Several years ago, my friends began wearing Kuiu camouflage, and I decided to join them. Kuiu is a direct-marketed online product that cuts out the middleman markup and helps save money. It is built for extreme hunting conditions with a quality bar set much higher than most hunters need—until they do. Hunters can become lost, get caught in bad weather, or get busted by the buck of a lifetime. The Kuiu brand is much more than camouflage.
The Valo Pattern-
Valo is a versatile, low-contrast pattern comprised of lighter earth tones. It works effectively across a wide range of vegetation and terrains. With complex colors — including desert tan, prairie grass yellow, stone grey, coyote brown, olive drab, and minimal black — Valo takes on the appearance of its surroundings. It helps you blend into dormant vegetation, including deciduous hardwoods, underbrush, grass, tundra, and sage. A uniquely KUIU pattern features micro details inside a larger macro pattern for concealment at close and long-range distances. The above buck came from South Dakota during their rifle season, which is the reason for the hunter-orange hat. The deer was taken from the ground without a blind at a distance of 10 yards.
East to West
I’ve successfully used the Valo pattern over the past three years, from Idaho to South Dakota to Pennsylvania. As advertised, the Valo pattern blends well anywhere, and the fabric is tough yet amazingly silent. I climb over, under, and through numerous barbwire fences in South Dakota daily and have yet to rip a fabric. Kuiu is built to be lightweight, durable, and comfortable, with pockets and fittings designed for comfort and convenience.
Build a System Over Time
Kuiu quality is not inexpensive, but the trick to buying Kuiu on a budget is adding pieces over time. I’m a retired educator and always purchase goods with cost/benefit in mind. In other words, I’m cheap. I began with camo pants, a Morino wool pullover, a Guide PRO vest, and an insulated jacket. When my wife asks, “What do you want for your birthday, Father’s Day, or Christmas?” I know exactly what to tell her. Add a down jacket, lightweight pullover, or whatever you need as your hunting conditions change. I wear my Kuiu vest when I attend sporting shows because it looks sharp and holds my essential gear.
Look the Part
Your gear says much about your dedication to the sport. People can hunt in jeans and with a secondhand bow and be successful, but the image you project influences how people will react to you. If you arrive in camp with quality gear that fits well and looks sharp, you are much more likely to get the best guide or to perform when an opportunity comes. Clothing can make or break a hunt. You won’t do well if you are wet, cold, or both. Noisy gear or reflective clothing can spook game, especially the crafty old beast you are after. If you are considering an upgrade to Kuiu, now is an excellent opportunity, as they just released their fall catalog with all their new offerings. For the full details, click HERE
