Kryptek hunting gear has been around since 2010. I was first exposed to their camo patterns shortly after 2010 when I worked at a hunting retail store, and as a diehard bowhunter, had a bad habit of trying new camo patterns every year to try and find “the best one.” I tried some of the Kryptek Highlander camo for the first time and was impressed with the pattern and how well it broke up my silhouette.
The area I previously hunted had a very dry climate during archery season, so the lighter colors of the Highlander worked well there. The new area I was hunting had landscape with a lot more greens and grays, so I opted to switch camo patterns to something that fit this new terrain better.
Kryptek has a lot of different color schemes that work really well in different types of environments in which they are specifically designed, however, because of this, the patterns/colors don‘t cross over as well for different landscapes making them less versatile.
Fast forward to 2021 when Kryptek released the Obskura Transitional pattern. I immediately fell in love with that pattern and knew I had to give it a try.
Make sure to check out our other gear reviews and the Backwoods Pursuit YouTube Channel to help you decide what gear will help you stay out in the field longer!
I wasn’t sold on the Kryptek brand, though, as it had been a long time since I tried the other Kryptek camo clothing. I was in search of more technical clothing for hunting and had traditionally been a big Merino wool guy, so venturing more into the synthetic materials had me worried since it all was a bit foreign to me.
In the fall of 2022, I received some articles of clothing from Kryptek for this review, but I also wanted to include other Kryptek pieces I owned and had been using for many years so I could do more of an in-depth review given my experience and thoughts on all of the individual pieces in this full Kryptek hunting system.
The Testing: Kryptek Camo Review
To fully test out each article of clothing for this Kryptek review, I tried to mix and match pieces, pushing each of them past their designed uses to see what they could handle. As I mentioned earlier, I’m familiar with all things Merino wool, and every piece that I wore from Kryptek is some type of synthetic blend except for the Theos Merino Long Sleeve, so this type of clothing was all new to me. Being a huge fan of Merino wool (Did I mention I like Merino wool?) the verdict was out on what I would think about Kryptek’s hunting clothes after testing them for this review.



From general season deer hunting in October and November of 2022 and 2023 to archery elk hunting in September 2022 and 2023, I hunted different seasons with some variety of the Kryptek hunting system. I was also able to use Kryptek camo clothes for spring bear hunts in April, May, and June in both 2023 and 2024, as well as for some fall bear hunting in August and September of 2023.
Along with many hunting trips, my Kryptek camo clothes were used on countless trips to the rifle range in everything from 100-degree weather down to the single digits. Through this wide range of testing in the field, I was able to get a really good idea of the capabilities and limitations of each Kryptek camo piece.
What I tested: Kryptek Camo Clothing Review
Before I get into how each piece performed and the sizing, here is a rundown of the Kryptek camo I tested, as well as during what season I tested it in so you can see how I used the Kryptek hunting system together. Hopefully this will give you an idea of how to integrate each piece to fit your specific hunting needs. For a reference, I am 5’11” tall, weigh 185 pounds, wear a size 10 boot, have a 34” inseam, and typically wear a size LARGE for a shirt.
Idaho Archery Elk Hunting – September
Tops
- Cronos Hoodie (grey) over a 150-gram Merino base layer (not Kryptek)
- Sonora Hoodie (Altitude), ML Tech Hoodie, Cronos ½ Zip
- Cronos Hoodie (Grey)
- Ares Jacket
- Dalibor III Jacket
Bottoms
- Dalibor III Pant
- Alaios Pant
- Sentinel Pant
Rain Gear
- Poseidon II Jacket / Pant (Highlander)
- Juniper Jacket (Skyfall)
- Poseidon II Pant (Highlander)
Accessories
- Kiska Beanie
- Hoo-Rag
- Petra Gaiter II
Idaho Rifle Deer Hunting – October/November
Tops
- Theos Merino Long Sleeve (solid green)
- ML Tech Hoodie
- Sonora Hoodie (Altitude)
- Cronos ½ Zip
- Cronos Hoodie (Grey)
- Ares Jacket
- Dalibor III Jacket
Bottoms
- Dalibor III Pant
- Sentinel Pant
Rain Gear
- Poseidon II Jacket / Pant (Highlander)
- Juniper Jacket (Skyfall)
- Poseidon II Pant (Highlander)
Accessories
- Kiska Beanie
- Hoo-Rag
- Petra Gaiter II
Idaho Rifle Bear Hunting – April/May/June/August/September
Tops
- Theos Merino Long Sleeve
- ML Tech Hoodie
- Sonora Hoodie (Altitude)
- Cronos ½ Zip
- Cronos Hoodie (Grey)
- Ares Jacket
- Dalibor III Jacket.
Bottoms
- Dalibor III Pant
- Alaios Pant (June, August, September)
- Sentinel Pant
Rain Gear
- Juniper Jacket (Skyfall)
- Poseidon II Pant (Highlander)
- Juniper Jacket with Black Ovis Hailstone 2.0 pant
Accessories
- Kiska Beanie
- Hoo-Rag
- Petra Gaiter II
The Details: Kryptek Tops
I was able to test out a good number of Kryptek tops for this review, and found a pretty solid system that worked well for me. Each piece has its pros and cons though, so let’s look at them individually.
KRYPTEK THEOS MERINO LONG SLEEVE
Best Use
The Kryptek Theos Merino Long Sleeve was a piece I found that I didn’t use as much as I would have liked. The Kryptek Theos has a button-up front but no zipper, so adjusting it to get some ventilation was challenging. As a layering piece under the Cronos it worked well, however, it just didn’t perform as well as a stand-alone piece. Kryptek is not known for their Merino pieces, so my expectations were tempered with this piece.
Durability
The Kryptek Theos held up well to the wear and tear of hunting, and I didn’t notice any rips, holes, tears or fraying.
Sizing: Size UP One Size
I would go up one size with the Krypteck Theos Merinio Long Sleeve. I got this piece in a LARGE, however, once it was washed a couple of times it seemed to shrink a bit. After washing it, it was a bit on the snug side for me to feel comfortable wearing it as a stand-alone piece.
KRYPTEK CRONOS HOODIE/CRONOS 1/2 ZIP
Best Use
During some of the colder hunts and trips to the range where I needed an extra layer, I often used both of these pieces together. The Cronus line is now discontinued, and appears to have been replaced with the Arma Lite Hoodie and the Arma Fleece Hoodie. I would wear a 150 weight base layer followed by one or both of these Kryptek Cronos pieces. Both pieces stretch to move with you but hold their shape over multiple days of use without a wash. It appears as though upon the writing of this article, the Cronos shirts have unfortunately been discontinued and I didn’t get a chance to try the Arma Lite.
Durability
These pieces were bullet proof for me and went everywhere I did if the temps weren’t expected to drop. I can’t remember a hunt where I did not bring at least one of these pieces. As a mid-layer they are very warm, and the large half-zip in the front allowed me to dump heat if needed. They were also very durable through brush and snags. I spent a lot of time on the ground in the prone position shooting hundreds of rounds on concrete, and amazingly the elbows are still in perfect condition.
Sizing: Size DOWN 1 Size
I found the best fit to be one size smaller than my T-shirt size. For both the Cronos Hoodie and Cronos ½ Zip I went with a size MEDIUM. Both of these pieces feature an athletic cut, and the MEDIUM fit me well. There was still room to layer underneath each of these but tight enough to use as a solo piece as well.
KRYPTEK SONORA HOT WEATHER HOODIE
Best Use

The Kryptek Sonora Hot Weather Hoodie was a surprise to me. Historically, I do not normally wear synthetic hunting clothes because of the odor after a couple days of hiking around in the backcountry. However, this piece held up surprisingly well even with hard use on both the mountain and the range. Although, it does not stand up to Merino wool on controlling odor in my opinion, the Sonora Hoodie is a great option for people that don’t like the feel of Merino. I wore this hoodie a lot as a stand-alone piece when the temps started to warm up. The Sonora Hoodie held up great and never tattered.
Durability
I wore this Kryptek Sonora Hoodie a lot in the field hunting, as well as around town. It wicked moisture well and kept me cool. If I had one gripe about this hoodie, it would be the button-down front. I prefer a zipper for ease of adjustments, but I’m just being picky. The Sonora Hoodie does come with a left chest zippered pocket, but I never used it for anything since unfortunately the placement of this pocket is covered when wearing my bino harness, making the use of the pocket difficult.
Overall, this is definitely a piece of Kryptek camo clothing I would buy again. It’s a must-have for anyone’s hunting wardrobe and will get a lot of use.
Sizing: True to Size
I got the Sonora Hoodie in a size LARGE, and it fit true to size.
KRYPTEK ML TECH HOODIE
Best Use

The Kryptek ML Tech Hoodie is a lightweight, synthetic hoodie that is made for warmer weather. The ML Tech Hoodie has a face mask integrated into the back of the hoodie that you can either pull over your head/face or just put behind your neck. At first I thought I would like this feature, but I grew to dislike it. I don’t traditionally use a face mask, because they tend to get in the way of my anchor point for archery, and it’s not really needed for rifle hunting as camouflage. I did find, however, that on cold mornings it was nice to be able to quickly pull it over my face to stay warmer.
As the weather heated up, I would find myself wanting to cut the face mask off because even when it was behind my neck, it tended to hold in some heat and make me too warm. When it was pulled down around the front of my neck, it retained even more heat. This ML Tech Hoodie has a full collar and cannot be adjusted to dump heat when needed, which was another downside to this piece.
Durability:
The Kryptek ML Tech Hoodie is durable, but I don’t feel like it handled odor as well as the Sonora Hoodie. If you are in the market for a lightweight hoodie, I’d personally pass on this piece and go with the Sonora Hoodie. The ML Tech Hoodie held up well, but it just doesn’t have the features that the Sonora Hoodie offers.
Sizing: True to Size
The Kryptek ML Tech Hoodie fits true to size. I got this piece in a LARGE which fit well.
KRYPTEK ARES DOWN JACKET
Best Use
Being a down jacket, I was expecting it to be very compact. It did pack down fairly well, but if you are looking for a down jacket that is ultra-light and compact, this probably isn’t your best option. The Kryptek Ares Down jacket is built to be a work horse, and although not the lightest, I still found it light and compact enough for me to carry everywhere. I found this jacket to be quite warm as I wore it in some extremely low temps where other down jackets I’ve used in the past failed.
The hood that covers your face is very comfortable with multiple draw strings to really seal in the heat and secure it on your head. This piece went just about everywhere I went. Even with it being down, the Hydrophobic Down fill that Kryptek uses holds up great to light moisture. If I was ever expecting more than a light rain, I layered and put a different piece over it.
Durability
The Ares Jacket held up very well to the brush and constant use. This jacket went to the range with me all winter and spent a lot of time on the ground in the prone position, and it held up well.
Sizing: Size UP One Size
The Ares Jacket is a piece I got in a MEDIUM. I originally got it in a LARGE but found that the jacket was too baggy. While a looser fitting down jacket is better for warmth, I wanted to layer this jacket under a soft shell or rain jacket if needed. Wearing that many layers can get bulky and cumbersome, so I didn’t want to add to that with a larger-than-necessary size. Luckily, I live close to the Kryptek headquarters in Idaho, and was able to return it quickly to get a MEDIUM.
KRYPTEK DALIBOR SOFTSHELL JACKET
Best Use

The Dalibor III Softshell Jacket that I tested has since been discontinued and replaced by the Dalibor Pro Jacket. They share many of the same great features, though. The Dalibor III was a great piece for me. I often wore this jacket when I was expecting windy days with light rain. I wore it in a heavy October rain/snowstorm, and it wicked moisture well but eventually soaked through. The Dalibor III blocked the wind well for me and kept the heat in. For those long drives on an ATV in October, this jacket is a must. The Dalibor Pro Jacket fits that same bill and is probably even better since it’s newer.
Durability
The Kryptek Dalibor is a very durable piece, and when trekking through a lot of brush it withstood the beating. The Dalibor Jacket is a great softshell that went with me everywhere unless I was counting ounces. It’s on the heavier side, so when I was backpacking, I elected to leave it at the truck and took a rain jacket instead. The jacket was heavy enough and took up enough space that I couldn’t justify bringing it when I packed a rain jacket to go backpacking.
The Dalibor took everything I threw at it and came out on the other side unharmed. The durability, comfort, warmth, and rain/wind repellent make this jacket a must if you aren’t counting ounces.
Sizing: True to Size
I got this jacket in a MEDIUM at first because I wore a MEDIUM in my other softshell jacket that I used prior to this one. That turned out to be the wrong size and was too tight to layer underneath. I ended up returning that jacket and getting the LARGE. The LARGE fit well and was loose enough to layer over my Ares jacket but wasn’t too loose that I could not wear it with just a base layer or the Chronos underneath. I’d recommend getting this jacket in your T-shirt size.
KRYPTEK JUNIPER RAIN JACKET
Best Uses – Likes and Dislikes
The Kryptek Juniper Rain Jacket was a later addition to my kit. I wore the old Poseidon II jacket and pants for the longest time, but the Poseidon eventually started getting water intrusion, so it was time to upgrade. The Juniper Jacket fit great and held up to some nasty weather.
This jacket did very well in the rain, snow, and wind and packed down well while not being overly heavy. It’s far from being a jacket that would handle extended heavy rainfall of the Pacific Northwest or Alaska, but for what I needed it for it did great. The Juniper Jacket features armpit vents that I often used to dump a lot of heat when I was active during a rainstorm. The Kryptek Juniper Rain Jacket is a jacket that is great for guys that want lightweight durability with good moisture protection.
Durability
The Kryptek Juniper Rain Jacket vents well and holds up to the brush and the constant motion of long hikes. The jacket is made to be light weight but not ultra durable, so I was careful when busting brush. There’s a general understanding that lightweight clothing, including rain jackets, aren’t meant to be super durable given the nature of what they’re made of, however, I was impressed by the relative durability of the Juniper Rain Jacket. It‘s perfect for guys that want a lightweight rain jacket with moderate durability and good moisture protection.
Sizing: True to Size
I got the Juniper Jacket in a LARGE, because I needed it to fit over all of my other pieces if I was fully layered. It worked well in this capacity. I’d recommend going with your typical size in this piece if you want to layer underneath it like I did.
The Details: Kryptek Bottoms
Now let’s go over the Kryptek pants that I tested over the last 2 years. While I didn’t test as many pants as I did shirts, I definitely came away with some favorites, likes, and dislikes.
KRYPTEK DALIBOR III PANTS
Best Uses – Likes and Dislikes
The Kryptek Dalibor III Pants are my go-to pants for mid to later season hunting. The Dalibor III pants have loops to use with suspenders, but I never used them. I used these pants with a thin elastic belt which worked well.
The Dalibor III pants have a lot of features I wanted in a pant. I really enjoyed the stretch of these pants, but after five plus days of use, I noticed that they would not rebound as well as I hoped. They have zippered side thigh vents which are really nice to have while hiking in order to dump heat. The vents aren’t as large as with some other pants on the market, but I found them to be adequate.
The vents themselves are lined with mesh to keep bugs and debris out while still providing excellent ventilation, however, the holes in the mesh proved to be too large and ended up allowing an unwanted guest to make its home where I didn’t want it to. During a spring bear hunt, a tick appeared to have entered my pants through these vents and ended up choosing some real estate on my knee cap. Because of this, I would like to see Kryptek use a finer mesh to keep the smaller bugs out, like ticks.
The Kryptek Dalibor III pants have knee pad pockets that close by Velcro. Although I love knee pads in a pant, I wished Kryptek would alter these knee pads just a bit. The knee pads themselves are longer than on some other pants making them sit lower on the legs. When hiking, these knee pads tended to hit below my knee and began to bug me. The knee pad could be raised by one or two inches, still allowing sufficient coverage when kneeling, so they wouldn’t be bothersome to hike around in.
I also noticed that my toes would catch on the Velcro of the knee pad pockets when sliding my pants on, so I would constantly have to reattach them.
Personally, I found that the Dalibor III pants are a bit warm for later spring/summer hunts and even early September hunts here in Idaho. The Dalibor III pants did well in the light rain with the DWR treated material. Although I have a few small gripes, overall these pants are great and should definitely be considered by guys looking for a great all-around pant.
Durability
After my November deer hunt I realized I’d torn a hole in the knee area and wasn’t able to figure out what caused this wear, but Kryptek was fast to take the pants back under warranty which speaks volumes of the company and their customer service.
The Dalibor III pants held up well to my hard use minus the tear in the knee on the first pair. I had no other issues with their durability. They are built to be a robust pant that can take a beating.
Sizing: True To Size
The waist of the pants fit well and are comfortable even with a heavy backpack on. The Dalibor III pants are roomy and allow for thermals to be worn underneath as a second layer if desired, extending the seasons in which you could wear these pants.
KRYPTEK ALAIOS PANTS
Best Use
I got the Kryptek Alaios pants for early to mid-season hunting since they are supposed to be cooler than the Dalibor III pants and share a lot of the same features. The Alaios have suspender points on the waist and are comfortable just like the Dalibor III. I felt like the Alaios pants have more of an athletic cut and aren’t as roomy as the Dalibor III. Being a warmer weather pant, I like this fit because I didn’t need extra room to layer with thermal bottoms.

The Alaios pants are a lighter material than the Dalibor III. They breath well and stretch/move with you like a good athletic pant should. The Alaios has side thigh zippered vents like the Dalibor III, however, unlike the Dalibor III, the mesh on the Alaios pant is finer. I never worried about ticks getting into these pants. The Alaios pants also share the same knee pad pocket issue. However, the Alaios, being a more athletic cut, kept the knee pad from sagging down as much on my knee.
Once I got these Alaios, they quickly became my go-to pants unless the temperatures were going to be below 45° F. Like the Dalibor III, the Alaios pants do well in mildly wet conditions like light rain and dewy mornings. The only thing that would keep me from buying them again is the knee pad pocket issues, but even with that being said, people who hunt in mild to warmer climates should strongly consider these pants as part of their camo clothing system.
Durability
During the time I hunted with these pants, I wasn’t able to put a hole in them or tear them in any way. Their durability proved to be excellent, particularly for a lightweight pant.
Sizing: True To Size
I got these Kryptek Alaios pants in a LARGE and would recommend going with your typical pant size.
KRYPTEK SENTINEL PANTS
Best Use
The Kryptek Sentinel Pants were a big surprise for me. Kryptek made these pants for cold weather versatility. They are burly pants that I constantly wore on long glassing sessions and extremely cold hikes. I was able to regulate temperature because of the almost full-length zippers on each leg which extend from the bottom of the leg to the upper thigh and stop about 6 inches short of the waist band. The knees and seat area of the Sentinel Pants are reinforced for increased durability. Being synthetic, I was also very surprised at just how packable these are, making them something that can be stuffed into your backpack if needed.
Durability
While most “puffy pants” have to be babied in the woods, I never worried about these Sentinel Pants. I tore a small hole in them while climbing over a barbed wire fence, but that hole stayed small thanks to their ripstop fabric. The Polartec synthetic insulation kept me warm even in wet conditions. The synthetic insulation means that these pants aren’t ultralight or the most packable, but they are bomb proof, which is unusual for puffy pants.
The Kryptek Sentinel pants were a winner for me from the start and continue to always be in my pack when I expect chilly temperatures. I highly recommend these if you are looking for a bomb-proof, puffy-style insulated pant when weight and packability is lower on your priority list than durability and warmth.
Sizing: True to Size
I got the Sentinel Pants in a LARGE with the goal of them being an outer layer over my regular pants. They are designed to layer over other pants like I did or as a stand-alone piece that can be worn without other pants underneath.
The Details: Kryptek Accessories
Now let’s go over the Kryptek accessories that I used during this testing.
KRYPTEK KISKA BEANIE
The Kryptek Kiska Beanie is what I used when the temps got really low. I usually rely on the hoods of my tops to keep my head warm, so the fact that the Kiska Beanie is a lighter weight worked well. I tend to heat up quickly, so a beanie that’s lighter weight is typically better for me. Kryptek also offers the much warmer Ventus Beanie that is designed for people who require ultimate warmth. For the nights that the temps were pushing the limits of my sleep system, I would wear the Kiska Beanie, and I was comfortable throughout the night.
KRYPTEK HOO-RAG
The Kryptek Hoo-Rag is another piece that I found myself always packing. This lightweight neck gaiter had so many uses for me. In warmer weather, I wore the Hoo-Rag as a sun shield for my neck and ears while glassing, and I used the Hoo-Rag as a washcloth and cooling cloth at creeks.
I also used it to keep my neck, ears, and face warm when the temperature dropped, as well as a face cover when on stalks to break up my silhouette during archery season. The Hoo-Rag is thin, stretchy, and extremely versatile, and quite frankly it’s the reason I didn’t like the ML Tech Hoodie as much as I originally thought I would. The Hoo-Rag was just a better option for me personally because of its multiple uses and the ability to completely remove it.
KRYPTEK PETRA GAITER II



The Kryptek Petra Gaiter II are gaiters designed to be durable and waterproof. I found that the waterproofness of the gaiter held up to the claims, but unfortunately, the durability did not. I’m currently on my third pair of these Petra gaiters. To be fair, gaiters, in my experience, are a high wear, consumable item. I have not had a gaiter yet that would make it through multiple seasons.
I had an issue with the stitching on the Velcro closure going up the front of the gaiter. That same set also suffered a tear on the inside lower portion. Both of these issues came about on my first trip out with them.
Kryptek swapped out that pair with no questions asked, and the second pair lasted longer than the first. After only a few months of use though, the buckle for the strap under the boot broke. Just like the first pair, Kryptek was great to work with and replaced the gaiters. The third pair I am currently on are less than a year old and so far have had no issues.
Other than the durability, the Petra Gaiter II gaiters are great. They fit well, and I like the draw string closure on the top of them, just below the knee. Typically gaiters sag down on my calves, but I didn’t have that issue with the Kryptek Petra Gaiter II.
The problem with most gaiters is the tension system on the top of the gaiters. The Petra, having the shock cord, one-handed adjustment, made getting the right tension easy. The shock cord kept things tight but didn’t cut off my circulation. The Velcro front closure seems to be standard for a lot of gaiters, but I would personally like to see a zipper closure. The Velcro is very loud to undo, so I found myself not taking them off much while hunting.
As far as sizing, I went with a size LARGE, which fit great.
Conclusion: Kryptek Hunting Gear Review
There is a lot to digest in this review, but I have a few main takeaways. The first is that Kryptek is a first-class company full of folks that hunt and love the outdoors. Kryptek stands behind its products and is a pleasure to work with. They make some awesome hunting clothes.
The second takeaway for me was the sizing. I struggled to find the right size if I just ordered my “normal size.” Luckily, I live close to their headquarters, so I could go try on pieces before I bought them. Kryptek does have a return policy that makes returning items that are purchased online easy.
However, as easy as it is, no one enjoys having to return an item because it didn’t fit. If possible, I would recommend getting your hands on the product you’re considering purchasing before you buy anything to confirm your size. If that’s not possible you’ll want to start piecing your system together long before your hunt, to allow for shipping time and potential returns.
The third take away for me was how well all of Kryptek’s pieces work together. I had some gripes about a few pieces, but the Kryptek hunting system as a whole is amazing and it’s been a pleasure wearing Kryptek camo clothing for hunting. If you are someone who leans more towards Merino base layers, I’d get a different brand of base layer. If you prefer synthetics, Kryptek is right up your ally. I plan on wearing Kryptek hunting clothing for a long time, and I can say you won’t be sorry if you buy Kryptek.
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