Most durable high end rain gear? leaning Kuiu Yukon

[Westside88]

I'm ready to step up from my old Cabelas Gore-tex gear. I've been checking out Sitka, Kuiu and First lite. I know everyone has their preferences, but they all seem to have their strong points. Based on where I live and hunt, I feel like Kuiu Yukon is what I want, but I'm hoping for some feedback. Durability and the ability to withstand all day rain and wet brush without soak through are what I'm looking for. Hopefully while being comfortable enough to leave on throughout those off and on days. I appreciate hearing about other's experiences, thanks.

[Antlershed]

My Yukon set is six years old and still going strong. It’s a little noisy when it’s dry/quiet out, but not nearly as loud as my son’s Sitka rain gear.

[MountainWalk]

I’ve cut timber, tended hook, and set chokers in First Lites SEAK jacket. It held up . And still works.  On top of hunting POW.  That’s as durable as it gets.

[7mmfan]

None of them will withstand that kind of environment for long in my opinion. I hunt blacktail wading through brush all day. Have packed it into the mountains where I'm wading through waist high blueberry bushes all day. I have used the Kuiu Yukon gear for a few years now. Like any of the lightweight stuff, it starts out amazing. I was seriously impressed. Then about a year into it, the knees started seeping. A couple years later they were just a giant pair of pants that trapped moisture against me. I got a new pair and they have been great for a year now. We'll see how they perform this year.

I think there may better non-hunting company gear options. I haven't spent much time looking but Mtn Hardware, OR, etc... all have great raingear options.

Ultimately, rubber is the only thing that won't leak on you in the situation you describe. It's pretty quiet in brush as well.

[KFhunter]

I’ve cut timber, tended hook, and set chokers in First Lites SEAK jacket. It held up . And still works.  On top of hunting POW.  That’s as durable as it gets.

If done the same stuff but in grundens, it did not hold up

That's one helluva an endorsement!

And the pay must be much better now than it was when I was tending hook off yarder, being a landing rat and pulling haywire lol

[KFhunter]

I use firstlite seak, rode motorcycle in torrential sheeting rain and stayed dry, I've busted brush after elk

They're good gear, I won't say they're better than something I haven't tried but they're a huge upgrade from gamehide lol

They do make a little noise, not bad, but I don't move fast in rain gear anyways just to sweat them out

[Duckslayer89]

Buy a pair of Guy cotton X-Trapper bibs. Throw some sweats on under them.

[trophyhunt]

Sounds like first lite quality is better? My first lite gear failed, the pants and jacket.  Then I bought kuiu Yukon pant and jacket a few years ago, love it! Bomb proof!

[Westside88]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience. I appreciate hearing real world examples from people who have used them

[Wolfdog2314]

My Kuiu chugach rain gear has been bomb proof. I can only imagine the Yukon is even more durable. I have the Yukon gaiters and have taken them through a lot and they are still waterproof and no tears.

[hunter_sean08]

All 3 companies offer a good product. I would say unless you’re using rubber slicks, most lightweight rain gear will probably let water in at some point, especially if you’re out in the elements all day or crashing through wet brush. Water is inevitable.

I can’t speak for Kuiu or First Lite’s rain gear but I have plenty of gear from both companies. Kuiu makes a fine product and I know a lot of guys like the Yukon gear. First Lite makes some really comfortable, effective stuff but I’m sure you’ve seen some comments about durability. I love their base layers but man they used to wear out quickly. My newer sets are holding up better but I’m also being way more careful about how they’re cleaned. Hopefully their rain and tech gear holds up well. Personally I went with Sitka’s Cloudburst rain set a few years ago (they have a new line now) because it was Gore-Tex and I knew what I was getting with it. It works great but that said I’ve gotten wet on those sideways Forks rain days. Whatever you end up buying should be treated with waterproofing in the off-seasons (Granger or Nikwax) to retain its effectiveness.

As for noise, you wear rain gear for what now? Oh yes, rain. If it’s raining, the sound your pants and jacket make should be muffled by the elements. If it’s not raining the rain gear goes in my pack and I can go back to my quiet mountain pants and heavyweight hoody.


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[MtnMuley]

I researched all the best rain gear a few years back for high rain hunting purposes and went with the Kryptek Takur. It was hands down the best of all worlds. I believe the set retailed for around $1400 back then, but I've seen it cheaper a while back. I'm 100% happy with the decision to go that route. The next set in line for me would have either been the Yukon's or the Stormfront. First Lite was out of the question for rain gear for me. For the lightweight, possibility of rain, packable rain gear, I've used the Sitka Dew Point for many years and am satisfied.

[GOcougsHunter]

Wool and wool blends for big game hunting in the rain.  Been hunting Washington State for almost 40 years.  Gave up trying to chase being dry.  I have tried just about every combination of gear and find I can hunt all day in the rain without issue by wearing my wool. My expensive Sitka gear is really nice in a drizzle or sitting in a stand.  But inevitably, in a proper rain storm, I still get wet.  Wool is quiet and tough.  Downside is that it gets heavy when wet.

[Magnum_Willys]

The latest chugach is very light.  Great packable gear.  Brush busting I’m not sure the newest version or any breathesble  is going to not eventually wet thru.   

[KFhunter]

I had firsite wool underwear that got a hole and let a nut drop through to stick to my thighs within about 20 miles,  red desert boxers I think (don't buy those fyi)

That about did it for me ever buying FL again, my first piece an utter failure


But I wouldn't hesitate to buy their game bag boxers, bro has em and he absolutely raves about it, my nuts are hanging down around my knees cause I'm wearing amazon underwear that got all baggy and stretched after a bunch of miles and days, all sweated up and sticking to everything and his are right where they should be he tells me as he cups them with his hand, jiggles and grins....

So for durability I think they've come a long ways, they couldn't survive in this market if my experience was everyone else's as well

[Stein]

There isn't one best answer, all of them are a series of compromises and are a better option in some instances but not others.

I have a lightweight set, a beater set and the rubber ones as well.  I haven't been in anything other than rubber that is 100% waterproof beyond the initial uses.  The seams or DWR treatment or membrane itself will fail much more quickly than we would hope.  They can keep you pretty dry or even really dry in many instances but if you are sitting on wet ground or just get dumped on I think they eventually leak.

There is also cost, weight, fit, packability and a host of other things.

For lightweight stuff, I am kind of thinking about just going through Frog Toggs, you get a season out of a set and the coat is like $25.  Not great through the brush, but does the job and then I just replace it when I need to.  I can buy 12 coats for the price of one big name and they are going to eventually rip and/or leak anyway.

For really keeping the water off you and durability, you can't beat rubber.

[Westside88]

I appreciate all the insight. Im leaning towards starting with one of the coats since wet shoulders bother me more than lower legs and my cabelas pants still do ok. I just need to decide how important the light weight factor is. I agree that everything is a compromise. I have some grundens commercial grade rubber rain gear for those times when I know I’ll be sitting in the rain all day.

[Alchase]

I also gave up trying to by Gortext “breathable” rain gear. And I certainly will not pay $500+ for rain gear.
I wear fleece until it rains really hard, then pull out my Grundens Petrus pullover and Nike rain pants that costed a whopping $35 10 years ago, and are still waterproof.

[Duckslayer89]

Military surplus goretex is bomb proof and way way cheaper. I can’t imagine buying a 500 dollar jacket and then cutting firewood or loading a wood stove putting a hole in it. Check out the military surplus gore if you want breathable. I keep that in a dry sack in my pack for out hunting and the PVC for in camp walking around or by the fire if it’s raining

[WapitiTalk1]

Have a set of Russell’s Outdoors that has been solid for close to 15 years?  They don’t make it any more    On to the KUIU modern day.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I have some Kuhl rain gear that has lasted a few years of pretty tough conditions.  I wear it for field work and hunting/recreation and its been good. 

[Longfield1]

Ive worn the military "bomb proof" goretex and it does not keep you dry for more than a few hours. I wore it for 5 days straight in the rain and was waterlogged beyond my comfort zone but it was better than nothing as it trapped heat also.

Kuiu is having a sale on Yukon pants. Just picked myself up a set as i have the Chugach top and wanted a little more durability for the bottoms. There normally $329 but right now there $249.

Every budget hunter than ive heard online and in person said theres 2 things you dont cheap out on, rain gear and boots. Being wet and cold ends the hunt for recreational hunters.

[Duckslayer89]

Ive worn the military "bomb proof" goretex and it does not keep you dry for more than a few hours. I wore it for 5 days straight in the rain and was waterlogged beyond my comfort zone but it was better than nothing as it trapped heat also.

Kuiu is having a sale on Yukon pants. Just picked myself up a set as i have the Chugach top and wanted a little more durability for the bottoms. There normally $329 but right now there $249.

Every budget hunter than ive heard online and in person said theres 2 things you dont cheap out on, rain gear and boots. Being wet and cold ends the hunt for recreational hunters.

Mine has been amazing and super strong. Beating brush. Maybe we have different stuff. I got mine from fort brag military surplus online.

[BeerBugler]

I buy Kuiu gear almost exclusively these days, that being said I’ve never replaced my strorm front and cold front rain gear from Sitka. Walking through huckleberry patches or laying in the snow for a shot, I can honestly say I have NEVER got wet in either one.. Loud, a little bulkier than kuiu yukon, heavier but absolutely bulletproof. At times I will wear the cold front gear as a primary layer.

[Buck Rub Jr]

Kuiu is running a sale for Labor Day. Yukon rain gear set for $529 wish I could justify buying more gear right now 

[Bob33]

I agree with most of this. Many GoreTex "failures" are due to the inability to expel humidity from sweat, not external moisture seeping through.

https://mountainwagon.com/the-blog/the-truth-about-waterproof-breathable

The Waterproof Breathable Problem
Waterproof breathable membranes and coatings work on the principle of diffusion. Diffusion needs a difference in humidity on each side of the membrane in order for your jacket to accomplish anything. The bigger the difference, the higher the rate of diffusion. When you are working hard, it's wet inside your jacket, so it's best at moving that sweat to outside your jacket when it's dry out.

Pissing rain means it's pretty damn humid out - which means the driving pressure for diffusion is low or straight up zero which means maybe your jacket is waterproof, but it just isn't very breathable. If you are sweating while it's pouring raining, you're getting wet. If the humidity outside your jacket is the same as the humidity inside your jacket - then there's just nowhere for your sweat to go, so unless there's some crazy voodoo going on that I don't know about, I don't know how a breathable jacket could keep you dry while you are working hard in a humid environment. It's certainly what I've experienced during my time in the super wet coast mountains of BC.

What it really comes down to, is if it's raining out, you have three realistic options:

Say screw it to a shell, get wet from rain. Works when it's warm.
Wear a waterproof shell, work hard and get wet from sweat which is generally warmer than getting wet from the rain, but you freeze when you stop.
Wear a waterproof shell , realize that it's going to breathe like *censored*, even if you have the fanciest thing out there because the humidity inside and outside the jacket are so similar and restrict yourself to only going as fast as you can go without seriously sweating. If you start getting wet, slow down.

Notice that there's no solution for 'stay dry while working hard in the rain'. There just isn't anything out there that can do that at this point.

[KNOPHISH]

My go to for heavy rain is a Simms jacket. Velcro sleeve ends keeps water from going up when arms are bent. High collar with hood work well. Sitka pants have a full length side zippers make easy on and off. And of course a couple full sets of helly hansons with the bibs. 1 set is over 30 years old and still going strong. But I wouldn’t wear them hiking very far.

[Westside88]

Gone

[Wetwoodshunter]

I hunt the west side, lived in Sekiu 110 inches of rain a year at my house. Did caribou out of Deadhorse, Ak. I have been using Firstlite’s gear since they came out. Some things I love, some I hate.

SEAK raingear is one of the best things of my gear. You do have to be cautious about blackberries though because thorns will go right through them. I keep gear tape on my and patch from the inside if I need to.  I also am very, very hard on my gear.

I wouldn’t hesitate to go with the SEAK line. Kuiu Yukon gear is also great, I don’t own any though.

[Weaklink]

Bob33 nailed it.  Goretex/breathable is only good if there is a humidity differential.   I have spent thousands $$$ on high-dollar kayaking Goretex, including complete drysuits.  But since I'm constantly immersed in water, upside-down, or getting splashed, there is no way my sweat is passing outside my clothes.   

Now if the rain stops and allows the outside material to dry-out, the material can wick inside moisture away.  But that is usually not the case...

Best bet is to concentrate on water-proof (not necessarily breathable) and try to control moisture inside.  Bring changes of undergarments and try to keep dry inside.

[fishngamereaper]

Considering the current sale I'd buy the Kuiu right now..

I've run kuiu for the last couple years including blacktail soakers and north slope AK drenchers and it's held up great.

It's athletic fit btw so keep that in mind...

[Duckslayer89]

Considering the current sale I'd buy the Kuiu right now..

I've run kuiu for the last couple years including blacktail soakers and north slope AK drenchers and it's held up great.

It's athletic fit btw so keep that in mind...

I would probably buy the kuiu with the sale too. But full price probably not

[Westside88]

Considering the current sale I'd buy the Kuiu right now..

I've run kuiu for the last couple years including blacktail soakers and north slope AK drenchers and it's held up great.

It's athletic fit btw so keep that in mind...

Thanks, hadn't seen the sale yet. I've heard it fits pretty snug. I'm 6'4" 230, normally wear an XL comfortably. is it snug enough to go with 2XL?

[fishngamereaper]

Considering the current sale I'd buy the Kuiu right now..

I've run kuiu for the last couple years including blacktail soakers and north slope AK drenchers and it's held up great.

It's athletic fit btw so keep that in mind...

Thanks, hadn't seen the sale yet. I've heard it fits pretty snug. I'm 6'4" 230, normally wear an XL comfortably. is it snug enough to go with 2XL?

Ya at least..
Base layer stuff I go Lg and it's snug...
Outer layer stuff I do XL so I can layer underneath..
I'm  6'1 205

[Mulie87]

Considering the current sale I'd buy the Kuiu right now..

I've run kuiu for the last couple years including blacktail soakers and north slope AK drenchers and it's held up great.

It's athletic fit btw so keep that in mind...

Yes!!!  Buy one size bigger in almost all their stuff. Almost all of it runs a size small. I always read reviews for fit before I buy.
 
Thanks, hadn't seen the sale yet. I've heard it fits pretty snug. I'm 6'4" 230, normally wear an XL comfortably. is it snug enough to go with 2XL?

[NKAS]

Is the Yukon thicker material than the chugach? I'm thinking about kuiu as well but I would like something that's not going to rip the first couple trips into the brush..

[Magnum_Willys]

Is the Yukon thicker material than the chugach? I'm thinking about kuiu as well but I would like something that's not going to rip the first couple trips into the brush..

The yukon is almost twice as thick/heavy as the new chugach

[NKAS]

Ok thanks I was pretty sure the Yukon was what I was after but wasn't quite sure.

[huntnnw]

I own the chugach for the last 8 years and it’s been fantastic.

[Caseknife]

If you are concerned about weight, Yukon pants and Chugach jacket, good combination.

[OltHunter]

Lots of good info. I've tried a lot, and they all are good.

My only input, nothing is worth full price. Wait for a sale.

I've always been hesitant to wash my rain gear. But after reading into it and listening to some podcasts, I've learned washing your rain gear is essential to keeping the breathable types working properly season after season. There is a method and process to them all, I won't get into the details.

[Westside88]

I've decided on the Kuiu Yukon. It seems like the one most likely to last a long time for me. I have other lightweight stuff for those days when I don't "need" raingear. Now to just lock down the sizing. I followed their measuring chart and feel pretty confident on a 2xl for pants. The coat came out as an XL, which is what I normally wear (46 in a suit jacket) , but it seems like getting a 2xl would allow for layering, even though when wearing rain gear I don't usually have much else on. The input has been helpful, thanks!

[Magnum_Willys]

If you are concerned about weight, Yukon pants and Chugach jacket, good combination.

If you wear a 46 I would go 2xl.   You want to be able to go over a puffy

[thinkingman]

Military surplus goretex is bomb proof and way way cheaper. I can’t imagine buying a 500 dollar jacket and then cutting firewood or loading a wood stove putting a hole in it. Check out the military surplus gore if you want breathable. I keep that in a dry sack in my pack for out hunting and the PVC for in camp walking around or by the fire if it’s raining

Been saying this for years.
3 layer Goretex made in USA with much better sizing options than the fanboy favorite labels.
I have two pieces that fit great for $100.

[Westside88]

I ended up buying the Kuiu Yukon during the Labor Day sale. It arrived today and I really like it. I'm 6'4 230 and usually sear and XL and have a 34" inseam. Using their sizing guide I ordered 2XL jacket and pants and they fit perfectly. Very comfortable, I'm looking forward to trying it out