Kuiu Guide Jacket Review

KUIU Guide Jacket Review

Editor:

Mike

Basic Description of Item

The Guide Jacket is an  outdoor jacket! Designed for the mountains: wind & weather resistant, highly breathable, and wind resistant with a well designed hood for heavy winds and bad weather.

Just the Facts:
• 274g/m2 Toray Primeflex 4-Way Stretch Soft Shell
• 22 ounces
• Weather resistant
• Highly breathable–maintains comfort during aerobic activity
• Durable
• Wind resistant
• Mid-weight Soft Shell
• Pit -Zips

Story:
I have spent 15 days this fall hunting, scouting, hiking, and enjoying the foul outdoor weather in the KUIU Jacket. I have several outdoor jackets that are similar to the Guide Jacket, but this jacket is quickly becoming my favorite.
I own a Russell Jacket, a couple Browning jackets, and some Sitka Gear. So I feel like I have used the best available.

My most memorable hunt this year, was a Idaho Bighorn Sheep Hunt, near Salmon Idaho. We experienced temps ranging from 25 degrees in the morning to 75 degrees in the middle of the day. I would typically use the jacket on the hikes in during the morning, and then shed it when the temps pushed up to around 50 degrees.
On several occasions we faced HUGE high winds. One day the wind pushed up to a sustained 40 MPH. Without a well built jacket like the Guide Jacket, this would have ended the hunt. I was able to pull the jacket on, pull the hood on, and hunker down in comfort. In the Army Handbook of Survial they say “Your clothing is the first and most important part of your shelter” I can tell you this jacket is a good shelter…:).
On first inspection you can see the quality of this coat. The stitching is nearly perfect, the zippers are outstanding, and the material stretches in every direction and is VERY comfortable.
This coat has a very athletic fit, so make sure you get one big enough. My jacket has a snug fit, I am 6 feet and weigh 200lbs. I went with the large. The jacket is snug, but does not hinder my movement at ALL. This coat is built so it stretches and flexes with NO binding. Very comfortable fit.
After shooting a sheep in Idaho, we decided to use my coat to wrap the horns in, so they would not get nicked against the pack frame…seemed like a good idea. I did end up getting a hole in the jacket as it rubbed between the horn and the frame. MY BAD.
In Summary, this is a coat we recommend. This should be a life time jacket. It is perfect for morning hikes in cool weather, and to get that nasty wind off of your body. Go get one, you will not regret it.
For more details on how it is built, material used, or to purchase go to: Kuiu.com

What they could do better
Make the grabber on the pit zips a little bigger

Check out our video review of the KUIU Guide Jacket