Hill People Gear

Looks like mil-spec fabric and webbing and googling produces links to Soldiersystems and more heavyweight stuff. Neat designs but more for military-type applications where a vehicle or helicopter ride isn't far away. This is in a more crowded tactical field already populated by Mystery Ranch, Granite Gear, and others, but competition produces innovation. My experience in tactical gear is the stitching is very important as the fabric is always top-notch. A fellow officer had a cheaper brand assault pack fail on a helicopter movement after overpacking; the excess of clothing caused a busting the seams. Nothing sux worse than showing the world those Santa boxers sent from home (or worse, slogan embossed speedos, or "banana hammocks" as our Oz friends call em).

Their Mountain Serape has been in the works for a while and I'm looking forward to trying one. It's not true ultralight gear if you compare it to a quilt or similar, but if you like multi-function, it might be more so than you'd think. The appeal to me is more in functionality. I am either really warm because I'm moving or cold because I WAS moving and therefore sweating and have stopped. I either need very little clothing or a lot. The idea of an insulated garment that I can just throw over everything has quite a bit of appeal, especially as a hunter. The Serape weighs eight ounces more than my heaviest insulated jacket which I see it replacing, but offers more coverage, easier use and emergency sleeping bag option. Haven't tried one to know whether this sounds better in my mind than in reality, but plan to do so as soon as funds allow.

On quality, I own a couple of pieces of HPG gear and it is well made. Not affiliated in any commercial sense, but I do know and like the Hill Brothers so that could be considered a bias. Wouldn't use their stuff if it didn't work for me though. I don't like anyone THAT much. ;)

I've been searching BPLs serape posts but their design looks unique if the pics tell the whole story. It'd be nice if they could reduce the weight while keeping most of the functionality. There's been a few hikes that a synthetic serape would've been welcome addition.

I've kept an eye on HPG products for a while but the weight always made me reconsider. However their chest pack is about the best way to go if you need to carry a pistol and a pack at the same time.

I'm sure they will go to great lengths to ensure the serape's quality, but their stuff is sometimes made by others. For example the chest packs are made by First Spear in America but the serape will be made in El Salvador. When Eagle Industries starting farming out their legendary sewing to Honduras, the failure rates went way up.

I will say this: I have known the brothers behind this company for years and both are wonderful guys – who truly love hiking and backpacking. They were the ones who spoiled us on a trip with their tipi and wood stove combo….sigh. Good memories!