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A review published Nov. 3 describes testing First Lite’s $350 Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket during an elk hunt in Colorado and later in Pennsylvania. The reviewer reported warmth, water and wind protection, packability and useful ventilation, while noting that the closely spaced pockets were easy to confuse.
A hunter who tested the First Lite Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket during a Colorado elk hunt reported that it kept him dry and warm through driving rain, snowfall and changing temperatures, with later use in Pennsylvania adding evidence about its value as a packable treestand layer. The review, published Nov. 3, lists the jacket at $350 and also flags a practical drawback: its four front pockets sit close together and can be easy to mix up.
Reviewer Caleb Meighen wore the jacket during a first-rifle elk hunt in Colorado’s Uncompahgre National Forest, a high-elevation area where the weather changed from prolonged rain to snow as temperatures dropped. He said the jacket stayed dry during the hunt and held up while he moved through oak brush, deadfall and conifer stands. Because he was camping in a tent and had limited options for drying wet clothing, staying dry was a particular concern.
The review lists the jacket’s insulation as 37.5 Active Particle Synthetic Insulation and its weight as 2.15 pounds. Its listed features include a windproof, waterproof construction, a three-way adjustable hood with a channel brim, and zippered vents at both triceps that can be opened to release heat without taking off a backpack or binocular harness. The jacket has two magnetic dump pockets and two zippered hand-warmer pockets lined with tricot.
After returning from Colorado, Meighen tested it during an October cold front in Pennsylvania. Instead of wearing it for the entire walk to his treestand, he packed it and put it on after climbing up. He reported that it was warm for a stationary sit and did not make much noise when he moved to reach for or draw his bow. The jacket is listed in Conifer, Fusion, Cerca, Walnut and Dry Earth.
First Lite Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket Tested and Reviewed
A field review follows the jacket from a wet Colorado elk hunt to a cold Pennsylvania treestand sit, reporting strong weather protection and warmth alongside a pocket-layout drawback.
Two hunts, two uses
The reviewer tested it in changing high-country weather, then as a packable layer for a stationary sit.
- Driving rain changed to snowfall as temperatures dropped.
- Meighen said the jacket kept him dry while moving through rough terrain.
- He packed it on the walk and put it on after climbing.
- He reported warmth during a cold sit and little noise when reaching or drawing his bow.
Features for changing conditions
The listed design combines weather protection with ways to manage heat and carry gear.
A protective outer layer
Windproof, waterproof construction and 37.5 Active Particle Synthetic Insulation are listed features.
Open vents while geared up
Zippered tricep vents can release heat without removing a backpack or binocular harness.
Four front pockets
Two magnetic dump pockets and two tricot-lined zippered hand-warmer pockets serve different uses.
The trade-off shoppers should notice
The pocket arrangement affected quick access during the review.
Dump pockets and hand-warmer pockets offered distinct places for gear and hands.
Meighen said the four pockets were easy to confuse when reaching for one.
Buyers who value fast access or hand placement may want to inspect the pockets in person.
What the field account can show
The findings reflect one hunter’s experience across the hunts described.
| Reported in the review | Not established |
|---|---|
| Warmth, weather protection, packability and useful ventilation | Controlled comparisons or independent performance ratings |
| Use in conditions the reviewer described as 20–50°F | A recommended operating range or fit for other users |
| Pocket confusion; a pocket got wet after its zipper was left open | Long-term durability or results from future outings |
A Layer for Changing Hunt Conditions
The review focuses on a problem familiar to hunters: temperatures and precipitation can shift during a long day outdoors, while carrying or changing layers can be awkward. Meighen’s account suggests the Foundry can serve as a weather-resistant outer layer across different hunting settings, from a wet, exposed backcountry elk hunt to a cold, relatively still treestand sit.
Its ventilation design is relevant to hunters wearing a pack or binocular harness, because the tricep vents can be opened without removing either, according to the product description. The reviewer also described the jacket as packable enough to carry until needed. Those are his field observations, not a controlled test of the jacket’s performance against other products.
The review also provides a concrete trade-off for shoppers: at $350, the jacket is a substantial purchase, and pocket placement affected the reviewer’s experience. He found the dump pockets and hand-warmer pockets useful for different purposes but said their closeness led him to reach into the wrong one. That detail may matter to hunters who need quick access to gear or prefer a more traditional hand-pocket position.
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Two Hunts, Two Ways to Wear It
The evaluation took place across two different hunting situations. In Colorado, Meighen wore the jacket through changing high-country weather during a first-rifle elk hunt. In Pennsylvania, he used it as an extra layer for an October treestand sit, packing it on the walk and putting it on after climbing. The settings offer different kinds of use, though the account remains one reviewer’s experience rather than a broad durability or performance study.
Meighen said he wore the jacket in conditions ranging from 20 to 50 degrees. He considered 50 degrees close to too warm, but said opening the tricep vents helped manage heat. He also reported that the hand-warmer pockets became wet during a brief rain shower after he left a zipper open; he acknowledged that the open zipper was user error. He said he did not experience water entering those pockets when the zippers were closed.
The review’s conclusion is positive but not unqualified. Meighen said the jacket became part of his hunting kit after the tests, while recommending changes to the placement of its hand-warmer pockets. The article also discloses that it may earn revenue from products sold through the page and may participate in affiliate programs.
““It kept me dry.””
— Caleb Meighen, reviewer
Limits of the Field Test
The published account describes one hunter’s field experience; it does not provide controlled comparisons with other jackets or independent testing of waterproofing, insulation or long-term durability. The review gives no specific laboratory rating for water resistance, breathability or wind protection, and it does not describe how the jacket performed after extended use beyond the hunts discussed.
The review also does not establish how the jacket will fit or perform for other body types, layering systems or activity levels. Meighen’s reported 20-to-50-degree range reflects his own use, not a manufacturer-recommended operating range. The extent to which the open pocket zipper contributed to water entering the hand-warmer pocket cannot be separated from the pocket’s design based on this account; the reviewer himself acknowledged leaving it unzipped.
What Buyers Can Check Next
The review does not announce a product change or a planned follow-up test. Prospective buyers can compare the listed $350 price, 2.15-pound weight, insulation and pocket arrangement with their own layering needs, and check current availability and specifications with the retailer or manufacturer. In particular, the pocket layout may be worth inspecting in person if fast access or hand placement is a priority.
Meighen said the jacket would accompany him on hunts for the remainder of fall and winter, but the article does not provide results from those future outings. Any further claims about long-term wear, performance in other weather or changes to the product remain unconfirmed.
Source: rss
Key Questions
How much does the First Lite Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket cost?
The review lists a price of $350. It does not confirm whether that price or product availability has changed since publication.
What conditions did the reviewer test it in?
Caleb Meighen wore it during a Colorado elk hunt with driving rain, snowfall and changing temperatures, then used it during an October cold front in Pennsylvania. He reported using it in conditions ranging from 20 to 50 degrees.
What features does the jacket have?
The listed features include windproof and waterproof construction, a three-way adjustable hood with a channel brim, zippered tricep vents, two magnetic dump pockets and two tricot-lined zippered hand-warmer pockets.
What drawback did the review identify?
Meighen said the four front pockets are close together, making it easy to reach into the wrong one. He also reported that rain entered a hand-warmer pocket when he accidentally left its zipper open, but said the pockets kept water out when zipped.
Source: outdoorlife.com
