Oh lord, the PM box is filling up fast!
As most of you know, I used Kuiu and Sitka for a long time and think they both make great gear. I still feel that way, but am now in a position that I can help design clothing for Kryptek. That means I can change, add or re design things that I didn't like with other companies.
Here's a few examples:
I loved the material on the Sitka Ascent pants, but the cut was a bit tight on the legs and crotch, so I would rip out at least two sets a season. To fix this issue I would buy XL pants, cut 3 inches from the waist line and then have a set of pants that now fit. The 2013 Valhalla is the answer (IMO) to those issues. The 12% spandex
allows for a ton of stretch, but the material is extremely light weight and the cut is perfect at the same time. This gives me a great mountain hunting pant in early season that won't break the bank. That does not mean that the Ascent pants are bad, but it does mean that the Valhalla work for me better. (FYI....the material on the Ascent and Valhalla are very close)
The Kuiu Attack pant is probably one of the best pants ever designed. They have a great DWR finish, almost perfect cut and are very durable. The down side to the Attack, for me anyway, was they were very hot and my balls would sweat to death when temps were above 60 degrees. So we re designed the Alaios to offer hunters something something else to choose from. The 2013 Alaios has a 3m coating on the knees for durability, a few extra pockets, and a fastening system that will allow you to keep them up without a belt. They are also a bit lighter weight than the Attack and won't make you sweat as much. Does this mean that they are better than the Attack? No, but the Alaios is another great option for hunters to pick from.
The Borealis top is something that the backpack hunting industry has never seen. The front of the jacket is puffy/insulated, but the back and sleeves are merino wool.You will basically be able to wear this jacket when your backpack is on, but won't sweat to death. I did not design this, but was able to add some of my thoughts to the final product. Does this mean that the Borealis is better than the something Kuiu offers? No, but it's one hell of a piece of clothing that any mountain would use.
I can keep going on this, but I'm sure you get the point.... all of this is good stuff and the more options the better for customers.