Kuiu Yukon System

[Displaced Nova Scotian]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for peoples thoughts on rain systems they own when compared to what I am experiencing.

I recently purchased the newly released Yukon rain system (jacket & pants) from Kuiu. After getting paper inside the breast pocket wet from a quad ride in the snow I decided a shower test would be appropriate, to see if this gear is working properly.

After 15 minutes of standing under the shower head I came out, dried my hands and took the jacket and pants off. To my surprise I had a water mark on my chest, in the direct centre, 2 inches wide and 3 inches long. Both arm pits had water marks, when the zippers are aligned with sliders on the arm more water marks were present then having the zippers on the body. On the pants, the crotch area had a 2" X 2" wet spot and at the knee level, on both legs close to the zipper locations there were wet marks.

I then opened up all zippers and removed the paper towel; the only PT pieces that were not soaked came from the upper pant pockets. My thought is, in this location the jacket protects the pants so there is double the protection. What I found alarming was, when I stuck my hand into the pocket (with hand in the pocket there is a inside and outside fabric), the outside face fabric was wet.

After speaking with members from Kuiu I was reminded that the zippers on this system are not water proof, but water resistant. Knowing that zipper placement is important I will let members know that having your pit zip sliders on your body, instead of the arm, should minimize the amount of water seepage through the zippers.

What I am questioning is: the outside face fabric I felt in each pocket was, at minimum, damp if not soaked (as was the case for the jacket hand pockets). Is this a question of fabric failure or caused from water leaking through the zipper and being soaked up by the paper towel/outside face fabric?
Note that in all cases, the grey material I was wearing did not show signs of water seepage around the pocket areas.

For those of you who have this system or similar I would like to hear what you'll think.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Romo]

Interesting. You said you spoke with Kuiu? What info did they give you in response to your concerns?

 

[Beastmode]

How dirty is the set? Almost all rain gear I have owned will get you wet once it is dirty. Not just a little dirt I mean really dirty.

 

[tipsntails7]

The zippers are not waterproof???

 

[Ross]

Sounds like a product defect issue. I have the Yukon jacket and have worn it all day in the rain and stayed bone dry.

 

[Beastmode]

The zippers are not waterproof???

No they are weather resistant. That is how they are advertised on the kuiu website.

 

[Hornetoad326]

I had a set guiding in Alaska this fall and I got wet a few times.

 

[amy hanneman]

I wore the Kuiu Yukon rain gear on a ten day grizzly bear hunt in Alaska this past fall and I felt like it held up pretty well. It rained or drizzled on us most days and I felt like it kept me warm and dry. I feel like it is way better than some of the other stuff I have used in the past.

 

[Displaced Nova Scotian]

Interesting. You said you spoke with Kuiu? What info did they give you in response to your concerns?

It is Kuiu's opinion that the pocket leaking issue is caused from the zipper leaking and then the paper towel soaking up the water that was coming through the zipper. Although this is possible I don't believe it, as every bit of each paper towel was wet, unlike how something normally wets by "spreading out" from the original area of contact. This leads me back to the original thought that the outside face material is failing. As I say this though I'm thinking how could this happen if the rest of my body remained dry away from zippers...

How dirty is the set? Almost all rain gear I have owned will get you wet once it is dirty. Not just a little dirt I mean really dirty.

These pieces were essentially brand new, exposed to wet due to snow but that is it.

Sounds like a product defect issue. I have the Yukon jacket and have worn it all day in the rain and stayed bone dry.

Did you find that the insides of the pockets were dry as well, particularly the outside face fabric?

 

[Displaced Nova Scotian]

I had a set guiding in Alaska this fall and I got wet a few times.

Where did you notice your wetness? Around the zippers is understandable as they are not water proof but I'm more looking to see if your pockets got wet?

 

[jherald]

I never trust pockets on rain gear to keep anything dry, not even with my Simms wading gear. That is interesting to hear though that you had those issues with the Yukon. I wouldn't think that much water would get in.

 

[tipsntails7]

Is it just me or is it strange to not have waterproof zippers on a high dollar rain jacket?

 

[tipsntails7]

Also what was the temperature in the shower? Ie did you use hot or cold water? Because I have heard of breathableembranes failing when used in hot showers. I cannot remember the exact science but something about the outside vapor being hotter then inside the jacket.

 

[Hornetoad326]

Where did you notice your wetness? Around the zippers is understandable as they are not water proof but I'm more looking to see if your pockets got wet?

My pockets were always wet on the coat, also leaked on the shoulders a few times. The pants only leaked on the pennulisa and that's mostly from the sideways rain

 

[Hornetoad326]

I also had my double stitched elbows start to fall off as well as the rubber cuffs started to rot and fall apart.

 

[TEmbry]

I also had my double stitched elbows start to fall off as well as the rubber cuffs started to rot and fall apart.

You obviously had a lemon if all of this truly happened and I'd bet almost anything Kuiu would replace it right away if you brought all this to their attention instead of posting in forums about it.

Not to sound harsh, but why not just get the problem fixed? How on earth are double stitched elbows falling off and rubber cuffs rotting off on a "recently purchased" jacket? Just seems odd is all. I'd definitely get them to replace it though. Everyone I've talked with has LOVED their Yukon set.

 

[todd kelly]

You obviously had a lemon if all of this truly happened and I'd bet almost anything Kuiu would replace it right away if you brought all this to their attention instead of posting in forums about it.

Not to sound harsh, but why not just get the problem fixed? How on earth are double stitched elbows falling off and rubber cuffs rotting off on a "recently purchased" jacket? Just seems odd is all. I'd definitely get them to replace it though. Everyone I've talked with has LOVED their Yukon set.

I don't think there is anything wrong with bringing stuff to guys attention about issues with gear and contacting the company about the issue. After reading about the issues posted on this thread, I went and looked at my Yukon jacket and the rubber cuffs on mine are pulling apart at the seems like the rubber coating has separated from the elastic underneath. Never noticed it until now. I'll have to contact Kuiu to see if they will do anything about it.


I do have to say, it is the best rain jacket I have used to date as far as being waterproof and its breathability. I wore mine all fall as my main outer layer and it has held up great so far. Just wish they would offer it in solids.

 

[tipsntails7]

Tembry I'm with you, if any of that happened Kuiu would be getting a call from me, this threw is actually the first time I've seen people not raving about the Yukon. I was in aware though tht their zippers are not water tite.

 

[Matt Cashell]

If you are doing a shower test with warm water the warm vapor is going to pass through the direct venting membrane. That is how the fabric breathes.

 

[Sleepy Creek]

Yeah, these are the first negative reports I've read on the Yukon. I haven't had mine all that long, but I've been abusing them for about a month now and they are tip top. I laid in 5inches of slush/overflow the other day for 15 minutes TRYING to force a leak and I couldn't do it. Only time will tell though I guess.