Looking for new hiking pants – this post may surprise you. Kuiu Attack Pants have earned their reputation as a do-it-all solution for serious hunters, but for hikers who need gear that performs across variable conditions, these pants will surprise you.
Ku – what?
Kuiu – pronounced, ‘que-you’ is an amazing company for hunters, and now hikers, alike.
Kuiu was founded in 2009 by Jason Hairston, a former college football linebacker who briefly played pro-ball before retiring due to neck injuries. After his football career ended, Hairston returned to his passion for backcountry hunting and became frustrated with the heavy, bulky hunting gear available at the time. Haven’t we all – but, he actually did something about it.
Hairston had previously co-founded Sitka Gear in 2005, which was later sold to Gore-Tex in 2009. This taught him about the hunting apparel market’s limitations and inspired him to create Kuiu with a direct-to-consumer model that could deliver premium performance at more accessible prices.
Kuiu is one of the most popular hunting brands in the world – and while the hunting clothes are amazing, they have expanded into athletic wear, packs, various kinds of gear. And women’s wear, which my wife is very happy.
Tragically, Hairston passed away in 2018 from complications related to CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) stemming from his football career. But, his vision, it lives on in Kuiu.
I own Kuiu, well, seems like everything. Hunting clothes, packs, shirts – I love Kuiu. But, I really, really like the Kuiu Attack Pants. I own three pairs, I’ve been everywhere in them – for you hunters, I know you are sold, but what about you hikers?
How much do I love them? I proposed at the Grand Canyon in them.
I’ve worn them so long, I decided to add a gallery so you can see, going back years, how much I have worn Kuiu attack pants. Hiking the Gila, summiting 14ers, my first outdoor date with my wife, teaching classes, shooting at the range, hunting around the globe, these pants do everything you want them to do.
Form
The Kuiu Attack Pants have a clean, athletic silhouette that immediately distinguishes them from traditional hunting pants. Bluntly put, if you go with the khaki or grey, you won’t look like you walked out of a hunting camp – which, for you hikers, I know you are worried about.
The pants have have an athletic profile, they have a trim fit, a little bit slimmer than most of the Cabelas clothing. Think Kuhl, not your dad’s camo pants. Everything is well thought out – pocket placement, with strategically positioned cargo pockets that don’t create bulk, even thought they have a pocket within a pocket, and front hand pockets that maintain clean lines but easy to access. They don’t bulge out and get caught on thorns, they fit tight to the pant.
The fabric has a technical appearance with a subtle texture that looks professional enough for casual wear. You can get them in more than 10 color options including solid colors and Kuiu’s own camo patterns, so, like I said, when you go solid color, the Kuiu Attack Pants are purposeful without screaming “hunting gear.”
The articulated knees and gusseted crotch provide visual cues about the pants’ technical nature while maintaining a streamlined appearance. I’ve never really known what a gusseted crotch is, but with the Attack Pant, I’ve experienced it – it’s a good thing.
Fit
This is where the Kuiu Attack Pants truly excel. Me, my wife, my friends, everyone who has them loves them.
The pants are roomy, comfortable for different body shapes while maintaining their trimmer overall profile. You can get them in different sizes – so if you are a long-legged, Ichabod Crane built string bean fast long stride hiker – just the kind I hate keeping up with – they have a size for you.
The stitching – it’s reinforced and solid. These pants below have been around for years now (as you’ll see in the Field Performance photos) and show minimal wear, the stitching has held up fine.
The waistband sits comfortably without rolling or bunching, and the articulated knees provide excellent mobility for climbing, kneeling, or hiking steep terrain. That gusseted crotch – no binding when you are taking high steps up rocks or climbing.
I have had a number of pants from REI that the knife has worn through the pocket lip. Not on these. Years of my knives being in that pocket lip – no wear or tear.
I wear them all the time – well, the non-camo colors – they look great for any attire. I know you like to wear your hiking pants all the time, so you can wear these anytime you want, with boots, sandals, low tops, they look great.
Function
The Attack Pants deliver on their promise of versatile, all-condition performance. Made from Toray Primaflex fabric, they provide four-way stretch, moisture management, and quick-drying capabilities.
The pants feature hip vents – with these you can regulate your temperature as you hike. You zip them up, down, the mesh lining in the vents lets the air flow but provides some protection against thorns and definitely against bugs.
I wear these through every season – spring they are cool, summer I vent, fall they keep warm, and in winter I place fleece lined compression thermals or if it’s super cold, my Stoneglacier puffy pant on underneath. So, taking them from 100F down to -5F, no issues.
The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating provides light moisture protection, though like all DWR treatments, it’s not designed for extended wet conditions. These will soak on you.
Field Performance
I have worn these pants, in various configurations, for years and they have proven their mettle in hiking around the US – from summits to national parks to long-camping trips to Africa hunting trips. Not to mention, hunt after hunt, after hunt.
The Fine Print of Field Performance
The reality is – hikers will put these pants through more than seasonal hunters. A seasonal hunter might use these pants for a few months out of the year, and then wear then on the occasional camping trips. Hikers, like me, will put miles and miles on year round. I can’t think of a week in the past few years I have not put miles on Attack pants and I have, over one pair in khaki, one pair in gray, one pair in green – had no issues. My three pairs in different camo patterns are used on hunts, and some of these hunts are pretty rocky and rough and I have yet to have an issue.
Even better, when we talk about fit, I use Stone Glacier Gruman Down Pants under my Attack Pants, in all configurations of colors, and I have found that they fit just fine. They fit better under First Lite Guide Pants, but those are different kinds of pants than the Kuiu Attack Pants. These pants have plenty of room for thermals.
While I have read online of people complaining of durability issues, I simply don’t know what they are experiencing. Thorns, rocks, dirt, blood, dog bites from a pheasant hunt where we had to release a dog from a trap and it lashed out – I have yet to have the Attack Pants get a hole in them. So, let me say something here – on occasion you will find Attack pants complains. I think some people complain that these pants fall apart because of a couple of reasons:
- They are really an XL and bought a L – I can see how you might end up with the seams having issues, or the crotch having issues if you buy too small. The trim, athletic nature and cut of these pants, in my estimation, would not do well with a person that is way outside of the sizing guidelines. These aren’t baggy at all – they are build to be cut to the body – if you have XL legs and butt and are squeezing into a L for some reason, I can see them pants wearing out faster.
- Haterade – some people have Amazon-review-fever and just want to complain about something because it’s Kuiu, and they expect more from Kuiu Attack Pants so they try to put the pants through more than they would normal pants and then state the pants don’t work.
The quick-dry and odor-resistant properties perform as advertised, making them excellent for multi-day hikes in a variety of conditions – they will absorb some water, they are not water proof, but that’s what a water-proof layer is for.
Last thing – if it’s 100 degrees outside, the venting, while nice, will not save you – but in 100 degree heat, candidly, you should be in shorts.
Financial Investment
Ok, no more photos! Let’s get to the pricing.
At approximately $140, the Kuiu Attack Pants represent a significant investment that requires careful consideration of your hunting style and gear priorities.
First off, you can buy direct from them – and that’s common in the hunting world, for all you hikers. You don’t have to go to REI and get the markups of distribution chains for your clothes. I would encourage you all to look into hunting gear for hiking, if only for the cost savings – it’s just as good of quality, most of the time better if you ask me, and it’s better priced. You can develop a relationship directly with Kuiu, you hit them up on IG, ask a question – they answer. Try that with Kuhl or Prana.
The direct-to-consumer model means you’re getting premium materials and construction without traditional retail markup. Comparable pants from other premium hunting brands typically cost $160-200, making the Attack Pants competitive in the high-end market. For hiking brands, like a Kuhl, the Kuiu gives you better quality, better features, same or less cost with the ability to build a relationship with the company.
The comfort factor adds value beyond pure hiking and hunting performance – I know a lot of people, myself included, who wear these for everyday activities, effectively getting more use from the investment. I wear them to dinner, to church, they look good – so you are getting all-year round from these pants without looking goofy.
And, lastly, Kuiu’s customer service is A-grade 100% amazing – contact them on warranty, they’ll take care of you and not argue with you. Why would they? They are direct to consumer – but, reality is, unless you’re XXL in a L hiking a 14er, you aren’t going to end up calling them.
5 Thumbs Up.
The only challenge with Kuiu is if you haven’t tried them on, you are going to have to go to a hunting expo to do it. You can’t hit REI and try them, so, you are going to have to look for the local big hunting show they are at and go try them on. But, if you prioritize comfort, versatility, and technical performance the Attack Pants could be one of the best investments in your hiking closet – you can probably replace two to three different kinds of hiking pants with just these. Find them here: https://www.kuiu.com/products/attack-pant-navy
For you hunters, well, you already know.