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Sitka vs First Lite vs Kuiu

I just recently bought some FL. I really like merino wool base layers, that was one reason.

I will say this their beanie I have tried on and it fits well and is comfortable but haven't really used it yet since it's way too warm here still.

Their full finger merino gloves with the touch, not the areowool ones. I forget the name. They are inexpensive and not a great value. The sizing for them seems to be off. I hadn't put my hand in mine all the way for the first time and got a tear. I told them about it and they were good about it. Just the manufacturer is perhaps not top quality and it should be addressed. The guys at the company have always been great to deal with.

The Kiln hoody I really like but I know it won't last if I wear it as a top layer the way they show in the video. Base layer only I think. Also the fit of the hood is strange. It sorts out if you have a ball cap on or no neck and a large head. The zip comes up to an inch below the chin and the hood wants to come down to my eyes. These are the notes I took so far:
8 degrees Celsius walking, ok, maybe a little cool.
14 degrees Celsius direct sun comfortable warm
18 degrees Celsius in shade comfortable warm
So I will say ever since I had some severe cold exposures a few years back my hands especially and my body to a degree get cold fast!! So most people are comfortable at lower temps than I usually.

I also got the suspenders. Fricking love'em
I haven't put them through their paces on a hard hunt yet though. I've heard about possible slippage haven't seen it yet.

Definitely have seen criticism on the durability of some of their pieces.

Kuiu is more mountain stuff based on their site. I like the look not the price. Not sure what their warranty is like.
 
Thick briars/brush = Duluth Trading firehose pants.

I have Kuiu for out west or lots of run and gun. Okay in heat, not when it’s chilly.

Any of the new synthetics seem to snag a little. All synthetics hold odor worse than natural fabrics....at least in my experience. I like First Lite but it’s kind of fragile as well.

For the money, any popular hiking/mountaineering pant works well if it’s quiet. Merino base layers and quiet outer layers of fleece or wool.
 
I honestly think First Lite and Kuiu are more geared for the western type hunts. I know FL has a White tail line. But it seems that few products from either deal well with the thick, thorny brush common in the East. And those that do my not be quite right for the stand/saddle. Just my 2 cents.
 
Look into Skre Gear. Just as good as Sitka, etc.

Lots of science behind their concealment patterns. Clothing made from proprietary blends.
Top-notch customer service.
No questions asked life-time warranty.
And best of all, 20-40% cheaper than competing brands.

They are direct to consumer (which is how they are able to beat the competition’s pricing).

www.skregear.com
 
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I have used most of the headline items from all three companies mentioned. All companies produce a well made product for whatever it’s intended purpose may be. The problem I ran into, and I’m assuming lots of others as well, is trying to pigeonhole an article of clothing into a role it was never meant for. As we said in the military, mission drives gear.
Kuiu- this is what I started with a while back when it was still made in Canada. Great product and I loved the Vias pattern and still do. The issue for me in the northeast, was that it was the totally wrong gear for my task. It looks cool as hell and if I wanted to impress Instagram, this was the ticket. The problem is, it was awful for the sedentary nature of elevated whitetail hunting. In order to layer effectively, I needed a ridiculous amount of layers.
Sitka- this was my next purchase. I initially got the original fanatic series and it was a game changer. I went from freezing my ass off in the Kuiu to toasty warm in the Fanatic. I did however run into a few issues. First was the bibs were almost too warm and it was a pain to carry them in with me and then change at the base of the tree. As saddle hunters, many of us are minimalists and this was not keeping in line with a streamline setup. The second issue was burrs. The outer quiet material was a burr magnet in my area.

First Lite- eventually I sold off the Sitka to fund a FL purchase. The FL camo pattern is probably my favorite and also the most versatile and effective in my area to avoid other hunters. I say again, other hunters, not deer. I think all 3 brands patterns are equally effective on hiding from deer as long as you’re sitting still. I really can’t stress that aspect enough. As much as I wanted to love the FL gear, it had one major flaw. It’s not windproof. Wind resistant is not wind proof. As far as I know, Gore is currently the only textile producer making a windproof material. For me, that’s a deal breaker. Ultimately I sent my hipster mustache, longbow, craft beer, and First Lite gear packing.

The conclusion- I went back to my original system, a hybrid. I wear Carhart gray pants which have a minimalist design, dry quickly, don’t pick up burrs, and allow me to discreetly access some of my more urban locations without screaming “Hunter”. I use the Sitka base layer top with the hood and face mask built in. Over that I put the Sitka Stratus jacket as needed. It’s windproof and quiet. I also have the Sitka downpour set which is probably the most versatile piece I have. The Goretex is windproof, waterproof, and dead silent. It layers perfect over the Stratus jacket and my carhart pants. As the temp drops I add Smartwool merino base layers and a Patagonia puffy vest under the Stratus as well as needed. This system allows me to hunt all day, any day, in any weather from 80 degree Early October evening, to a mid rut downpour, to a driving snow in the late season. You don’t need totes of gear to hunt comfortable all season long. You don’t need a specific piece of gear for every situation. You need a versatile system that’s modular.
 
I bought the First Lite Sanctuary bib and jacket last year. I packed it in, I have to in the spots I hunt. I wore it late season late November in Maine and end of January in Ohio. All day sits in single digits. So comfortable and warm.


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I have a lot of First Lite and Sitka and no broad problems with either. It's kinda hard to make a whole assessment of one brand vs. another, there's too many pieces to do that. Also I've never bought either full retail, shop the sales around the holidays and winter. I've never owned any Kuiu so nothing to say there.
 
DC10 said:
Look into Skre Gear. Just as good as Sitka, etc.

Lots of science behind their concealment patterns. Clothing made from proprietary blends.
Top-notch customer service.
No questions asked life-time warranty.
And best of all, 20-40% cheaper than competing brands.

They are direct to consumer (which is how they are able to beat the competitions pricing.

www.skregear.com
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I’ll check them out!
 
One other thing I will point out. Lots of this high end clothing has specific care instructions. I have known a few people to not properly care for their gear after the hunt and then complain. Kind of like not doing maintenance on your vehicle. Treat it wrong it don't last. Probably preaching to the choir with this group but it should still be said.

Side note some work stores have pretty good pants not super cheap still but Helly Hansen I think makes a pair durable, light weight, neutral colours and you can put knee pads in them for the tree.
 
I can only speak to Sitka gear and only wearing it around the house. I purchased the mid weight core series and really do like it. I can tell they will be keeping me warm but until which temp remains to be seen. I purposely got sweaty with them and they dried out quickly. That to me is the most important part is to stay dry I would rather go in cold and warm up than be to warm in my walk in and freeze a half hour into the hunt.
 
Of the three, i like first lites pieces and camo patterns better. However, i dont feel that camo pattern is that important for Whitetail when your hunting 25’ up straddling the back of a tree trunk. I will be running carhartt pants in earth tones, merino base layers, fleece vest, and a marmot down jacket covered in a thin leafy wear jacket.
 
HappyChappy said:
Of the three, i like first lites pieces and camo patterns better. However, i dont feel that camo pattern is that important for Whitetail when your hunting 25’ up straddling the back of a tree trunk. I will be running carhartt pants in earth tones, merino base layers, fleece vest, and a marmot down jacket covered in a thin leafy wear jacket.
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This is almost the exact set up I have been contemplating in an effort to further reduce my gear. Simply running the Carhartt pants with my other higher end outdoor gear. I have an Arcteryx AR jacket that is crazy warm, light, and windproof that i thought would pair nicely with the Phantom leaf top from First Lite. That leafy top really seems versatile to me and might allow me to sell off some more my hunting specific clothes and use my more general purpose stuff.
 
RedOak said:
This is almost the exact set up I have been contemplating in an effort to further reduce my gear. Simply running the Carhartt pants with my other higher end outdoor gear. I have an Arcteryx AR jacket that is crazy warm, light, and windproof that i thought would pair nicely with the Phantom leaf top from First Lite. That leafy top really seems versatile to me and might allow me to sell off some more my hunting specific clothes and use my more general purpose stuff.
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Exactly my thoughts too. Technical hiking/outdoor garments are generally more readily available in big box stores, sometimes more affordable, and a whole lot more versatile (you can wear it out around town and such without looking like somebody from swamp people lol). The leafy wear stuff weighs nothing and can packs up nice. Can be worn over layers during the late season or just over the ol’ birthday suit in warm weather. Together with the carhartts has gotta be the most practical and economical hunting clothing system out there.
 
Aeds151 said:
Ok well I am sorry that I posted my opinion based off of my direct experience with some of the FirstLite products. For a second, I thought that this was the purpose of the thread. Sorry to offend well, now what do you want to talk about?


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Offended? Gonna have to do alot more then that to get me offended. I simply stated why you were having that experience with that certain product.
 
I have used Carhartt stuff for years. It is economical tough warm and quiet. It is Heavy especially if wet. They are great work clothes

For hunting I prefer first lite. Why. It is super lite and has some carbon in it for smell reduction and i like the camo

If I could not afford it Carhartt or whatever you can buy at the box stores is just fine That is what I used 5 years ago

The best technical outdoor clothes are priced similar to the best hunting clothes with no camo. They are often noisier too.
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Versus Liberty brand bibs/coveralls from Walmart. It matters not. Just sayin’ .
 
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