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Outdoor Life published a field review of First Lite’s Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket after a reporter wore it during an elk hunt in Colorado and later in Pennsylvania. The reviewer reported staying warm and dry in changing weather, while noting that the closely placed pockets can be confusing and that open hand-warmer zippers allowed rain inside.
Outdoor Life published a field review of the First Lite Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket, reporting that it kept its reviewer warm and dry through rain, snow and wind during an elk hunt in Colorado. The $350 insulated outer layer was later used in Pennsylvania, where the reviewer praised its packability and ventilation but criticized the placement of its pockets.
Reviewer Caleb Meighen wore the jacket during a first-rifle elk hunt in Colorado’s Uncompahgre National Forest, where conditions included several days of driving rain and temperatures that fell enough for snowfall. He said the jacket remained durable while he moved through oak brush, deadfall and conifer stands, and that it kept him dry while he was camping in a tent. Those are the reviewer’s field observations, not results from a controlled product test.
After returning home, Meighen wore it during an October cold front in Pennsylvania. He said he packed it for the walk to his tree stand, then put it on after climbing into position. The jacket weighs 2.15 pounds and uses 37.5 Active Particle synthetic insulation, according to the review. Listed features include a windproof and waterproof design, a three-way adjustable hood with a channel brim, two tricep vents, two magnetic dump pockets and two zippered hand-warmer pockets with tricot lining.
Meighen reported wearing it in temperatures from 20 to 50 degrees, though he said the upper end could be too warm. Opening the tricep vents helped release heat, he wrote. He also found the jacket quiet enough for movements such as reaching for a bow and drawing it, although the review does not provide measurements of noise, waterproof performance or insulation.
A Layer for Changing Hunt Conditions
The review addresses a practical challenge for hunters: staying warm and dry as conditions shift without carrying or wearing a separate outer layer for every part of the day. Meighen’s account suggests the jacket can be carried in a pack and added at a stand, while its vents allow some heat to escape during use. That flexibility may matter during hunts involving changes in exertion, temperature and precipitation.
The report also gives readers limitations alongside the favorable assessment. The jacket’s pocket layout made it easy for the reviewer to reach into the wrong pocket, and rain entered the hand-warmer pockets when he inadvertently left a zipper open. He said water did not get in when those zippers were closed. The mixed details help distinguish the reviewer’s experience from a blanket claim that the jacket will suit every hunter or condition.
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Two Hunts Behind the Review
The review is based on use in two different settings, rather than laboratory testing. In Colorado, Meighen wore the jacket on a first-rifle elk hunt in the high-elevation Uncompahgre National Forest. The report describes exposure to sustained rain, falling temperatures and snow, as well as travel through brush and forest. The reviewer said the weather made staying dry especially important because he was living in a tent and had limited ability to dry clothing.
In Pennsylvania, he used the jacket during an October cold front as part of a tree-stand layering system. The report lists five available colors: Conifer, Fusion, Cerca, Walnut and Dry Earth. Outdoor Life also discloses that it may earn revenue from products featured on its page and participate in affiliate programs, a relevant note for readers considering the review’s product recommendation.
“It kept me dry.”
— Caleb Meighen, Outdoor Life reviewer
Limits of One Field Review
The published account reflects one reviewer’s experience over hunts in Colorado and Pennsylvania. It does not establish how the jacket performs across different body types, activity levels, weather durations or repeated seasons of use. The review also provides no independent test data for waterproofing, wind resistance, warmth or durability, and does not compare the jacket directly with competing products.
Meighen said rain entered the hand-warmer pockets after he left a zipper open, and acknowledged that this involved user error. The report does not establish whether the pocket design would cause similar problems for other users. It also does not specify the exact conditions or duration behind each temperature observation.
Check Fit and Pocket Access
Readers weighing the jacket should compare its listed $350 price and 2.15-pound weight with their own layering needs, and consider whether its pocket placement and warmth suit their intended use. The review points to the tricep vents as a way to manage heat, but does not provide sizing guidance or a longer-term durability assessment.
The article does not announce a follow-up test or a product change from First Lite. Any further information about updated designs, independent performance testing or extended use would be needed to answer questions the field review leaves open.
Key Questions
How much does the First Lite Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket cost?
The Outdoor Life review lists the jacket at $350. The article does not provide information about discounts or current retailer availability.
What conditions did the reviewer encounter?
Caleb Meighen reported wearing it during rain, snowfall and changing temperatures on a Colorado elk hunt, then during an October cold front in Pennsylvania. He said he used it in temperatures from 20 to 50 degrees, with 50 degrees near the point where it felt too warm.
What drawbacks did the review identify?
Meighen said the two magnetic dump pockets and two zippered hand-warmer pockets sit close together, making it easy to reach into the wrong one. He also reported rain entering the hand-warmer pockets when he accidentally left a zipper open.
What features does the jacket have?
The review lists 37.5 Active Particle synthetic insulation, a three-way adjustable hood with a channel brim, two tricep vents, two magnetic dump pockets and two zippered hand-warmer pockets with tricot lining. It lists the weight as 2.15 pounds.
Source: outdoorlife.com
