This review is only from my experiences and my opinion and I’m definitely not sponsored by Kuiu.
I purchased the insulated hooded jacket and pants.
First the jacket.
The pros:
I ordered one size larger for layering. The outer fabric is super quiet. It has generous deep hand pockets, two chest pockets, two under arm vent zippers and a two way main zipper for venting and when you sitting down to relieve that bulky feeling. Inside there are two nice storage pouches on the inside. The safety strap access is very nice. The hood is removable which I did do and the jacket is generously longer. This jacket also has cords built in around the bottom designed to seal out any cold air.
The cons: ( Not many) The wrists on this jacket are a bit tight and when I layered with the heavy weight “First Light” wool, it was very noticeable when drawing my bow. Not terrible but noticeable. I wore this combination with a silk base layer and a Pnuma heated vest during the 30 degree mornings where I spent all day sits in the shade or in the creeks areas where it stayed cool for most of the day. I also wore the Kuiu thermal vest to avoid bulk which worked very well. Zippers here or a more loose fit would be an improvement. The zippers are a bit noisy as well. I felt that I could have gone up one more size to get a better looser fit which I prefer.
The pants: The pants are incredibly warm and super quiet as well. On this 30 degree days I wore a silk base with a light weight “First Light” wool layer. That’s it! Very comfortable all day with zero issues. Nice side zippers, front zipper and the shoulder straps are fantastic. The pants are designed higher in the back to keep your kidneys warm which works great. Nice venting and plenty of deep pockets, 6 in front and two in the rear. I really liked the pockets at the knees where the zippers run vertically. Perfect for calls and warmers. The two horizontal pockets are also a perfect fit hand warmers. Your hands will slide into them nicely.
The Cons: These pants do pick up cockle burs and other various things but not all things. The ankles are tight if you wear rubber boots like me and the snaps are even tighter. This could be improved also but offering a looser fit IMO. Sizing: I ordered what the website suggested for the pants and they where just too small and tight for layering, I overnighted the next size up and with the layering, I was able to button the button. These could definitely use a looser fit.
I didn’t have the opportunity to wear this gear in the rain, but it dried very quickly after washing in the open air.
All in all, Kuiu didn’t disappoint but improvements need to be made IMO on the Proximity gear.
As many of you know, Whitetail hunting, from a stand requires loose fitting, warm, quiet clothes. Proximity has all that, with the exception of the wrist and ankle fits.
Lastly, although I didn’t take my target buck… yet or maybe never, I had plenty of deer look my way and a horse head nanny for at 8 yards stare right at me. Of course I wasn’t moving, but she gave me that stare down and the camo did its job for sure.
Pricy, yes, it’s Kuiu.
Have a great season!
It’s not as warm as the Sitka fanatic but, it’s not as bulky either. However, with a polyester base layer and a 200 gram merino over top, it was toasty down into the mid twenties last weekend. So, it’s plenty warm for me.
I do think for if I was looking to put this jacket into the low teens or single digits I’d need a vest. As another insulating layer with full arms, that doesn’t fit more snug like a baselayer, would start to impede the bicep area of my arms. But, that’s totally normal.
But, this is a garment that can easily be sized up due to its design to fit tight to the body. Meaning no sagging or loose fit. But, it’s not strangling if you don’t size up. I personally much prefer the fit of this jacket to sitka’s. It’s so flexible and comfy. It is good gear. And, when I bought mine last year, it was way cheaper than the fanatic jacket.
I purchased the jacket and pants last year. Hunted roughly 30 days with it and have around 20 days with it so far this year.
A few highlights after using it. For me it has a temperature/wind limit. When the temps get into the teens and the winds are over 20 it’s just not enough. The wind resistance isn’t as good as Sitka’s wind blocker.
It’s very light and packable. I can get my jacket and pants into my Kifaru X Ray pack easily with my other whitetail hunting gear I carry.
Matt
I had a doe at 7 yards in October that heard me draw my bow with cabelas berber fleece with wind block insulated ..
With no wind in the interior forest , it could hear " crinoline...
So can u draw silently , ?
Matt
This was an honest run at a review and seems like I didn’t cover all bases.
I did sit in a 10 MPH wind a few days with gusts at 31 degrees with the layers mentioned above and it was comfortable.
I do believe though I would have to change things up a little if it was colder.
Sitka stratus is micro grid fleece. It does have the Gore Wind stopper barrier as does the Fanatic. What it doesn’t have is any insulation to that piece.
I would put the proximity in between the stratus and the fanatic when it comes to warmth and leaving the wind equation out.
I have all 3 pieces. With the same layers and no wind. I would say stratus, proximity then Fanatic as far as colder temps they can handle in that order.
If the temps are going to be in the teens or colder and winds above 20 mph I am grabbing the Fanatic over the proximity. Since I bought the Proximity the stratus hasn’t left the closet.
Matt
Overall I like the proximity stuff, I have the pants, vest, and jacket. I could do without one set of pockets on the pant legs. The jacket is nice, could probably do without the pit zips on that, but do like the chest pocket design. I can take or leave the zippers, could be a bit quieter, but really not that bad IMO.
I would agree, windproofness could be improved. I’m not real tough for cold, I would say with average under layers I’m good to around maybe 30ish in the Proximity. Very quiet, noise not even a concern. Fit is as expected. I think all mine is L. I like the Valo pattern for treestand.
Compared to Sitka I would agree it’s between stratus and fanatic. Overall I think Sitka has the edge in the whitetail lines. Although I absolutely despise the Elevated II camo. For Kuiu’s first venture into stand hunting gear I think it’s pretty good, but certainly has room for improvement. I’d like to see some bibs and better wind resistance.
—Jim
Really enjoy the pants & jacket. As mentioned it's a burr magnet, however MUCH easier to get them out of the Proximity than it is my Fanatic set (buy a "burrpaw" for you Fanatic guys, it'll save hours of picking cockleburrs & other stickies out of your Fanatic sets).
It isn't as warm as the Fanatic, but it's likely half the size as well so much less bulky. I sat from the high 20's to mid 40's & was comfortable.
Base layer light Kuiu, Cabelas old ECWCS thick base layers, then Attack pants & Peloton jacket (it's what I had, wouldn't recommend the peloton for treestand hunting but it did fine).
Still looking for a jacket to replace the Peloton (thinking StrongFleece or the the Kenai).
I am a big fan of the Valo pattern especially for deer hunting, I wear the Fanatic when it's brutal cold just because it keeps me in the tree as it's so dang warm. The EVII pattern is not my favorite.
