KUIU Precision Gloves Gear Review
From the moment I landed in Alaska, the match set of Valo camouflaged gloves performed far beyond what I had expected. Their unique blend of goat leather, combined with a high-tech material KUIU is known for, made them perfectly suited for wingshooters in the diverse wet upland landscape. Created for bird hunters in mind, the lightweight, snug fitting Precision Shooting Gloves were a well balance of fit and performance. Their articulated construction mirrored the hands’ natural resting position, offering second skin feel, flexible dexterity, and a full range of motion. The engineered four-way stretch fabric known as Attack Primeflex Polyester covered the backside of the gloves, which translated to enhanced comfort and unrestricted movement when performing physical tasks.
On the underside of the gloves, the thin premium leather membrane across the entire grip, palms, and fingers are perfectly designed for shotgun and equipment handling. Its dual-hybrid design struck a balance between rugged durability and allowed for easy tactile functionality and dexterity such as gripping trekking poles during long climbs for ptarmigan, working bird vest buckles, and quickly reloading small 28-gauge shells on flushing spruce grouse. The perforated holes across the palms and fingers permitted airflow through, thus enabling quick drying, temperature control, and breathability during bouts of precipitation. During one such excursion, for rock ptarmigan, we were bombarded with torrential rain high up on the mountain top. Combined with sustained winds of 50mph, my hands stayed warm and dried quickly due to the built-in features of the gloves. Listed as being water resistant, the gloves performed quite well, as my hands never felt water-logged or drenched.
Other often-overlooked accents KUIU incorporated into the gloves design included large hook-and-loop wrist closures that enable wearers to adjust the comfort level around the wrist. The goat leather pull tab measures 1” by 1 ½” and is perfectly sized to grab and tug. Though, I would’ve liked KUIU to have included an attachment point such as a grommet or strong fabric loop to allow attaching the gloves to a carabiner. However, it is possible to Velcro the gloves together and connect them to a fastener.
The gloves’ toughness shined through as I pushed back shrubs of spiny Devil’s Club and bushwhacked my way through alder thickets and willow bunches in the Alaskan bush. The tough leather protected my hands from scrapes during rugged mountain climbs up rocky outcroppings, while grabbing at rocks and shimmying over boulders. The Precision Gloves quickly became a key piece of gear with their slip-resistant grasp, even when wet, throughout the entire trip.
The gloves were extensively used for the rest of the season in the lower forty-eight, offering excellent agility in their use across a myriad of landscapes chasing a variety of upland gamebirds. Thorns, burs, and thick covers were no match for the gloves. They also shielded my hands during barbwire fence crossings. Not made for freezing weather climates, the Precision Gloves can be comfortably worn in temperatures above freezing. Add handwarmers and a bit of manly toughness and the unlined gloves easily extend their use during the mid-to-early, late season.
If you’re looking for quality gloves to wear across the uplands or don at the local sporting clays course, KUIU’s Precision Gloves offer ruggedness and precision. They served me well during the early teal opener and even did double-duty chopping and hauling our Christmas tree and stringing up lights, making the gloves versatile.
After a season of heavy use, the Precision Gloves held up very well with no signs of structural compromise in the fabrics and stitching. Whether you have calloused meat hooks or dainty mitten hands, these gloves fit firmly and provide ample protection and make an excellent choice for upland bird hunting.
SPECS:
• Weight 2.8 oz – pair
• Sizes M, L, XL*
• Colors – Valo, Verde, Vias, Ash and Gunmetal
• Made in Sri Lanka
CONS:
• No connection buckle or webbing loop to fasten or hang them from attachment points or carabiners.
• No touchscreen compatibility
• $99 – Steep. They’re gloves.
About the Author : Edgar Castillo
Visit authors website | View more articlesEdgar Castillo is a recently retired law enforcement officer for a large Kansas City metropolitan agency. He also served in the United States Marine Corps.
Born in Guatemala, hunting was a new concept when Edgar came to the U.S. His passion lies in the uplands as he travels across public lands throughout Kansas or wherever the dirt road takes him…to hunt open fields, walk treelines, & bust through plum thickets in search of wild birds in wild places.
This fervid emotion for the uplands has since blossomed into a SIGNIFICANT social media presence. It has allowed Edgar to share his experiences and connect with other bird hunters through writing.
Follow Edgar’s upland escapades on Instagram at @hunt_birdz
Related Aritlces
`Upland` Chaps
The snow had begun to accumulate. Measuring just high enough that each boot step would certainly put me into almost ten inches of the white stuff. The landscape was wet with freshly fallen snow. Its weight had pushed down all the dried, tan switchgrass that fall and winter brings. I opened the back half of the truck’s cab to get to my gear bag. I unzipped the main compartment and pulled out matching tan chaps. They were quickly put on over my pants and secured. An hour into my hunt, I quickly found the chaps sole purpose that day was to keep me dry. I had pushed though snow-laden grass, flushing roosters who had taken to burrowing themselves in small openings to get out of the weather. If I had not worn chaps, I would’ve been one wet and cold bird hunter.
DRIFTER HYDRATION
No matter the environment wingshooters and the bird hounds that accompany them find themselves in, it is essential that both man and beast stay hydrated. Even more so as temperatures fluctuate and the sun beats down, both humans and dogs can be susceptible to dehydration in any kind of weather condition. A lack of drinkable water can have serious health consequences, so taking proactive measures to prevent thirst is something to take seriously. Having the ability for a constant source of H2O is detrimental in maintaining a safe, functional, and enjoyable bird hunt. It comes down to having enough water in a capable carrying system that is flexible in its configuration and use. The best way to do that is to procure it from a water source and have the ability to filter it easily for consumption and allow for refilling. Enter … Drifter Hydration.
