ProView – Outdoor Research Verismo Women’s Down Jacket

The Outdoor Research Verismo Jacket is so much more than “just another down jacket”. Which is great news, because you’d be hard-pressed to meet an outdoorswoman who doesn’t already own a “puffy”.

I’m here to say it’s worth trading up to get your hands on this jacket. I got the opportunity to test this beauty during the first early spring days of Moab, Utah. It’s incredibly lightweight, soft, warm and form fitting. Say goodbye to the bulky down body of yore! You don’t need to sacrifice warmth for good style with this jacket.

I found myself wearing the Verismo every day, no matter the activity. Whether tucked into a harness or picking out fruit at the grocery store, it fast became my jacket of choice.

Fit: Form Fitting Body and Extra Long Sleeves

The Verismo is trim fit! It’s one of the qualities that sets it apart from the typical bulky style of down clothing. Be prepare to size up from your normal jacket size. I wear a small in most tops, -I’m 5’4, 125lb- but I wear a medium in the jacket. I still have room to wear a sweater or light jacket underneath with it zipped up, but it is snug over my hips.

I found the sleeves to be a little long, but I enjoyed the warmth from the sleeves covering the back of my hands during windy belays. The hood was fitted perfectly for me; it didn’t have extra space to let wind through when up. If it isn’t a perfect fit for you, it has handy draw tabs to adjust the hood to your liking.

Performance: Versatile, Packable, and Plenty of Pockets 

This jacket is touted by OR for being perfect for “cold spring crag missions” and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been wearing this jacket in exclusively cool, windy days and have been nothing short of impressed with its performance. It kept the high winds of springtime Southern Utah at bay as if it was a hardshell. I was very impressed at how warm I was in the shade on cloudy days.

When the sun comes out, you can easily pack it into its own pocket (think the size of a Nalgene) and clip it to your harness with a sewn-in loop. Or you can just stuff it in your backpack. It’s so light, 11.2 oz for the medium, you won’t even know it’s there. You always have room to bring the Verismo along if the weather is questionable without worrying about losing space in your pack.

The brushed tricot (think super fine, soft fleece) interior of the front pockets is a dream for your cold hands. You will also find an ample amount of this covering the top end of the zipper to keep you face cozy when the Verismo is zipped up all the way.

There’s also two surprisingly handy oversized pockets on the inside of the jacket. Normally this is created naturally by the outside pockets seams and you could gamble on putting stuff in there, but OR took the time to reinforce the seams and make them real deal pockets. That gives you 5 pockets to store anything and everything. I found myself using the inside pockets for my sunglasses and my phone, anything I didn’t want to get scratched from keys, energy bar wrappers, or even dirt from my hands. The chest pocket is incredibly roomy, easily big enough for the latest gargantuan smart phone.

Perhaps most importantly, the Verismo didn’t cramp my style while climbing. I would put it on with a little apprehension for the potential loss of movement, but would instantly forget it was there once I started going. It would stay nicely tucked under my harness despite its silky-smooth exterior.

In short, here are the many pros of the Verismo Jacket:

• • • Incredibly light and easy to pack down
    • Surprisingly warm and windproof while cutting down on bulk
    • Extra soft tricot areas for your hands and face
    • Long sleeves cover the backs of your hands for extra warmth
    • Superior inside pockets give you extra room to store everything you need
    • Fit wonderfully under a harness

And the only con:

• • • The ultra-trim fit might be hard to size properly at first

The Final Word

I love the Outdoor Research Verismo Jacket! I have not had any issues with performance or workmanship during my use of it. It fast became and has stayed my go-to jacket for its versatility, lightness, and style. Its kept me warm and comfortable during cold, windy days and pleasant, cool days with equal ease. It fits great under harness for the days at the crag and has ample pockets and style for the days running around town. I will be happily wearing this jacket to its demise.

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Mollie Bailey started climbing in 2011 in Sand Rock, Alabama. She quickly realized from those wonderful outings that an outdoor life was the one for her. She migrated to Colorado shortly after to pursue the outdoor lifestyle that’s overwhelmingly present in Colorado. She has been a Rock Climbing Guide since 2013; and loves to teach and share the world of climbing with everyone. You can find her on her days off with her two big dogs, chasing sunshine wherever possible, planning the next adventure.