the beanie.
View attachment 455157
Moving down to the jacket, there is a lot to like. First and foremost, it doesn’t feel cheap like the Cabelas fleece that used to be a thing. It is thick and it really feels like there’s some heft to it. I think it is plenty quiet to pull a bow back and the sleeves are slim enough that there’s not a lot of excess. The jacket fits very very well. Not too baggy, I don’t feel there’s a need to size up unless I wanted to maybe double up on a sweatshirt and down.

I tend to get very cold quickly. A light sweatshirt outside below 60 can sometimes not be enough. I was able to fit s Super Down Ultra in the same size underneath which really turned this thing into a furnace. I will note that doing this made the jacket substantially louder than without it. The jacket is so quiet that I can hear the crinkling of the down jacket over whatever sound the proximity jacket is making. It’s about 50 and rainy out and I was getting quite warm in it. I think this piece will really come into play when things drop below 45 degrees.

Here are some of the features I like
View attachment 455158
Gear loop in both front chest pockets. These will get used quite a bit for a grunt call and a rangefinder. I can see using it in turkey season too for similar reasons.
View attachment 455159
The drop pockets are awesome, there is one on each side. I love to throw thinner gloves or handwarmers into these
The so I am happy to see it on this jacket.
View attachment 455160
The cuffs are pretty tight on this. Wearing a big watch might be difficult, but I was able to get the gloves slid between the fleece and the elastic sleeve. Itll really be nice once the snow flies for keeping melting snow out and off my arm.
View attachment 455161
It is a double zipper and I’m actually not a fan in this case. With the piece of cloth that folds over the bottom zipper it can be a real pain. I know it’s just nit picking at this point but perhaps I will learn to love it.

On the gloves, I have the Axis and they fit nicely with the rest of the stuff. I don’t really have much to say about them until I’m freezing in a tree with them. They might be a little bit too neoprene like to be my preferred gloves with the bow.

As others have stated, the Proximity pants are more like bibs. I love them. They are true to fit, very very warm and they sit a bit higher than my other pants and even cover up my back a little bit. The suspenders can be removed easily if needed but I don’t see myself doing that. If you wear a layer under the jacket, you will probably want to tuck it into the pants with the suspender of wear them over the straps. The real awesome part of these I think are the pockets. I no longer have to fight my regular pants pockets and hope my phone doesnt take a header off the ground below.View attachment 455164
The pockets also expand via magnet. Note that the vertical and horizontal pockets are two separate pockets, not two ways to get into the same compartment. These might be dangerous since I’ll just end up loading them up, I can also see handwarmers going into these.
View attachment 455172
The pants have a zipper up top and a zipper on the bottom where you can snap a flap over it. They advertise them as able to be worn over rubber boots. I can confirm that Muck Wetlands fit under these but I’m not sure how much girthier you would want of a boot to put the pants over. Also not sure I will do that because I think I would fall out of the tree in bulky boots, Ground blind though? No problem.

So all in all, I think this will be a pretty awesome setup. I will likely update this as I use them in an actual hunting scenario here. My plans for the year include hunting my home state here in WY once things cool down a bit, and I have some hunting planned in the Upper Peninsula in November where I really (don’t) hope to put them to the test in the wind and possibly a good amount of snow.

If anyone has any questions, let me know and I’ll take a look at my stuff and see if I can answer. I know I wish there was a little bit more info out on them but at this point I’m just happy to have them for the fall.

How's the packability on the jacket? I hunt primarily eastern plains deer and at times walk quite a ways in to a natural ground blind, pinch points, or spot/stalk. Can the jacket be rolled up and stuffed in a large day pack without taking too much room? Or it's just too bulky and best to just strap it down to the outside of the pack? Thanks

 

[jmenz2424]

Awesome reviews and info

 

[Ho5tile1]

How's the packability on the jacket? I hunt primarily eastern plains deer and at times walk quite a ways in to a natural ground blind, pinch points, or spot/stalk. Can the jacket be rolled up and stuffed in a large day pack without taking too much room? Or it's just too bulky and best to just strap it down to the outside of the pack? Thanks

I would say it’s no great for that my jacket takes up most of my 1800 day pack. I’m sure you could smash it more then I did but it’s not real pack able


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