Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting HPG Wind Cheater

Anyone have experience with the jacket listed in the title? It has a lot of features that I'm looking for in a general purpose jacket.

https://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/CategoryID/4/ProductID/57

It’s not waterproof so that rules it out for me.

HPG make quality outdoor gear.
I have purchased a pack and several other items from them and have been impressed.

It and First Spear’s. What I do are you looking for?

I just came back from looking at their gear in the Grand Junction store. It’s fairly nice stuff that is made in America. I told them at the store that i’d l’d like to see 4 way stretch in their shell.

Just ran across it and it looks like it checks a lot of boxes for a general use jacket. That first thing to toss on over my base layers + fleece when it's mild and to wear over those things when on the move a bit when it's colder. Would still have a rain shell or puffy as the weather dictates.

I like that it's wind resistent, has pit zips, and appears to shed a bit of water. Right now I fill that roll with a Cabelas microtex jacket, but it doesn't really cut the wind enough, doesn't have pit zips, and the pockets aren't in the best places when wearing a pack.

I think Evan did a good video on it.

Doesn't fit into what I carry for a backpack trip, as I'm always going to have a rain jacket, and that can double as a windproof layer. I can see it working really well for drier climates, and I could see using it a ton for 2-3 day trips or base camp hunts.

These are cheap and rugged:

USA ECWCS Gen III Level 4 Wind Shirt

I have had one for a while. It is the sort of jacket you can wear and still do stuff. I've got some pretty high tech rain shells, and still can't move around in them much without sweating. The Windcheater is durable and quiet, but very breathable. The pit zips make a huge difference in comfort while moving. They are definitely not waterproof, nor meant to be, but they will bead up if you just hit some sprinkles. For it to fit into backpacking, you have to look it as a shirt/jacket or else you end up with too much weight and redundant layers. I wear it over a base layer only and can move around in mild to cold weather comfortably. When stopping for any length of time, I add a puffy. Quality is excellent. It's a jacket you wear rather than carry in your pack.

The Windcheater is a great jacket. Like CCH said, it’s a jacket you wear.
Great features with the pit zippers, Napoleon pockets, handwarmer pockets and maybe best of all, you can zip on a fur ruff.
There are lighter wind shell jackets, but I don’t think you will find a better jacket as far a features and durability.
I’ve used the Windcheater in light rain and wet snow and it did fine. The fact that it isn’t waterproof is what makes it useful to me. My true waterproof shells get very little use where I live.

CCH & EdT- Thanks for that info. It appears to be what I'm looking for.

Looks like a good cold weather action suit. I use my Patagonia Knifeblade the same way I'd use this.

It should do well for you then. The others pretty well summed it up. It doesn’t usually fit into my backpack hunting system, but for general use and as an outside layer it’s solid.

Thanks guys. Will have to see if Santa can fit one in his sleigh!

Love the design. If I ever get to a drier climate, it is on the list for sure. The Hill Brothers are the Paul Ramers of the backcountry gear world.

Very good analogy. HPG makes bomber gear that has the features needed for function without fluffy bells and whistles found on so much gear today.

Do fluffy bells and whistles help keep the bears away?

No, they just make it easier for the bear to find you.

Dang, now I have to google Paul Ramer......

You and me both...

Just don’t die the way Paul Ramer did.

I tried one on today and liked it very much. Maybe my Wife will make it a Christmas gift.

Bad way to go

Care to say why?

I think he’s referring to Paul Ramer who died of mad cow disease, not to the wind cheater.

It’s certainly “roomy” enough. Be a good one to wear to thanksgiving dinner. I’d prefer it didn’t fit like an outer layer for an Everest expedition. But the first spear version is the same. Like you going to throw that jacket on over kit - I always hated that about it

I was referring to Paul Ramer.

I have a First Spear version of the Wind Cheater and I live in it when out on the trail.

It blocks the wind, handles light rain and adds insulation.

It is like an OR Ferrosi on Steroids.
I wish it had the HPG version as a coyote ruff would be useful and the Napoleon pockets would be more useful then the arm pockets.

It is one of my favourite articles of outerwear.