Zip off base layers

[T3clay]

I'm looking for recommendations on zip off base layers... I haven't ever owned any so I'm totally open to any brands.

Thank you for your time

 

[doverpack12]

Only ones I am aware of are the Kuiu bottoms. They work great and I can easily zip them on or off. If you were thinking the merino 210 I don't know how well they work because they have less stretch. The merino 145, and peloton weights work very well. I haven't worn another pair of long underwear in 4 years or whenever kuiu came out with these. I'm on my original pair of 145's and still going strong. I wear them probably 15-20 times a year and carry them quite a bit more.

 

[theCaptain]

I also have the Kuiu 145's. They are really comfortable and convenient to get on and off. I wish the mediums were a tad longer to get further down into my boot and over my sock, but nothing beats being able to drop your pants and zip them on or off on the fly.

 

[dreamingWest]

I use Kuiu's Merino 145s, Peloton 200s, and Kenais depending on the temp. I didn't like the Merino 210s (not enough stretch). I'm not sure why more companies don't offer these. I love them for western and whitetail hunting.

 

[d16ridgehiker]

Dont mean to hijack the thread but what temps do you wear a specific bottom for? Im also looking into this and may help both OP and I.

 

[fngTony]

Peloton 200 are my favorite, good stretch, warm and breath well. My gripe is the calves are small. I would call mine normal non gym rat size and I had to size up otherwise it was almost impossible to start the zipper. With that the waist is a bit big but manageable. The 200 are discontinued and although I have the ‘97 top I can’t really say if the ‘97 bottoms would be close to the 200. I will say the 97 material stretches great so that shouldn’t be a concern. Also having a zipper down the side has not been a problem at all, no binding or feeling it against your skin. Once you get passed the odd feeling of changing a diaper on yourself it’s a great feature.

 

[Gonewest]

I got the 97 bottoms for Christmas. They’re stretchy like the tops. I also have the 210.


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[AZ Ron]

Feel like these are the most underrated piece of clothing kit out there. Friends have been skeptical about them, but after seeing them in action, they've become believers. I personally like the shorter length since it is easier to strip them off while wearing gaiters without undoing the gaiters to fully unzip them. It takes longer for me to take my pack off and stash them away than it does to take them off, without having to remove my boots. For here in AZ where temps will start out in the 20's and 30's, but be in the 50's and 60's by midday, they are great.

They are easy to put on without taking boots off also, so I've found I can do a long, steep climb up to a glassing spot in the morning without them, and it takes 30-40 seconds to put them on to keep me warm while I'm glassing.

Granted, on very chilly days where I keep long underwear on all day, they aren't anything special. It is the days with the temp fluctuations where I'm wearing them in the mornings, stripping them off midday, and putting them back on in the evenings where they are great.

I have the merino 145's, peloton 130, and peloton 97. I wear the merino 145 and peloton 97 most often.

 

[dreamingWest]

Dont mean to hijack the thread but what temps do you wear a specific bottom for? Im also looking into this and may help both OP and I.

It’s a combination of temperature and activity level. Since getting the Merino 145, Peloton 200, and Kenai zip-aways, I think I’ve hunted exclusively in Kuiu Attack pants.

Merino 145: I wear these the most. I’ll pair them with shorts while working out or under my pants/jeans when it’s cold. For hunting, they work well for me in low activity from 45-65*F and high activity from 30-55*F These are great for most early season and September hunts.

Peloton 200: These are my Goldilocks baselayers. They work well for me in low activity from 30-55*F and high activity from 15-40*F. Think of these for high altitude late-September and October hunts. I also wear them treestand hunting in Kansas unless it’s unseasonably cold or unseasonably warm.

Kenai: I use these for these for cold treestand hunts (<35*) and snow skiing. I haven’t actually used them yet on a western hunt because I’m usually out west in September or October. Think of these for late October to the end of the season. The Kenai pieces breathe really well so don’t be afraid of a little activity in them when it’s really cold.

The biggest complaint with the zip-away baselayer pants is the length. Remember they were designed to sit above your boot so they are easy to put on/off without taking your boots off. If you will wear a boot cut sock at a minimum, or ideally an over-the-calf sock, you won’t have any irritating gaps and they will wear much more comfortably.

 

[fngTony]

Dont mean to hijack the thread but what temps do you wear a specific bottom for? Im also looking into this and may help both OP and I.

I run the 200 under some wrangler nylon pants which are between the attack and tiburons for temperature range. Up to 40ish, down to about 15 depending on activity.

 

[d16ridgehiker]

Awesome! Thanks for your input guys!

 

[jmcd22]

It’s a combination of temperature and activity level. Since getting the Merino 145, Peloton 200, and Kenai zip-aways, I think I’ve hunted exclusively in Kuiu Attack pants.

Merino 145: I wear these the most. I’ll pair them with shorts while working out or under my pants/jeans when it’s cold. For hunting, they work well for me in low activity from 45-65*F and high activity from 30-55*F These are great for most early season and September hunts.

Peloton 200: These are my Goldilocks baselayers. They work well for me in low activity from 30-55*F and high activity from 15-40*F. Think of these for high altitude late-September and October hunts. I also wear them treestand hunting in Kansas unless it’s unseasonably cold or unseasonably warm.

Kenai: I use these for these for cold treestand hunts (<35*) and snow skiing. I haven’t actually used them yet on a western hunt because I’m usually out west in September or October. Think of these for late October to the end of the season. The Kenai pieces breathe really well so don’t be afraid of a little activity in them when it’s really cold.

The biggest complaint with the zip-away baselayer pants is the length. Remember they were designed to sit above your boot so they are easy to put on/off without taking your boots off. If you will wear a boot cut sock at a minimum, or ideally an over-the-calf sock, you won’t have any irritating gaps and they will wear much more comfortably.

When you say Kenai are you talking about the jacket? I haven't seen Kenai pants...just want to make sure I'm not missing something here because I would buy Kenai pants in a heartbeat if they had them!

 

[*zap*]

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/kuiu-kenai-pants.44260/

 

[dreamingWest]

When you say Kenai are you talking about the jacket? I haven't seen Kenai pants...just want to make sure I'm not missing something here because I would buy Kenai pants in a heartbeat if they had them!

Yeah I'm talking about a Kenai zip-away pant. I have the jacket too and it's one of my favorite pieces. Hopefully Kuiu releases an updated Kenai zip-away pant soon. One with a fly.

 

[jmcd22]

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/kuiu-kenai-pants.44260/

Ah, thanks! They must be discontinued. I started buying Kuiu in 2017. Hopefully they bring them back soon and make them a little longer for us taller guys.

 

[Gonewest]

Ah, thanks! They must be discontinued. I started buying Kuiu in 2017. Hopefully they bring them back soon and make them a little longer for us taller guys.

I heard they coming out with Kensington Ultra pants this year.


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[Gonewest]

Meant Kenai


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[Kylehinds89]

Thanks for the tip all!

 

[*zap*]

The kenai's are nice but I need to get fly's put in mine.

 

[68Plexi]

Kenai over a non zip merino base layer usually in temps below 30. But I will say this, I use the Kenai when it’s cold and I’m hiking. I’m not sure they’d work as well stationary. They are not very thick (I can’t remember the synthetic gram rating but I would guess around 100). I also wear them under my breathable duck hunting waders when I am hiking into a spot. They are one of my favorite pieces.


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