1. I own not one piece of KUIU clothing so I can't compare. I'be studied it and touched a bunch of it and I'll just say I will stick with my Sitka.
2. I prefer the First Lite Merino to the Sitka merino. Seems to ME it is a hair warmer/cooler and dries quicker.
3. There is NO comparison to the on body drying of the merino I own to ANY of the new Sitka synthetics. Even the heaviest new synthetic dries more than twice as fast as the merino. And all my merino is lightweight. Ive compared the synthetics to merino for more than a decade...just about every other brand but Kuiu of each and this is the first time I've found the synthetics superior in every way. Yeah, I know I can melt myself in a fire--I'll live with the risk...
Now to get this back on track, I never wear my Fanatic stuff in or out. I put it all in my Toolbox. I'll wear my base layer and a light pant and maybe the Fanatic Hoody if it is frigid. Everything else gets put on once I'm set up on stand.
These photos show everything loaded for a full day on stand: