My opinion is coming from someone that does 90% back country hunting, spot and stalk out west so what I look for in gear might differ from others. I feel like each of the big brands does one certain thing better than the others. For me I’ve found that kuiu makes the best pants and everything else they make is solid, their sizing is more athletic so most might want to size up and their warranty is awesome. First lite seems to make the best merino layers but I’ve found their sizing is inconsistent at times. Sitka in my opinion has the best outer layers. If you don’t mind solid colors, stone glacier makes the best base layers and ultralight gear I’ve found. I mix and match different brands for whatever I might be doing. The biggest piece of advice is never pay full price for any of the brands; they all do several sales throughout the year. I think kuiu is doing one right now and stone glacier is doing the best sale I’ve ever seen for any of the big brands right now if you’re on their pro program.

 

I have a lot of First Lite stuff, plus one Sitka vest. Out of these three brands, I doubt you can go wrong. As said about, each brand does something better than others. For example, one of my bosses is 6’5”, and always had trouble finding pants that worked, until he got turned onto Kuiu.

I have the Sanctuary bibs and Woodbury and Cirrus jackets from First Lite (older products that add up to the same insulation as the sactuary jacket). I really like them, but I’d definitely have the Sitka Fanatic series a try.

Do some research on the individual products and buy for the products’ merits and not the name on them.

 

I like first lite for base layers and Sitka for everything else, pattern doesn’t matter I like the quality, functionality and fit. Sitka is top notch.

 

When you line up all three brands different pieces and try to compare apples to apples as best as you can; I think Sitka is the clear winner. Fit, finish, quality goes to Sitka.

If I’m looking for solid colors I look at Kuiu, they have the best choice.

if I’m looking at pants I go Kuiu because I like the fit.

First lite has some serious issues with fit. Their pants will cut off the circulation to you balls.

 

When you line up all three brands different pieces and try to compare apples to apples as best as you can; I think Sitka is the clear winner. Fit, finish, quality goes to Sitka.

If I’m looking for solid colors I look at Kuiu, they have the best choice.

if I’m looking at pants I go Kuiu because I like the fit.

First lite has some serious issues with fit. Their pants will cut off the circulation to you balls.

You must have some huge nuts 🤣

 

I love the wool from firstlite I have it in an assortment of their tops and two pairs of kiln long johns. I use the wool layers for fishing, hiking, hunting, cooking maple syrup you name it.

I have the light ( catalyst) and medium warmth bibs (solitude) and love them. I have the solitude 2.0 jacket and it’s “okay.” It has noisy edges and I don’t really like it for archery season movement.

 

So when I first order KUIU their fit is rather "athletic". When I say athletic I mean skinny american men with very lack of muscle. Because if you look at the definition of athletic or take the word athlete their clothes wouldnt fit me well. Im 5' 10" currrently at 228 and coming down. I cant order their stuff in my normal sizes. I have large quads but have picked up heart rate training and jogging. and i dont lift heavy any more. just lift heavy and size goes together.

Sitka isnt bad their fit is okay. Recently I purchased an XL jacket and was too big when I got it here. Compared to stratus and other bibs that I order an XL.

First lite it just depends as well. I like their merino base layers though for sure. As I am continue to drop I am leaning more to KUIU as I am getting a slimmer less muscular build. I don't like the baggy clothing as I walk through the woods.

 

So when I first order KUIU their fit is rather "athletic". When I say athletic I mean skinny american men with very lack of muscle. Because if you look at the definition of athletic or take the word athlete their clothes wouldnt fit me well. Im 5' 10" currrently at 228 and coming down. I cant order their stuff in my normal sizes. I have large quads but have picked up heart rate training and jogging. and i dont lift heavy any more. just lift heavy and size goes together.

Sitka isnt bad their fit is okay. Recently I purchased an XL jacket and was too big when I got it here. Compared to stratus and other bibs that I order an XL.

First lite it just depends as well. I like their merino base layers though for sure. As I am continue to drop I am leaning more to KUIU as I am getting a slimmer less muscular build. I don't like the baggy clothing as I walk through the woods.

The statement about the Kuiu fit is spot on as far as their tops go. Even the 3XL has fit like a tight xl on several pieces I’ve had to send back. Won’t order anything above the waist from them.

I’ve found their pants to be the opposite. I’ve got big legs and hate tight fitting clothes. I’ve got some leg room, room in the crotch but only in the Attack and the Tiburon. I bought a pair of the Kutana and those had a horrible fit.

Kuiu needs to get their sizing issue under control. Been that way for years.

no problems on the size with Sitka. They’re very uniform across the line.

 

Kuiu went down the crapper. Extremely disappointed with them, their quality and consistency in fit is horrendous.

I was not to impressed with first lite either. The furnace is nice. I wear it as a mid layer.

Sitka is head and shoulders above those 2 and it’s not even close.

For merino base layers I don’t really like any of them. Minus33 takes that crown.

 

Kuiu went down the crapper. Extremely disappointed with them, their quality and consistency in fit is horrendous.

I was not to impressed with first lite either. The furnace is nice. I wear it as a mid layer.

Sitka is head and shoulders above those 2 and it’s not even close.

For merino base layers I don’t really like any of them. Minus33 takes that crown.

I have noticed inconsistent performance across the Kuiu line as well. I recently bought a Basecamp shirt as a mid layer puffy. Looks great but garbage quality. I have a couple of shell coats that are nice. Their service is not very impressive for the $ either.
Like my Sitka shell. Very tough and wind-proof.
Hate my Sitka pants - cheap quality and overpriced!
I absolutely abuse clothing though so a poor judge.
No experience with FL yet.
Merino layers - Kuhl brand is super tough.

 

Like others have said each company is kind of geared in a slightly different direction with their clothing and each company has some very popular items.

I don’t have any experience with Kuiu personally.

Firstlite sizing frustrates me sometimes and their lighter weight merino tops (Chama and Llano) stretch and get baggy way too fast. I much prefer Minus33 for lighter weight merino. Although I’ve learned to love the thumb hole sleeves on days it stays below freezing. The Furnace is one of few pieces I’ve kept.

Sitka outers are the best I’ve used for what I do, eastern whitetail hunting. They fit me the best as well. If I had to pick one item by Sitka to keep and lose everything else it would probably be a pair of Mountain pants in dirt.

 

I definitely want to try minus33. From what I have heard those are very comparable to the other major brands. I too have the furnace from first lite, and during the late season that's my go to base layers for the late season

 

I wear minus 33 for a good chunk of the year. Hunting fishing, work, and all associated activities. The quarter zip midweight top (which I see they added thumbhole sleeves since I’ve last bought some) and midweight pants are my go to’s.

They’re pretty hard to beat for the price point. They don’t stretch and bag near as fast, I notice very little pilling, and they hold up to a ton of use.

 

I finally delved into Sitka last year for the first time....Stratus jacket, hat and bibs, Fanatic hoody, vest and merino gloves. Hunting in west MI, what I found was experimenting with layering and taking advantage of the excellent wind breaking ability was key. Halloween morning it started out spitting rain, then ice pellets that turned into snow over the course of about 4 hours. By the time I drove home, there was about 5-6" of snow and I was comfortable the whole time in my Stratus outer layers with good no-name base layers and my Fanatic hoody to cover my face and head.

At Christmas I added a Traverse hoody for more warmth beneath the Stratus jacket and on it's own for saddle hunting. Then a Stratus vest and pants early this winter to fill in gaps for my saddle system. It is a lot more pricey that any other camo I've purchased, but I am looking forward to the '24 season wearing Sitka in various combinations. As noted, I didn't pay retail for anything......some came lightly used on the AT classifieds and some new via discount codes.

 

I finally delved into Sitka last year for the first time....Stratus jacket, hat and bibs, Fanatic hoody, vest and merino gloves. Hunting in west MI, what I found was experimenting with layering and taking advantage of the excellent wind breaking ability was key. Halloween morning it started out spitting rain, then ice pellets that turned into snow over the course of about 4 hours. By the time I drove home, there was about 5-6" of snow and I was comfortable the whole time in my Stratus outer layers with good no-name base layers and my Fanatic hoody to cover my face and head.

At Christmas I added a Traverse hoody for more warmth beneath the Stratus jacket and on it's own for saddle hunting. Then a Stratus vest and pants early this winter to fill in gaps for my saddle system. It is a lot more pricey that any other camo I've purchased, but I am looking forward to the '24 season wearing Sitka in various combinations. As noted, I didn't pay retail for anything......some came lightly used on the AT classifieds and some new via discount codes.

I definitely want to get into saddle hunting this season. I had toyed with the idea of using merino wool base layers, the fanatic hoody,and a heated vest, then the stratus pants and jacket. For the most part that should get me through most of the season.

Do you think when the temperature really drops that the fanatic bibs and jacket would work with the saddle system or would it be to bulky?

 

Definitely need to up my base layer game this year. Everything I’ve seen has said First Lite takes the title for base layers but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

 

I live in and hunt the west, I utilize a combination of all three companies and a few others to have comfort across all temp ranges and conditions. There is no reason to limit your self due to camo patterns or colors. The animals dont care what we wear, but you need to be able to hunt consistently through all weather patterns and conditions to be successful on a variety of animals across all seasons.

 

I’m going to need a new puffy by next winter. I’m either going with Stone Glacier or the Kings XKG series.

the specs on the Kings are good and I’ve seen it on sale at Camofire for 200. Good solid colors as well.