First, I am not affiliated with KUIU in any way. I know that many of you have heard of KUIU products in the past. Since they are primarilly focused at offering lightweight gear for the hunting crowd, most of their products are probably overbuilt and a bit too heavy for many of BPL followers. However, they just came out with a new innovative product that might be of interest to many of you. At 7 oz. / 10 oz. with hood, innovative 4-way stretch UL Toray downproof fabric, and 2.5 oz of waterproof Polish 850 fill down, it rivals WM and Montbell, with stretch features offered by no one else that I am aware of…certainly is of interest to me. I would love to hear what you all have to think of this….
Quoted from KUIU's Web Site:
http://blog.kuiu.com/2012/11/01/introducing-super-down-an-insulation-revolution/
Introducing SUPER DOWN- An Insulation Revolution
November 1st, 2012 | By: Jason Hairston
Introducing new technologies to Mountain Hunting is what drives me in this business and why I left Sitka to create KUIU.
Through Sitka and now KUIU we have been able to significantly change the performance & quality of our hunting gear. There are several technologies that have impacted our industry more significantly than others such as technical stretch wovens and soft shell fabrics, Durable Water Repellency (DWR), Stretch Water-Proof Breathable laminates and the Icon Carbon Fiber Pack Frame.
The introduction of our Super Down line may be one of the most significant Technology impacts ever introduced for Mountain Hunting.
There are three significant advancements in our Super Down products when combined make them significantly better than any other insulation products ever produced.
1-QUIX DOWN
The first and most obvious is Toray’s Quix Down Water Repellency treatment for a Down Feather. Down has the highest warmth to weight ratios of any insulation material. The only draw back to Down is moisture, once wet Down looses all of its performance and has very long drying times. This is the reason Down is rarely used or recommended in hunting apparel.
Through nano-technology Toray has created a water repellent finish for Down feathers called Quix Down that makes a feather essentially waterproof. Toray’s Quix Down now eliminates the need for synthetic insulation which is significantly heavier, bulkier and not nearly as warm as Down.
2-POLISH DOWN
As with most materials in this industry not all are created equal including the Down Feather. European Goose Down has a higher quality and loft than Down from other sources throughout the world. Goose Down bought from growers in Poland have the highest rating of quality and loft of all of the down sourced in Europe.
This allows our Super Down products to be lighter and warmer with a rating of 850+ on all of our Super Down Products.
3- STUNNER STRETCH by TORAY
Until now ultralight micro fabric used for packable insulation have not been able to stretch and restrict your movement, especially in a layering system that offers stretch in all of the other layers.
Toray has developed a new fabric technology called STUNNER STRETCH, which is a series of ultra-light down proof fabrics that stretch. The first of it’s kind, this totally changes the game in regards to design and the bulk of a packable insulation garment. With the ability to stretch we can now design a better fitting garment that is more comfortable to wear, maximizes your range of motion and that minimizes bulk and weight.
SUPER DOWN Hooded Jacket – $249.99
Color Options: Verde & Gunmetal
Vias Camouflage available Early Spring 2013
The Super Down Hooded Jacket weighs only 10 Ounces will perform for your coldest hunts. Filled with 2.5 ounces 850+ Polish Quixdown with a well designed hood that tucks away when not in use and is designed to fit inside the hood of the Guide Jacket.
The Jacket has two #3 YKK Zippered hand pockets and a #3 YKK Zippered chest pocket that is designed to be used as the stuff sack with a reversible zipper and is about the 1/3rd of the size of the Spindrift Jacket compressed but is significantly warmer. The tapered cuffs include a stretch woven panel to make getting into and out of the Jacket easy.
The Toray Stunner Stretch fabric is treated at the fiber level with Toray’s Industry Leading Kudos DWR treatment.
SUPER DOWN Zip-T – $199.99
*** Pre-orders must be placed by November 15th to save the 10%. 1st Shipment is estimated to arrive December 1st.
Color Options: Verde & Gunmetal
Vias Camouflage available Spring 2013
The Super Down Zip-T weighs only 7 Ounces and is designed as you ultra-light weight packable insulation for earlier season hunts or as a mid-layer insulation piece.
Filled with 1.4 ounces of 850+ Polish Quixdown, the Super Down Zip-T comes with a YKK Zippered chest pocket that is designed to be used as the stuff sack with a reversible zipper and is about the 1/4 the size of the Spindrift compressed and just as warm at only 1/2 the weight! The tapered cuffs include a stretch woven panel to make getting into and out of the Zip-T easy.
The Toray Stunner Stretch fabric is treated at the fiber level with Toray’s Industry Leading Kudos DWR treatment.
SUPER DOWN Pant – $199.99
*** Pre-orders must be placed by November 15th to save the 10%. 1st Shipment is estimated to arrive December 1st.
Colors: Gun Metal only
The Super Down Pant weighs only 10 Ounces and is designed as ultra-light weight packable insulation for your lower body.
Filled with 1.6 ounces of 850+ Polish Quix Down, the Super Down Pant comes with full leg-zips designed so you can put this pant on WITHOUT REMOVING YOUR BOOTS and can be zipped down to ventilate and align with the Hip Zips on the 2013 Attack Pants, Guide Pants & Chugach Pants. The pant has a zippered fly, snap closure and elastic waist with adjustable Velcro tabs and two YKK Zippered hand pockets designed to be used as the stuff sack with a reversible zipper and is about the 1/3 the size of the Spindrift compressed.
The Toray Stunner Stretch fabric is treated at the fiber level with Toray’s Industry Leading Kudos DWR treatment.
