Kuiu sleeping bags/expensive gear

[Yellowknife]

Retail on the Marmot Plasma 15 is $559 and Kuiu 15 is $579 so not very over priced for high end gear

Yeah.... except in real life the Plasma is available from dozens of places for well under $500. Sometimes even <$400. And that's with the retailer markup.

Looks like a fine bag, but you better be wanting that Quix Down stuff pretty bad.

Yk

 

[parshal]

Now we have a discussion...I've got to ask, in CO?

While we have some here we don't have as many as Wyoming. I was, however, in extreme SE Oregon. Tough hunting but the scenery is beautiful and I found an obsidian arrowhead.

 

[drthornton]

The bag does not offer stretch like the Montbell SS, but it does stretch.

Did you feel constricted at the shoulders in it?

 

[Aron Snyder]

It didn't have as much room as my Badger or Slik, but was a great improvement over the Plasma!

Did you feel constricted at the shoulders in it?

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Never buy the first of anything new...not camos, not a car, not a sleeping bag. Let some other schmuck fanboy pay to discover the design and production flaws. Buy products that everyone raves about. Time tested stuff. The new models often have problems. Yeah...every company has em, even Kuiu.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Never buy the first of anything new...not camos, not a car, not a sleeping bag. Let some other schmuck fanboy pay to discover the design and production flaws. Buy products that everyone raves about. Time tested stuff. The new models often have problems. Yeah...every company has em, even Kuiu.

Just a smart comment in general.

 

[Beastmode]

Never buy the first of anything new...not camos, not a car, not a sleeping bag. Let some other schmuck fanboy pay to discover the design and production flaws. Buy products that everyone raves about. Time tested stuff. The new models often have problems. Yeah...every company has em, even Kuiu.

Im still buying an EMR 2! I dont care if its new!

 

[RedStag]

Never buy the first of anything new...not camos, not a car, not a sleeping bag. Let some other schmuck fanboy pay to discover the design and production flaws. Buy products that everyone raves about. Time tested stuff. The new models often have problems. Yeah...every company has em, even Kuiu.

This has been my approach with gear, before I hunted even as a backpacker and surfer. i do belive however, sometimes there are major leaps forward in design and innovation. I am not saying these Kuiu bags are these by any stretch, I was stunned to see them right at the same level and price as other bag makers. To me there seemed no reason to make them other than the obvious, profit. I did just preorder one of the new Kuiu ultra bags, hopefully I dont have to wait 6 months for it I believe they have made get strides since the failures of their first bags, and like many have said, ultralight comes at a price, durability.

Definitely I think Kuiu is now capitalizing on all of the KUIU hooked gear junkies with the pricing on these bags.

 

[hflier]

Dang guys. This is turning into a good thread. I have a pretty good job. I am 23 and have a house, own my truck. I feel pretty good about that but somehow I can't justify spending so much on sleeping bags and tents. I really would like a Megatarp but somehow I can't bring myself to spending that much on one. Its a tarp. haha. I like mentioned above am working on my gear upgrades. I am working with clothing right now but man it is expensive. Keep up the posts. This is turning into a good topic.

God bless you, most young people these days can't accomplish this. They want to sit at mom and dads playing video games or texting their unemployed friends. My hat is off to you.

 

[Eagle]

Retail on the Marmot Plasma 15 is $559 and Kuiu 15 is $579 so not very over priced for high end gear
Marmot 1lb 15.96oz
Kuiu 1lb 14.7oz

Marmot 900fill power
Kuiu 865 fill power

Marmot 10d pertex quantum
Kuiu 12d (stunner stretch with Kudos DWR)

so overall pretty similar but with Kuiu you are supporting a pro hunting company

The issue is how his model was supposed to be about 50% retail, as you can see in your comparison, it's over the cost of an almost exactly the same bag by $20, not 50% less.

 

[MattB]

The issue is how his model was supposed to be about 50% retail, as you can see in your comparison, it's over the cost of an almost exactly the same bag by $20, not 50% less.

While it calls into question the 50% of retail pricing concept, I do not think it is fair to characterize the Kuiu product as being "almost exactly the same bag". They are both down sleeping bags with similar designs, but one needs to consider the differences between the Kuiu fabrics to the Marmot fabrics and consider the cost/benefit of the treated down in order to make a comparison. I haven't looked at the cost differential between similar bags with and without the down treatment, but I would guess it is more than $20.

 

[Beastmode]

I think the price of Kuiu stuff explains why jason is always going to Alaska, New Zealand, the Yukon, Mexico..... I think I am going to start a clothing line called Kenai and mark it up so I get all the profit!

For the record I think Jason is doing good. He gets to go on good hunts every year and has a company that is doing very well.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Beastmode I agree. He does make quality gear but it isn't for an average Joe. I like your idea of starting a company, just to go on hunts though. haha. Business strategy: We will make clothing to be successful to go on free hunts, that is all.

 

[Eagle]

While it calls into question the 50% of retail pricing concept, I do not think it is fair to characterize the Kuiu product as being "almost exactly the same bag". They are both down sleeping bags with similar designs, but one needs to consider the differences between the Kuiu fabrics to the Marmot fabrics and consider the cost/benefit of the treated down in order to make a comparison. I haven't looked at the cost differential between similar bags with and without the down treatment, but I would guess it is more than $20.

Look above and you'll see that materials wise, they are actually essentially the same, minus the down maybe, but I'm not even convinced of that stuff being worthwhile. Face the facts, he's using offshore chinese labor and selling his products for costs that rival the BEST USA or Canada based cottage gear makers.

For the record, I own two pairs of attack pants and a Kuiu beanie, I bought them when they first came out and offered a discount and have been happy with them for the price, but with what he's started doing, I just can't support his company.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

God bless you, most young people these days can't accomplish this. They want to sit at mom and dads playing video games or texting their unemployed friends. My hat is off to you.

Thanks! I have worked really hard to get this point. When I started college I set a goal to buy a house, a dog, and a truck in the same day. While that didn't happen I did manage to buy a house, and a dog within six months of starting my job. My truck is paid for with the hard work I did while in school. I loved playing video games and what not but there has to be a balance. I know people now that blow their money on video games and the monthly fees that come with them. For instance, one guy I know spends roughly $500 a month on that stuff and doesn't even own a washer/dryer. Its all about priorities and that is what this thread is all about. I wanted to know how everyone sets there priorities to get new (expensive) gear.

 

[cuerro viejo]

The issue is how his model was supposed to be about 50% retail, as you can see in your comparison, it's over the cost of an almost exactly the same bag by $20, not 50% less.

Almost isn't exactly even close.....now if you compared it to the mountain hardware banshee bag then you would be closer.

800 vs 865 fill (Bansheerbeing the lessor and 1lb heavier)
Both treated down
Both dwr(MH also uses WPB)

699/629 or 800

Mountain Hardware is owned by Columbia and uses their volume buying power.

Pretty impressive on Kuiu's part actually.

 

[Aron Snyder]

http://www.backcountry.com/sea-to-summit-xtii-sleeping-bag-12-degree-down?CMP_ID=PM_VL0189


Not an exact match, but close enough to compare.

 

[WonkyWapiti]

To pay for my gear habit I have the luxury of picking up extra work to pay for it. All my income from my main job and any overtime I dedicate to the family so they don't suffer for my hobbies of hunting and fly fishing. The extra work I pick up goes to my hunting fund which ends up paying for all my expenses and gear including app fees, tags, taxidermy, etc for myself and my kid who hunts too. I also look for sales and good deals on used gear when I can. I've picked up some high quality new fly rods at bargain basement prices as well as other great hunting gear from the classified sections of different forums (to include rokslide ). I usually end up getting money for Christmas and my birthday from my relatives so that all goes towards my habit as well.

I don't have to have the latest and greatest however I've also learned the mantra of buy once cry once. I know guys who are so cheap that they'll skimp and skimp just to save a buck and then get pissed off during hunting season when they are having gear failures. I also a have a buddy who is on the other extreme and his garage is like a Cabela's outlet store. I could practically go there to do my shopping since he has multiples of everything just in case.

The one thing that has helped me is to focus my hobbies. Right now if it doesn't directly tie into hunting and fly fishing I've cut it out. Now mind you that's opened up a whole new pandora's box as it's gotten me into fly tying and I'm starting to get into reloading, then there's the 3-d tournaments that my kid and I do. You get the picture. Either way I think it's all about moderation with the rest of your life and maintaining balance so it doesn't adversely affect your family.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Just curios, but does anyone (other then me) know how treated down got started?

 

[TEmbry]

So he brings nothing to the table over the top bags on the market? Lol of course not. Similar price for similar bags for top end products it seems like to me.

Too rich for my blood though.