Kuiu Attack Pant
Editor's Personal Pick — This is gear our editor carries afield.
Editor's pick: the cool-weather upland pant that handles steep country without becoming the limiting factor.
Why we picked this
The Attack Pant is the pant we reach for the day temperatures drop and the season gets serious. From mid-November opener through January closing — chukar in the Modoc, Sierra grouse, late-season pheasant in the Sac Valley — the Attack is on. It's not the lightest Kuiu (the Tiburon is the September warm-weather choice), and it's not the heaviest brush pant on the market (Filson Tin Cloth would win that fight), but it sits in the sweet spot where 95% of NorCal upland hunting actually happens.
Quick specs
| Category | Clothing |
| Brand | Kuiu |
| Fabric | Stretch nylon with DWR |
| Cut | Articulated knee, gusseted crotch, brush-cut calf |
| Pockets | 6 (including 2 cargo, knife pocket) |
| Belt loops | Yes, plus internal belt webbing |
| Color options | Multiple Kuiu camo + solid options |
| Price | around $199 ($$$) |
| Use case | Cool-weather upland in mixed terrain |
| Editor's verdict | The pant we wear November through January, no notes. |
The full review
Kuiu's design philosophy is "Western mountain hunter wearing this for big-game" and the Attack is the upland-friendliest expression of it. The fabric is a stretch nylon with a real DWR finish — water beads off it for the first season, dampens to a useful spray-shedding state in seasons two and three (refresh with Nikwax once a year and it stays that way for a decade). It's not waterproof. It's brush-shedding and rain-tolerant, which is the right call for upland because waterproof pants don't breathe and you'll boil out from the inside.
The cut is the part that matters most. The articulated knee — a separate pattern panel at the joint, not just a darting line — means you can step up onto a rock, kneel to clear a dog from a porcupine, or cross a fence without binding. The gusseted crotch is the same idea: a diamond panel that gives you stride length on steep terrain. Pull them on and walk a hill; you'll feel the difference within a quarter mile.
The brush-cut calf is Kuiu's recognition that cheap nylon pants ride up and tear when you're moving through buckbrush. The Attack's lower leg is shaped slightly wider through the calf and tapered at the ankle to ride over boot tops cleanly. Combined with the durability of the fabric, the Attack will outlast three pairs of cheap hunting pants.
Pockets are practical without being silly. Two cargo pockets that actually hold a knife and shells, two hand pockets, a small knife pocket on the right cargo, and back pockets that close (so your wallet stays put when you're seated in the truck). Kuiu's "Pursuit" series of cargo pockets adds magnetic closures; the Attack uses traditional snaps which we prefer for the long haul.
The fit runs lean — Kuiu's pattern is built for athletic hunters, and the waist sizing is honest. Order true to your measured waist; size up only if you wear them over heavy base layers in deep January. The inseam options (regular, long) handle most adult hunters; if you're under 5'6" you may need a tailor to shorten the inseam — worth the $30 to do once.
What we love
- Articulated knee — feels normal until you wear other pants, then you notice every other pant.
- DWR that actually works — beads water for years if you maintain it.
- Brush-cut calf — rides over boot tops without snagging.
- Stretch nylon — doesn't bind on steep ascents.
- Six functional pockets — including one for a folding knife.
What to know before you buy
- Not waterproof — for genuine rain country, layer rain pants over them. The Attack alone won't keep you dry in a Sierra storm.
- Kuiu sizing runs lean — measure your waist accurately before ordering. Returns work but cost shipping.
- Inseam options are limited — regular and long. Short hunters need a tailor.
- Brand-direct only — Kuiu does not retail through outdoor stores. Buy at kuiu.com.
- Wait time during peak season — pre-season (July-September) is when popular sizes go in and out of stock. Order early.
Where to buy
- Buy direct from Kuiu (brand-direct)
CaliforniaUpland.com earns commissions from qualifying purchases at affiliated retailers. Kuiu does not currently offer affiliate commissions, but we recommend them because the product genuinely earns the slot.
See also
- All Clothing picks
- Kuiu Tiburon Pant — the September warm-weather pant
- First Lite Sawbuck Brush Pant — the alternative we'd send a beginner to
- Kuiu Peloton 200 Hoody — pairs well with the Attack