You Have $2,000 - Build Your Layering System

[Sliverslinger]

You have $1,500-2,000 that you have to spend this weekend ordering a complete clothing system from baselayers up to outer shell. This will be all you take for high country deer and elk hunts in September and October. Lot's of moving, no treestands or full days sitting. Temps range from 100 degrees - to 40 and raining - to 20 and windy. You wear the same clothes for 5-7 days at a time.  You can mix and match brands, but this will be your clothing system for the next 4-5 years. What items do you purchase?

I'm thinking:

First Lite Red Desert Merino Boxers
First Lite Llano SS Merino T-Shirt
First Lite Llano QZ
First Lite Chama Hoody (love the thumbholes)
First Lite Springer Vest or Kuiu Guide DCS Vest
Kuiu Spindrift Jacket
Kuiu Merino 185 bottom
Kuiu attack pants (maybe First Lite Kanab)
Kuiu Chugach Rain Jacket
Kuiu Chugach Rain Pant
First Lite Wind River Balaclava
First Lite brimmed beanie
Kuiu Guide Glove
Yukon Gaiters


I've been reading and researching for  weeks. I just wish Kuiu, Sitka, and First Lite had some mutual camo color. I can't stand the idea of wearing an ASAT top and Verde bottoms. What set up would you guys put together?

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I would get the Kuiu Down Jacket over the Spindrift. 

Why wouldn't you just pick one brand?  They are all comparable.

[scottcrb]

definitely gonna watch this thread. but i like the sitka and kuiu stuff too first lite seems a little pricey. might go smartwool  over first light but stick with merino.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I'll play though, here is what I should have completed by the end of the year.

KUIU: 185 T
KUIU: 230 Zip T
KUIU: Hooded Down Jacket
KUIU: Chugach Rain Jacket
KUIU: 185 Merino
KUIU: Attack Pants
KUIU: Chugach Rain Pant
KUIU: Beanie (Or Ballcap when they come out!)
Boots:  Still up in the air, I'm deciding between Hanwag and Kenetreks and Zamberlands
Socks: Kenetrek Alaskans
Gloves: None

[Bmcox86]

I'm going to watch this too as I'm trying to transfer to Alaska in the next two years and don't know much about this stuff.

I do recommend darn tough socks though. Warm, made in USA and lifetime warranty.

[Sliverslinger]

I've heard of guys who only take two pairs of merino wools socks and just rotate them back and forth 2ce a day. I'm trying to cut weight in my pack and clothing and feed take up the most. It's because my UA synthetic stuff gets so smelly and grungy after a day or two that I end up packing a ton of socks, pants, and shirts. I hear I can got for a week with Merino and it won't smell or start getting funky. I'm gonna research who makes the best socks because those are really, really important.

[Colville]

Too much brand chasing.

You can get a layered back country outfit of quality for a big fraction that spend. Investigate diminishing returns because they are in crazy effect here.

[fillthefreezer]

i dont thnk id change my current set up much. maybe change a couple things that would cut a few oz for me if i had $$$ to blow.
my current layers are
kuiu 185 "T"
kuiu 230
spindrift (upgrade to super down)
precip jacket (upgrade to chugach)
c4e boxers (upgrade to firstlite)
HH dry long johns (maybe go merino)
ascent "shorts"
HH odin guide pant
OR neoplume pant (maybe super down pant)
precip pant (chugach pant)
smartwool midwt socks (might try darn tough)
smartwool liner socks
OR flextex gaiters
kuiu gaiters
OR stocking hat
c4e light poly stocking hat

overall i wouldn't change much

[colockumelk]

Here is what I currently own. 
Smartwool Lite Hikers- These socks were a life changing event for me. (Best sock on the planet.  I no longer own cotton socks because of this sock.  I wear these socks to work even in the summer    )
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___19868

Lowa Hunter GTX- I was torn between this and the Kenetrek Mtn Extreme.  I went with the Lowa.  For my foot it felt the best.  All the boots you mentioned are fantastic boots.  All are great quality.  I recommend you try them all on and see which boot fits your foot the best. 
http://www.altrec.com/lowa-boots/mens-hunter-gtx-extreme-boot/

After you buy your boots the first thing you need to do is remove the insert and replace it with one of these.  A Superfeet insole, the green ones.  Literally life changing.  Almost as much as discovering wool socks.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___17980

My underwear is just Under Armour compression style boxer briefs. My t-shirts are Under Armour heat gear.  Nothing special. 

I won't bore you with my pants, shirt and jacket.  You have money to spend and dont want to hear about cheaper stuff.  But here is what I do plan on owning when I return from Afghanistan.

Basically all First Lite stuff.  If someone came out with a merino wool line in multi cam I would buy it right now.  I LOVE multi cam.

[ORCA_SIX]

About 2 years ago I wanted to change out all of my backcountry/ big game clothing and I ended up basically buying the whole KUIU line and add some of the Firstlite tops. Worth every penny on both lines.

[dreamingbig]

My Kuiu and first lite gear is also worth every penny.  It allows me to stay warmer and drier and does ith wi th less weight and stink.  You might not notice the benefit as much if you are out for two days butby the 7th, 8th, and 9th days you are thanking yourself greatly.

[SGTDuffman]

I dumped Sitka and jumped on Kuiu when they first came out. I think I've spent something like $2,500 on Kuiu, but that's with 2 complete packs, an extra chugach for the wife, duplicates of the neck gaiter, beanie, and 185 top in Verde, and 3 other pairs of attack pants, so I'd think you'd still be well under your budget.

I just added all the Kuiu stuff to the cart again and it's $1,560 for the stuff below. If you keep an eye on the outlet, or buy when they're doing sales and stuff though you can knock that down quite a bit too. I got an Outlet Guide Jacket for $140, Chugach set on sale for $100 off, Spindrift on sale for $115, Attacks on sale for $120, Guide gloves on sale for $35, Beanie one sale for $15. So that'd be like $300 less than what the cart says, if you can catch stuff on sale or in the outlet. This was almost all in 2011 though, so I don't know if they'll keep doing those kinds of deals or not. The outlet is still a good place to snag stuff for cheap though. I bought a Chugach jacket from the outlet, and it had a pen mark on the sleeve cuff that I had to look to see, so it was like way less than a new one. The outlet stuff is still good stuff, there's nothing functionally wrong with it. There are Chugach pants on there right now for $100 less than new and the older style Guide Jackets without the dual chest pockets and the sleeve pocket for $50 off.

I use Kuiu (all in Vias):
Merino Neck Gaitor
Merino Beanie
185 Zip T top
250 Zip T top
Spindrift Jacket
Guide Vest
Guide Jacket
Chugach Jacket
Usually Red Ram merino boxers, if I do long underwear on my legs it's also the Kuiu merino
Attack Pants
Chugach Pants
Smart Wool socks
Lowa Uplander GTX boots
Guide Glove

For archery last year, I never used the long bottoms, the 250 top, the guide jacket, the gloves, the spindrift, or either of the chugach pieces, though I still took both of those.

[Sliverslinger]

I dumped Sitka and jumped on Kuiu when they first came out. I think I've spent something like $2,500 on Kuiu, but that's with 2 complete packs, an extra chugach for the wife, duplicates of the neck gaiter, beanie, and 185 top in Verde, and 3 other pairs of attack pants, so I'd think you'd still be well under your budget.

I just added all the Kuiu stuff to the cart again and it's $1,560 for the stuff below. If you keep an eye on the outlet, or buy when they're doing sales and stuff though you can knock that down quite a bit too. I got an Outlet Guide Jacket for $140, Chugach set on sale for $100 off, Spindrift on sale for $115, Attacks on sale for $120, Guide gloves on sale for $35, Beanie one sale for $15. So that'd be like $300 less than what the cart says, if you can catch stuff on sale or in the outlet. This was almost all in 2011 though, so I don't know if they'll keep doing those kinds of deals or not. The outlet is still a good place to snag stuff for cheap though. I bought a Chugach jacket from the outlet, and it had a pen mark on the sleeve cuff that I had to look to see, so it was like way less than a new one. The outlet stuff is still good stuff, there's nothing functionally wrong with it. There are Chugach pants on there right now for $100 less than new and the older style Guide Jackets without the dual chest pockets and the sleeve pocket for $50 off.

I use Kuiu (all in Vias):
Merino Neck Gaitor
Merino Beanie
185 Zip T top
250 Zip T top
Spindrift Jacket
Guide Vest
Guide Jacket
Chugach Jacket
Usually Red Ram merino boxers, if I do long underwear on my legs it's also the Kuiu merino
Attack Pants
Chugach Pants
Smart Wool socks
Lowa Uplander GTX boots
Guide Glove

For archery last year, I never used the long bottoms, the 250 top, the guide jacket, the gloves, the spindrift, or either of the chugach pieces, though I still took both of those.

Wow, thanks for all the input. Much appreciated. I'm definitely hoping to end up with some Kuiu gear. I think that for base layers Kuiu and First lite are top of the line. I went with the First Lite because of two reasons. First, the thumbholes in the sleeves were huge for me, as was the length of the tail. I'm 6'4 with long arms and I hate shirt riding up while I'm hiking or sleeves that won't stay down. I went first light all the way to the heavy vest. I'm not sure what I'll do yet for the thick, puffy insulating layer or the outer layer.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I dumped Sitka and jumped on Kuiu when they first came out. I think I've spent something like $2,500 on Kuiu, but that's with 2 complete packs, an extra chugach for the wife, duplicates of the neck gaiter, beanie, and 185 top in Verde, and 3 other pairs of attack pants, so I'd think you'd still be well under your budget.

I just added all the Kuiu stuff to the cart again and it's $1,560 for the stuff below. If you keep an eye on the outlet, or buy when they're doing sales and stuff though you can knock that down quite a bit too. I got an Outlet Guide Jacket for $140, Chugach set on sale for $100 off, Spindrift on sale for $115, Attacks on sale for $120, Guide gloves on sale for $35, Beanie one sale for $15. So that'd be like $300 less than what the cart says, if you can catch stuff on sale or in the outlet. This was almost all in 2011 though, so I don't know if they'll keep doing those kinds of deals or not. The outlet is still a good place to snag stuff for cheap though. I bought a Chugach jacket from the outlet, and it had a pen mark on the sleeve cuff that I had to look to see, so it was like way less than a new one. The outlet stuff is still good stuff, there's nothing functionally wrong with it. There are Chugach pants on there right now for $100 less than new and the older style Guide Jackets without the dual chest pockets and the sleeve pocket for $50 off.

I use Kuiu (all in Vias):
Merino Neck Gaitor
Merino Beanie
185 Zip T top
250 Zip T top
Spindrift Jacket
Guide Vest
Guide Jacket
Chugach Jacket
Usually Red Ram merino boxers, if I do long underwear on my legs it's also the Kuiu merino
Attack Pants
Chugach Pants
Smart Wool socks
Lowa Uplander GTX boots
Guide Glove

For archery last year, I never used the long bottoms, the 250 top, the guide jacket, the gloves, the spindrift, or either of the chugach pieces, though I still took both of those.

Wow, thanks for all the input. Much appreciated. I'm definitely hoping to end up with some Kuiu gear. I think that for base layers Kuiu and First lite are top of the line. I went with the First Lite because of two reasons. First, the thumbholes in the sleeves were huge for me, as was the length of the tail. I'm 6'4 with long arms and I hate shirt riding up while I'm hiking or sleeves that won't stay down. I went first light all the way to the heavy vest. I'm not sure what I'll do yet for the thick, puffy insulating layer or the outer layer.

Funny the way different gear fits different people.  I am not a huge fan of thumbholes in clothes.

[JoeE]

I've been watching the KUIU outlet and buying stuff as it comes available. I just picked up the Chuguch rain pants for $100 off.