KUIU vs First Lite vs Sitka vs Under Armor

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In the ultimate hunting clothing faceoff, Matt takes you through what he believes makes some of these brands better than the others.
Video Content
00:00 - Intro
01:16 - Which hunting pattern is the best?
05:00 - KUIU is the most durable hunting clothing
07:10 - Comfort and fit of hunting clothing
08:43 - Which is the most cost efficient of the four?
10:07 - Outro
First Lite : amzn.to/3JjyhWf
Under Armour : amzn.to/3OGhQV3
Sitka : amzn.to/3OJfc0T
#kuiu #firstlite #sitkagear #underarmour #huntinggear #deerhunting #elkhunting #hunting #camo

[@farmnewsman]

For those that don’t know one of the main creators of Sitka left them and created Kuiu. Sitka is more commercialized you can find it at any big box store while kuiu is direct sales only. Frankly camo doesn’t matter near as much as 99% of people believe.

[@DeerandDonuts]

Couldn't agree more about camo pattern not matteing a ton, like I said I don't make it a focal point of my purchase. I do like that KUIU is direct to consumer, I think it keeps the quality control at a higher level. -Matt

[@-G-Mac-]

Agreed. The best camo is keeping still with the wind in your face. I do like staying warm and dry and not having the wind blow through my clothes though. But I hunt in pretty cold weather in Canada. 🥶 🦌

[@yotaman492]

Most people don't know this. One of the reasons I prefer KUIU over Sitka. I was comparing First Lite's Sanctuary v KUIU's Proximity line, I was surprised at the price of First Lite's items. Will be making a purchase from KUIU before deer season starts here in PA.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

​​​​@@yotaman492exactly. Pricing on kuiu is much better and they deliver to Europe (where I live) with very easy and quick delivery. Patterns aren't as good but like others said they mainly have to break up your contrast. The exact shape or color doesn't matter all that much. Having said that I'm not going to run multiple patterns (a financial consideration). I'm in both (semi-) forested and open alpine terrain and I wish kuiu had something a bit more versatile. Verde with medium browns instead of black would be 👌 Blacks are no go in my opinion. You don't find any in nature and shade will always get you enough "darkness". Generally lighter colors are better than dark imo.

[@todd4630]

Awesome video! As hunters we all can appreciate this! Thank you! I just ordered some Kuiu gear for New Mexico in October. We need more videos like this!

[@DeerandDonuts]

Thanks Todd, we appreciate the support! Hopefully you liked it enough to stick around for a bit!

[@todd4630]

@@DeerandDonuts For sure! these are the reviews we need....Kuiu vs. Under Armor....Sitka vs First Lite...we need more of these...Swarovski vs. Leica Vs. Zeiss...Weatherby Vs. Cooper? Barnes Vs. Federal?

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

​@@todd4630Swarovski -> Zeiss -> Leica. But yeah swaro isn't cheap that's for sure. I got both Zeiss Binos and Scope (which are fantastic) but I'll buy a swaro spotter this year.

[@MillisConstruction]

I still greatly prefer Sitka. Lot better whitetail and waterfowl lines than any of the others in my opinion. Much more fully developed product lines and their under layers are incredibly effective in cold. Just invested in the boreal aerolite waterfowl set to update my gear and it is impressive! I’m posting this comment from the duck blind in freezing rain right now and wonderfully comfortable 😊

[@DeerandDonuts]

I had the Sitka Fanatic set for whitetail. Super warm and quiet. I do agree from a well rounded stand point Sitka is tough to beat.

[@Beardandgun]

Nice work mate, keep up the reviews

[@DeerandDonuts]

Thanks! Hoping to get to your channels level here soon!

[@Beardandgun]

@@DeerandDonuts I’m small fry mate, and I’m slack at putting out content

[@firstlitehuntingapparel6186]

We all know where your heart is, the T-shirt speaks volumes!

[@DeerandDonuts]

Haha what can we say, to the victor goes the spoils.

[@1990westfalia]

My brother is a Kuiu guy and I’m a First Lite guy. I guess we’ll have to keep fighting as only brothers do. Lol. Skillet

[@DeerandDonuts]

Well, you are obviously the smarter brother. Probably better looking too. KUIU......

[@BackcountryRenegade]

Great vid

[@DeerandDonuts]

Thanks, we really appreciate it!

[@sinepari9160]

I own a BUNCH of stuff from Sitka, first lite, kuiu, and also badlands (LOVE the badlands camo) and pnuma, some other bowhunting brands.. its a huge mix of different hunting and climbing brands.. I actually have some north face that I like over the premier hunting brands.. Just spend a couple of thousand (hundred lol) and use what works. You'll be surprised at what you prefer in fit and effectiveness. As long as you're using modern materials that dry fast and breathe, you'll be fine...then you have this new aerolite from sitka, 30% warmer dry and 90% warmer wet than the kelvin jacket which was an amazing piece. It's crazy.. like going from cotton to fleece and improving that every year

[@DeerandDonuts]

You make a ton of great points here! Really none of the companies are bad, it becomes a lot of personal preference

[@sonsofliberty3081]

Kuiu is definitely the best clothing, camo is okay with all of them. The kuiu wool is actual wool and that's why you think it rough. It's not 60%, it's 90+%. The peloton line is the synthetic.

[@DeerandDonuts]

That could very well be, it settles into comfy pretty quick. As you can see, definitely agree Kuiu is one of, if not the best!

[@lukewarm2075]

Nuwool i think they call it, it is new zealand merino the nicest wool you can buy unless iits australian merino

[@toddknapp3411]

I have several first lite pieces that are 98%-100% wool.

[@Petro00D]

Just wanted to provide a few thoughts of my own. First, great video. You told me a few things I did not know which will help me decide on future purchases. First thing I want to say, deer do not see the same way human see. So it takes more thought when looking at patterns. Deer do not see oranges and reds which is why you can wear that orange vest during deer season. What you will find out is that some patterns work better in certain environments than others. From how a deer see patterns, I find the Sitka subalpine and the Elevate to cover the most diverse types of terrain. Meaning, wearing in early fall, late hardwoods, deer stand...ect. I find little difference between the elevate and the subalpine when you take look at the pattern as how a deer will see it. Basically when you start removing colors deer do not see, there is very little difference. By the way, there are videos on youtube that demonstrate this. I do not own any sitka gear so am unable to provide opinion on quality. I find that Kuiu Verde and their Valo to come in second for diverse number of terrain types. But realize, since I am not a deer, this is subjective. I own several different brands of hunting gear. I do love Kuiu quality and tend to use this the most. Other brands I do enjoy are Badlands and Pnuma but have had some bad experiences with Pnuma in the past. I think Badlands is very underated and make some bombproof gear at a lower price. My big reason for going with Kuiu is their quality and the fact that they give veterans a 10% discount on their website. If it were not for that, I may have gone with any of the other brands.

[@DeerandDonuts]

I agree to there are people way smarter than me who probably have a much greater understanding of how the various game animals view camo clothing. For me in my very unscientific opinion I've found the actual pattern hasn't mattered a crazy amount. For me I've relied mostly on what is comfortable and will be the most durable. Thanks for the comment. I love well thought out discussions like this. -Matt

[@M1keG23]

Totally agree I love my firstlite base layers then kuiu outers

[@DeerandDonuts]

Love it, great combo!

[@rossmarty9013]

First lite now has typha aswell which is a waterfowl swamp marsh and grassland camo. Very natural and fitting

[@DeerandDonuts]

First lite is just great overall!

[@suzgabverdugo933]

Sitka all day for me. It’s held up in September hunts in New Mexico rocky country to Januarys cold weather. Paired with a pair of crispis and a mystery ranch bag 👍

[@DeerandDonuts]

Someone of taste and culture I see! I just wish Sitka fit me a little better, I really liked my MR Metcalf and still love my Crispi boots though! Hopefully you stick around, we really value people sharing great opinions like this! -Matt

[@ModernCowboy78]

The first lite Merano logo shirts are so comfortable. Also, my brand is first lite for Hunting with fusion top and brown and gray pants. I have Kuiu shorts and vented shirts that I love in the summertime everyday life.

[@DeerandDonuts]

The comfort is one of my favorite things about the First Lite line!

[@Deerslayer-bl7ii]

One nice thing about First Lite is they usually have a good discount before hunting season too.

[@Deerslayer-bl7ii]

I bought a pare of pants today form them today and i got 30% discount on them.

[@DeerandDonuts]

Can't beat First Lite at 30% off!

[@Deerslayer-bl7ii]

Yeah you sure can’t

[@svolkmer]

Good review. After shopping between Sitka and First Lite, I ultimately settled on Sitka. I agree with much of what you've said here with one complaint. While comparing these brands you did not consider how polished some of the product lines are. For example, First Lite just this summer released windproof whitetail gear (still a fresh banner on their site), whereas Sitka launched the Stratus set years ago and then the Fanatic set years ago as well which is specifically designed for elevated white tail hunters. Tapered sleeves to clear the bow string, the ability to add or remove a jacket without disconnecting from your tree tether, ultra quiet exterior materials. These were things that I considered (price being more or less equal at this level). Again, the point you bring up are very good, but a comparison is incomplete without considering feature sets and maturity of the product line.

[@DeerandDonuts]

I can't disagree with you. It's hard to break down complete brands in a few minutes. I'm speaking in overalls in this comparison and that is probably my fault for doing that, but I do agree Sitka has some really nice whitetail stuff. I have the initial offering of the fanatic line to this day. -Matt

[@thehunter9149]

I went with Sitka as well and don’t regret it one bit. It’s more established in my opinion than other brands.

[@DeerandDonuts]

@@thehunter9149 I don't think you can go wrong with any of the top 3. I just wish Sitka fit me a bit better. -Matt

[@steveb4419]

I own Kuiu and Firstlite. My brother owns all Sitka. I'm very happy with Kuiu and Firstlite. I'd say Firstlite is better for midwest whitetail hunting and Kuiu has an edge for out West and Alaska hunting. Firstlite is slightly more comfortable and I like their base layers better. Kuiu seems to be more durable than Firstlite. I'd give Firstlite 9.1/10 and Kuiu 9/10. UA I have the least experience with, but it seems like it is more about looks than quality/function. I would not buy UA. Sitka seems solid, but the slight price increase from my brands is a deal breaker for me with how much I buy. I think if you are buying Kuiu, Firstlite, or Sitka that you'll be happy with what you get.

[@DeerandDonuts]

We agree, you can't really go wrong with any of the top three!

[@stevewall1882]

I have more sitka but that is due to the fact its the only one of the big 3 I can get physical hands on and try on before purchasing which is a big deal for me when spending that kind of money per piece.

[@DeerandDonuts]

That's logic we can't really argue with regardless of where Sitka finished in our opinions. For what it's worth First Lite does provide free returns if you're willing to deal with the Hassel of running to the post office.

[@burkejones8277]

In my opinion, Kuiu edges out First Lite based on quality. I have had no issues with Kuiu gear I have purchased. I have had some issues with First Lite that they claim have been corrected. But I will stick with Kuiu for sizing and over all quality.

[@DeerandDonuts]

I don't think you can really go wrong with either, I'll never fault anyone for going with KUIU. -Matt

[@nickw7414]

First lite or Scent lok. Can’t break and pay the prices of the others although I wore a Sitka vest in Illinois and it was unreal warm. Scent lok runs tons of deals all year round as well

[@DeerandDonuts]

My man with the First Lite 👊 Scentlok stuff is amazing treestands, I still own a decent amount for back home in Michigan, it just doesn't have the range of available articles I like in my western clothing. If you are looking for Sitka check out camofire.com. They usually have pretty deep discounts every couple of weeks to get Sitka's prices down in line with everyone else! -Matt

[@sonsofliberty3081]

Kuiu and Sitka are expensive for a reason and kuiu is extremely light.

[@thaddeusmedvedich]

All these camo are top quality than everything else I wear under Armour and I never had a problem and I wear Sitka and sometimes kuiu is ok in my opinion and I have to try first lite

[@DeerandDonuts]

First Lite has been great definitely recommend it. Obviously, you already know the other ones are top notch.

[@joek5800]

I can’t help but notice how long the sleeves are on the first lite

[@DeerandDonuts]

True to the video the First Lite has been worn by far the most. I think its probably stretched a little from me using the thumbloops. -Matt

[@Gaffneydaniel92]

Unpopular opinion….animals don’t care what camo pattern you’re wearing

[@DeerandDonuts]

Couldn't agree more, that's why it's about my last consideration in what to buy. I even use a lot of solid colors. -Matt

[@ModernCowboy78]

I had a reservation up to the last minute but when they kept raising the price my wife and I decided we could not say our payment was $1200 a month without crying.

[@jonnyfonny24]

I own mostly Sitka and kuiu. Sitka is more athletic type of gear which I love but Kiuiu tends to be a bit cheaper and more durable with the lighter garments

[@DeerandDonuts]

I just wish Sitka fit me slightly better. A few lost LBs would probably help that though lol. -Matt

[@hawkeye4497]

Do you mean "less expensive" instead of "cheaper"? Kuiu is less expensive because they cut out the middle man. Direct to consumer sales only. Jason Hairston wanted it that way. There's nothing "cheap" about Kuiu. It's the most effective ultralight hunting clothing available.

[@DeerandDonuts]

My man! I hope you stick around I need more KUIU backers around here! -Scott

[@IHWKR]

When some states require a bright ass blaze orange vest while hunting. You can best be sure the camo isnt that important. Fit, durability, pritection from elements, and prices are more important to me.

[@DeerandDonuts]

Couldn't agree more. The camo pattern is pretty low on the list for picking clothing for us.

[@IHWKR]

@DeerandDonuts I said this and then went out and bought a whole set of Kuiu anyway 😆. 50% off with the holiday deal and the govx discount is litterally not half as bad, still expensive. I'll see if I keep anything or do a return. It's cold af where I'm at and layered with the military snow parka ain't cutting it.

[@-G-Mac-]

Could you talk about how quiet they are?

[@DeerandDonuts]

Graham, I truly think if you are looking for quiet pieces every line will have some. All of the shirts in the video are pretty equally quiet. If you have a specific item you're looking for I might be able to give a little bit better of an answer.

[@QuartzCachers]

Team KUIU here. Valo for the win!

[@DeerandDonuts]

I really can't argue that, KUIU makes some solid stuff.

[@user-eg8hb8xt3j]

Sitka sucks for durability . I bought a new jet steam jacket for a goat hunt two years ago . The zipper failed on top Or the mountain when I needed it most . The jacket was in my pack until I needed it and was literally the first time using it . I’ve got some under armour pants that I’ve put through absolute hell over 5 elk seasons and they are still holding up . as for rain gear ….most guides you see won’t be running any of these . Most wear commercial fishing style rain gear . Cheap and bullet proof

[@DeerandDonuts]

Most of my Sitka stuff has held up decent but definitely far from the best. It's crazy the difference in UA. Most of my stuff has had seam issues more so than anything.

[@ryankondratieff2077]

Except first lite sold out to an anti gun company. Used to like but can't support them anymore. Don't know how anyone can continue to buy them.

[@DeerandDonuts]

While I'll acknowledge there were some interesting choices made in who to take as investors, I think it's tough to argue for Meateater and Steve Rinella being anti gun. With all that being said I try and avoid the politics and just enjoy the outdoors! -Matt

[@ryankondratieff2077]

@@DeerandDonuts except supporting them is putting our love of the outdoors in danger. Not saying meateater is anti gun but any money spent with them chernin gets some. That is the problem with people these days even though they know something is wrong they look the other way for money. I love the outdoors too much to look the other way. Wish more people did the right thing.

[@mikhailyaremkiv]

@@ryankondratieff2077 oh spare us all the "vote with your money" crap. You're being silly and you know it. Find a real problem to whine about.

[@southbaygladiator7748]

Might also mention that first lite is partnered with the chernin group……if they have their way advocating against 2A rights and hunters you can just wear this clothing out on family picnics.

[@DeerandDonuts]

While I whole heartedly agree with and support you protecting our way of life, its a hard sell to me that a company owned mostly by Steve Rinella are the ones coming for our guns.

[@SKiiTTLe5]

Sitka is not any more “scientific” about their pattern than any of the others…none of it really matters it’s all for the hunters eyes not the animals’ eyes.

[@DeerandDonuts]

I agree it's mostly a gimic. Pattern is one of the last things I consider when picking a piece of clothing. -Matt

[@ModernCowboy78]

I sweat in my Under Armour and by the end of the day my pits stink.

[@DeerandDonuts]

Animals are definitely not fond of stinky pits lol

[@joereckerd6582]

First Lite is the furthest from durable

[@DeerandDonuts]

It's just personal experience for me. Maybe I've been super lucky with my pieces from first lite. -Matt

[@kalebsmith7870]

If y’all don’t put some respek on Skre’s name Im unfollowing 😡

[@DeerandDonuts]

No disrespect intended towards Skre, I've heard great things. There are probably a few other brands who could be on this bracket, but I try to keep my reviews to the stuff that I have enough time with to provide an honest, thorough review. I don't want to provide Skre's items a disservice. -Matt

[@kalebsmith7870]

@@DeerandDonuts I’ll show y’all my stockpile of Skre gear in 2024

[@DeerandDonuts]

We will put it on the calendar boss! 📅

[@ralphbanks8766]

Very poor audio quality. Barely able to hear anything he's saying. Thise is the only channel I've experienced this.

[@DeerandDonuts]

This is the first time we have heard this in almost 20k views on this video, but thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[@dondebrunner5595]

Sitka base layers are trash!

[@DeerandDonuts]

We've had ok luck with their warming mid layers but definitely agree there are better out there.

[@zzz7zzz9]

You could at least say that the sitka and kuiu are way over-priced, not just mention that they are higher-priced. And then, you say that underarmour is 'cheap', instead of saying it's less-expensive. Calling it cheap suggests it's crap. Kuiu and sitka have become more of fashion-statements, like people driving a bmw or benz. They feel better because they paid a high price. I see more guys, geared up head-toe in sitka and kuiu, sitting in mcdonalds and gassing up there truck, heading hunting. Clearly not too concerned about scent, that's for sure. Then you see them out in the woods, and they're road-hunters, driving in their truck, or riding their quad/sxs all day.

[@DeerandDonuts]

I will never understand why people get so worked up about those who choose to wear Sitka or KUIU. Wear whatever you want my man, doesn't phase us any.

[@zzz7zzz9]

@@DeerandDonuts not worked up at all. I laugh at it. Fools and tgeir money are easily parted. No jacket, camo or not, should cost $600

[@MrBirgerB]

Well, if you call people fools because they have more money to spend than you, then you're worked up. It's the same everywhere, I see beginner mountainbikers on 10k USD bikes all the time, and I'm just happy they're having a good time in the outdoors. Cheers.

[@zzz7zzz9]

@@MrBirgerB very different. Isn't that $10000 bike way better though? That would be more akin to buying a $10000 rifle. And even comparing it to their spandex ain't the same, as their attire improves their performance, making them more aerodynamic, etc. Camo does not improve one's hunting. And $500 pants sure as shit doesn't. I don't give 2 shits what someone is wearing. I don't give 2 shits if the person hunts or doesn't. I'm sure as shit not happy about that person, or unhappy. None of that matters, and none of that changes the fact that specific camos brands are wildly over-priced. And people defending it are bizarre as well. I could see if maybe they have stocks in that company or something. There are cars out there that cost $15000 to have an oil-change. Even if i owned three of those cars, i'd still be able to admit that that's ridiculously over-priced for an oil-change. I wouldn't defend that stupidity and pretend i'm happy about it.