Kuiu vs Stone Glacier vs Kifaru down products

[Vandy321]

I gotta ask... @Kotaman eluded to it a bit already, but what is with folks wanting to beat brush in a puffy and then complaining when it rips? Its in every single puffy thread on RS.

Pick the right tool for the job.

 

[Elkhunter777]

It’s not on your list but check out the feathered friends Helios line.
I have the jacket and pants and they are extremely warm. Both weigh in at around 16.oz. I’ve been using the jacket for 4 years now and it’s very durable.
Mark

 

[HighUintas]

It’s not on your list but check out the feathered friends Helios line.
I have the jacket and pants and they are extremely warm. Both weigh in at around 16.oz. I’ve been using the jacket for 4 years now and it’s very durable.
Mark

What's the price like on that set vs the western mountaineering meltdown? I'd been thinking about one of those

NM. Just looked it up and the WM is way more. I wonder what makes the $100+ difference

 

[rjsiii]

Crazy

Here’s a few pictures comparing Kuiu puffy pants to custom GooseFeet puffy’s. A picture’s worth a thousand words and as far as I’m concerned, these two pairs of pants aren’t even remotely comparable.

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difference in size and it is lighter. Goosefeet has a cool product.

 

[lonedave]

Here’s a few pictures comparing Kuiu puffy pants to custom GooseFeet puffy’s. A picture’s worth a thousand words and as far as I’m concerned, these two pairs of pants aren’t even remotely comparable.

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Hey Trout, I'm curious about your Goosefeet Gear pants. What are the spec's, material weight, fill weight? Thanks.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Hey Trout, I'm curious about your Goosefeet Gear pants. What are the spec's, material weight, fill weight? Thanks.

This is all my specs.

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[jbwright]

Overheard inside the Kuiu outlet last month: Kuiu sales guy ranting to a customer about Pro/Ultra jacket users regularly calling in about repairs or durability issues, and how those items are meant for in camp or glassing ONLY, otherwise they should be inside your pack. Backpacking clothing is either "go" clothing or "stop" clothing, meaning some is active wear and some is not. Kuiu down puffies are NOT intended to be worn while hiking or backpacking. You'd be too hot anyways. They are designed exclusively for sitting and glassing etc.

That's from the Kuiu sales guy's mouth. Same general rule applies to backpacking, you don't wear puffies while hiking because they are too fragile, too warm, and you don't want moisture buildup from sweat inside a non-breathable down puffy.

If you really need a heavy warm layer for moving, go synthetic.

Agree 100%. Of all the backcountry trips I’ve taken and lead, I’ve never worn a synthetic (much less down) while moving. So the idea of moving through deadfall or traversing a mountain with a puffy (synthetic or down) - with my pack on - just isn’t something I have done or would recommend.

I’ve always been taught (including in my time in the Marines) to “hike cold.” That is, you don’t move (obviously for context I mean with a pack and for extended periods of time) with your heavy warm gear as an outer. We obviously know to layer and shed/put on as needed. Maybe it’s just me, but a down/synthetic insulated outer shell’s highest and best use isn’t hiking through deadfall. It’s meant to keep your ass warm. Obviously it shouldn’t be so fragile that you couldn’t use it with a pack or moving shorter distances and worry about it tearing, so an outer face that offers durability and warmth (with maybe even a DWR coating to shed precipitation) is important and meets 99% of applications. There’s always that 1% unplanned rain/snow mix that hammers your ass and forces you back to the truck LMAO.

I’ve found some jackets have a more durable (emphasis on “more”) outer face, but these jackets are not necessarily built to take abuse. I’ve beaten the hell out of some government issued gear and gear from some of the best outdoor brands. As far as puffy’s go, I’ve owned the Kuiu SD Pro and the Ultra. Here’s my quick take: the SD Pro met my warmth and durability expectations, and the Ultra didn’t (no longer own the Ultra). So, again for 99% of my applications, the SD Pro meets my need.

So just to encourage everyone, be realistic with what you will use it for MOST of the time. As much as I’d love to own the best gear (ie most expensive) from every outdoor brand, I do 2 backpack (4-5 dayers) hunts per yr now that I have 3 kids.

I’ve always decided on the right gear (military and hunting) by listing what’s important for MOST of my uses - warmth-to-weight, packability, outer rain repellant finish, fit, etc. then buy accordingly.

Onward-

 

[HighUintas]

'Ive got a Rab electron that I bought with an industry discount last fall... It's an awesome jacket. Great quality, 6.7oz of 800+ fill, total weight is just under 16 oz for my small. But, I think I got it too small. If I put anything more than a single baselayer underneath, it feel a bit too snug an doesn't insulate as well

I was looking at getting a Grumman, but now I'm interested in the helios! For those with the Helios jacket, is it possible to have them slightly underfill it? I'm wanting a jacket that is no more than 16oz and 7.8 oz of 900+ fill seems like it might be a little overkill for me. And if you've tried both the Grumman and the Helios, surely the Helios is like a furnace compared to the Grumman, right?

 

[lonedave]

This is all my specs.

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Wow, so much better specs than the Kuiu and lighter to boot!

 

[Beendare]

I think this discussion needs to be prefaced with; 1) what temps you are hunting in, 2) whether you run hot or cold, 3) interred use.

I run hot when I'm active. I use my Kuiu down pants only when I'm stopped glassing...or at camp.....I can't imagine walking around in them or busting brush....not what these products are designed for,IMO. Kuiu does make a line with heavier face fabric...I can't remember what they call it.

The Kuiu down pants have been perfect for me to zip on glassing in windy freezing temps sitting on an insulated pad....but I can see where a guy hunting sub zero temps would want more insulation.

The Kuiu pro down jacket works in as cold of temps as I hunt. [9 deg in AZ a few weeks ago]....no way I can hike in it for any length...too warm.

_____

 

[TheCougar]

I gotta ask... @Kotaman eluded to it a bit already, but what is with folks wanting to beat brush in a puffy and then complaining when it rips? Its in every single puffy thread on RS.

Pick the right tool for the job.

Up until this year, I would have agreed with you. But with temps in the negatives, a 20 kt wind, and blowing snow, I needed my LPP while I was hiking through brush and trees. If I had been wearing a down puffy I would have had to worry about tears rather than focusing on the stalk. I was layered up pretty good underneath and I had to go slow to prevent sweating, but there are times when you need your puffy to stand up to mild abuse. The other time I really appreciated the LPP durability was sitting on my son's bull for 3 hours. We were camped out in some really nasty volcanic rock and crawling around glassing and trying to get a shot for hours. We needed the puffy to stay warm while we were stationary, but durability to not tear on the rocks. I've been looking and to my knowledge no one makes a down puffy with anything but ultralight outer fabrics, which are very delicate to pokes and tears. If someone made a treated down puffy with a more durable face fabric, I would like to give it a try.

 

[Vandy321]

Up until this year, I would have agreed with you. But with temps in the negatives, a 20 kt wind, and blowing snow, I needed my LPP while I was hiking through brush and trees. If I had been wearing a down puffy I would have had to worry about tears rather than focusing on the stalk. I was layered up pretty good underneath and I had to go slow to prevent sweating, but there are times when you need your puffy to stand up to mild abuse. The other time I really appreciated the LPP durability was sitting on my son's bull for 3 hours. We were camped out in some really nasty volcanic rock and crawling around glassing and trying to get a shot for hours. We needed the puffy to stay warm while we were stationary, but durability to not tear on the rocks. I've been looking and to my knowledge no one makes a down puffy with anything but ultralight outer fabrics, which are very delicate to pokes and tears. If someone made a treated down puffy with a more durable face fabric, I would like to give it a try.

easy fix, throw a hard or soft shell over a puffy when you need durability,it cuts the wind and provides the durability you desire, prevents the puffy from being destroyed in the brush. my arcterxy shell, for instance is 80d...not a puffy on earth that can compare to that durability and wind cutting ability. base layers, mid layers and a puffy is not a complete system...especially in zero degrees with snow and wind.

 

[aaen]

Another.option would be the kryptek lykos or Ghar jackets. I wear my lykos here in Canada down to -25c with just a t-shirt under it and I stay warm, no shell and in heavy wind. Ha e had it out to -35c here this past week and with wind was down to -47c and I had to throw a long sleeve shirt under it.

Only issue I have is the jackets to warm, I start to sweat if I'm walking/hiking, granted I normally dress cold for activity as I'll warm up fast, bit I couldn't see hiking with a puffy anywhere, I'd be drenched.




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[204guy]

easy fix, throw a hard or soft shell over a puffy when you need durability,it cuts the wind and provides the durability you desire, prevents the puffy from being destroyed in the brush. my arcterxy shell, for instance is 80d...not a puffy on earth that can compare to that durability and wind cutting ability. base layers, mid layers and a puffy is not a complete system...especially in zero degrees with snow and wind.

Exactly. Plus you "should" have a hard shell as part of your system that's big enough to go over the top of everything. Another thing I'll often do is wear a windshirt over everything, same idea. Plus a hardshell and down will still probably be lighter and pack smaller than a lpp.

 

[madcalfe]

i dont know why anyone would walk through the brush in any sort of down or even synthetic jacket. that's what your rain jacket is for. i use a arcteryx cerium LT hoody and kuiu yukon over top

 

[blacktail sniper]

curious do you guys use a lighter puffy like the grumman or kuiu and then have a heavier warmer one for late season. I have the hoodluss kuiu ultra and in 5 years i think i have worn it 5 times its light compresses great but forearms in the xl are way too tight and im only 185lbs not a big dude. I am rethinking my backpack setup and thinking of scrapping my guide jacket and use the puffy even as a base layer and pelotin over it or rain gear.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

The Kifaru is the Carhartt jacket of the backcountry.... sure it is warm and tough but do you really want to carry it around?

I wear down when I am sitting and glassing or at camp. If I am moving and going through brush, it is in the pack.

The Large LPP is 23oz and the KUIU Superdown Pro is around 15oz for size large. (Advertised 13.4 is for a medium). so for 8oz are we really talking about a boat anchor? I don't have it but if I did and like the puffy its going in the pack even if its a 8oz weight penalty.

 

[TheViking]

The Large LPP is 23oz and the KUIU Superdown Pro is around 15oz for size large. (Advertised 13.4 is for a medium). so for 8oz are we really talking about a boat anchor? I don't have it but if I did and like the puffy its going in the pack even if its a 8oz weight penalty.

The LPP packs down pretty crappy too. It’s 8oz and a lot more space.

I have both Kuiu down jackets. The 8oz for warmer weather and the 15oz for frigid weather.

 

[204guy]

I haven't weighed my full zip lpp, but when I had the half zip in large iirc it weighed a lot closer to 30oz than 23 oz.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I haven't weighed my full zip lpp, but when I had the half zip in large iirc it weighed a lot closer to 30oz than 23 oz.

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