3/6/07 - Three years in the making, TAD Gear has finally released their Predator Hardshell Jacket. Shown here is the v1.0 which as been updated since this initial write up. Designed as a mid-weight waterproof hardshell, TAD has loaded it with features that will be familiar to those who own TAD's Stealth Softshell Hoodies with their unique 'look'. TAD Gear was one of the first pioneers of the tactical soft shell concept, by incorporating military and LE-oriented features in their soft shells not found on similar garments in the civilian market.

There have been some tactical hardshells on the market for a while (the military ECWCS gore-tex suit, for example), and when designing the Predator, TAD researched many of the available hardshells on the market; from both the military and civilian/mountaineering sectors. Arc'teryx and their Alpha jacket, of course, served as an inspiration, as TAD Gear has always recognized Arc'teryx as a leader in innovation, forward-thinking design and quality in the industry. In this industry, there is no one company that has invented every new feature, and each company learns from its peers and combines common elements in existing designs with new features to make the garments uniquely theirs. With the Predator Hardshell, TAD Gear did just that.

The Predator is available (for now) in a limited run of their M.E. (Multi Environment) green - and is a close match for the TAD Stealth Hoodie. Just a bit on the grayer side. The material used is a 3-layer waterproof, breathable fabric with DWR - essentially equivalent to Gore-tex. TAD is using the leading industrial textile sources for many of their hardshell and softshell fabrics. They custom order their fabrics from the same companies that produce the textiles used by the top mountain brands such as Patagonia.

Overall front view

Hood rolled up

Hood down

• Stand-up collar with fully adjustable hood - The hood is a 3-panel mountaineering design with low profile rain bill. It'll fit over most ballistic and climbing helmets. There are three shock cord adjustments. The front adjustments control the size of the front opening. The one in the middle of the back of the head adjusts the front-back distance of the hood, while the cord at the nape of the neck adjusts the height. All the adjustments are easy to use and I can adjust the size and shape of the face opening to suit my needs. All adjustments are one-handed. I'm able to adjust the hood so that it was snug enough around my head to move with it when I looked from side to side, or up and down. If the hood is too loose, my head will move inside it and I'd be looking at the inside of the hood. Even though the material is non-elastic, there's enough material at the base of the hood to provide some slack. There's a flap sewn to the inside of the collar which velcros inside the hood when not in use. When the hood is rolled up, the flap goes over the rolled-up hood and attaches to the two velcro patches on the outside of the collar. To unroll the hood, the flap is simply pulled off the velcro and the hood deployed. No zippers to contend with.
• Velcro swatches on shoulders - on each shoulder is a 5" x 4" loop velcro patch for attachment of ID, or flag patches.

Colour comparison to Stealth hoodie

Hood flap

Hood flap

Front hood adjustments

Rear hood adjustments

Hood adjusted

Pit zips

Collar details

Shoulder pockets

Side pockets

Wrist cuffs

Sizing - When I first received the Predator, one thing I noticed was that it was roomier than the Arcteryx Alpha and other softshells from TAD. The medium size I have was in between a medium and a large, I reckoned. I asked Patrick at TAD about the sizing, and he explained:

"We cut the hardshell roomier than most to accommodate bulky winter layers. We compared about 6 different hardshells from all leading mountain brands as well as the ECWCS. Ours was not the roomiest, but I felt the extra bit of room allowed for a much freer range of movement with the thickest 300 weight fleece mid layer and base layers underneath. I also tried the initial prototype shells on with a 200 weight polartec, plus a LE type IIIA body armour underneath. I actually reduced some areas and increased others. These are now less wide than our original 2 prototypes, but longer in sleeve and under arm hole for the best full arm rotation even with layers. The shell if selected for the correct body size should allow a full overhead press with no exposed wrist at the cuffs. Also, if going totally prone and arms positioned to fire down range, the cuffs should be long enough to avoid creep as well. Our hard shells should fit 90% of average body types."

I tried the Predator over a number of different mid layers and also with my SPEAR and TAD Gear Ranger hoodie fleece jacket. Both the SPEAR and Ranger fleece jackets work perfectly with the Predator - both in length and sizing; although the SPEAR is bulkier than the Ranger. I should mention that while the medium Predator is roomier, it's not as long in the sleeves or torso as a 'large' size jacket would be - those proportions are still optimized for a a size 'medium' person, so you should purchase your actual size. The mobility-cut arms accomodate the bulky fleece layer underneath without any problem. If you're looking for a full-featured tactical hardshell at a reasonable price, the Predator would be a good choice.

1/6/09 - TAD Gear's newest hardshell offering, the Raptor ProLite Hardshell Jacket, is the lighter weight version of their popular Predator Hardshell, currently up to version 3.0. It features the newest 3-layer waterproof breathable fabric from GE's eVent Professional Line Division. The Raptor reduces bulk with the lighter weight ripstop eVent shell, eliminates the loop swatches of the Predator on the sleeves for even less mass, allowing for easier compression for packing, and overall felt weight on the user. It's designed as a true lighter weight alpine shell for serious backpacking and mountaineering. It's not an ultralight shell, but is a great balance of weight savings and durability.

The Raptor ProLite Hardshell was designed as a lightweight hard shell suitable for anyone working in the field. While the Raptor was targeted more at the civilian user, it incorporates elements from TAD's tactical designs such as pocket placement and other unique features that will work equally well for the guide, traveler, or the city dweller needing protection against the rain and wind. Even so, customers in the combat arena have been ordering the Raptor to serve as their main hard shell, but wanted to be able to pack it when not needed. The Raptor is constructed with a strategic blend of field proven traditional stitching methods and Bemis "welded" elements.

Material - The Raptor is made from the newest GE Professional Line of eVent 3-layer waterproof/breathable ripstop fabrics. Every fabric manufacturer claims that their fabric is the best, so it's no surprise that the eVent family of fabrics claim to be the highest performance 3 layers on the planet. According to TAD's website, "GE's event Professional Division pushes the envelope even further with a line which is created specifically for the hardest use environments and individuals. Developed specifically for combat and law enforcement, the eVent Professional Line is the longest wearing, most breathable, waterproof 3 layer fabrics bar none. Using advanced ePTFE membrane laminates, eVent out breathes any other high end PTFE laminate currently available. There is NO more advanced 3 layer waterproof breathable fabric on the market." So what makes eVent different from Goretex or other WP/B fabrics? Here's how eVent explains it (this is from their product information sheet):

So, in other words, eVent claims to be more efficient at allowing sweat to escape than other membranes by eliminating the PU layer normally laminated to the ePTFE membrane to protect it from performance degradation from comtaminants like body oils. Instead, the eVent ePTFE membrane itself is treated at the molecular level to protect it, retaining the open-pore structure, and allowing moisture a more direct path to vent to the outside. Does it work better? The proof is in the pudding, so they say, and while researching this writeup, the general impression I get from reading other outdoor reviews of garments using eVent is 'yes'; it's the most breathable waterproof material on the market at the time of this writing. Even more so than Gore-Tex Paclite. REI has a pretty cool demonstration video of it showing how easily air passes through eVent compared to another WP/B fabric.

The eVent fabric used for the Raptor has a subdued matte macro finish and very fine ripstop weave. The inner facing bonded to the eVent membrane acts with capillary action to absorb moisture from the inside and transport it to the outside. The outside is treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) finish which is standard on most hard shells to cause water to bead off the surface of the jacket. This coating wears out over time with use and will require 'renewing' when the outer face fabric begins to 'wet out' instead of bead up water. Details on how to care for eVent garments are on their web page.
Of the current hardshells I own, I'd say that it feels most similar to Gore-Tex XCR (which is slightly heavier than Paclite) - only lighter and less stiff. It's the least stiff feeling of them all, and the most packable. It's shown here in M.E. Brown, which is the first time TAD has offered a hardshell in this great colour. The Raptor is also available in Black, U.E. Gray, and M.E. Green.

Front view

Side view

Rear view

Hood rolled up

Hood rolled up, rear

• Stand-up collar with fully adjustable 3-panel mountaineering design hood - The Raptor hood is a 3-panel mountaineering design with low profile rain bill, and probably one of the most effective designs I've used. The rain bill is awesome to have. It's roomy enough to fit over most ballistic and climbing helmets. There are three shock cord adjustments. The front adjustments are on each side of the collar and control the size of the front opening. They feature mini cord locks. The one in the middle of the back of the head is a loop which adjusts the front-back distance of the hood; i.e. the sides of the face opening, while the single cord at the nape of the neck adjusts the height (how high or low the brim sits). I found all the adjustments easy to use and I could adjust the size and shape of the face opening to suit my specific needs. In the photos below, I have the opening adjusted in one photo to provide peripheral vision, and another with the opening cinched up for maximum protection from the rain.
  All adjustments are one-handed. I was able to adjust the hood so that it was snug enough around my head to move with it when I looked from side to side, or up and down. If the hood is too loose, my head will move inside it and I'd be looking at the inside of the hood. Even though the material is non-elastic, there's enough material at the base of the hood to provide some slack.
  There's a Hood Roll Up Flap sewn to the inside of the collar which velcros inside the hood when not in use. When the hood is rolled up, the flap goes over the rolled-up hood and attaches to the two velcro patches on the outside of the collar. To unroll the hood, the flap is simply pulled off the velcro and the hood deployed. No zippers on the collar to contend with. There are 1" x 1" velcro squares sewn to the back of the hood on each side of the middle adjustment cord for glint tape or Ranger eyes.
  When rolled up, the collar stands up. It's less stiff than the other hard shells due to the lighter weight and more pliable eVent fabric. The chin is protected by a soft chin guard.

Hood inside details

Hood roll up flap

Hood down, collar zipped up

Hood up, medium opening

Hood up, small opening

Pit zips

Side entry pockets

Internal mesh pocket

Side entry pocket

Shoulder pocket

Elbow reinforcements and cuffs

Sleeve ID pocket

Media card pouch

• 2 large sleeve pockets - These are accessed via vertical zippers and also have the elastic-attached D-rings and media pass-through slots. The pass-through slots have little rubber slots to keep moisture out.
• Dual entry duck pocket - Now a standard feature on many of TAD's jackets, this is a large 14" x 8" pocket, sort of like a 'poachers pouch' on the lower back of the jacket for storing soft items like beanies, gloves etc. It's easily accessible from both sides. It's fully seam taped so wet stuff inside the Duck pocket won't soak through to the inside of the jacket.
• Bottom hem elastic adjustment - The bottom hem has elastic shock cord and can be cinched tight to keep wind and rain out.
• One-hand mid waist drawcord - There is shock cord around the waist to adjust the fit and take up some of the extra material around the waist if needed. The ends of the shock cords are routed through grommets at the bottom of the side-entry pockets. To tighten the waist, the ends are simply pulled. Loosening them requires accessing the mini cord lock inside the jacket.
• Die-cut velcro adjustable wrist cuffs - the cuffs are also elasticized.
• Water proof zippers - All zippers are wind and water proof with 'zipper garages' at the top to protect them when closed and to prevent them from rattling.
• Media cable loops - Small elastic loops for routing media/electronic device cables/wires from the side entry and sleeve/shoulder pocket media pass-through slots. There are three on each side: at the collar, top of the shoulder, and upper chest near the main zipper.

Rear duck pocket

Inside view of duck pocket

Mid-waist draw cord

Zippers and 'garages'

Sizing and fit - The Raptor and Predator v3.0 are the same cut. When compared to my v1.0 Predator featured above, the most noticeable difference was that the sleeves weren't as wide around. On the Predator v1.0, the sleeves had a lot of extra room in them - more than I need. The sleeves on the Raptor are much more streamlined, and don't 'billow' out like the v1.0 Predator. It's more form fitting around the shoulders as well. My size medium Raptor fits more like a 'medium' than the v1.0 Predator which was between a medium and a large. It now fits better under body armour and gear, with less excess material. There's still ample room for a fleece layer underneath; I'm still able to wear my Raptor over my Ranger hoodie without looking like the Michelin man. It'll accomodate most mid layers, especially TAD Gear's, which are cut more form fitting to eliminate excess bulk.

Observations and notes - Over the past few years, I've considered the Arc'teryx Alpha Jacket to be the standard by which I compared all other hard shells. So far, it still remained at the top, as far as quality, fit, workmanship, and overall design was concerned. Everyone else was playing 'catch up'. With the Raptor, I think TAD has done that. Not only does the Raptor compare in those areas, but it also offers more standard features. As far as performance goes, the eVent fabric is completely waterproof, as expected. This eVent Prolite material is my new favourite hard shell material. It's light but doesn't feel fragile, it's matte, and doesn't feel as stiff and crinkly as other hard shells, translating into more comfort. I'm a skeptic when it comes to technology and manufacturer's claims/advertisements, but I'm very impressed with the 'breathability' of the eVent fabric. So far, it's living up to the manufacturer's claims. I've had the good fortune of having some very heavy rains over the past few weeks, and cold weather. I wore the Raptor over some of my TAD Merino wool garments like the Special Service Sweater and Praetorian Hoodie, and I was the envy of all around me (at least, I imagined I was, as I was warm and dry while others looked kinda cold and damp). I didn't even feel the need to vent with the pit zips, which I left open a crack. Now, why are there pit zips if the material is supposed to be that breathable? Because no matter how breathable a material is, you can exceed its capability to get rid of that moisture especially during intense aerobic activity. Hell, put on a cotton shirt which is 100% 'breathable', and you'll still end up soaking it with sweat and getting wet. The pit zips are there in case you need to get vent moisture and heat in the quickest way possible, short of removing the jacket or opening up the main zipper, which can let in rain. They don't get in the way, so it's good to have them there if you need them.

At the range, the Raptor kept me dry in the rain, and was completely comfortable even when doing drills where we had to run or move a lot.

I compared the Raptor with other hardshells made from various materials, including the V1.0 Predator and Arc'Teryx Alpha (Gore-Tex XCR), and under all conditions (low to moderate exertion, wet and dry), I found it to be the least stuffy of all of them. The eVent fabric seems to work as advertised.

The new M.E. Brown colour is not too light nor dark, and the shade goes very well with a variety of gear and other clothing. I'd say that it's the closest to SOCOM FDE (Flat Dark Earth) that I've seen a piece of clothing come to. The Raptor also packs down to a more compact size than any of my other hard shells and will easily fit in most packs and bags. Perfect for the light traveler. As far as long term durability goes, we'll just have to wait for reports to come in from hardcore users in the field. By that time, TAD should have come out with another version, knowing them. But based on my initial impression with the eVent material, it certainly feels tough enough. If you think you'll be subjecting the jacket to a lot of abrasion and wear, and want to err on the side of caution and get a hard shell with slightly heavier material, then the Predator might be the one to get.

Predator or Raptor? - While some companies make updates to their models every few years, TAD Gear has a reputation for revising each model almost yearly. With each version or iteration of their clothing line, TAD Gear continues to improve upon their earlier products, add new ones, which gives the the user more choices. I appreciate having lots of choices, but sometimes you end up wondering 'which one to get?'; going back and forth between the different options. The main question that people are asking is 'What's the difference between the Raptor and the Predator?'. This year, TAD went with GE's eVent fabrics for the Predator and Raptor to reduce bulk and weight. The Predator is made from a heavier eVent fabric than the Raptor, but it's lighter than last year's Stormshield Flex fabric used in the v2.0 Predator. The Raptor is made from a lighter weight eVent fabric and the velcro swatches on the shoulders were eliminated to facilitate packability and reduce bulk for less 'tactical applications. The fit between the Predator and Raptor are virtually identical, and both repel water and breathe equally well. Without knowing the difference in long-term durability and abrasion resistance between the two different eVent fabrics, there's really little difference between the Predator and Raptor. Whichever one you get, chances are that it'll end up being your favourite hard shell.

10/20/10 - Following in the footsteps of the Predator and Raptor, the Spectre HS is Triple Aught Design's newest hardshell offering. While the Raptor ProLite Hardshell Jacket was designed primarily as a lighter and more packable version of their popular Predator Hardshell for backpacking and mountaineering; the Spectre is more similar to the Predator, which was intended as fully featured tactical hard shell with all the bells and whistles. Constructed of a heavier-duty 3-layer waterproof breathable fabric from GE's eVent Professional Line Division, the Spectre is loaded with all the distinctive features that defined TAD's jackets.

Not surprisingly, the Spectre HS is also a descendent of the Spectre Hoodie LRP Soft Shell jacket, which featured more pockets and volume than any other soft shell that TAD had previously made. The Spectre HS has similar general features and lines as the previous TAD hard shell jackets, but with a different pocket configuration, and more space in the upper arm pockets. This is to account for the chest pockets being rendered uselss when a plate carrier or armour is worn over the jacket.

Material - The Spectre is made from an eVent 3-layer waterproof/breathable ripstop fabric from the GE Professional Line. As I mentioned in the Raptor writeup above, every fabric manufacturer claims that their fabric is the best, including eVent. Rather than copying and pasting it here again, please scroll up to the grey box in the Raptor writeup or jump to the explanation by eVent, what makes them different from Goretex or other WP/B fabrics.

In a nutshell, eVent claims to be more efficient at allowing sweat to escape than other membranes by eliminating the PU layer normally laminated to the ePTFE membrane to protect it from performance degradation from comtaminants like body oils. Instead, the eVent ePTFE membrane itself is treated at the molecular level to protect it, retaining the open-pore structure, and allowing moisture a more direct path to vent to the outside. REI has a pretty cool demonstration video of it showing how easily air passes through eVent compared to another WP/B fabric.

Shown in the photo below is a side-by-side comparison of the eVent fabrics used on the Raptor and Spectre; both in TAD's M.E. Brown. While eVent makes the WP/B membrane, they also make complete laminated fabrics.

The eVent fabric used for the Raptor is lighter and has a subdued matte macro finish and very fine ripstop weave. The eVent fabric on the Spectre HS is also matte with a fine weave, but has no visible ripstop weave. It is an abrasion and tear resistant plain weave nylon laminate, using 2 different weight yarns (FD70d and FD160d). The face fabric is 100% nylon, the membrane is PTFE oleophobic, and the lining fabric is 100% nylon tricot. The laminate weight is 5.07 oz/yd2.

The inner lining tricot bonded to the eVent membrane acts with capillary action to absorb moisture from the inside and transport it to the outside. The outside is treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) finish which is standard on most hard shells to cause water to bead off the surface of the jacket. This coating wears out over time with use and will require 'renewing' when the outer face fabric begins to 'wet out' instead of bead up water. Details on how to care for eVent garments are on their web page.
The fabric feels similar to the Predator; just a bit stiffer than the Raptor. It's shown here in M.E. Brown, and is also available in Black, U.E. Gray, and M.E. Green.

Collar open, hood open

Zipped up, hood open

Hood rolled up

Hood rolled up, rear

• Stand-up collar with fully adjustable 3-panel mountaineering design hood - The Spectre HS hood is has the same, excellent 3-panel mountaineering design with low profile rain bill as the Raptor, and is one of the most effective designs I've used. It's roomy enough to fit over most ballistic and climbing helmets, and the rain bill is awesome to have, as it provides excellent shelter for the face. There are three elastic shock cord adjustments. The front adjustments are on each side of the collar and control the size of the front opening. They're adjusted via mini cord locks. The one in the middle of the back of the head is a loop which adjusts the front-back distance of the hood; i.e. the sides of the face opening, while the single cord at the nape of the neck adjusts the height (how high or low the brim sits). All the adjustments are easy to use and the size and shape of the face opening can be adjusted to suit specific needs.
  All adjustments are one-handed by pulling on the cord pulls or releasing the sewn-down cord locks. The hood can be adjusted so that it is snug enough for it to move with my head, instead of being too loose such that my head will move inside it and I'd be looking at the inside of the hood. Even though the material is non-elastic, there's enough material at the base of the hood to provide some slack.
  There's TAD's Hood Roll Up Flap sewn to the inside of the collar which velcros inside the hood when not in use. When the hood is rolled up, the flap goes over the rolled-up hood and attaches to the two velcro patches on the outside of the collar. To unroll the hood, the flap is simply pulled off the velcro and the hood deployed. There are no zippers on the collar to contend with. There are 1" x 1" velcro squares sewn to the back of the hood on each side of the middle adjustment cord for glint tape or Ranger eyes.
  When rolled up, the collar stands up. It's stiffer than the Raptor's, but no stiffer than other hard shells. The chin is protected by a soft chin guard inside the zipper flap.

Hood open, rear

Pit zips

Hood cinched up

Inside hood details

Hood rear details

Hood Roll Up Flap

Bottom hem

Rear duck pocket

Pit zip

• 2 large sleeve pockets - The upper sleeve bellow-style pockets extend up to the shoulder seam instead of stopping a couple of inches below it. They measure about 9" tall x 7" wide and are roomy. They're accessed via vertical zippers and also have the same welded web-attached D-rings at the top, and PVC molded media pass-through slots as the side pockets.
• Dual entry duck pocket - This is a large 14" x 8" pocket, sort of like a 'poachers pouch' on the lower back of the jacket for storing soft items like beanies, gloves etc. It's easily accessible from both sides. It's fully seam taped so wet stuff inside the Duck pocket won't soak through to the inside of the jacket.
• Bottom hem elastic adjustment - The bottom hem has elastic shock cord and can be cinched tight to keep wind and rain out.
• One-hand mid waist drawcord - There is shock cord around the waist to adjust the fit and take up some of the extra material around the waist if needed. The ends of the shock cords are routed through grommets at the bottom of the high-rise side-entry pockets. To tighten the waist, the ends are simply pulled. Loosening them requires accessing the mini cord lock inside the jacket near the main front zipper.
• Die-cut velcro adjustable wrist cuffs - the cuffs are also elasticized.
• Water proof YKK covert zippers - All zippers are wind and water proof with 'molded zipper garages' at the top to protect them when closed and to prevent them from rattling. The main zipper is a heavy duty, large tooth Delrin fully backed with a wind flap.
• Media cable loops - Small elastic loops for routing media/electronic device cables/wires from the side entry and sleeve/shoulder pocket media pass-through slots. There are three on each side: at the collar, top of the shoulder, and upper chest near the main zipper.

Napoleon and front hand pocket

Internal mesh chest pocket

Upper sleeve pocket

Upper sleeve pocket

Reinforced elbow and fore arm ID pocket

Sizing and fit - The Spectre HS fits exactly the same on me as the Raptor and Predator v3.0 - I believe they are the same cut. Sizing is generous enough on me to fit a fleece layer underneath. While I can fit it over the Ranger hoodie, I'd recommend something lighter and less bulky as an insulating layer. Note my size and weight at the top of this page - fit will differ according to your own dimensions.

Observations and notes - From the pre-production sample I have to go on; overall quality, fit, workmanship, and functional design is excellent, like the Raptor. The eVent fabric is completely waterproof, as expected. It's a bit stiffer than the eVent Prolite, but offers more abrasion resistance. The Spectre HS is more of a frequent-use foul weather jacket than one you'd keep stowed in a pack until it rains.

I got this jacket in May, which gave me some time to use it camping out in the desert before the weather got warm. No rain out there, but I was just getting the general feel of the jacket while shooting from different positions and how well it did when the sun went down and the wind kicked up (it did fine).

We actually had a very mild June, and the weather didn't heat up until mid-July. We only had a few light showers, so I did not have the chance to test it out in heavy rain. What I was able to do then, was just wear it for different activities and see how comfortable (or uncomfortable) it felt. As with the other eVent fabrics I've used, it's living up to the manufacturer's claims as far as breathability goes. On some warm summer nights, I wore it just to see how steamy it'd get with the pit zips closed. For a non-light weight hard shell, it was very comfortable. Even when compared to the light weight shells like Gore-Tex® 3L Pro, the thicker eVent fabric held its own in comfort. What it does give up to the lighter jackets is packability. It looses some of its initial stiffness after a period of use, but it's not going to scrunch down into a very compact package. You do get better abrasion resistance and protection against rocks and stones with the thicker material.

When fall arrived, we were blessed with some good rain, and I took every opportunity to go out in it, even if it was just walking around the neighbourhood like a nut. As expected, no moisture made it into the jacket. When shooting with the hood up, the fully adjustable hood allows me to pull the brim back so that it doesn't obscure my vision when shooting from prone.

The M.E. Brown colour has a bit more khaki in it than the M.E. Brown of the Raptor. It's not too light nor dark, and the shade goes very well with a variety of gear and other clothing. One thing I did change myself were the thin cords on the zipper pulls. I replaced them with gutted 550 cord simply because I had a couple of cords become unknotted.

The Spectre HS has a lot of pockets; so that even with gear on there's still some accessible storage space. Depending on the rig, or where a belt is worn, the rear duck pocket is low enough that it might be below it. In the photos below, with this particular rig, you can see that the arm pockets as well as the rear duck pocket are readily accessible. For those who liked TAD's Predator and Raptor hardshells or want a fully-loaded hard shell with a plethora of features, the Spectre HS is a worthy follow-on to its predecessors.