Four members of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) put the Propper Packable Full Zip Windshirt to the test in both real and staged environments. After their thorough evaluations, the Packable Windshirt received an overall score of 3.8 out of a possible 5.

Propper Packable Full Zip Windshirt

Propper products undergo rigorous testing and assessment throughout their development and beyond. We solicit user feedback throughout the process to ensure we are responsive to the needs of our customers and ultimately create apparel and gear that performs to the high standards Propper was built on. NTOA puts our products to the test in the field and provides reviews that we feed back into the product development loop. Deliberately evaluating products and listening to our users drives our process to continually improve our products.

Propper Packable Full Zip Windshirt

 

The Packable Windshirt offers lightweight wind protection whenever you need it by packing it into its own pocket for easy transport. 

 

Reviewer 1

I packed this wind shirt in my range bag/golf bag and took it with me on vacation to Florida. For cool evenings and a light mist, this wind shirt was great. I did not expect it to keep me dry and I wore it on two occasions and let it take as much as it could for moisture. Very easy to dry, great fit and plenty of movement allowed. It’s light weight and packs into itself; a great feature when you are trying to save space and keep your packs light. I did not try layering it with another jacket or sweatshirt but I think it would work well in that application as well. I am anxious to try it out in the fall when the temps drop.

Reviewer 2

I received a Packable Windshirt? made by Propper in a medium size from the NTOA for testing just prior to heading out of town for a weekend in the mountains. I brought the wind shirt with me to field test as it’s too hot in the area I live in to wear it much this time of year. Unpacking the bag I found that the material was very light weight and felt breathable (100% polyester). There is a mesh lining the inside of the wind shirt and a zippered pocket that is sown into the lower back on the outside that the entire wind shirt can be stuffed into, hence the packable? name. The color of wind shirt I was sent was coyote?, which was a dark tan color. It also has a hood. Putting the wind shirt on I was immediately disappointed in the sleeve length and design of the area near the shoulders where the sleeves are sown on. My arms are an average length (I wear a 16, 34/35 dress shirt), but these sleeves were way too short. When I would raise my arms straight out in front of my chest the sleeve would creep up about four inches from my wrist and the material would bind up and constrict across my biceps (I have an average build I’m more of a runner than a lifter). These two issues were really a deal killer for me with this jacket, as they made it uncomfortable to do anything active with my arms and made the jacket look a bit odd with the short arms as well. I don’t think a larger size would have helped as the rest of the jacket fit correctly through the chest and the length of the body, hence a larger size might have given me more length in the arms but the rest of the wind shirt wouldn’t have fit me correctly. Based on these issues I’m going to recommend you look elsewhere for a lightweight wind shirt. Unless Propper makes a complete change to the way this wind shirt is designed through the shoulders and sleeves, this product is a failure.  

A note from Propper: All Propper garments are constructed to the measurements in our standardized size chart. This reviewer field tested a medium, however, going by the measurements he provided in the review, we’d recommend a large (16” neck and 35” sleeve) for him based on our size chart.  

Reviewer 3

This packable wind shirt was utilized both in an indoor and outdoor setting with simulated extreme weather. The shirt did what it was supposed to do; it kept the operator relatively cool during the heat and warm during the cold. The packing of the shirt made it very easy to carry on the operator (either attached to his person or stored in a gear bag). The packing/storage made it easy to take in and out of a bag and it was easy to put on, even under simulated time constraints. The shirt was subjected to a water test and provided partial protection and kept the subject dry enough. The shirt was utilized in numerous movement drills in which the operator had to run, crawl through small openings, dive and conduct various movements while wearing the shirt and it consistently performed very well. There were no rips or tears on the outer shell throughout all of these movements and while the operator did exert himself, he remained rather cool during the exercise. The fit of the shirt was obviously rather snug when layered over other clothing but that didn’t seem to hinder any movement and/or make the operator extremely hot. The shirt, when layered, didn’t constrict the movement of the operator in any way and at the conclusion of the test, he was able to store it in a timely manner. I understand that these shirts come "off the rack" but ideally, there should be some type of custom sizing if possible. The standard "XL" or "L" sizing doesn’t always fit everyone as well as it could and that could pose a slight problem once an operator is totally geared up. This shirt is both functional and practical for operators either on an assignment or for range exercises. The ease of storage is an added benefit for those who already have too much equipment on a vest or in a bag. 

Reviewer 4

I reviewed Propper’s packable wind shirt. It’s a uniform style windbreaker with an MSRP 0f $50-$60. The convenience of the shirt is nice. It’s light weight and stows away in a self contained pocket. This accommodates law enforcements "on the go" lifestyle; since it can easily be stored in a patrol vehicle or gear bag utilizing minimal real estate.The shirt looks professional in uniform and in a classroom training environment. It’s light weight and wears well. The sizing runs large. I usually purchase clothing items to accommodate my uniform without sacrificing my officer safety. Basically I want the jacket to fit over my bullet proof vest, but not covering or bunching up around my gun belt. I also want full range of motion. I tested an extra large jacket. I had no problem with my range of motion, however the sleeves were too long and the bottom of the garment covered my gun belt. I would recommend trying one on before purchasing.The material is nice and durable. There is a hood zipped up inside the collar, but this doesn’t give the collar a bulky look like similar garments do. The zippers are of good quality and slip with easy. The wind breaking material repeals water like advertised. You would think that being a water resistant windbreaker that you would sweat inside, but you’d be wrong. It’s remarkably breathable. Easy to clean too, my spilled coffee rolled right off the front.Overall there is serviceability and major convenience here, just mind your sizing.

See all of Propper’s NTOA Member Tested and Recommended products here