Kuiu gear question

[Wolfdog2314]

Lookin to get some kuiu gear sometime soon after debating Sitka but the whole back ordered thing has me hesitant.

Has anyone ordered anything lately? What was the timeline on receiving your items?

I'm interested in Guide jacket, Attack Pant, Chugach pants/jacket.

I'm going to give customer service a call tomorrow, but would like to know anyone's recent experience. I'd like it all by September, I just don't want to run into getting an item and having to return to exchange for a new size and having to wait another X amount of months for it resulting in not having it when I want/need it.

Also, size. I've been reading a lot on their gear and sizing up seems to be common... Any thoughts on that?

Thanks!

[zwickeyman]

If its in stock you'll have at your door in 3 days. If its not in stock its really hard to say

Sizing is spot on, order what you would order in any other gear. I get large in everything and it all fits great and the quality is top notch

[7mag.]

I agree. Everything is athletic cut, so keep that in mind.

[jackelope]

Lookin to get some kuiu gear sometime soon after debating Sitka but the whole back ordered thing has me hesitant.

Has anyone ordered anything lately? What was the timeline on receiving your items?

I'm interested in Guide jacket, Attack Pant, Chugach pants/jacket.

I'm going to give customer service a call tomorrow, but would like to know anyone's recent experience. I'd like it all by September, I just don't want to run into getting an item and having to return to exchange for a new size and having to wait another X amount of months for it resulting in not having it when I want/need it.

Also, size. I've been reading a lot on their gear and sizing up seems to be common... Any thoughts on that?

Thanks!

I just looked on their website and found that everything you want is  on backorder. I used size Large so maybe that's not your size but I figure it was a pretty popular size. I don't like the idea of ordering something and waiting for months hoping what I ordered comes in time for my hunts or trips or whatever.
Not slamming Kuiu.... I own some of their stuff... but it seems they've got some stuff they need to figure out if you ask me.

[Slimdog350]

I would call their customer service and talk with them. They are very friendly and helpful. Usually the stuff on back order is being put together and is the latest style coming out. I've never had an issue ordering. I would call before you let some people talk you out of it. 855-367-5848.

[Odell]

Lookin to get some kuiu gear sometime soon after debating Sitka but the whole back ordered thing has me hesitant.

Has anyone ordered anything lately? What was the timeline on receiving your items?

I'm interested in Guide jacket, Attack Pant, Chugach pants/jacket.

I'm going to give customer service a call tomorrow, but would like to know anyone's recent experience. I'd like it all by September, I just don't want to run into getting an item and having to return to exchange for a new size and having to wait another X amount of months for it resulting in not having it when I want/need it.

Also, size. I've been reading a lot on their gear and sizing up seems to be common... Any thoughts on that?

Thanks!

I don't understand their business model, they are getting very popular and need to figure out how to keep items in stock. I ordered a jacket last summer and was told I would have it by the beginning of September for my elk hunt. That got progressively delayed, communication was poor, ended up getting it by the end of December. Not much help for a september deer hunt. The poor communication was the most frustrating part.

My experience on size is that pants run fairly true, shirts and jackets a size up from normal. But that's probably user specific.

[Wolfdog2314]

Thanks for all your info.

I just got off the phone with customer service. I ordered the tiburon pant which is IN stock and the Attack pant and Guide jacket which are back ordered. She mentioned that those, along with the Chugach stuff is their most popular items but the sooner you're on the pre order list, the better. She did make it sound like back ordered things would be in by September/earlier if ordered now.

I'm gonna test the fit on the Tiburon pants and update my order on the attack pants if need be. I'm 34 pants and Large jacket, and that's what I ordered. So we'll see.


I'll keep this thread updated on back ordered items and such.

If anyone else has any recent experience with Kuiu ordering id still love to hear.

Thanks!

[Troutdreamer]

I love Kuiu gear. 

I had my first real backcountry back back elk hunt last year (1 week) and I thought the gear was great and my friends were impressed with the performance compared to their gear.  When I look at Kuiu, I see a great niche company that is growing at such an incredible rate.  I am in manufacturing and I see how hard it would be to manage inventory with such a growth rate in this type of business.  I would assume most companies that sell retail would use advance purchase orders (give me 1000 of this and this and this and 2000 of this, etc) and previous sales history of similar items for new products from their customers to accurately finance and forecast production of their products.  With Kuiu growing so quickly and I am sure with the capital restrictions that any business has, they can only produce so many items until demand strips production or capacity.  Their target customer is the Mountain Hunter and a lot of their products are going to people that might never be a “Mountain Hunter” in real need of this type of technical gear.  However the gear is so good compared to other products and price is good compared to traditional retailers that people want it.  Great for Kuiu’s employee’s and owners!

Annual discount sales (Black Friday and Christmas) are great for shedding excess inventory but they seemed to cause lingering Customer Service delivery problems.  As long as they remain popular and sell direct to consumers, have long production and shipping lead times they will continue to be up against inventory shortages.

I say buy early knowing you will have to wait for a great product and will only get charged when the item ships.  I purchased a custom knife before and waited a year for the guy to produce the knife.  I could have purchased a nice one at Cabelas or some other retailer and walked away with it on day one but in the end I was happy I waited.

Good luck.

[dreamingbig]

They anticipate new shipments for most of the back order items the end of April.  The port strike was crushing to their on demand business strategy.


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[Wolfdog2314]

From all the great things people have had to say about Kuiu I figured I had to try it out. Tired of using cheap gear and getting wet, being uncomfortable, or it falling apart.

They did give free shipping on back ordered items too which is cool.

Can't wait to get some new gear!

[7mag.]

Kuiu clothing is great, I have quite a bit of it. I like it better than the Sitka and Kryptek clothing I have. I have started using First Lite, and like it as much as Kuiu. They have some similar stock issues also, but I like how they conduct business a lot more. It is very frustrating to spend that kind of money on hunting clothing, and have to deal with stock issues constantly.

[jackelope]

I really like the Kuiu stuff I have too. It fits me well, which is tough with 36" inseam. Firstlite is out. Not long enough. It's just me and the way I roll I guess, but I can't order clothing that I might hopefully have 6 months from now. It's a personal thing....some folks are ok with it.
Sitka has tall sizes and it's available so that's what I wear.

[Hunter Dug]

For what its worth I ordered guide pants, guide jacket, 145 merino top and bottoms, gaiters, a hat, in January 5th.  I still haven't received my guide jacket or gaiters.  I am about 5'9 200 pounds and wear a 34 waist pant.  I order 36 waist pant so I could layer and they are tight in the crotch and waist.  When they say athletic fit they mean for skinny people.  I can bet you now if you just ordered a popular item you will not get it by September.  But good luck.

[Odell]

For what its worth I ordered guide pants, guide jacket, 145 merino top and bottoms, gaiters, a hat, in January 5th.  I still haven't received my guide jacket or gaiters.  I am about 5'9 200 pounds and wear a 34 waist pant.  I order 36 waist pant so I could layer and they are tight in the crotch and waist.  When they say athletic fit they mean for skinny people.  I can bet you now if you just ordered a popular item you will not get it by September.  But good luck.

That's my guess too and personally I think that's insane. This is clothing made in china if I'm not mistaken, not a custom knife made by one person in a shop.

[Wolfdog2314]

I guess I have until October until I'll need the gear. I ordered the tiburon stuff so that will suit the September hunt. If not I'll use the good ole stand by gear.

I ordered a 34, I usually wear around a 33-34 so hopefully that works. In 5'9" 175ish athletic. So I'd assume fit should be okay.

The look and whole line of this gear just looks so good and I've heard so many good things about, I've gotta give it a try.