Outdoor Research  Helium Rain Jacket - Men's

I actually tested this in Newfoundland. It wet out in minutes. Now that was pretty extreme to demand anything to work in Newfoundland but then I tested it out in Chicago in a drizzle and it also wet out while walking 3 blocks from a train. It works as a wind coat and packs nicely into a bicycle jersey for when the temp drops suddenly but this is definitely not a rain coat or a drizzle coat. I want it to be, but it is a nice windbreaker. My coat is not old and these tests were with a new product so it was not dirty and worn. Maybe there was never any DNR coating put on my jacket because my cheap windbreaker made with a thicker cheap nylon kept me drier.

Hiking in the Rockies last week with a ton of rain and this jacket did not keep me dry at all. Water was seeping through this jacket after about 30 minutes in the rain. For the money you would think this product will be well worth it but it isn't. I have a lot of Outdoor Research products that are great, but this jacket just sucks.

Recently purchased. This is advertised as waterproof and a Rain Jacket. It is neither. Used for the first time on trail and this jacket was not waterproof at all. I contacted OR and got a response saying the following: , is also our least waterproof jacket and will not withstand heavy or extended rain over a long period of time. It is perfect for on-and-off-again sun, showers, clouds, and cool breezes. I'm sorry but this is nothing more than a wind breaker and OR is basically admitting to that. This is falsely advertised by OR. Do not purchase this jacket if you are looking for something waterproof or for rain.

I hated this. For the love of god don't buy this. It is lightweight and small, yes but that's because it doesn't work. It soaked me every rainstorm this Summer except for the very first one. It worked well as a windbreaker or for a little warmth on a chilly day but it did not keep me dry. I also wished it was longer, extending past the waist because there was always a gap between my rain pants and this. I also wish this had front stomach pockets. The chest pocket was also not waterproof at all (of course).

I've worn this jacket on about a dozen winter/spring trail runs, and found it to be exactly what I needed. The jacket itself is very lightweight and added very little bulk to my typical running attire, but contrary to similar type jackets, it's obvious that the material is strong and weather/tear resistant. I typically run 5-7 miles in 40-45 degree temps, this jacket has helped shed the light rainfall and works great for windy days. I'm a true men's size L (6'2", 190lbs), and the L jacket runs true to size. I'm a bit on the lanky side as well, and found this jacket to be sufficiently long in the arms and torso, contrary to some other brands I've tried on in store.

Received the jacket looking for lighter rain jacket option, took it out on a rainy day around the zoo. Within an hour/hour and a half, could feel the jacket wetting out through the arms and shoulders in a rain that wasn't that heavy for south Texas. It is indeed an ultralight jacket that feels good and doesn't get hot and stuffy like a more durable rain jacket, but I have found it is better for a jacket in the truck or for a drizzle that will pass. if you are going to spend a day out and about, maybe try another rain jacket. I don't regret grabbing it, but I know when I use this on 3-4 day trip, I will be wet. Not as bad as direct rain to clothes but not as enjoyable as completely dry.

The jacket is advertised by Outdoor Research as fully waterproof however it isn't actually waterproof. I took this on a recent JMT thru-hike and thought it would be perfect because of it's light weight however every time it rained I found the jacket wetting out almost immediately and my clothes underneath getting wet very quickly. This resulted in a lot of bone cold, wet afternoons on trail. I definitely can't recommend this jacket for anything but a light drizzle. It does function well as a windbreaker and is very light admittedly but it's worth the extra weight to get something that will actually keep you dry.

I wore this jacket once to the gym, a ten minute walk through light rain and already then water was soaking through. The water beaded on the outside but see attached picture where the rain soaked through the single layer but not (yet) the double layer of the pocket. Very disappointed! Will be returning it to the store in Sweden for a refund.

Not waterproof. It's a good windbreaker and it's mostly light-drizzle resistant for a little while but do not rely on this for extended periods of rain. Do not rely on this in the weather found above treeline. I got this to pull on while trail running, primarily for ultramarathon events. I got a size bigger than usual and it fits very nicely over my running vest for that unexpected wind and rain mid run, since I really don't like wearing a jacket under my hydration vest. It's a nice jacket for a little extra protection from the unexpected but not for long and it does not breathe well. I got it at a steep holiday discount but would never buy at full price.

this jacket is everything I wanted the first one to be, it's still light weight and can literally be shoved into your pocket on a variable condition run (thank you Yakima canyon marathon) but this one finally feels robust enough to withstand some elements. The material feels more durable and the pockets, which on the old one you couldn't put so much as a key in there without feeling like it was going to bounce out, are actually useful with a more robust zipper and fabric. the fit isn't slim but rather slimming and I still feel like I can layer under it. Love having this jacket in my kit as a supplement to a puff or much heavier rain jacket.