KUIU engineers performance hunting gear through innovation, since 2011. Founded by Jason Hairston, KUIU obsesses over ultralight weight, breakthrough materials, and community-driven design—serving a global tribe of hunters with gear tested in the world's most challenging terrain.
Our Mission
KUIU is obsessed with engineering the world's most innovative performance hunting gear. We're obsessed with solving the problems hunters experience in the field—not in conference rooms. For 14 years and counting, we've been a firebrand for innovation and build quality, delivering gear that doesn't just stand up to the terrain, but to the hunters themselves.
How It Started
Jason Hairston's Vision
Jason Hairston's inspiration for starting KUIU was deeply rooted in a lifelong passion for hunting. In 2011, he ditched the idea of middlemen and retail markups to engineer products with superior materials and sell directly to customers. As a disruptor in the industry, his obsession with attention to detail drove innovation from day one.
When it came to gear, he considered everything: weight, stretch, waterproofness, windproofness, durability, packability, and breathability. Every material was sourced and scrutinized. In every stitch and seam, gear was engineered from the idea of solving the real problems hunters experienced in the field.
While our story began in the challenges and brutal conditions of sheep hunting, it has since evolved into a full-stack lineup that keeps hunters in the field no matter their pursuits. Today, KUIU gear is worn by like-minded hunters pursuing sheep, elk, whitetail deer, bear, waterfowl, upland and everything between. Learn more about Our Story.
Why We're Different
Ultralight Engineering Discipline
It's not just lighter gear—it's engineered weight reduction. Obsessive consideration and brutal field testing by guides and outfitters produce products that aren't just good on "as planned" hunts, but in the real, unforeseen scenarios that every hunter knows and loves.
Field-Tested Innovation
We got our start by asking thousands of hunters for their thoughts. Every product must earn its place through real-world testing. We focus on sourcing the most innovative fabrics and materials to solve the challenges hunters face in the field. Whether it's a pack, a pair of pants, an experience, or something we make 10 years from now, KUIU gear is engineered for the real hunt—not the theory of it.
A Resource for Hunters by Hunters
We're here to hunt. We detail not just the technology of our products, but how to train, pack, and optimize every aspect of a hunt. Our Guides & Outfitters Program brings together licensed guides and outfitters who live by performance gear every single day, ensuring our products meet the standards of professionals who depend on them.
Our Values
Ultralight Engineering – Every ounce matters on the mountain.
Conservation Leadership – Hunters are stewards; we invest in the future of hunting.
Continuous Innovation – Products must earn their place through real-world testing.
KUIU Community
Guide & Outfitters Programs and The Inner Circle
KUIU partners with professional hunting guides and outfitters through our Guide & Outfitter Program, giving licensed professionals access to the same ultralight, high-performance systems they rely on in the field every day. By equipping those who spend more time in harsh conditions than anyone else, we continuously test, refine, and validate our gear under real-world pressure, ensuring that the innovations born from their experience directly benefit every hunter who trusts KUIU on their own pursuits.
KUIU was founded to serve a community of passionate, performance-driven hunters with gear that takes their hunts to the next level. Our KUIU Inner Circle rewards program was created to give back to customers who support our mission by rewarding them for their purchases and offering unique perks like exclusive access to expert advice, shopping new products first, and early sale notices.
Conservation Direct
From “Donate Now” to “Do Now”
KUIU Conservation Direct is a first-of-its-kind conservation initiative. Entirely company and customer-funded, every dollar invested goes toward a tangible conservation project that contributors and volunteers can see. No one involved with Conservation Direct gets paid—all dollars and volunteer hours go directly toward the current project being pursued.
Since 2020, KUIU Conservation Direct has completed multiple landmark projects focused on habitat restoration and bighorn sheep reintroduction across North Dakota, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. These projects have relocated over 368 and growing bighorn sheep and built lasting conservation infrastructure that benefits wildlife for generations.
Supporting Those Who Serve:
Our Veteran Partners
KUIU is proud to give back and support those who serve this great country and our communities. We partner with veteran non-profit organizations including Team Rubicon, Three Ranger Foundation, Ranger Road, Nodens Outdoors, the Recon & Sniper Foundation, and others to provide opportunities for veterans and Gold Star family members.
In 2025, we conducted five different veteran hunts ranging across the US and Mexico with some of our country's finest veterans and Gold Star family members. Through partnerships with industry outfitters and conservation partners, we create experiences that honor service and sacrifice while reconnecting veterans with the outdoors.
Need support or have questions? We're here to help.
- Phone: 1-800-648-9717
- Email: service@kuiu.com
