Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
The Hatch Outwest High Country Lite squeezes roughly 20 inches of usable height into a roughly 15-ounce hunting bipod. After seated shots at 475 yards and prone shooting past 1,000, the bigger question is whether that versatility is worth nearly $500.
Table of contents
- Why This 15-Ounce Hatch Hunting Bipod Stands Out
- Watch the Hatch High Country Lite in Action
- Self-Locking Legs Are the High Country Lite’s Killer Feature
- A 15-Ounce Hunting Bipod Built for the Mountains
- 475 to 1,000+ Yards: Is the High Country Lite Stable?
- ADM QD or Slide-On: Mounting Options and the $500 Question
- Hatch High Country Lite 20″ Specs and Price
- High Country Lite Pros and Cons: Versatility Has a Price
- Final Verdict: Big Adjustment Without the Big Weight
- Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
Why This 15-Ounce Hatch Hunting Bipod Stands Out
There are lighter bipods on the market, and there are taller bipods on the market. What makes the new Hatch Outwest High Country Lite interesting is how much usable height and adjustment Hatch packed into a bipod weighing roughly 15 ounces.
One quick correction before we get into the Hatch Outwest High Country Lite review. In the video, I repeatedly called this the Hatch Outwest “Backcountry Light.” That is the wrong name. The bipod I tested is the Hatch Outwest High Country Lite 20″. I have used Hatch bipods for several years and apparently got the names crossed up while filming. The specs and testing in the video are correct, but the name is not.
I have been using Hatch bipods for several years and bought my original one at the Western Hunt Expo, where I met the family that makes them. I kept using it because it solved a real hunting problem. Traditional hunting bipods work well prone, but grass, brush, rocks, and steep terrain quickly expose the limits of a short bipod. The ability to use your bipod while sitting is a big deal.
The High Country Lite keeps most of the versatility I liked in the larger Hatch while cutting weight substantially. If you want some background on that larger design, GunsAmerica previously covered the Hatch Outwest Bipod and its unusually broad adjustment range.
Watch the Hatch High Country Lite in Action
Self-Locking Legs Are the High Country Lite’s Killer Feature
The defining feature is Hatch’s self-locking leg system. Grab a leg, pull it to the length you want, and it stays there. There are no collars to twist and no fixed notches forcing you to choose between two heights that are almost right.
One leg can be much longer than the other when shooting on uneven ground, and either leg can be adjusted almost instantly. Fine adjustments are easy without completely resetting the leg.
For me, this is the best part of the design. I have used a lot of bipods, and the Hatch is about as fast as anything I have used for getting the rifle to exactly the height I want.
Hatch also improved the leg-angle system over the original bipod I own. Push-button controls make changing leg angle easier, while a central lever lets the legs splay wider for a lower, broader shooting position. There is also plenty of cant for leveling the rifle on a sidehill or uneven ground.
A 15-Ounce Hunting Bipod Built for the Mountains
The High Country Lite weighs about 15 ounces. Hatch lists it at 14.4 ounces with its slide-on head and 14.9 ounces with the ADM clamp. My ADM-equipped bipod showed right at 15 ounces on my scale, which is considerably lighter than my full-size Hatch while retaining the features that made me like the original.
The tradeoff is height.
The High Country Lite runs from roughly 5 3/4 inches to just over 20 inches. I am 6-foot-2, and 20 inches is enough for me to shoot seated under many conditions. It is not enough for every seated position, particularly when shooting steeply uphill.
That is the one change I would like to see. If Hatch could build a version that reaches somewhere around 26 to 30 inches while staying under 15 ounces, I would take the extra height. Whether that is mechanically realistic is another question. If wishes were fishes, we’d all have a fry.
That weight-versus-versatility fight is familiar territory with mountain gear. GunsAmerica has also tested the Backlanz Precision Long Range and Alpine bipods and the Tricer RP lightweight bipod, both aimed at hunters who care about ounces without wanting to give up useful field adjustment.
475 to 1,000+ Yards: Is the High Country Lite Stable?
Weight and adjustability do not mean much if the bipod isn’t stable.
During testing, I used the High Country Lite for sitting shots out to 475 yards and prone shooting beyond 1,000 yards using the bipod as my front support. It was stable enough that I did not feel I was giving up practical precision because of the lighter design.
A 15-ounce hunting bipod is not the same thing as a heavy competition bipod, nor should it be. The legs lock solidly, the rifle can be leveled on uneven ground, and the different leg positions make it easier to build a stable shooting position in the field.
ADM QD or Slide-On: Mounting Options and the $500 Question
Hatch offers the High Country Lite with either its slide-on Picatinny head or an American Defense Manufacturing quick-detach Picatinny clamp. The slide-on version is currently $399.99, while the ADM version is $484.99.
I tested the ADM setup. It clamps onto a Picatinny rail with a locking lever and comes off quickly when I want the bipod in my pack instead of hanging on the rifle. That is the configuration I prefer, especially if the bipod will move between rifles.
Price is the biggest downside. At nearly $500 with the ADM head, this is expensive equipment. Hatch is also a family-operated Idaho company, and its bipods and accessories are made in the USA. That helps explain some of the cost, but it is still a lot of money for a bipod. You can save almost $100 by using their lighter-weight slide-on head.
Hatch High Country Lite 20″ Specs and Price
| Specification | Hatch Slide-On Head | ADM Clamp Head |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 14.4 oz. | 14.9 oz. |
| Stowed Length | 13.5″ | 13.5″ |
| Overall Height Range | 5.75″ to 20″ | 5.75″ to 20″ |
| Legs Spread, 45° Setting | 5.75″ | 5.75″ |
| Legs Straight Down and Spread | 7.75″ | 7.75″ |
| Legs Halfway Spread, 45° Setting | 8″ | 8″ |
| Legs Straight Down and Halfway Spread | 10.25″ | 10.25″ |
| Legs at 45°, Not Spread | 9.75″ | 9.75″ |
| Legs Straight Down, Not Extended | 13″ | 13″ |
| Legs Straight Down, Fully Extended | 20″ | 20″ |
| Leg Adjustment | Automatically locks at any height | Automatically locks at any height |
| Cant | 80° adjustable | 80° adjustable |
| Mount | Hatch slide-on Picatinny head | ADM QD Picatinny clamp |
| Construction | Aluminum and stainless steel | Aluminum and stainless steel |
| Finish | Black anodized | Black anodized |
| Made In | USA | USA |
| Price | $399.99 | $484.99 |
High Country Lite Pros and Cons: Versatility Has a Price
- Pros: Roughly 15-ounce weight, roughly 5 3/4-inch to 20-inch usable range, self-locking legs, fast independent leg adjustment, push-button leg angles, leg splay, plenty of cant, stable performance during seated shots to 475 yards and prone shooting beyond 1,000 yards, USA-made construction, and an available ADM quick-detach Picatinny clamp.
- Cons: The ADM version costs $484.99, and the 20-inch maximum height still comes up short for some seated positions, especially when shooting steeply uphill.
Final Verdict: Big Adjustment Without the Big Weight
The High Country Lite makes the most sense for hunters who will actually use its adjustment range. If most of my shooting were from a bench or flat prone position, I would probably spend less money and use a simpler bipod.
For Western hunting, predator hunting, and field shooting from unpredictable terrain, I want more adjustment than a short 9-15 inch bipod gives. Being able to go from low prone to sitting, independently adjusting either leg in seconds, splay the legs, and level the rifle gives the High Country Lite a lot of capability for its weight.
It is expensive, and I still want another six or eight inches of height. Those are the two complaints I have.
But at roughly 15 ounces, it gives me a stable shooting platform that I can actually justify carrying into the mountains. After shooting it seated at 475 yards and prone past 1,000, I have no concerns about its ability to do the job.
Learn more by visiting Hatch Outwest.
Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
- Hatch Outwest Bipod Product Video
- Backlanz Bipods: 5.78 Ounces of Pure Stability
- Meet the Tricer RP: The Most Versatile Lightweight Bipod Yet
As the Editor-in-Chief of GunsAmerica, Hunt365, Decoding Darkness, and Suppressor Academy, True Pearce brings a rare blend of legal expertise, competitive shooting credentials, and deep hunting knowledge to the forefront of the firearms world. A former professional sponsored 3-Gun and Multigun competitor with multiple championships and titles, True’s shooting career began in long-range and tactical sniper matches—and he still burns powder in precision competitions, now branching into Hunter NRL.
A certified firearms instructor who has trained over 10,000 students face-to-face, True has also served on both sides of the courtroom as an attorney and currently as an elected Prosecuting Attorney. He has prosecuted and defended high-profile self-defense and firearms cases, giving him a unique, real-world perspective on the Second Amendment.
Outside the courtroom and off the range, True is a true western outdoorsman. A lifelong hunter and rancher, he rides and hunts off his own string of horses and pack animals, chasing elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, and anything else in season. He’s a longtime reloader, producing both precision rifle ammo and, back in the day, handloading over 40,000 rounds of 9mm and 5.56 annually for competition.
He’s also a thermal and night vision expert, known for his obsession with high-end optics, and is rarely found without a camera or a guitar nearby. Whether he’s glassing a distant ridge, reviewing cutting-edge gear, or deep in legal research, True brings passion, precision, and grit to everything he does.
Experience:
– Professional Shooter – Sponsored 3-Gun & Multigun competitor with multiple titles and a foundation in long-range and sniper/tactical matches.– Firearms Instructor – Certified instructor with over 10,000 students trained face-to-face.– Elected Prosecuting Attorney – Attorney with real-world experience defending and prosecuting self-defense and gun-related cases.– Hunter & Rancher – Horseback hunter with a working ranch, passionate about elk, deer, predator, and backcountry hunting.– Reloading & Ballistics Expert – Precision reloader and former high-volume competition handloader.– Optics Authority – Known for his deep knowledge and unrelenting standards in optics, thermal, and night vision gear.– Outdoor Creative – Avid photographer, guitar player, and outdoorsman with a sharp eye for gear and storytelling.– 2A Advocate – Committed to protecting the Second Amendment and educating Americans about their rights and responsibilities.