KYRanger
Well-Known Member
I have both kuiu and Sitka. Why? Because I liked both products, and couldn’t decide. I knew I preferred the Sitka Fanatic series material for whitetail hunting. Once I started receiving and using the products, it became evident which stood out. I was reluctant to spend the money for Sitka, that’s how I found my way to to Kuiu, which isn’t really cheap by any means. Both are good products, but as others have said, there are distinct differences. Kuiu really feels and wears like mountain climbing/hiking clothing. It’s engineered to be very lightweight and packable. Many pieces are very thin and fold up flat which makes some pieces great to put in your pack. It’s designed to be snug fitting and the fabrics see stretchy. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking and packing, the Kuiu can work well, but.....the Sitka Fanatic products are truly designed for the whitetail hunter. Finally, a company has built products that are virtually silent, amazingly warm with minimal weight. I hate to say it because it costs so much. Buts it’s great stuff. Anyone who has spent serious time on stand in the silent cold whitetail woods knows how important noise can be. I have been amazed by so many clothing and pack manufacturers who claim to make incredible gear, only to find the cloth and zippers are so noisy you can here them 100 yards away. For example, I love the build quality of badlands packs and cloths. But the fabrics and zippers are so loud, and so stiff, I kept looking for alternates. I’m not knocking badlands gear, it’s rugged. But I believe it was designed for out west. The Sitka Fanatic clothing is excellent stuff. If you can afford it, I think you will be pleased. I’m a big advocate of the windstopper membrane, and goretex sure helps too. If you are only able to start with a few pieces, get the fanatic hoody and fanatic vest, then stratus pants. The system is flexible from mild weather to extreme temps. Sorry for the long winded response.