New Kuiu Stuff

[DaveC]

Really? I would have to disagree...

Can you be more specific?

 

[Brodie]

Really hope that 2 man tent works out, I like the external poles. Love my mountain hardwear sky ledge but the kuiu would cut weight. Wish they hadn't put blaze orange on it though.

 

[tipsntails7]

Can you be more specific?

First I feel the word innovative is used way,, way to often. No one is remaking the wheel here. Second to say that other hunting companies are not nearly as innovative I again would have to disagree if you want to use thy type of wording. It's not always a good thing to constantly be "upgrading" your products. Rain jackets with no pockets or pit zips is not innovative to me. Modelling your tents 2 years running off Big sky models is not innovative to me. Putting out clothes that basically fill the exact same niche as other companies but using toray branded fabrics is not innovative to me don't get me wrong they make great clothes but their line is starting look a lot like a toray version of sitka. So because sitka was innovative in the hunting world when they came out and make small subtle changes to their hunting line which has solid customer approved pieces in it they are no longer innovative? First lites merino has not been updated in I don't know how long. why? Because it doesn't need to be better. Although first lites puffy would border on innovative, I've not had an insulation piece that was like it, combining obviously the insulation properties but the outerwear characteristics that it also possesses.

I'm not the type of guy to look at a spec sheet and deem something better or not, If it interests me I'll buy it and use it then make my decisions then, not because the guy who is selling it to me tells me how great the fabrics are. I've used Kuiu and will continue to use it but not one item is innovative to me.

 

[Matt W.]

I think both First Lite and Sitka are very innovative. Lots of new stuff from both companies coming out this year.
KUIU brings a lot new stuff out as well, and the whole direct sales approach is actually pretty neat. Love them or hate them, having three companies like this in competition with each other is the best thing that has happened to us hunters in a long time! Combine that with OR, Marmot, Columbia, and myramid of other companies and its win win for today's hunter!

 

[jm1607]

Can you be more specific?

I was leaving this alone originally so the thread wouldn't get canned..

Kuiu is taking fabrics that have been used in the skiing industry for over a decade and putting their camo and logo on it and calling it innovative..

Cocona fabric blows away anything Kuiu has ever come out with..

 

[jm1607]

First I feel the word innovative is used way,, way to often. No one is remaking the wheel here. Second to say that other hunting companies are not nearly as innovative I again would have to disagree if you want to use thy type of wording. It's not always a good thing to constantly be "upgrading" your products. Rain jackets with no pockets or pit zips is not innovative to me. Modelling your tents 2 years running off Big sky models is not innovative to me. Putting out clothes that basically fill the exact same niche as other companies but using toray branded fabrics is not innovative to me don't get me wrong they make great clothes but their line is starting look a lot like a toray version of sitka. So because sitka was innovative in the hunting world when they came out and make small subtle changes to their hunting line which has solid customer approved pieces in it they are no longer innovative? First lites merino has not been updated in I don't know how long. why? Because it doesn't need to be better. Although first lites puffy would border on innovative, I've not had an insulation piece that was like it, combining obviously the insulation properties but the outerwear characteristics that it also possesses.

I'm not the type of guy to look at a spec sheet and deem something better or not, If it interests me I'll buy it and use it then make my decisions then, not because the guy who is selling it to me tells me how great the fabrics are. I've used Kuiu and will continue to use it but not one item is innovative to me.

The only thing that comes to mind as being innovative is their carbon frame, although obviously it had been tried countless times before by other companies.. Unfortunately just like everyone else it failed I would say their proprietary camo patterns are innovative, but they just look too much like other patterns.. They didn't break the mold like ASAT or other patterns did

 

[blackdog]

I was leaving this alone originally so the thread wouldn't get canned..

Kuiu is taking fabrics that have been used in the skiing industry for over a decade and putting their camo and logo on it and calling it innovative..

Cocona fabric blows away anything Kuiu has ever come out with..

Haters gonna hate!

 

[dotman]

The only thing that comes to mind as being innovative is their carbon frame, although obviously it had been tried countless times before by other companies.. Unfortunately just like everyone else it failed I would say their proprietary camo patterns are innovative, but they just look too much like other patterns.. They didn't break the mold like ASAT or other patterns did

That isn't even innovative as others have already tried it. There is very little innovation other then in marketing. Yes innovation has happened in the textile industry but none of the clothing mfg have anything to do with that or at least the hunting related clothing mfg's. Imo First Lite has been the most innovative in quality of products offered and thinking outside the box, they rest just use camo colored material of products others brought to market first with a little different pattern.

 

[Double Creek]

I like the new dewpoint, traverse and timberline series......... Oops, wrong company.....

 

[bogeyboy555]

those tents look like garbage compared to a Hilleberg..... i would just buy a tarp instead of one of those things.

http://us.hilleberg.com/products/shelters/tarp/tarp.php

 

[jwb300]

While I generally like Kuiu gear their replicates of Big Sky tents designs is questionable. The Mountain Star is the same as the Big Sky Revolution... but heavier.

 

[tttoadman]

Fortunate for me I live in the NW where many of these mountaineering/adventure companies call home. We all get plenty of love from companies like Columbia when it comes to outerwear. I just paid $106 for a fantastic Columbia rain jacket with the full Evap layers and a true 3 way adjustable hood. Even with the Evap, they kept the pit zips and all the pockets. I have no need to pay 3x the cost for a camo jacket.

I look forward to trying some Kuiu gear someday, but I have yet to see anything that I consider an outstanding value. I am a touchy feely guy, so I have a hard time buying something that I cant put my hands on. I am especially concerned when everything can be "pre-ordered". This tells me they have not placed any orders yet, and who knows when I would get it.

I am not trying to come off as a bagger on these guys, but they need to change the way they think. The number one complaint from customers is the lack of inventory and the long lead times. Instead of fixing those issues with the product line they have, they fill up the web page with new products(re-branded...scarpas with a paint job...really?) and much of it tagged as "pre-ordered". At this rate, I will never get a chance to try anything of theirs unless I buy it on the forum classifieds.

Sorry for the mini rant. Please delete this if I am out of line.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I like the new dewpoint, traverse and timberline series......... Oops, wrong company.....

Hey, me too!

Randy

 

[dotman]

Fortunate for me I live in the NW where many of these mountaineering/adventure companies call home. We all get plenty of love from companies like Columbia when it comes to outerwear. I just paid $106 for a fantastic Columbia rain jacket with the full Evap layers and a true 3 way adjustable hood. Even with the Evap, they kept the pit zips and all the pockets. I have no need to pay 3x the cost for a camo jacket.

I look forward to trying some Kuiu gear someday, but I have yet to see anything that I consider an outstanding value. I am a touchy feely guy, so I have a hard time buying something that I cant put my hands on. I am especially concerned when everything can be "pre-ordered". This tells me they have not placed any orders yet, and who knows when I would get it.

I am not trying to come off as a bagger on these guys, but they need to change the way they think. The number one complaint from customers is the lack of inventory and the long lead times. Instead of fixing those issues with the product line they have, they fill up the web page with new products(re-branded...scarpas with a paint job...really?) and much of it tagged as "pre-ordered". At this rate, I will never get a chance to try anything of theirs unless I buy it on the forum classifieds.

Sorry for the mini rant. Please delete this if I am out of line.

There are so many of their customers that will not use anything else so really it is an amazing business plan that would work for very few companies. I highly doubt any of this preorder stuff has even been built, so get all your inventory spoken for and add a 15% increase in production to have a limited instock inventory. They make a profit on 85% of their goods the second the items show up from China and due to known shortages the remaining inventory sells quick. Then change a few things up and get the 85% of core customers to get back in line.

Can't blame them for making a business model that normally would fail work and work well for them.

 

[poisonarrow]

I saw the alpine pants at the show in Salt Lake City. I ordered a pair. They look good. They said then, that delivery would be in April.

 

[tipsntails7]

I saw the alpine pants at the show in Salt Lake City. I ordered a pair. They look good. They said then, that delivery would be in April.

What they didn't say is "of 2016"



Just kidding

 

[ethan]

Just my opinion here, but I really like the kuiu clothing I have. But everyone knows their lead time really, really.....really sucks! And I have to agree with what some have already stated, you have a good product and people like it. So why keep changing things for the sake of changing things, then ginny pig customers into testing it for you. And I'll add one more thing. A buddy of mine save up some money for a while to buy their first line of rain gear. Then they come out with a really big sale on it, so he orders it. Like a week later they introduce their newer stuff and tell him that the sale item he purchased was final and he couldn't return it. Not that it was illegal or anything but it did seem kind of sorry to me. Like they just wanted to unload the old stuff with no concern to the customer what so ever....just sayin.
or

 

[Obi-wanshinobi]

^^^
Your buddy shouldn't feel so bad. I have the original Chugach and my friend has the Chugach NX. Imo, there is little to no difference in performance. The Chugach rain gear has been great to me and more durable than I thought.

 

[blackdog]

I am not trying to come off as a bagger on these guys, but they need to change the way they think. The number one complaint from customers is the lack of inventory and the long lead times.

Sorry for the mini rant. Please delete this if I am out of line.

I don't think you're out of line for voicing your opinion, I just think your opinion is wrong! ;-)

No offense to you ttoadman, and I'll use you as a general term for the Kuiu bashing crowd, but I love how you, who isn't even a Kuiu customer, is telling them what they NEED to do. And sure, there are lots of guys on forums complaining about lack of inventory, but for every one of those guys, I bet there's WAY MORE happy Kuiu customers actually wearing their Kuiu gear out in the field and are damned happy about it.

Having the Columbia employees store in my neighborhood, I find a way to get in there a few times a year and have worn (and still wear) plenty of Columbia gear throughout my life. But I also appreciate the what Jason has done with Kuiu, understand the way they do business, and have been able to acquire the products I want, when I've wanted them. And every single piece of Kuiu gear that I've acquired has been absolutely top notch.

What's my point? I'm not sure anymore................

 

[Matt Cashell]

Guys,

Seriously,

Do we have to go down this road again?