First Lite Corrugate Guide jacket

[SeatoSummit88]

About to hit the button "Complete Order" on the Corrugate Guide Jacket.  I've never purchased an expensive line of hunting attire, so this is a bit new to me. My clothing has usually been Dry Plus by Cabela's.  Seems like everyone has their own opinions between Kuiu, FL and Sitka.  To anyone who has this "model", how much extra room do I need to account for, in regards to layering.  This jacket will be used in the SW part of the State for September Archery Elk, and then late season Blacktail. How much do you all layer under this jacket once we are talking about temps in the 40's all day (maybe even low 30's in the morning)...I run a tad warmer, so was considering a long sleeve flannel, or long sleeve t shirt with fleece vest. 5'8 200. XL? 

[zwickeyman]

My son says large

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks Zwickey. Taking all the notes

[Karl Blanchard]

This is a pretty light weight piece fyi. Not worth the cash in my opinion.  Plus its FL so the stitching will come unraveled your first few trips out anyways 

[IFunk]

As an unhappy owner of one, I have firsthand knowledge of this jacket.  Do yourself a favor and buy something else.  I like the fit of it, but the performance sucks!  It might work in a place like Arizona where it rarely rains.   

I called First Lite last year and they suggested I get this jacket.  I said I'd be using it primarily to hunt deer in wet Western Washington. 

So the first time I used this jacket it let me down.  I sweated a bit on the hike up and it didn't breathe leaving me cold once I got to the top of our glassing area in NE Washington in October of last year.  I then used it hiking around in the sage in November and found it didn't breath even though I was exerting that much energy. 

Last weekend I wore it in the rain for about an hour and it was soaked through.  It soaked up the water tenaciously and was heavy like a sponge.  I understand finishes wear out, but it's only been worn a handful of times.  I think it's too expensive for the lack of performance.  It would be great for taking to the movies and is like an overpriced hoodie. 

I called First Lite who claims they never would have recommended that and to buy their SEAK system for rain!  Sure, I'll just shell out another $700 dollars, thanks guys!

Also the hand pockets are not sewn but TAPED! and they fail causing valuable items to mysteriously disappear never to be found again.   I think a reviewer on the First Lite website articulated it pretty well(The seams on a Frito bag are tougher).

[SeatoSummit88]

Ohh boy. Good thing I posted on HuntWA.  Appreciate the no-filter experiences and recommendations!  I just clicked "remove from cart".   Ok, so what's the jacket I need to look at? I'm not pro one material and against another. My budget is up to $150. I want something that fits well, as quiet as possible, water proof/breathable. Like I said, this will be used in Sept for Elk and then as late as November for Deer. Tell me what you'd buy!

[opdinkslayer]

Your list of wants for $150 is a pretty tall order. I will agree tho to steer clear of that FL piece.

[Stein]

In that price range, I would check with Cabelas, LL Bean, Costco, etc and find a gore tex shell and then just layer underneath.  I have one in dark green and another one in camo from when Russel used to make hunting stuff.  They pack light and add some warmth as well as keeping you dry.

[WildW00d]

I'm glad to have seen this as well. I wonder if their workmanship travels through all their lines or just the guide jacket. I've personally only heard good things about FS, but really like the kuiu gear I got last christmas. The rain jacket I have was expensive, but isn't the warmest. However if you layer up you'll stay warm AND dry.

[Karl Blanchard]

I'm glad to have seen this as well. I wonder if their workmanship travels through all their lines or just the guide jacket. I've personally only heard good things about FS, but really like the kuiu gear I got last christmas. The rain jacket I have was expensive, but isn't the warmest. However if you layer up you'll stay warm AND dry.

pretty much all of their outerwear.  Ive owned about all of it and use none of it these days. Most of my issues has been seams.

[Stein]

I have several pieces, if you get one season you are lucky.

The only people I see are happy are also paid sponsors and they seem to be migrating away.

At one point, they were one of the few choices, today there are countless options that are better and a fraction if the cost.

Imagine if a Yeti cooler melted the first time you will understand FL.  Industry leading high price and Dollar Store quality.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Stein]

My experience is mostly base layers.  Bad seams, bad sewing, holes worn through shirts in two washings.  Bad return and warranty programs and now you can’t even rely on good distributors.

I threw in the towel when they said you couldn’t return a sale item even though there is no way to try it on before you buy.

I love merino and understand it isn’t chain mail.  Black Ovis is half the cost and is going strong.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ganghis]

As far as replacements, I really like the KUIU Chugach for layering, but it's basically double your price range.  Suggest waiting for a good sale (20% happens a couple times a year, usually father's day or other times in summer), or maybe going for a model that isn't so camo'd out.  There are plenty of good backpacking models you could get in forest green too (though also a little pricey)- and Stein's suggestions might be best given your price range.  Funny how there's a premium with anything in camo!

[trophyhunt]

This is a pretty light weight piece fyi. Not worth the cash in my opinion.  Plus its FL so the stitching will come unraveled your first few trips out anyways 

I want to love first light, and I did for a couple years, but just got tired of sending stuff back. They were great with customer service, thank god! But really disappointed in the quality, my expensive rain gear, pants and coat, bit came apart after only a couple uses. So far my kuiu gear has held up.

[SeatoSummit88]

All really good feedback. To be honest with myself, I might need to increase the budget in order to get something that will truly last some years. I don't know what to think when im looking at camo patterns..My mind chases the whole mentality of like Fly Fishing...Match the Hatch...Translating to camo pattern that matches our terrain. But then I see so many hunters wearing these different patterns, Pixel, kuius cow like style, etc...and even more so looking at hunters who don't even wear camo and show up in carhartts with a natural colored jacket and hat and get the job done.. maybe it depends more on how your hunting. All in all, I Don't need to look the TV part, but if the fancy gear keeps me comfortable, gets the job done and provides a solid warranty..im a buyer! I'll have to see what $300 gets me, and double my original thought

[Karl Blanchard]

God this is physically painful to say but the Sitka jetstream would be a pretty good option.

[HAGEMANIAC]

I've run the corrugate guide jacket and pant this year.  Pants have been bullet proof so far, through turkey, many hikes, bear, early archery and now a Utah rifle hunt.  The jacket is thin, it will not keep you warm or dry.  It does block the wind fairly well. I run a wick hoody and a Kalmath hoody underneath if i need it, and have been comfortable down to 30 and pretty steady winds in Utah.  IMO, the jacket is good for blocking wind, or protecting more fragile base layers or down jackets, but it is not built to keep you warm or dry. Overall I have been happy with it, but have also kept my expectations realistic.

I'm 5'11" and 170 and run the Large.  I originally got the medium and the size was good, but it was too short through the torso. I have some extra room in the large, but the length was much better.

[SeatoSummit88]

Just pinned the Jetstream, will do some more research tomorrow.

I appreciate your feedback on the guide series. I have a friend who just has the pants and he swears by them. I feel, like others have said, that if we lived somewhere mild to slightly warmer with less brush and dog hair, the corrugate jacket would probably be ideal... Anyone test out/try on/own under armour lines? Ridge reaper and other series...?

[Tenkara]

Ive had the corrugate pants and uncompaghre puffy coat  for three years now and am very happy, although i only use them for muzzy elk. Plus i got them 40% off when they clearenced the asat line so the price was right.

[screedler]

Kuiu is doing a sale today for veteran's day I think...

My wife got me their chugach rain jacket a few years ago, works pretty great in my opinion! Definitely better than the cabelas jacket I was using before that. Ended up getting myself the chugach pants as well, haven't had a chance to put em to use yet.

[HUNT JR]

I wear a Kuiu Guide Jacket for a good portion of my hunting. I really like it. It is not waterproof though, but it does have a DWR coating on it that does a pretty good job if you aren't in a downpour. It has armpit zippers which is a great thing to have if you do a lot of hiking. I also have noticed that it blocks the wind pretty well. I have had the same jacket for many years and it has held up really well too.

[crabcreekhunter]

If you arent sold on "hunting brands" I'd take a look at eddie bauer options.  I run most of there stuff during season, especially happy with there rain gear.  A good base layer and there cirius down jacket has treated me well in the temps you described.

[Buzz2401]

I have owned the corrugate pants for 3-4 seasons now and have been happy with them but don't have the jacket I mainly wear them when its warm and dry. I also own the Storm tite pants and jacket and they have been flawless but I only wear them a few days a year when it is really raining hard.  Most days I wear my wool and it performs and has outlasted every other piece hands down.