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Outdoor Life published Caleb Meighen’s field review of the First Lite Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket, a $350 insulated hunting shell tested during an elk hunt in Colorado and later in Pennsylvania. Meighen reported that it kept him warm and dry in rain, snow and wind, while flagging the closely spaced pockets and the need to close the hand-warmer pocket zippers in rain.
Outdoor Life published a field review of the First Lite Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket, reporting that the $350 insulated hunting outer layer kept reviewer Caleb Meighen warm and dry through driving rain, snowfall and wind during a Colorado elk hunt. Meighen also tested it in Pennsylvania and praised its packability and ventilation, while describing the front pockets as awkwardly close together.
Meighen tested the jacket on a first-rifle elk hunt in Colorado’s Uncompahgre National Forest, where conditions included multiple days of driving rain, falling temperatures and snow at high elevation. He wrote that the jacket remained durable while he moved through oak brush, deadfall and conifer stands, and that it helped keep him dry while he was camping in a tent with limited ability to dry wet clothing.
After returning to Pennsylvania, he wore it during an October cold front and packed it to a treestand rather than wearing it for the entire walk. Meighen said it was warm and made relatively little noise when he moved to handle his bow. He reported using it in temperatures from 20 to 50 degrees, though he considered 50 degrees near the warm end for the jacket.
Listed features include 37.5 Active Particle synthetic insulation, a windproof and waterproof construction, a three-way adjustable hood with a channel brim, and dual zippered tricep vents. The jacket weighs 2.15 pounds and has two magnetic dump pockets plus two zippered, tricot-lined hand-warmer pockets. First Lite lists it in five colors: Conifer, Fusion, Cerca, Walnut and Dry Earth.
Field Performance Across Hunting Conditions
The review gives hunters a field account of how the jacket performed across wet, cold and changing conditions, rather than relying only on listed features. Meighen’s tests suggest it can serve as a packable outer layer for both active hunts and stationary waits, with the tricep vents offering a way to release heat without taking off a pack or binocular harness.
The account is still one reviewer’s experience, not a controlled comparison or a guarantee that the jacket will perform the same way for every wearer. The $350 price makes the reported strengths and limitations relevant to buyers weighing weather protection, warmth, weight and pocket design against their own hunting needs.
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Two Hunts Put the Jacket to Use
The Uncompahgre Foundry review was published by Outdoor Life on Nov. 3, 2026, under the byline of Caleb Meighen. The testing took place first during a fall rifle elk hunt in Colorado and later during an October cold front in Pennsylvania, giving the reviewer experience with both backcountry travel and a treestand sit.
Meighen described the Colorado weather as unpredictable at elevations around and above 10,000 feet. The report focuses on his use of this particular jacket and does not provide laboratory measurements, independent waterproof testing or a direct comparison with competing products. Outdoor Life also disclosed that it may earn revenue from products featured on its page and participate in affiliate programs.
“It kept me dry.”
— Caleb Meighen, Outdoor Life reviewer
Limits of the Field Test
The review does not report independent waterproof or windproof testing, long-term wear data, or comparisons against similarly priced jackets. Its performance findings reflect Meighen’s hunts and conditions, so the article does not establish how the garment will fit or perform for other users, layering systems or weather patterns.
Meighen did not describe a failure when the hand-warmer pockets were zipped, but rain entered one after he left it open. The report does not quantify how much water entered or how quickly the pocket dried. It also does not provide a separate temperature rating; the 20-to-50-degree range is his reported use, not a manufacturer’s tested rating.
What Buyers Should Check
The published review does not announce a product change or a formal follow-up test. Prospective buyers can compare the listed price, weight, insulation and features with their layering needs, and check sizing and availability with First Lite or retailers. Based on Meighen’s account, they should also consider whether the front-pocket layout suits their intended use and keep the hand-warmer zippers closed in wet weather.
Any further assessment would depend on additional wear reports or testing across different users and conditions; none is specified in the review.
Key Questions
What did the Outdoor Life review report about the jacket?
Reviewer Caleb Meighen said it kept him warm and dry during a Colorado elk hunt with rain, snow and cold, and that it was useful as a packable layer during a later Pennsylvania treestand hunt.
How much does the Uncompahgre Foundry Jacket cost?
The review lists a price of $350.
What drawback did the reviewer identify?
Meighen found the magnetic dump pockets and zippered hand-warmer pockets too close together, making it easy to reach into the wrong pocket. He also reported rain entering a hand-warmer pocket when its zipper was left open.
What temperatures did the reviewer use it in?
Meighen reported wearing it in conditions ranging from 20 to 50 degrees. He said 50 degrees was near the warm end for the jacket; this was his experience, not a manufacturer temperature rating.
Does the review establish how the jacket compares with other options?
No. It is a field review of Meighen’s use and does not provide controlled testing or a direct comparison with competing jackets.
Source: outdoorlife.com
