Kuiu vs Stone Glacier vs Kifaru down products

[Vandy321]

Damn thats a deal breaker for backpacking hunting. I'd being choosing the KUIU SDP easy decision.

The Superdown is a great choice if you want to spend $400 and still be cold

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

The Superdown is a great choice if you want to spend $350 and still be cold

Vandy,
need to provide more detail. The KUIU Superdown pro is $399 and its warm to about 32 - 35 degrees stationary. The superdown pro feels a hair warmer to me than the SG Grumman probably due to the thicker face fabric.

 

[Vandy321]

Vandy,
need to provide more detail. The KUIU Superdown pro is $399 and its warm to about 32 - 35 degrees stationary. The superdown pro feels a hair warmer to me than the SG Grumman probably due to the thicker face fabric.

I had the grumman, not warm enough for Oct/Nov glassing. Fine for Sept, but for $330, I'll take a cheaper/warmer synthetic in the Atom AR. Wore my buddies Superdown, virtually the same jacket as the grumman for an extra $75.

IMO there are many options out there that are warmer, just as light and far less costly. The hunting brands just aren't up to the quality/performance as the alpine brands.

I'm convinced you cannot find a warmer/lighter jacket for $300 than the Montbell Alpine.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I had the grumman, not warm enough for Oct/Nov glassing. Fine for Sept, but for $330, I'll take a cheaper/warmer synthetic in the Atom AR. Wore my buddies Superdown, virtually the same jacket as the grumman for an extra $75.

IMO there are many options out there that are warmer, just as light and far less costly. The hunting brands just aren't up to the quality/performance as the alpine brands.

I'm convinced you cannot find a warmer/lighter jacket for $300 than the Montbell Alpine.

Funny you bring that up as I was just looking at the Montbell Alpine and Alpine light. For $250 the Alpine Light with 4.8oz of down and 20d fabric seems hard to beat. I bet its same warmth as the grumman or SDP for way less money. And yes the Alpine for $300 looks bomber.

 

[Vandy321]

Funny you bring that up as I was just looking at the Montbell Alpine and Alpine light. For $250 the Alpine Light with 4.8oz of down and 20d fabric seems hard to beat. I bet its same warmth as the grumman or SDP for way less money. And yes the Alpine for $300 looks bomber.

I'm a puffy junky, I have far too many, but for my bag in anything before 40 or so to single digits and blowing, the Alpine gets the nod, it's not even close.

 

[TheViking]

I'm a puffy junky, I have far too many, but for my bag in anything before 40 or so to single digits and blowing, the Alpine gets the nod, it's not even close.

This one?

 

[Vandy321]

Yessir...the green color isn't too bright for the woods

 

[TheViking]

Yessir...the green color isn't too bright for the woods

Very tempting.

As I posted above, I have both kuiu down jackets. I bought the lighter one first, found out it’s light and good, but doesn’t do great when it’s real cold out. I bought the heavier one and it’s been good, but wouldn’t mind just having one.

Do these guys ever have deal on them?

 

[Vandy321]

Very tempting.

As I posted above, I have both kuiu down jackets. I bought the lighter one first, found out it’s light and good, but doesn’t do great when it’s real cold out. I bought the heavier one and it’s been good, but wouldn’t mind just having one.

Do these guys ever have deal on them?

Not sure, I know I got a pretty good gift card type thing when I bought it, like a cash back, enough to get some down booties, but Montbell rarely goes on sale unless it's to clear out stock for a new version of a jacket. Might be a good time to look for down.

 

[fj40mike]

the montbell stuff looks legit, does anyone know if they treat their down like kuiu advertises quixdown? Their site just list the dwr outer treatment, which kuiu does as well.

The shell material is a tad lighter than kuiu's- 20d vs 30d. Not sure how much a difference that will make in durability. I'm about done with uber fragile down jackets that tear if you look at them the wrong way...

 

[Vandy321]

In a puffy, you can have durability, or you can have light weight...you can't have both.

no, they don't treat their down...but it's also not designed to be worn in the rain or busting brush.

 

[sneaky]

They can't put a heavier fabric on down puffy jackets because it'll compress the down as well. Would defeat the purpose in the end. Durability just isn't there in puffy jackets that need to loft. Box baffled jackets rule the day for truly cold temps. Montbell has some great options, Stellar Equipment, PhD designs if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, Feathered Friends, Goosefeet gear will make you a custom jacket to your specs. There's some pretty good down jackets from the hunting companies, but slapping a proprietary pattern on a mid level jacket and charging premium prices for it just doesn't cut it anymore.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[WeiserBucks]

I got tired of being cold in the various backpacking puffys from hunting brands. I traded into a FL Chamberlin and if that doesn't cut it I'll be looking into a custom jacket.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Thanks for the feedback. I’m thinking I’m going to go with the kifaru. I like most of the Kuiu gear but all the puffy stuff offered doesn’t look like it will last.

The superdown Pro has a 30d face fabric. It also has some stretch so even when it get stuck on something it has give so it doesn't rip. I still wouldn't bust brush with it but I have no problems walking through willows or leaning back on Sharpe granite rocks.