Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
I've stopped buying anything Ice breaker. I've never had anything of theirs go for more than a season unharmed. Socks rip in half, hunderwear falls apart, little snags turn into big holes in shirts etc. I've also found that they don't honour their warranty very well. Too much money for that kind of quality assurance.
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
I'm with pemby on the icebreaker stuff. I find there product to be extremely overpriced and of poor quality. I have a whack of there socks, and they have honored the lifetime warranty of those but all my base layer stuff is coming apart at the seams and little snags turn to big holes. I'll be looking at different merino base layers when I inevitably have to replace my Icebreaker stuff.
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
Really eh, I run their long sleeves religiously and probably hunt 150+ days a year.
I’ve only had to return two pairs of socks (life time warranty) twice and that’s over an 8 year period and both were replaced (Valhalla’s over the counter) mind you I buy a pair or two every year so they get cycled pretty good. I also buy at Boxing Day when they have their best sale.
75% of those days are hound hunting so very often 5-10km on foot of harder fast paced going than any other form of hunting.
Their longjohns are shit and get holes far too quickly.
This jacket has made it through a 20+ cat tree winter and hasn’t failed or torn.
Anyways, a solid review for the original poster.
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
Had the Kuiu Superdown on yesterday and it worked great. Cut the wind surprisingly well. Not sure about any mountain top wind, but the moderate wind at around zero Celsius was fine. Can't speak to the other brands.
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
Great stuff, guys. The Uncompahgre is not in the same category as my original listed four as far as sheer insulation weight goes but I'm astounded by all the mentions that I think I'm going to get one anyways, in addition to a dedicated cold weather full-size puffy, like the Chamberlin or Kelvin Down WS. I wear my Arcteryx Atom AR everyday and love it and maybe they're in the same category.
Keep any reviews and comparisons coming. Let's stay on track.
-Tom
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
I'm pretty fat so maybe that why I don't get cold in my FL Uncompahgre :D
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Laxputs
Great stuff, guys. The Uncompahgre is not in the same category as my original listed four as far as sheer insulation weight goes but I'm astounded by all the mentions that I think I'm going to get one anyways, in addition to a dedicated cold weather full-size puffy, like the Chamberlin or Kelvin Down WS. I wear my Arcteryx Atom AR everyday and love it and maybe they're in the same category.
Keep any reviews and comparisons coming. Let's stay on track.
-Tom
Im curious about what temps you are looking to combat? My uncompahdre has seen many double digit negative days.
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
Quote:
Originally Posted by
todbartell
I'm pretty fat so maybe that why I don't get cold in my FL Uncompahgre :D
I am a bean pole and don’t get cold in er. Both ends of the spectrum lol
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
Re: Warmest, lightest puffy: Sitka; Brooks Range; First Lite; Kuiu
I’m not much on kuiu stuff, nor do I have experience with most puffy’s mentioned. But I do have the kuiu SD jacket, the warmth to weight ratio is very impressive. I personally wouldn’t class it as an outer layer tho, it’s pretty thin material, mine rocks a few chunks of T tape lol.