First light Uncompahgre or Kuiu Guide DCS Jacket?

[Karl Blanchard]

In the market for a new jacket this year and I am liking both of these a lot.  Anyone have any experiences with either of these jackets or recommend any others?  Thanks guys.

http://www.firstlite.com/product_detail/666/uncompahgre-puffy

http://store.kuiu.com/guide-dcs-jacket-p/50011.htm?1=1&CartID=0

[RadSav]

I have not tried that First Light jacket so I can't really comment there. 

But!!  If you have an athletic build and no one ever confuses you with a Bubba Hunter...I can not think of a better made product currently available than the Kuiu.  Just be sure it's Verde camo and not the white flag of surrender - Vias.

Only complaint I had was it has that dang punk rapper hoodie.  Though that's nothing a good pair of scissors didn't fix.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

What is the use going to be?  Day hunting?  Packing in?

I have become a real believer in the Puffy/Rain gear combo...I don't find a real need for a soft shell.

I did own the Guide Jacket, and sold it.  Not because I didn't really like it, but because I couldn't justify a 250.00 jacket I wouldn't wear in the woods. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Use will be a general use, wind breaking, semi water resistant, outer layer to be worn over other layers.  I am not a big "jacket guy", and basically only wear one to cut the wind.  Otherwise its a fleece and a vest if its cold.  Probably just gonna order both and then return the one I don't like.  I hate not being able to get hands on stuff before I purchase.  I do love me some merino wool, but the Kuiu gear has sparked my interest here lately.

I have not tried that First Light jacket so I can't really comment there. 

But!!  If you have an athletic build and no one ever confuses you with a Bubba Hunter...I can not think of a better made product currently available than the Kuiu.  Just be sure it's Verde camo and not the white flag of surrender - Vias.

Only complaint I had was it has that dang punk rapper hoodie.  Though that's nothing a good pair of scissors didn't fix.

  I am a fan of a hood, but thats only because usually if I am actually wearing a jacket, then I am wanting a hood over my head pretty bad   How is the Kuiu material noise wise?

[RadSav]

I am a fan of a hood, but thats only because usually if I am actually wearing a jacket, then I am wanting a hood over my head pretty bad   How is the Kuiu material noise wise?

IMO hoodies are for rain jackets and snow jackets.  Not for general purpose jackets.  Nothing worse than having a hooded jacket to keep yourself warm and then have to put on a hooded rain jacket on top of that - yuk!  Like trying to wear three pieces of Sitka Gear at a time.  Each by themselves are fine and I love my Sitka Gear, but get three tall collared items on at a time and you can't reach your anchor point without a lot of effort.  And even then trying to get good string clearance is near impossible!  Myself I cut hoodies and high collars off nearly everything that is not a rain jacket or a vest - few exceptions!

Material on the Guide jacket is great.  It's only DWR coated so noise is very minimal.  It should not be confused with a rain jacket!  You push through a few hundred yards of dew covered huckleberries you should expect to be wet coming out the other side.  To me Sitka's Stratus jacket is more weather resistant.  Though neither is water proof.  I'd put the Kuiu Guide jacket between Sitka's 90% and Stratus.  All good products!

The hoodie on the Stratus in A LOT easier to cut off than the hoodie on the guide jacket   Then you can wear one of these...best product Cabela's makes!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Headwear/Mens-Waterproof-Headwear%7C/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104380380/i/104129280/Cabelas-GORE-TEXreg-Uninsulated-Baseball-Cap/1226592.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmens-waterproof-headwear%2F_%2FN-1102440%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104129280%3FWT.srch%3D1%26WT.tsrc%3DPPC%26rid%3D20%26WT.mc_id%3DMICROSOFT%7Cmeh_headwear_waterproof_general%7CUSA%26WT.z_mc_id1%3D43700001764766710%26gclid%3DCJmGrKGJ3b0CFcUgKgodlQMAAA%26gclsrc%3Dds&WTz_l=PPC%3Bcat104129280

[Karl Blanchard]

I am a fan of a hood, but thats only because usually if I am actually wearing a jacket, then I am wanting a hood over my head pretty bad   How is the Kuiu material noise wise?

IMO hoodies are for rain jackets and snow jackets.  Not for general purpose jackets.  Nothing worse than having a hooded jacket to keep yourself warm and then have to put on a hooded rain jacket on top of that - yuk!  Like trying to wear three pieces of Sitka Gear at a time.  Each by themselves are fine and I love my Sitka Gear, but get three tall collared items on at a time and you can't reach your anchor point without a lot of effort.  And even then trying to get good string clearance is near impossible!  Myself I cut hoodies and high collars off nearly everything that is not a rain jacket or a vest - few exceptions!

Material on the Guide jacket is great.  It's only DWR coated so noise is very minimal.  It should not be confused with a rain jacket!  You push through a few hundred yards of dew covered huckleberries you should expect to be wet coming out the other side.  To me Sitka's Stratus jacket is more weather resistant.  Though neither is water proof.  I'd put the Kuiu Guide jacket between Sitka's 90% and Stratus.  All good products!

The hoodie on the Stratus in A LOT easier to cut off than the hoodie on the guide jacket   Then you can wear one of these...best product Cabela's makes!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Headwear/Mens-Waterproof-Headwear%7C/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104380380/i/104129280/Cabelas-GORE-TEXreg-Uninsulated-Baseball-Cap/1226592.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmens-waterproof-headwear%2F_%2FN-1102440%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104129280%3FWT.srch%3D1%26WT.tsrc%3DPPC%26rid%3D20%26WT.mc_id%3DMICROSOFT%7Cmeh_headwear_waterproof_general%7CUSA%26WT.z_mc_id1%3D43700001764766710%26gclid%3DCJmGrKGJ3b0CFcUgKgodlQMAAA%26gclsrc%3Dds&WTz_l=PPC%3Bcat104129280

$100 says Cabelas in Yakima doesn't have it in stock

[7mag.]

I love my Guide Jacket. I don't use it on backpack hunts, but for day hunts, it's my favorite jacket. I haven't worn my 90% jacket since I got the Guide Jacket.

[fillthefreezer]

they are completely different jackets for different purposes. i liked the guide jacket but it was more suited to an everything jacket, not a hunting jacket. i have multiple options of that from helly hansen, in solid colors. the first lite is a sweet jacket. a durable puffy is what id call it. still not a full on outer layer though...

[go4itlab]

I own a bit of first lite gear, from early archery to late its all i wear. Was worth every penny. Nice layering systems,quite, it doesn't hold odor and dries out quick. I used the same shirt for 10 days during early archery last year without washing it......other than getting caught in one of the rains from a thunder cell rolling by, came home took it over to the wife and put the arm pit of it in her face, she was, " what are you doing"? I said can you smell it? She replied, "no". Some of my other gear that would of earned me a slap up along the head. I do own the Uncompagre and it is awesome. Its light and folds down into one of the pockets; very packable. I used it last year in the rain, snow and sub zero temps we had last year during the late archery season ( -9 ambient temp, thats not including wind chill). I have no complaints. I have no experience with Kuiu, looks real nice but the wait and lack of inventory has always kept me from pulling the trigger on it.

[scottcrb]

keep an eye on ebay i have seen both the kuiu and first light jackets on there lately. dont know what the price difference is between ebay and retail but bot were new and seem to keep popping up. 

[Rock7]

The guide jacket is a great peace of gear. The DWR treatment is good for light rains but in a storm you will need an outer shell. The fit on the jacket is slim, especially in in the arms which is great if you are bow hunting. No need to worry about your string hitting the sleeve. The micro fiber lining helps keep you warm, and the outer fabric has a little stretch and is quiet. If you go with the jacket go at least one size up, all of Kuiu's clothing has a slim athletic fit. The Guide Jacket and Attack pants are my go to clothing of choice.