Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Kuiu vs. Sitka Gear for Kodiak Hunt

My buddy and me just found out we drew tags for Kodiak this spring after a 3 year wait. Needless to say we are excited and with this hunt brings an opportunity for new gear. Any of you seasoned AK hunters have any preferences you could pass along? Have some Kuiu gear on the wish list but then somebody mentioned Sitka to me. I am sure they are both excellent although expensive. I already have a pair of Schnees calf high pac boots but they have a felt liner and I am wondering if they may be too hot and some knee high rubber boots that are made for walking may be better. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I really like the KUIU Yukon line for that general area...but there are a few good options. Fit is definitely important as well - and Kuiu does not fit everyone.

I like Kuiu gear overall. Their pants fight right, but shirts and jackets run small

Both Kuiu and Sitka would be solid choices. I just bought a Kuiu DCS Guide jacket. It looks to be a winner, but I haven’t put it to work yet. I own 3 pairs of Sitka Timberline pants that I have tortured beyond belief and they still have several years left in them. Good Stuff!

Both Kuiu and Sitka run one full size small. Depending on what you have for your layering, mixed brands, maybe... Keeping in mind that Kuiu/Sitka are designed as a system. If you aren’t buying their layering offerings, you’ll want to take into consideration the bulkiness of your clothing and maybe go 2 sizes bigger in a jacket. I’m 5’10 225 with merino layering and I’m an 2XL.

You should PM Jordan Smith. He knows Kuiu and likely what other mfg’s you should be looking at for your hunt.

Hunted a lot in Kuiu Chugach jacket/pants this last fall and logged a lot of miles. By far the best hunting clothing I've used in SE Ak.

I have found both a bit variable in sizing. Get them early so you can be sure everything fits properly.

Where are you hunting, when, and what for?

Since the draws on Kodiak are for goat and brown bear you will either be guided or have family doing the guiding (less likely since you have a buddy going along) but the differences in gear between spring bear and fall goat hunts is fairly wide.

You could also be confusing Afognak or Raspberry elk draws, but they are not actually on Kodiak...

We both drew a tag with Afognak after 3 years. 163bc is my buddy and he posts regularly on the fire. Me not so much. Thanks for the reply.

What tag? Draw hunt number?

I have been in contact with your buddy by PM, already. Good luck!

I've been really happy with my Yukon jacket, but both companies make excellent gear. Make sure your buddy gets one brand and you get the other, and you'll have a never-ending conversation topic.

It almost sounds like you've been weathered in before!

No he just hunts with older guys with shorter memories!

Afognak brush is a step up in nasty - some unique kind of heinous. I agree with Calvin that the Kuiu Chugach line is fantastic; having both I also contend the extra durability of the yukon line will pay dividends on Afoghell...

I think he has some Sitka so I will definitely get the Kuiu. That is fumnny

OK so for the Afognak area you suggest the Chugach line? Are there pants the tight fitting style so you look like you have yoga pants on? Not into tight clothes at my age.

Sorry I misread that-you recommend the Yukon line for a late April-may hunt-correct?

Just get some Chugach gear a 30-06 and most importantly a physical fitness program .Listen to what your guide tells you and enjoy. You are going to love it.

I never have drank the kuiu warrior koolaid. Same with sitka. I see people dressed in it head to toe all the time, even when in town or at the grocery store. It is an image thing, I guess. It is good stuff I'll admit, till a hole gets poked into it, which IME isn't too hard to do. Then it is worthless.

I don't have a suggestion for the OP, unfortunately. I use mainly Filson wool and their tin cloth stuff, whether in rain or snow. With the amount of water there is in SE Alaska, I'd probably show up with some double tin pants. They're significantly tougher than the synthetics, though take more maintenance and especially breaking in. Ups and downs to everything...

I haven't seen the Yukon stuff. Is it insulated? I was given the chugach as a gift and know little about the high end clothing. I like it because it's a shell, and you can layer as appropriate under it based on hunt and conditions.

Filson tin cloth isn't very good around here. BT/DT. Wool is good, depending on the intensity of the hike and the weather. PVC is the standard, but I greatly prefer the Kuiu stuff.

Wool is awesome until it gets absolutely soaked, then it may as well be jeans.

I dearly love my Filson wool bibs and all my other wool cloths for late season, snowy hunting, but when it is stupid wet I haven't had the best of luck with wool.

I have a ton of both Kuiu and Sitka.

In my opinion, the Sitka gear is higher quality.

I used the Sitka Stormfront rain gear (along with a ton of other Sitka gear) on a Stone sheep hunt last August and we had horribly wet, rainy and snowy conditions.

I lived in the Stormfront for 8 days and we regularly walked 8-10 mi per day with packs on. I loved how you could let the stuff breathe. I was super-impressed.

Both are good, but I think Sitka is a little better in my experience. Neither are cheap!

I try to do one or two wool days of hunting, just for the sake of doing it. Cold, snowy still hunting is a lot of fun and wool seems to enhance it. 7 days of living out of a pack in a rainforest, and give me the kuiu. That being said, I wouldn't pay my own money for it.

Not insulated but heavier and more durable. The yukon pants are my go to on Kodiak/Rasp/Afog. I have beat the hell out of them and they are still mostly intact. The jacket has held up as well.

The Sitka Stormfront is nice gear as well. I like the fabric of the Kuiu a little better, but that is just me. Also, I suspect the stormfront may fit a wider range of body habitus.

I've been using Kuiu rain gear (mostly Chugach NX), on the Rock for the last 6 going on 7 years now and it has worked for me flawlessly. I currently have 3 sets of their rain gear, Chugach NX, Teton, and Yukon and all serve a purpose for the conditions I'm expecting to encounter when I go down there. Last year the Chugach were the only pants I wore for the entire week I spent goat hunting.

I’ve got a bunch of Sitka gear and have been happy with it down here and up north. I don’t have First hand experience with Kuiu but have hard good things. I usually look for close outs on Sitka gear at mountain archery (?). Good luck, have fun, follow Art’s recommendations and post the story of your adventure.

Best of luck to you guys!

Just got my Kuiu Yukon rain pants and jacket in and the jacket will need to be returned. Normally an XL is plenty big this needs to be a 2XL to layer properly. The merino wool hoodie is tight but doable. The beanie and gloves run true to size. The advice we got from Afognak recommended quiet clothing but this is rain gear with nothing quiet about them. I used some Browning clothing on a fall hunt in AK and Yukon and it worked great. Thinking of taking the old tried and true stuff with me but I think Afognak will be a whole lot wetter in the spring. Nothing worse than being wet and cold.

I really appreciate all the advice guys! Thank you,

Afognak is a temperate rainforest, the farthest north and west they are found in the US. Unfortunately it is mostly missing the forest these days.

I had a bunch of the Browning Hydrosponge gear and it was horrible in serious rain.

It’s much quieter when wet! 😉

Kinda serious but yes, GL finding truly quiet breathable rain gear. The kuiu is slightly quieter in my opinion than the Sitka stormfront; has more of a “cloth” texture if you will.

That's good to know. I have Browning Hydra gear and it is very warm and does well in moderate rain but I feel Afognak will be just a little different. I got the Kuiu Yukon rain jacket and pants and they are not quiet. I don't know how stealthy I will need to be as it is my first trip there. Maybe just take the old Helley Hanson gear? It si so much easier to pack for Africa... 3 shorts, 3 short sleeve shirts, 6 underwear and 6 socks. I am spoiled. Going to stop by the local Cabelas today and check out the Sitka gear too.

So for a typical day late spring bear hunt what would be your layering system? I have never hunted at that time or in Kodiak/Afognak so I would really appreciate the advice of someone that has.

It is hunt DB192 for spring bear in Afognak.

It depends on how you will be hunting and the forecast. On the best days you will likely be in the sun glassing. On Mothers` Day 2015 we woke up to 6" of snow on the boat and fog on the deck...

Been there, done that with both Sitka and Kuiu. Try First Lite, you may find it better than either of the before mentioned, I have.

I've never been fortunate enough to draw a spring bear tag, so I've never hunted down there in the spring but I would assume that it's not too much unlike the fall or late fall. My typical layering system is a lighter wt. merino long sleeve shirt, Kuiu Peloton full zip hoodie, Kuiu super down jacket (either the hooded or the pullover), and then the rain gear or upper body. For lower body, I just wear the merino 210 zip off bottoms and my rain pants. If it's really cold I also have a pair of super down pants that I'll wear over the merino pants. Other than just hanging out in camp, I've never had to dress up this much for actual hunting. Once I start hiking (unless it's really cold), I usually overheat really fast if I'm wearing anything more than just the single base layer and the rain gear Hope that helps and good luck on your hunt, I hope you kill a big one. Oh, bring plenty of nice thick socks, so you can always have a clean, dry pair to put on at the end of the day. That's the one thing that I always splurge on when hunting down there.

For those with constantly cold feet and the need for constant sock changes...

Spray your feet with antiperspirant every day for a couple weeks before a big hunt. Bring more in solid scentless form to rub on your feet during the hunt. Your feet will stay MUCH drier, warmer, better smelling, and comfortable...