Outdoor Research Helium Hd Rain Jacket Review

Reviewed in the united states on january 8 2018 let s talk about the outdoor research helium hd rain jacket.

Outdoor research helium hd rain jacket review. The outdoor research helium ii rain jacket weighing in at a scant 6 2 ounces for a men s medium is fully wind and waterproof decently well featured and fits the bill for both ultralight die hards and comfort ultralighters. Building on the legacy of our award winning helium collection the completely revamped helium rain jacket and pants take durable lightweight waterproof protection to an entirely new level. It sets the bar as our classic pick for the ultralight backpacker. Men s helium ii jacket outdoor research javascript seems to be disabled in your browser.

In 2016 while researching rain gear for my upcoming hike of the appalachian trail i kept hearing great things about the current king of the hill in ultralight backpacking rain gear the or helium2. The helium hd uses pertex shield a 2 5 layer 100 nylon 30d ripstop fabric that cuts down the weight while remaining 100 waterproof. The men s helium ii rain jacket is built for flash storm protection the 100 waterproof super breathable jacket weighs an incredibly light 6 4 ounces. Exploring the technical features of this ultralight waterproof and breathable rain jacket.

The helium rain was easily the most packable jacket in our review compressing down to half the size or smaller than most other jackets we tested. A technical review of the outdoor research helium ii jacket. One interesting alternative is black diamond s fineline. Here it is zipped into its pocket with a 1 liter nalgene for size reference.

When it s raining hard and you are stuck in the elements make sure to have a helium hd jacket handy our go to rain jacket is the outdoor research helium ii jacket read our review of it due to its small packable size minuscule weight and breathability. In 2020 their updated helium rain jacket and rain pants offer a better fit improved waterproofing and durability and are even lighter weight than before. Consider the outdoor research foray arc teryx zeta sl or the marmot minimalist. The helium line from outdoor research has set the standard in lightweight and packable rain shells for backcountry adventures and travel for years.