Kryptek Altitude

[Matthoek21]

I just received my Eastmans Hunting Journal with the new collection from Kryptek called Altitude. It is sweet looking and i like the tall cuts, but I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the prices. Either way I think I need to start a GoFund Me page or if someone has about $3750 disposable dollars they want to give me I will buy it and do a gear review. Damn! They are just raising the bar for Sitka, First Lite and Kuiu to follow. I hate it when they do this. Whats everyones take on this new Altitude series?

 

[fackelberry]

I just seen this stuff myself in the new Eastmans mag. I'm with you. It's nice looking gear but HOLY COW! Their ad says Most epic hunting gear. Sure is most epically priced too! No way would i pay 300 bucks for a pair of pants. Thats insane! Yet another company trying to make hunting a rich guy sport. I don't see the clothes line sticking around long for the prices they are asking! Hate to see the day where a hunter has to choose to buy either a Colorado non-resident deer tag or a new pair of pants? Well, think it has happened. What happened to the days of the good ol' loincloth? HAHA!

 

[ScottR]

First off, I wrote the review and researched the tar out of the materials. I have to say I was impressed, the materials are the real deal.

As to the price point, well yeah it is expensive. My line in the sand is how many days a year will I use any given piece. Based on that number I can justify X dollars based on performance. There are guys who spend a lot of time in the field who will pay it. That is the target market.




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[Matthoek21]

Man I guess. I understand your point Scott. When I was guiding fly fishing I always used the best stuff and could tell a difference in how long it lasts. If I am a guide and can justify a 100 days in the field I guess I would look into it but for the everyday man that's gonna be a tough sell. From an economics stand point it seems you are limiting your target audience to just a fraction of the population. Can't imagine selling enough to guides (who probably get a discount) to make any money, especially with cheaper options like KUIU, Sitka, and First Lite, who everybody loves already. Kryptek has been around I understand, and they make good stuff but for the backcountry hunter I would say they are in 4th place at best and at these prices they may drop further.
Just my opinion. Hope they're successful as free market takes care of itself usually. And I may be wrong.

 

[wa-hunter]

i agree looks cool and must be nice but 700 for a rain coat!!! holly cow!! not for the average guy...

 

[fackelberry]

Oh i wasn't saying anything bad about the review Scott. I'm sure the materials are top notch, well they have to be at the prices they are asking. I understand that some guys who spend 2-3 months a year hunting would want Quality over Quantity. Thats fine too, but i don't know if most people could tell the difference in those pants compared to another top quality manufactured pair that costs 2/3 less? I think most hunters would rather have 3 pair of good quality pants for 100 bucks apiece than 1 pair for 300 bucks. With all the layering systems out this day and age and all of the different materials that they make up, i don't see where you couldn't add a piece here and there to go with a cheaper pair and have as good quality and breathability as the higher priced ones! As stated above, I would think ANY outdoor clothing company would want to appeal to the general masses when marketing clothes, more people will buy them thus creating more revenue. I hope it does sell for them and they get a good return on their investment. I will save my money and buy cheaper but still good quality clothes and still have enough gas money left to go out and hunt in them!

 

[ScottR]

No offense taken, sometimes quick responses come across poorly. My apologies.


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[Wyoming Hart]

The stickers were a nice touch though! Just need a place to put them.

 

[ivorytip]

My kid loved the stickers. $200 for gators is nuts. $60 for a beanie? I know they are fresh and new and people will pay for it. I dropped $145 for a pair of trekking poles today so I guess I'm one of the reasons these places get away with charging x amount of dollars. I would like some reviews on the gators. That just blows me away.

 

[ScottR]

Noted on the gators


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[mntnguide]

My kid loved the stickers. $200 for gators is nuts. $60 for a beanie? I know they are fresh and new and people will pay for it. I dropped $145 for a pair of trekking poles today so I guess I'm one of the reasons these places get away with charging x amount of dollars. I would like some reviews on the gators. That just blows me away.

Good trekking poles are worth it.. but $200 gators.. no way. Outdoor research for under $100 the alligators... best gator out there as I've had mine for over 10 years and use them non stop all winter and fall.

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[mcseal2]

I have put together a pretty decent set of hunting clothes through sales, Camofire, used on eBay, etc. I haven't paid over 60% of retail for much of it and under 50% on most. I have to say owning some Kuiu, Sitka, Russel APXG2, Core 4 Element, and Kryptek I like Kryptek. I like the others too, each company has layers I prefer to the competitions version of the same. Some of the Kryptek has more pockets and is heavier than other brands. I have hung my jackets or vests on fences in various terrains during various seasons in Wyoming and the Midwest and looked at it with the naked eye and through glass at different ranges and I think the Kryptek Highlander and Mossy Oak Brush are about as good of all-around patterns as they make. I know that camo pattern is a pretty small part of most successful hunts but every advantage helps. I do a lot of predator calling in heavily hunted areas and that influences my opinion. When the intended quarry comes in looking for a sound coming from right where you are, or near where you are depending on the call used, every little advantage helps. For what I do this new pattern has to much green and to little brown/tan/grey for me, but I do like their products. The Kryptek Dalibor II jacket is one of my favorite and most versatile hunting layers. It has the best hood I have ever found for function without blocking peripheral vision and great cuffs. I don't think I'll buy this new series but I do like the company.

A few years ago I'd never have put out the money for Kennetrek boots, but after owning a set I bought used off eBay I'll buy new Kennetreks when these wear out. They have lasted long enough already to justify the cost for me. I bought Sitka Celcius bibs off Camofire years ago for $100 and after wearing them hunting a few times my Carhardt bibs got thrown behind the truck seat in case I need to change a tire in good clothes. The Sitka bibs are so much more comfortable to work in and have lasted longer already than the Carhardts did in the past. If the quality is good enough on the high end clothing, and especially if I know it fits and works for me already, I'll spend a little more if I have to. If I can find it as a last years model on clearance, used, or otherwise discounted I'll be much happier though.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I'll stick to Sitka. I shop the sales and end of year close outs and I have my complete system for just under $1k. I never could justify the cost of any of the high end gear until I got some. Now no way will I go back to the Walmart system (lol) that I used to wear. Absulutly some of the best money I've ever spent.

 

[ColoradoV]

Yea 300 bucks for 1 set of nylon pants is a bit out of my league. I have been on the non hunting side of clothing for so long that high price tags just are what they are. Look at the pata Gucci stuff their prices for top end jackets are on par with the handout that came in the magazine..

I still use burton for a lot of gear their wool/nylon and 3l ak gortex just cant be beat in wet conditions.. Some day a hunting line will figure out a powder skirt weighs all of 1oz and traps much more heat in the system. Burton seems to have a green, brown, or camo in just about every layer and on sale in the spring it is half of hunting lines at equal to or higher quality.

Only place 100% nylon has any place imo is in whitewater kayaking or something where you are basically submerged in the water. Even under a dry top of in a dry suit a bit of water gets through and the nylon will shed it a bit better overall making you lighter. Every other situation I will have wool on.

 

[Dabev]

Completely agree with fackelberry. I spend in the mountains two or three weeks. My Sitka Men's Timberline Pant already is over 3 years old, and it will be enough for the next season too. It costs about 250$. The material is durable, wear-resistant, very comfortable. Of course, if I didn't try pants for 700$. It's possible that I would prefer them, but I can't afford it.

 

[RICMIC]

I'm also too cheap to willingly spend top dollar for clothing. I even wait for the $20 Wrangler jeans to go on sale for $16 before stocking up. But, once I found the difference on what constitutes real quality I tend to spoil myself. Examples are Mendl Perfect Hiker or Hunter; Black Diamond cork hiking poles, Sitka 90% pants, jacket, & vest. I wore the Sitka outfit on a guided elk hunt in WY after there was over 3' of snow on the opener. It warmed up, the snow was melting from the trees, and everyone was soaked and cold but me. (At least until the mule tossed me into the river, but that's another story). The young guide pimped, pleaded and begged, but he couldn't get me to give up my Sitka gear and he had to settle for cash to buy his own. I bought mine for 50% off as it was the discontinued "mountain mothwing" camo. I do need new rain gear though, but the choices and prices are staggering. Mine were the Russell "Cyclone". I loved them too much..they kept me dry, lightweight, very quiet, but unfortunately not too durable. Now they are not in business anymore, as well as the Gander Mt. where I bought them for 50% off.