I bought this jacket to hunt ruffed grouse in Quebec, Canada when it gets colder or on wet rainy days. I wore it this weekend (Nov. 9 2013) on a pretty cold hunting day. I really liked the water-proof Gore-tex feature and the tough and durable finish but I am a little disappointed about the general fit of the jacket. I think the sleeves should be slimmer, longer and have better wrist adjustments. I also think the jacket should have a waist adjustment system to make it tighter at the bottom. The game bag was the perfect size and fitted all of my 4 birds. The shell loops inside the front pockets are great and can fit enough ammo for a long walk. Comfortable and warm, its a great jacket overall.
I bought this coat, not so much for upland bird hunting (which I do a little bit of), but more for general nature activities (I'm a field ecologist) to benefit from the game bag for holding field guides, binoculars, specimens, etc. and its rain proofing. I did not want the blaze orange look, or the heavy weight and stiffness of typical tin-cloth field coats.
Pros: Good sizing, plenty roomy for a vest underneath. Front access to game bag well placed and easy to use; good access to game bag alongside and in back for cleaning. Snaps on bottom keep it close to your body in when not full of game or gear. Slick lining allows for easy on and off. It is light weight and bi-swing back and expansive pit design allow for excellent freedom of movement; you could split wood or other arm/shoulder intensive activity as well as long-gun shooting without any binding. Hand warmer pockets are well placed. Inside pocket for glasses with cleaning cloth was a nice touch and small zippered inside pocket could hold keys, but only a small mobile phone. I liked the sturdy snaps on the front flap and sleeves instead of Velcro; Velcro just gets clogged with crud in the field. I did not test it for water repellency or trek through heavy brush to test its abrasion/tear resistance.
Cons: This is a cool weather coat even though it’s unlined for warmth. Problem with Gor-tex waterproofing is it breathes poorly, so after 5 minutes up walking up hills at a good pace in 55 F temperatures it gets very clammy inside. Pit zips and bi-directional front zippers would be an improvement here to increase air circulation when it isn’t raining or when the day warms up. My biggest issue is the outside bellows pockets. They are rather small and have a snap only on the outside edge of the pocket flap. It can hold shot shells well in the elastic slots in both pockets, but there is little room for anything other than a pair of light gloves. The inside edge of the flap (near zipper) is actually securely sewn to the jacket. This makes access to the pocket difficult, especially if you have gloves on, prevents stuffing the flap inside the pocket when it’s not raining, and also greatly reduces the size of an object you can insert into the pocket. Why there aren't just two flap snaps beats me, unless all you want to do is securely store shot-shells and make sure they are easily accessible in a good rain and not have the pocket flap moving much. One could carefully cut this stitching out, but then that corner of the flap couldn’t be secured. But, hey, this is a $200+ coat; I shouldn’t have to cut the stitching for the pockets to function normally.
Final take. Unfortunately despite all the pros; I’m reluctantly returning. It is too damp inside during typical spring and fall weather in central Missouri if you are active enough to sweat. The outside bellows pockets are just too small and poorly designed for my needs. If you are going to be in cool (<45 F) rain or normal winter hunting or other outdoor activity, aren't too active and don’t need pocket space (who doesn't in the field?), then this might be a good coat for you given its excellent freedom of movement and light weight.
This gore tex coat is perfect for hiking, camping, hunting, used as a "barn coat", chopping wood, or even travel anywhere in the world.
The cut is great for wearing with a sweater, thick long sleeved shirt, a fleece liner, or simply a regular shirt. Lots of freedom of movement, great pockets, and very practical.
Response from L.L.BeanBy L.L.Bean Product Team, October 11, 2011
Thank you for sharing your comments. We're sorry that you were disappointed with the Upland Field Coat with Gore-Tex. You may be interested in the more traditional Waxed Cotton Upland Field Coat. It is highly water resistant and also very quiet.
As always, we want you to be happy with every item you buy, and we back this with our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Please call so we can help exchange your coat for another item or arrange for a complete refund. Thanks again for taking the time to post your remarks.
