IslandmanDan
06-28-2014, 10:05 AM
Hi Guys,
I have been meaning to write up a review I had for the KUIU items I purchased last July.
I ordered:
http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/IslandmanDan/20140628_092632_zps14392dd0.jpg
I have to admit I was so pumped on this product. I got it all in early August and wasn't leaving to hunt until end of September. So I waited to wear it all. September came and I finally got to use the gear.
I had to send a letter to Kuiu regarding issues I had with the product.
This is what I sent:
Jason Hairston My name is Dan Fraser. I am an avid hunter. I am from BC Canada. I wanted to explain to you the issues I had with Kuiu this past year. This is the first time that I have tried your 'light weight' hunting apparel. I ordered the Yukon jacket and pants in camo Verde. I also ordered a beanie, gaitors and the gloves with merino liner. I want to say that the rain weather performance is excellent. I also think the camo pattern is superb at concealment. I do however have to ask why is this product so noisy? By noisy, I mean every step is swoosh-swish...swoosh-swish. For hunting apparel that costs $650 for a jacket and pants... It could at least be quiet. Should be quiet. My hunting partner was 150yrds away and could hear me swoosh-swish as I walked! That really upsets me. I want to be quiet when I'm walking. I also found that the gaitors started to break on the very first day....the lace clip broke off one side and the button fell off the other side. Super disappointed. By the end of the hunt both lace clips and buttons had fallen off. So I wanted to let you know the problems I encountered with Kuiu. After seeing how mine has performed especially in the non-quiet department non of my hunting friends want to buy it. After I was bragging about it too. If there is anything you could do for the failure of the gaitors that would be hugely appreciated. Your mission statement says I can "trust" Kuiu to perform. I feel like this pair should have at least lasted a whole hunt. And not fallen apart on day one!
Kindest regards, Dan Fraser
The email I received from Kuiu went like this....
Dan,
Thanks for the email, I'm bummed to hear about your gaiters. What you experienced with their failure is not typical of our products. We found a while back that 30-40 pairs of Verde gaiters went out with faulty rivets. Most were recovered last Summer, but not all of them. A properly riveted lace hook should stay in place for years, which the vast majority do.
Please confirm your desired shipping address, and I can get a new set on their way to you free of charge. I will declare a $0 value so you won't need to pay duties.
As far as the raingear goes, noise is just teh nature of the beast when it comes to a true hardshell laminate. For a product to be waterproof, lightweight, and breathable, we must bond together a face fabric, membrane, and backer. The face fabric must be able to both bond to, and protect the membrane layer below it- which means it needs to be a strong, tightly weaved fabric. If there were a face fabric out there that was light weight, strong, and quiet, we would be using it... but there isn't. If you compare the noise level of our Yukon line to any other high-end 3-layer laminate on the market, you will find that it is well on the quiet side for hard shells in its class.
Let me know if you have any follow up questions or comments, and please get me your address for the new gaiters.
Thanks,
Todd Harney
Inventory, Warranty, & Pack Manager
KUIU Ultralight Hunting
toddh@kuiu.com
855-367-5848
I was excited to see they were going to replace the gaitors, but I had one other question that I never heard back from them regarding:
Hi Todd,
Thank you for your reply. I am glad to hear that the gaitors were a faulty rivet problem because that is exactly what the issue was. Thank you for replacing them.
I also wanted to know if maybe there was something faulty with the Yukon pant I have as well, the reason I ask is because while walking, a portion of the left buttock area of the pant, makes a "snap" like sound during a walk stride. Like there was some fabric memory that causes the fabric to be rigid at the end of a step I take. Only on the left butt side. If I am super conscience about it, I can change my stride and it is minimized, but not gone. Its hard to explain this textually, but maybe a video could make it easier. I could video the issue and show you what I am trying to explain.
Regards, Dan Fraser
I have not recieved the replacement gaitors yet, its only been 3 weeks. Hunting season is not on for a little while yet.
In summary, I like the Kuiu camo pattern, Verde.
I love the rain and breathable performance of the Yukon Series.
Didnt like the gaitors falling apart, hopefully I do see that replacement pair.
The Yukon is not quiet enough for walking, maybe on horseback, no problem, or constant long shot opportunities only.
Thanks for reading and hopefully you get better working items than I did. I might have just got a "lemon" when it came to the pants and gaitors, regardless the outer hard shell material is loud.
Happy hunting and hunting gear shopping, as we all get geared up for this fall!
IMD
I have been meaning to write up a review I had for the KUIU items I purchased last July.
I ordered:
http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/IslandmanDan/20140628_092632_zps14392dd0.jpg
I have to admit I was so pumped on this product. I got it all in early August and wasn't leaving to hunt until end of September. So I waited to wear it all. September came and I finally got to use the gear.
I had to send a letter to Kuiu regarding issues I had with the product.
This is what I sent:
Jason Hairston My name is Dan Fraser. I am an avid hunter. I am from BC Canada. I wanted to explain to you the issues I had with Kuiu this past year. This is the first time that I have tried your 'light weight' hunting apparel. I ordered the Yukon jacket and pants in camo Verde. I also ordered a beanie, gaitors and the gloves with merino liner. I want to say that the rain weather performance is excellent. I also think the camo pattern is superb at concealment. I do however have to ask why is this product so noisy? By noisy, I mean every step is swoosh-swish...swoosh-swish. For hunting apparel that costs $650 for a jacket and pants... It could at least be quiet. Should be quiet. My hunting partner was 150yrds away and could hear me swoosh-swish as I walked! That really upsets me. I want to be quiet when I'm walking. I also found that the gaitors started to break on the very first day....the lace clip broke off one side and the button fell off the other side. Super disappointed. By the end of the hunt both lace clips and buttons had fallen off. So I wanted to let you know the problems I encountered with Kuiu. After seeing how mine has performed especially in the non-quiet department non of my hunting friends want to buy it. After I was bragging about it too. If there is anything you could do for the failure of the gaitors that would be hugely appreciated. Your mission statement says I can "trust" Kuiu to perform. I feel like this pair should have at least lasted a whole hunt. And not fallen apart on day one!
Kindest regards, Dan Fraser
The email I received from Kuiu went like this....
Dan,
Thanks for the email, I'm bummed to hear about your gaiters. What you experienced with their failure is not typical of our products. We found a while back that 30-40 pairs of Verde gaiters went out with faulty rivets. Most were recovered last Summer, but not all of them. A properly riveted lace hook should stay in place for years, which the vast majority do.
Please confirm your desired shipping address, and I can get a new set on their way to you free of charge. I will declare a $0 value so you won't need to pay duties.
As far as the raingear goes, noise is just teh nature of the beast when it comes to a true hardshell laminate. For a product to be waterproof, lightweight, and breathable, we must bond together a face fabric, membrane, and backer. The face fabric must be able to both bond to, and protect the membrane layer below it- which means it needs to be a strong, tightly weaved fabric. If there were a face fabric out there that was light weight, strong, and quiet, we would be using it... but there isn't. If you compare the noise level of our Yukon line to any other high-end 3-layer laminate on the market, you will find that it is well on the quiet side for hard shells in its class.
Let me know if you have any follow up questions or comments, and please get me your address for the new gaiters.
Thanks,
Todd Harney
Inventory, Warranty, & Pack Manager
KUIU Ultralight Hunting
toddh@kuiu.com
855-367-5848
I was excited to see they were going to replace the gaitors, but I had one other question that I never heard back from them regarding:
Hi Todd,
Thank you for your reply. I am glad to hear that the gaitors were a faulty rivet problem because that is exactly what the issue was. Thank you for replacing them.
I also wanted to know if maybe there was something faulty with the Yukon pant I have as well, the reason I ask is because while walking, a portion of the left buttock area of the pant, makes a "snap" like sound during a walk stride. Like there was some fabric memory that causes the fabric to be rigid at the end of a step I take. Only on the left butt side. If I am super conscience about it, I can change my stride and it is minimized, but not gone. Its hard to explain this textually, but maybe a video could make it easier. I could video the issue and show you what I am trying to explain.
Regards, Dan Fraser
I have not recieved the replacement gaitors yet, its only been 3 weeks. Hunting season is not on for a little while yet.
In summary, I like the Kuiu camo pattern, Verde.
I love the rain and breathable performance of the Yukon Series.
Didnt like the gaitors falling apart, hopefully I do see that replacement pair.
The Yukon is not quiet enough for walking, maybe on horseback, no problem, or constant long shot opportunities only.
Thanks for reading and hopefully you get better working items than I did. I might have just got a "lemon" when it came to the pants and gaitors, regardless the outer hard shell material is loud.
Happy hunting and hunting gear shopping, as we all get geared up for this fall!
IMD