I have a Kuiu guide jacket, works fine shedding water in snow, and gentle rain, very comfortable and quiet, just doesn't stop the wind like I want. What's my next best choice?

The DCS Guide hasn't disappointed me in any way.

What size is it?

Just layer a cheap wind jacket over it

I've had good luck with the First Lite Jacket.

I looked at the FL but it doesn't have a hood so I bought the Kuiu Guide. I really like FL gear but a jacket without a hood is like brushing your teeth without toothpaste - it doesn't work like it should.

Depends upon which FL jacket. The "puffy" has a hood. The Sanctuary has a hood. The soft shell does not.

To the OP; a light windstopper fleece underneath can work wonders, as can a good merino wool layer underneath the jacket.

I'm kinda disappointed with Kuiu's hood too, it doesn't really have a good storage when not in use, just bunches up under my bino strap. Plus it doesn't cinch up around the face, just has that top cinch, that's supposed to do...what, exactly?

Of course this Kuiu jacket is light-years beyond the equipment our father's used. I'm just comparing it with the well-developed excellent hiking/climbing shells out there, (which don't come in quiet fabric with opti-fade camo prints).

I use merino base layers, then micro-fleece middle layer when it's cold, or I'm sitting. The windstopper mid layer is what I hoped might work, but it won't do as much as as my Marmot or Patagonia water-resistant wind-stopper outside shells. The hiking shells are highly adjustable with cinches all over the place. Of course they are all Yellow and Red way too noisy, but otherwise perfect for me.

Good point. I was looking at their North Branch. I have the Sanctuary and find the hood good. On the NorthBranch, it seems a waste to tape all the seams, give it a decent waterproof then not put a hood on it. The big hole in the top tends to let alot of rain in. <G>