Outdoor Research  Helium Down Jacket - Men's

2 months in and I'm very pleased with this jacket. It super lightweight and packable, but still VERY warm. As a matter of fact, the only minus I can give this so far is no under pit zips to let a little heat out. Fit seems true to size. I'm 5'8", 150# and the medium is perfect. Feels like a warm hug without being too restrictive. So far it's been from the Midwest to the West Coast. Handles rain and drizzle well for short periods. It packs great and looks great just after unstuffing. I do appreciate the reinforced area for packs. I have worn with multiple packs without any issues or signs of wear.

I like the cut of OR jackets. I am 6’1” 235. The Helium Down does not disappoint regarding warmth. It has that soft down feeling with added structural integrity where one might carry a pack. The gusseting in the arm allow for a full range of motion without much rise. I have long arms and can still draw out without the jacket tightening too much in the back. If for some reason I found myself in dire need of more warmth I could wear it underneath a jacket or shell because it could compress enough to almost be a base layer and not sacrifice its loft. At which point I am certain to roast.

This jacket served me well for 10 years of steady use every winter/fall and I finally replaced it. The quality is superb, the new Pertex Shield on the shoulders/arms gives it a much more durable feel. It has a premium feel in the hand and is a nice blend of weight/durability. Fits great with layers underneath, but also works well as a mid-layer under a shell. I'm a fan of the new color options too. In summary, this is a durable, lightweight, packable and versatile jacket that does its job in the back-country but transitions seamlessly to the front-country. Highly recommended.

It's Outdoor Research - a known company for making quality products. This jacket does not dissapoint, though time will tell for how warm it is once winter starts in full force. It's a nice fit with plenty of length in the sleeve for a 6'3" frame. It has a little bit of roominess in the torso for larger torsos, or an extra layer underneath for slimmer folk. It isn't bulky at all, and it looks really nice on. Seems like the outer material will hold up to some scuffs without ripping...seems like it's a touch thicker to be more durable. Very happy with it.

I have been wearing this jacket non-stop since I got it. Its extremely light and very warm for its size and weight. Over the last weeks as I have been wearing it, I have notice it "bleeding" feathers in very small amounts, but I'm sure this is common among down jackets. Overall, this is a great jacket. My only warning is that the cut is pretty "athletic" and is a bit tight in the waist,but fits great everywhere else. So, you may need to size up.

I am 5'10", 200lbs athletic build. I got size XL and love it!!! The jacket keeps me warm and preforms well on top of a mountain in December or sitting rink side watching my daughter play ice hockey. The jacket cuts wind, breaths well, fits great.

Love that this uses a fairly high fill power down (800+), making it warm and space/weight efficient. I have higher fill power items like MH ghost whisperer UL (1000 FP), but most UL garments use fragile fabrics and don't have any weather protection, so they're really limited to cold, dry weather. The Helium Down Jacket has weather resistance in key areas due to the Pertex Diamond Fuse panels, which makes it more versatile. It won't be a great outer layer if you're expecting heavy rain, but I wear it by itself in a light mist or under a shell if heavy rain is expected. The Pertex panels are a little crinkly, but not as loud as some reviews suggest. I found the sizing to be accurate. This is quickly becoming a staple of my wardrobe from fall through spring. Thanks OR!

At MSRP, this jacket would not be particularly noteworthy or differentiated from the glut of similar performance-oriented down jackets from reputable manufacturers at that price point. That is not a Nock. By all appearances it is well constructed and has durability enhancements in the right places for use with a pack and other outdoor activities. But to get a lightweight, highly packable high fill-power performance down jacket at this price is an unbeatable value.

I have a number of OR gear/jackets/fleece. For reference I'm 5'10" and weigh 215 average build so I typically wear an XL in OR and L in some other brands depending on fit. This jacket is very well made and everything fits to be expected except at the waist. It's very small compared to my other OR jackets which surprises me. It is warm but the Storm color isn't accurately represented in the pictures. It's a much lighter grey color in person.

This jacket punches well above the price point. It packs down and can be zipped into it's own pocket. At that size it can be used as a travel pillow or can be squeezed down to even more to about the size of a 1 liter Nalgene bottle. The shoulders are reasonably water and wind resistant. I would order your regular size, and if you're not sure which would fit then order one size up. They tend to size on the more conservative side.