How a Waxed-Cotton Jacket Holds Up Behind the Bow

For archers, gear reviews often focus on bows, rests, and broadheads. But as any consistent shooter knows, what you wear behind the string matters just as much as what you shoot with. A jacket that binds at the shoulder, catches the string, or restricts your draw can throw off form in ways that are easy to misdiagnose as a technique problem when it’s really a clothing problem. That’s the angle worth paying attention to in a recent review of the women’s Grass Valley Jacket from ForgeLine Solutions, written by Megan Postol for Athlon Outdoors.

According to Postol’s review, ForgeLine Solutions has roots in Patagonia’s former Lost Arrow Project, where the team built clothing systems for U.S. Special Operations Forces before becoming an independent company in 2022. That operational background now informs the brand’s consumer-facing Performance Fieldwear line, of which the Grass Valley Jacket is a part. Postol is careful to note that this is not a hunting jacket — it’s a lifestyle piece — but she looked at it through the lens of bow practice, since drawing, anchoring, and holding a shot put real demands on a garment’s fit and mobility.

What the Review Found

Postol reports that the jacket is built from lightweight British Millerain ultra dry-waxed cotton, described by the brand as breathable and water resistant, with a relaxed bomber silhouette, ribbed cuffs and hem, two zippered hand pockets, and YKK zippers throughout. She notes the defined waist paired with a more relaxed body and sleeves, and that the muted green colorway (also available in Stormy Weather and Black Oyster) reads naturally in an outdoor setting without heavy branding.

For archers, the review points to shoulder movement, sleeve position and fabric near the bowstring as the details to check, and it shows the jacket at full draw. Postol’s advice is to practice in a jacket with your own equipment before taking it hunting. She positions the Grass Valley as a light layer for mild weather — ForgeLine describes protection against mist and passing drizzle, not sustained rain — with understated styling that works at the range and in everyday wear.

For ArcheryWinner readers building a practice wardrobe, the review is a useful reminder: even non-technical fieldwear can earn a spot in your rotation if it moves with your shot instead of against it. Read the full review at Athlon Outdoors.