kuiu Verde or vias

[ROCKWHEELER]

Kuiu Verde or Vias which camo do you prefer. I would like to hear your thoughts on how either works for you, and what kind of area you use it in (sagebrush, alpine meadows or dark timber).  I will be getting all new gear after  late rifle and don't know which camo I want or if it really matters what I choose. I hunt every kind of area/terrain we have in WA. Also I have sitka timberline pants, the new cabelas glassing pants and matching coats for both.. I just want to try kuiu's gear.

[Bmcox86]

I really like the verde pattern and am slowly switching my gear over to it

[trophyhunt]

You should post the two patterns, so others can see the difference.

[Magnum_Willys]

Verde over vias.  That vias "cookie dough" look just looks so dated camo to me.  Like verde for forest - mixed foliage, Sitka Optifade open country for sage.

[losdaddy7]

Verde is my preference for Kuiu, although I've switched over to First Lite Realtree Max-1 for most of my gear this season.  Max-1 is below;

[ROCKWHEELER]

Vias

[ROCKWHEELER]

Verde

[_TONY_]

All my Kuiu gear is in verde pattern.... This pattern works well for me in all my hunting areas... From the eastside shrub steppe to the Westside OP jungles.

[trophyhunt]

I really like both patterns but I've mostly bought the Vias, you can't go wrong with either.  It's all about your silhouette being broken up. Even the simple army BDU's work well in the woods, just get out there and hunt!!!

[JBar]

Verde for me but with that being said I am picking up a few pieces in Vias for my late season hunting.

[mburrows]

I have the vias and i love it. Seems very versatile thus far.

[ROCKWHEELER]

All of you guys running the vias camo is the the tan on your camo look the same as the picture I posted? I have seen pics where it almost looks snow white.

[jackelope]

All of you guys running the vias camo is the the tan on your camo look the same as the picture I posted? I have seen pics where it almost looks snow white.

It's lighter in person than it is in that picture. The only Kuiu stuff I have is in Vias. I don't think you could go wrong with either one in 90% of scenarios, as long as your silhouette is broken up. There's lots of guys killing critters in all sorts of camo patterns, including Levi's and flannel, especially if you're a rifle hunter with that blaze orange vest on.

[lewy]

Kuiu makes some nice solid colrs as well......

[RadSav]

After watching sheep turn themselves inside out at long distance when seeing the Vias I have absolutely no use for the stuff at all.  That is the country that stuff was suppose to be made for.  So if it doesn't do much for you in that situation I wouldn't be too excited about using it in terrain it is not designed for.

On the other hand I think Kuiu did a very good job with the Verde.  Seems very versatile, has high contrast without looking like you are in the spot light dancing on a dark stage.  I actually think it is better than either of the Optifade patterns.

None are as good as Mothwing and other good large high contrast mimicry patterns IMO.  But of the pattern choices of Kuiu and Sitka...Verde is far and away the pattern to beat IMO.

[blackveltbowhunter]

 I agree.... My favorite pattern of all time is still MMM. I wish I had stockpiled the stuff! Dont know why no one is using it in anything functional.

   I will say I was impressed with the performance of the sitka I used this year though, Several stalks and being tolerated in alot of open terrain including several red zone setups, and getting away with drawing in the wide open on a cow at under thirty yards, didn't make me a believer per se, but less skeptical for sure.

[ROCKWHEELER]

Thanks for the comments guys. Sounds like verde is a good choice I will get that in their guide series pant and jacket. I still like the old school look of the vias and with probably order a guide jacket in it as well for winter steelhead and snow hunting coyote/bobcat. Jackelope i 90% agree with what u said about clothing/color I think tinpants and a hickory shirt is the best for hunting, critters just think your a logger. I don't think deer/elk can see red or green in the light spectrum so blaze orange is just a shade of gray to them.

[_TONY_]

I just order the guide jacket on Sunday... Should be here tomorrow!

I really dig how fast Kuiu turns order around!

[JBar]

During my elk hunt this year I did have a cow at 8 yards and a calf at around 5ft neither one knew I was there the cow kept feeding by me until she got my wind. Effectiveness of Verde was proven to me right then and there

Rad- you're kinda scaring me about the Vias, I may turn around and sell that but then again I'm a Kuiu freak so probably not  

[jackelope]

I agree.... My favorite pattern of all time is still MMM. I wish I had stockpiled the stuff! Dont know why no one is using it in anything functional.

 

I've got a full setup of old school Sitka MM stuff. Love it.

[RadSav]

I've got a full setup of old school Sitka MM stuff. Love it.

Sure wish I did.  The newer Sitka pants are much better than the old, but I guard those old pants with my life!  Wish I had the tops to match.

I agree.... My favorite pattern of all time is still MMM... Dont know why no one is using it in anything functional.

What I have been told is that Mothwing has one of the highest licensing fees ever for a camo pattern.  Daggum shame if that is the case!!  If true, that would be a primary reason clothing designers are acting as if it is infected with Ebola.

You would sure think someone could develop a pattern that avoids the copyright but looks and functions very much the same as MMM.  Instead we get these awful digital patterns that don't do anything the military pattern does.  I expect because they are easy to design and get around the licensing issues.  I keep hoping Sitka will get a clue and design their own version of MMM.  I wouldn't even think of trying another piece of hunting clothing if they did it right!

I started using Sitka because of the Mothwing camo.  Now I am using Sitka despite the camo pattern   I hate nearly everything about the camo, but the clothes fit and perform so dang good I wear them even though the patterns suck dead donkey doo.

[jjhunter]

I bought a bunch of vias to try out this year.   Snuck up on a herd of 18 elk in the middle of a stubble field and arrowed one.  My favorite pattern for the country that I hunt. 

[RadSav]

Kuiu makes some nice solid colrs as well......

Here is a picture of my last sheep.  You have Vias, Forest Optifade, Open Country Optifade and solid olive drab. 

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have the solid olive drab than the Vias or either of the Optifade's.  I've asked for solid Olive Drab as an option since Stika seems hell bent on forcing people to use the Opticrap.  Unfortunately in the styles I wear the most there is no solid even close in tone to the olive.  Kuiu's solids are a bit better!  Too bad they aren't cut for old, fat and out of shape guys

[huntinluva]

All verde for me, has worked good thus far on eastside and westside terrains.

[WoodlandShooter]

I am still lookinf for some decent gear.

for the wet side I am really liking PenCott Greenzone.

Greenzone on the left, A-TACS FG on the right

[RadSav]

Great picture!  Where do you find British camo over here?

[WoodlandShooter]

picked up my set directly from them

http://www.hydedefinition.com/bdu.html

here is some more sources

http://www.hydedefinition.com/clothing.html

[RadSav]

I might need to send some of those photos to Sitka!  I think if we approach it as a need for spring turkey colors we might get further than just telling them Optifade stinks!

[WoodlandShooter]

The Optifade Ground Forrest pattern already exists. It is available in Europe.

Scroll down to see
http://www.hyperstealth.com/

http://www.gore-tex.co.uk/remote/Satellite?c=fabrics_cont_land_c&childpagename=goretex_en_GB/fabrics_cont_land_c/OptifadeMicrosite&cid=1278177790916&pagename=SessionWrapper&

[WoodlandShooter]

I might need to send some of those photos to Sitka!  I think if we approach it as a need for spring turkey colors we might get further than just telling them Optifade stinks!

Don't Bother. The guy at Hyperstealth is a prick (actually tried to sue the people that developed A-TACS over some BS pattent crap), and is a direct competitor of the PenCott people

Hyperstealth designed Optifade

[bowhunterty]

I have had great reults with my Sitka Open Country Optifade. Killed my last three bulls wearing it. The last two at under 20 yards. I like the Sitka products. But Kuiu has stuff that looks good and I may pick up some this year.

[RadSav]

The Optifade Ground Forrest pattern already exists. It is available in Europe.

Yeah I have seen it on the Beretta stuff.  Big bulky Austrian style clothing.  Not my thing!  Tone to the pattern looked rather good.

[sagewalker]

Vias

 

[GurrCentral]

Vias for me.

[RadSav]

As a science based seamhead who has spent most of the past 35 years stalking animals within bow range (with rather good success if I can say so myself) I have formed an opinion about what I like and want in camo patterns.  With the exception of open country mule deer and sheep country I could really care less about tone or pattern if rifle hunting.  As long as you are not wearing white in a black forest it rarely ever makes a difference.  But you start breaking that 100 yard security zone and things start making a difference!

100 yards to 30-35 yards patterns mean very little to me.  In those conditions tone and stealth is all I am concerned about.  Charcoal in front of volcanic rock is good enough, green in front of a fir tree is enough, white on top of white snow is good enough.  Watch the wind, slow your movements, make no noise, keep your white face out of the spotlight and you will be fine.

Patterns start to make a difference when you step inside of that 40 yard zone.  Pattern still will not eliminate the prior mentioned Tone and Stealth, but patterns do start adding short moments or even seconds to a blown opportunity.  One third of a second more time can often spell the difference between success and failure inside the dead zone.  So everything comes into play at that point, #1-Tone, #2-Light absorption (non-reflective), #3-Stealth and #4-Pattern is how I rate importance here.

I tend to give almost zero credit to folks who claim a certain pattern is the holy grail because they tagged an elk inside 40 yards wearing the stuff.  I find elk to be the cattle beast of big game animals - not too terribly smart.  Throw in some cow estrus and a teenage sex drive and they become down right stupid!  So success in elk hunting to me means very little in the grand scheme of things.  Army surplus wool pants and a plaid shirt is WAY more than enough for me if hunting rutting bulls.  If you want to impress me with an elk story, tell me about stalking up on a lead cow in the bright sun.  Then perhaps I'll pay attention 

Stalk a big blacktail or a wise whitetail inside slam dunk archery range and I'll pay attention.  Call in a coyote solo with a mouth call and deliver an arrow at 10 yards and I'll hear what you have to say.  Crawl up on an open country muledeer with near zero vegetation and put an arrow into him from 35 yards and you certainly have story worth listening to.  Have a turkey brush you as he struts by on his way to your decoy and I am all ears.  And if you ever have a crow try to land on your head while on a bear stand, that's something I want to know about!!!

Will you ever catch me trying to work the edge of a western WA clearcut in Vias or Open Country Optifake?  Not likely if I'm bowhunting blacktails.  Would you catch me trying to accomplish the same thing in Verde?  If I wasn't too Bubba to fit into the Kuiu clothing chances are you would!   Would you catch me doing the same thing bowhunting whitetails in the NE?  Vias - No!  Verde - Yes!  OC Opti' - Perhaps.  Could you find a place on earth I would attempt to call in turkeys while wearing Vias?  I can not think of any such place.

I would be hard pressed to find a situation where I would chose Vias over Verde.  There are some areas where I would take OC Opti' over Verde.  But those are far and few between.  I prefer many other mimic patterns over Verde, but as I get older the quality performance clothing has begun to lead me to compromise.  Of those premium clothiers and their private camo patterns I seem to like Verde the best.  Though Kuiu would have to redesign their clothing to fit an old fat bastage like me before I could ever purchase their stuff again

[DeerHarvester]

All my kuiu gear is in vias and I have had great luck with it. I have had both deer and elk within 15 yards and they never seen me. I hunt mostly high desert areas. That being said I'm picking up some verde to add to my collection. I think it will work well in more green areas.

[Stein]

Camo patterns are very similar to fishing lure colors - absolutely created for the buyer not the critter.

[Dhoey07]

Just placed my order today

[fair-chase]

Kuiu Verde or Vias which camo do you prefer. I would like to hear your thoughts on how either works for you, and what kind of area you use it in (sagebrush, alpine meadows or dark timber).  I will be getting all new gear after  late rifle and don't know which camo I want or if it really matters what I choose. I hunt every kind of area/terrain we have in WA. Also I have sitka timberline pants, the new cabelas glassing pants and matching coats for both.. I just want to try kuiu's gear.

My 

If you want to try Kuiu, make sure your doing it for the right reasons (camo pattern not being one of them). Otherwise you may be setting yourself up for some disappointment. Kuiu makes some excellent products but they are not for everyone. Take the time to seriously analyze your hunting style before taking the plunge. Just throwing this out there because I wish I would have done this before committing so much money into a clothing system. I still favor many Kuiu products but have had to make many changes along the way to really dial in what works for me.

A few things to keep in mind:
- The number one reason (my opinion) to make the switch to Kuiu is to save weight. If your not counting ounces, you are not in Kuiu's target demographic. That doesn't mean it won't work for you, just keep in mind what the goal of Kuiu's clothing systems are and you'll be in a better position evaluate what items you need and what items you don't.

- Following the first point...Kuiu does not excel at stand hunting, especially cold weather stand hunting. No matter how much I love my Spindrift and Guide pants/jacket, it's not going to be enough when calling predators in January. And that's alright, because that's not what it's intended to do.

- Many of Kuiu's outerwear products produce a considerable amount of noise and are not conducive to close range stalking. The Chugach rains supreme in the noise category. Beating out tyvek, cuben fiber, and a 1946 Peterbuilt in a close battle.    While I would not call the Guide series noisy, I wouldn't call them quiet either. Same goes for Spindrift and Superdown. But again, the intention of this gear is not to stalk prey at close range through creek bottoms or brushy draws.

- One of the areas that Kuiu really excels at is in range of motion. If you find yourself traversing blowdowns or boulder laden slopes on a frequent basis, then the flexibility that Kuiu provides is second to none. If your just walking out to the back 40 to shoot a deer off a hay pile, you may be over investing in clothing.


Sorry, got away from the original question. Not trying to discourage you from Kuiu in any way. I think Kuiu makes some excellent products. Just trying to help as it can get expensive trying to get the right system that works for the type of hunting you do. I've owned nearly all of the Kuiu line at one point or another if you have any questions about a specific piece feel free to pm me.

[7mag.]

Kuiu Verde or Vias which camo do you prefer. I would like to hear your thoughts on how either works for you, and what kind of area you use it in (sagebrush, alpine meadows or dark timber).  I will be getting all new gear after  late rifle and don't know which camo I want or if it really matters what I choose. I hunt every kind of area/terrain we have in WA. Also I have sitka timberline pants, the new cabelas glassing pants and matching coats for both.. I just want to try kuiu's gear.

My 

If you want to try Kuiu, make sure your doing it for the right reasons (camo pattern not being one of them). Otherwise you may be setting yourself up for some disappointment. Kuiu makes some excellent products but they are not for everyone. Take the time to seriously analyze your hunting style before taking the plunge. Just throwing this out there because I wish I would have done this before committing so much money into a clothing system. I still favor many Kuiu products but have had to make many changes along the way to really dial in what works for me.

A few things to keep in mind:
- The number one reason (my opinion) to make the switch to Kuiu is to save weight. If your not counting ounces, you are not in Kuiu's target demographic. That doesn't mean it won't work for you, just keep in mind what the goal of Kuiu's clothing systems are and you'll be in a better position evaluate what items you need and what items you don't.

- Following the first point...Kuiu does not excel at stand hunting, especially cold weather stand hunting. No matter how much I love my Spindrift and Guide pants/jacket, it's not going to be enough when calling predators in January. And that's alright, because that's not what it's intended to do.

- Many of Kuiu's outerwear products produce a considerable amount of noise and are not conducive to close range stalking. The Chugach rains supreme in the noise category. Beating out tyvek, cuben fiber, and a 1946 Peterbuilt in a close battle.    While I would not call the Guide series noisy, I wouldn't call them quiet either. Same goes for Spindrift and Superdown. But again, the intention of this gear is not to stalk prey at close range through creek bottoms or brushy draws.

- One of the areas that Kuiu really excels at is in range of motion. If you find yourself traversing blowdowns or boulder laden slopes on a frequent basis, then the flexibility that Kuiu provides is second to none. If your just walking out to the back 40 to shoot a deer off a hay pile, you may be over investing in clothing.


Sorry, got away from the original question. Not trying to discourage you from Kuiu in any way. I think Kuiu makes some excellent products. Just trying to help as it can get expensive trying to get the right system that works for the type of hunting you do. I've owned nearly all of the Kuiu line at one point or another if you have any questions about a specific piece feel free to pm me.

I agree with most of that. Kuiu gear is designed for backpack hunting in the wilderness. It is a system, and works very well for it's intended purpose. I don't agree about the noise. The puffy pieces are noisy when used as an outer layer, and the rain gear is noisy as well, but the Chugach is the best rain gear I've ever used. The Attack Pants and Guide series, I don't think are noisy at all.

As far as camo pattern, I truly believe that camo patterns are 80% user preference. I've found that the most important thing is breaking up your outline, the human bipedal form. The camo pattern you choose to do this is not as important as most people think, and not nearly as important as clothing manufacturers would lead you to believe.

[Stein]

In my opinion, they don't see you, they see you move.  I'm guessing I am not the only one that has had a deer not see me when dressed in non-camo clothes as long as you stay still.  I was deer hunting in MT this year in a carhart and orange in the middle of a field.  When the deer would put it's head down, I would move.  When it came up, I froze.  Walked right up despite the fact that it looked at me a dozen times and I was not behind cover.  If I move and they catch me, I don't think camo really helps for big game.

Like an above post, I'm looking at their stuff because it has an athletic fit, is flexible and light.  I'll probably end up with a fair amount in the brown so I can wear it outside hunting season.

[ROCKWHEELER]

You guys are right about camo patterns don't really matter its movement that dear and elk will notice before anything else. I backpack in my camp hopefully miles away from others and have been using Sitka's gear for years and iam an ounce counter. Just placed and order yesturday for guide pants, chinook jacket, and a hat in Verde. I already have base layers. You guys that have there rain gear how do you like it?

[7mag.]

You guys are right about camo patterns don't really matter its movement that dear and elk will notice before anything else. I backpack in my camp hopefully miles away from others and have been using Sitka's gear for years and iam an ounce counter. Just placed and order yesturday for guide pants, chinook jacket, and a hat in Verde. I already have base layers. You guys that have there rain gear how do you like it?

Best rain gear I've used. It's very breathable, which is important to me, because I overheat easily. It doesn't breathe like cotton, after all, it's still rain gear, but it breathes far better than anything else I've tried. Very waterproof too. I've been in some nasty rain storms in my Chugach set, and have yet to find a leak. I took a twenty minute shower in mine, trying to find the breaking point, but never got wet. I'm sure it will fail at some point, but so far, after two seasons and lots of training hikes, I'm impressed.

[DeerHarvester]

Kuiu Verde or Vias which camo do you prefer. I would like to hear your thoughts on how either works for you, and what kind of area you use it in (sagebrush, alpine meadows or dark timber).  I will be getting all new gear after  late rifle and don't know which camo I want or if it really matters what I choose. I hunt every kind of area/terrain we have in WA. Also I have sitka timberline pants, the new cabelas glassing pants and matching coats for both.. I just want to try kuiu's gear.

My 

If you want to try Kuiu, make sure your doing it for the right reasons (camo pattern not being one of them). Otherwise you may be setting yourself up for some disappointment. Kuiu makes some excellent products but they are not for everyone. Take the time to seriously analyze your hunting style before taking the plunge. Just throwing this out there because I wish I would have done this before committing so much money into a clothing system. I still favor many Kuiu products but have had to make many changes along the way to really dial in what works for me.

A few things to keep in mind:
- The number one reason (my opinion) to make the switch to Kuiu is to save weight. If your not counting ounces, you are not in Kuiu's target demographic. That doesn't mean it won't work for you, just keep in mind what the goal of Kuiu's clothing systems are and you'll be in a better position evaluate what items you need and what items you don't.

- Following the first point...Kuiu does not excel at stand hunting, especially cold weather stand hunting. No matter how much I love my Spindrift and Guide pants/jacket, it's not going to be enough when calling predators in January. And that's alright, because that's not what it's intended to do.

- Many of Kuiu's outerwear products produce a considerable amount of noise and are not conducive to close range stalking. The Chugach rains supreme in the noise category. Beating out tyvek, cuben fiber, and a 1946 Peterbuilt in a close battle.    While I would not call the Guide series noisy, I wouldn't call them quiet either. Same goes for Spindrift and Superdown. But again, the intention of this gear is not to stalk prey at close range through creek bottoms or brushy draws.

- One of the areas that Kuiu really excels at is in range of motion. If you find yourself traversing blowdowns or boulder laden slopes on a frequent basis, then the flexibility that Kuiu provides is second to none. If your just walking out to the back 40 to shoot a deer off a hay pile, you may be over investing in clothing.


Sorry, got away from the original question. Not trying to discourage you from Kuiu in any way. I think Kuiu makes some excellent products. Just trying to help as it can get expensive trying to get the right system that works for the type of hunting you do. I've owned nearly all of the Kuiu line at one point or another if you have any questions about a specific piece feel free to pm me.

Very good review.   
I have found my attack and guide pants to be pretty quiet.  The chugage is loud in my opinion, but I feel it's a good trade off for staying dry.  Also I agree this is not cold weather gear when sitting long periods.

[wooltie]

I'll chime in since I pretty much outfitted myself with KUIU and used it extensively this season (e.g. 3 day backcountry 12 miles behind a gate; day hunts; multiple day hunts; +60 degree weather, rain, 50 degrees and rain, and 25-30 degrees clear skies).

I own:

Attack pants,
145 and 210 zip base layers
Chugach pants and jacket
Guide jacket
Guide gloves

All of the articles in some combination or another, kept me warm, dry, and cool in all the situations described above.

I tend to walk a lot, hike to spots, and generally do not sit for 2-3 hours at a time.  I'm active.  Always have my pack.

Their gear works as designed.  Zero constriction, athletic fit. The rain pants and jacket kept me bone dry in 12 hours of downpour and western wa jungle brush.  I was able to layer accordingly.  When I would get hot from walking and climbing, I simply unzipped the pants, the pit zips, and shirt to regulate body temperature.  Relief occurred in a matter of minutes.  Rain pants are loud, I guess, but no louder than some $250 first lite rain pants my buddy wore.

Majority of the time I work the attacks, 145 shirt and rain gear--for 40-50 degree weather, walking, hiking, climbing.

Because I'm active, it rained frequently, and the wa jungle is messy, I wore the rain gear 90% of the time.  The advantage was that I wore minimal layers underneath.  For the rain gear does breath as well as rain gear can, and I would use the zips to cool myself off whenever I got hot.  By noon if it was dry out and I wasn't beating the brush, I'd take off the rain gear.

When the temps dropped to 25-30 for late buck, I wore fleece pants under the attacks, the 145, the 210, the guide jacket, and the chugach gear.  Again, everything layered appropriately.  Sitting in 30 degree weather, no sun, early morning, did get cold after an hour, however.  I think a down layer at this point would be needed.

On the buy list are warmer gloves and 210 pant base layers.

I went with vias cause it seems to provide greater contrast over the verde, in my opinion.  Though I would not hesitate to outfit with verde either.  Just personal preference.  Both work well.

[Big Horn]

I use Verde western Washington and eastern oregon works great in my opinion

[bowhiker]

Some great opinions on this topic. I recently purchased a couple merino 145 shirts for base layers and am quite pleased with the quality and performance so far. I'm looking at a vest for insulation but I want a solid pattern. I don't think kuiu or sitka makes it though. As far as this pattern debate goes, doesn't sitka have a science behind their design pattern? Or at least they boast about it. Kuiu on the other hand is about lightweight performance gear. Sitka is similar too in lightweight gear though. I don't think you could go wrong with verde or optifade pattern. I'm new to both this year. I shot an elk at 20 yards but wore kings mountain shadow camo. Stalked a few mulies to about 20 yards in open sage country wearing sitka but with kuiu base layers. Dont know which pattern worked the best, but something worked right.