KUIU Midseason Hunting Clothing Review: Pro Pant, Kenai, Encounter & Peloton

Midseason is where hunting clothing gets complicated. You need enough protection for cold mornings and wind, but not so much insulation that you overheat walking in or climbing a tree. For most bowhunters, this is also the part of the season where quietness, mobility, and layering matter more than simply owning the warmest jacket.

I put together a KUIU midseason system to see how well it handles that balance. I tested it through typical 40–60°F conditions, pushed it into the 30s, and paid close attention to warmth, wind protection, noise, comfort, and how well it works for actual bowhunting.

The question wasn’t whether the system was good. It was whether KUIU built a midseason setup that makes sense for a whitetail bowhunter.

This review covers four KUIU pieces I hunted with through a full bowhunting season:

• Pro Pant
• Kenai Puffy Jacket
• Encounter 200 Fleece Pullover
• Peloton 97 Hoodie (now discontinued) — See the Vital S3 Fleece

The New Vital S3 Fleece is KUIU’s replacement for the Peloton 97, but I have not tested it yet.

Pro Pant: One of the Best Pants I’ve Tested

The Pro Pant jumped straight into my top three hunting pants of all time. KUIU is known for their pants, and I can see why. The Pro Pant has great stretch, silent fabric, and built-in knee pads that actually work.

Those pads were a huge benefit while saddle hunting. I could get my knees against the tree without slipping or feeling pressure. I expected them to catch or feel bulky while walking, but they didn’t. The design bends and moves with you.

Durability was excellent. I scraped these pants on bark, sat in saddles, and crawled through rough terrain. They held up with no failures. Breathability was also great with the side zips open. I only wish KUIU added a rubberized waistband to help keep shirts tucked and pants in place, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker.

See the Kuiu Pro Pant here.

Kenai Puffy: Quiet, Packable, and Better Than Expected

I needed a puffy that was warm, packable, and actually quiet. That’s a tall order. Most puffies sound like you’re crumpling a bag of chips when you draw your bow. The Kenai didn’t.

This jacket was quiet enough for bowhunting and warm enough to throw on when the temperature dropped. It handled those forty-degree slides into the mid-thirties with ease, especially when I layered it over the Peloton 97 and Encounter Fleece.

It’s not built for dragging through heavy brush, and it’s not a late-season jacket, but that’s not the point. It’s a silent, packable insulation layer that fills a very important role. For midseason mobile hunting, it’s a strong performer.

If you are comparing this active-insulation role across brands, see my Sitka Ambient 100 and 200 review. The Ambient 100 is the closer choice for active and changing hunts, while the warmer Ambient 200 makes more sense as a pack layer for colder sits.

See the Kenai Puffy Jacket here.

Encounter 200 Fleece: Warm, Quiet, and Tight in the Arms

The Encounter Fleece is a strong midseason piece. It’s quiet, warm, and tough enough to move through light brush without worrying about snags. Once it’s on, it feels great. The issue is getting it on and off. It fits tight, especially in the arms and shoulders. If you’re between sizes, go up one.

Over the Peloton 97, the Encounter Fleece creates a solid midseason setup. It’s warm enough for most sits in the forties and fifties. It also stays quiet in the tree, which is critical for bowhunting.

See the Encounter 200 Fleece here.

Peloton 97: The Warmth-to-Weight Champion (RIP)

When a piece of gear makes me stop and say, “This is the best thing I own,” it’s worth paying attention. The Peloton 97 did that.

It created a bubble of warmth even though it barely weighed anything. It didn’t breathe very well, but that’s why it was so warm. Once you start moving, it traps heat and holds onto it. When you slow down, the warmth stays. When you sit, it still performs as long as you’re layered correctly.

I used it as a base layer, a mid-layer, and a standalone outer layer on warmer days. It excelled in every role. The only drawback was durability. This is not a piece you want to drag through heavy brush. But for insulation performance? Nothing else matches it at this weight.

Unfortunately, the Peloton 97 has been discontinued. Crazy, right? The Vital S3 Fleece is KUIU’s closest current alternative, but I have not tested it yet. On paper, it looks good, but right now its too new to know.

How the System Performed in Real Hunts

The real win here was how the pieces worked together. The Peloton 97 built the heat. The Encounter Fleece held it. The Pro Pant kept me mobile and comfortable. And the Kenai Jacket filled the gaps when I needed extra insulation or wind resistance.

This system handled everything from warm afternoon hikes to cold evening sits. It stayed quiet in the tree and moved well through the mountains. It kept me comfortable from the mid-fifties down into the mid-thirties. As a full setup, it performed better than I expected.

Is KUIU Worth the Money?

For active and mobile bowhunters, much of this KUIU system is worth the money. The clothing is light, quiet, easy to layer, and built for hunters who walk, climb, and manage changing temperatures. The Pro Pant is the best value of the pieces I tested because it combines comfort, durability, ventilation, and useful knee pads in one piece.

KUIU is not automatically the best choice for every hunt. If most of your season is spent on long, static late-season sits, you may be better served by a heavier windproof system. If you hunt in thorns and heavy brush, the Kenai and Peloton are not the layers I would expose on the outside.

Fit matters, too. The Encounter 200 ran tight through my arms and shoulders, so I would size up if you are between sizes. If you are comparing other midseason options, read my ASIO midseason clothing review. For camouflage selection, see my field-tested guide to the best camo for deer hunting.

Key Takeaways

• Pro Pant: Best overall piece and the best value of the group.
• Kenai Jacket: Quiet, packable insulation that works especially well for mobile bowhunters.
• Encounter 200: Warm, quiet, and durable, but tight through the arms. Size up if you are between sizes.
• Peloton 97: The best warmth-to-weight layer I tested, but it is discontinued. I have not tested the Peloton 200 yet.
• Best use: Active midseason hunts from roughly forty to sixty degrees, with the Kenai extending the system into the mid-thirties.

Final Thoughts on the KUIU Midseason System

There’s no hiding how much I liked this setup. The Peloton 97 was the standout, and losing it hurts, but the rest of the system is still strong. The Encounter Fleece is a solid mid-layer if you size it correctly. The Pro Pant is one of the best all-around hunting pants I’ve used. And the Kenai Puffy fills a very specific and important role for mobile bowhunters.

This is a system built for bowhunters who hike, climb, and move through rolling terrain. It’s not meant for late-season static sits, and it’s not built to survive thorn-covered hillsides, but in the conditions it was designed for, it shines.

If you already own some of these pieces, you can build a great midseason system. If you’re looking to replace the Peloton 97, the Peloton 200 is KUIU’s closest current option, but I have not tested it yet. Based on its construction and weight, it is a heavier fleece and should not be treated as a direct replacement for the 97.

If you’ve used any of this gear in your own hunts, I’d love to hear your results. Every hunter’s conditions are different, and those conversations help other bowhunters build better systems.

CONTINUE THE CLOTHING SYSTEM

Your Next Step

Use this review as one part of a complete bowhunting clothing system built around your weather, activity level, and hunting style.

• Build Your Bowhunting Clothing System — Learn how layers, camouflage, scent control, and stealth work together.
• Compare Another Midseason System — See how the ASIO midseason gear performed in the field.
• See My Field-Tested Bowhunting Gear — Review the clothing and equipment I am carrying this season.

CONTINUE THE CLOTHING SYSTEM

Your Next Steps

BUILDLOCK

These pieces span BUILD and LOCK: they add warmth and help protect that warmth from cold, wind, or changing weather.

Use this review to decide what job the piece should perform, then build the rest of the system around it.

1. Build Adaptable Warmth
Start with the BUILD layers that add warmth without unnecessary bulk.

2. Protect the System
Use LOCK pieces to defend the layers beneath them from wind and weather.

3. Compare Cold-Weather Systems
See how complete outerwear systems performed under the same testing process.

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Part of the Everyday Bow Hunter System