Just got my 230 Merino Zip Base layer from KUIU and the Guide Beanie.
I haven't taken them into the field yet (Tuesday I will) but here is my initial thoughts...
The top has a phenomenal fit and feel to it. When I put it on, I immediately thought how good it felt. Meaning the cut was tight and loose where it is suppose to be. It also feels like a quality product. It's a heavier material then I thought, which is a good thing. You could easily wear this on a decent day as your only layer. The sleeves are longer then normal (not by much) which I really like for the following reason.
My BIGGEST pet peeve with all "base layer" clothing is when the sleeves ride up.
Drives.
Me.
Crazy.
This doesn't appear that it is going to be an issue.
While it tapers towards the waste, it isn't constricting like Under Armour, and it's long enough where it shouldn't pull out of your pants when you bend down.
The stitching looks nice and uniform. From what I've read, KUIU got a little heat from some customers because they were back ordered for months. They were forced to move production to China, and there were some concerns about quality. Doesn't appear to be an issue with what I received.
The Guide Beanie fits my head perfectly. It appears as though the bottom has a little elastic, which is kind of neat because it forms to your head.
All in all, this was my test run of KUIU products to see if I liked their material and quality. It has met my expectation and I will be ordering the Guide Jacket and Pants in January.
