ProView – Outdoor Research Women’s Helium Rain Jacket

It was an abnormal stormy weekend, only 50 degrees Farenheit outside with partly dark clouds. I started at the trailhead of Brown Mountain in Klamath Falls, Oregon, making my way six miles towards Fish Lake. During the six hours of trekking to Fish Lake, I had an extended opportunity to pack and unpack the rain jacket. The material was light and durable as brush scraped against it, giving me the space and time to look for precious morel mushrooms. When the storm hit, I could hear the fat raindrops roll off the jacket, and roll down my front. I’ve been a wilderness guide for the past five years, often working during shoulder seasons and often during the coldest days of winter. I’ve tested out many types of rain jackets, as they have been my saving grace through keeping students safe in the woods. Sometimes I had to head to the field during emergencies when students got lost, and would spend hours in the cold finding them, and bringing them back to camp. Having a reliable jacket is key, and the Helium jacket definitely kept me dry as I became lost on my way out of Fish lake, and took a twelve hour detour to my car.

Fit

The jacket fits to size. I ordered a small and it fits me well. It still has room for clothes to fit underneath. I think that a medium would might have been a better choice because the jacket is so thin I don’t think it would provide much warmth other than being a wind block.

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Look/Style

This jacket is absolutely beautiful! It has a blue moon exterior and a crisscross pattern of diamonds on the surface. It has a rigid hood that hugs the face nicely and keeps the water out of the eyes. I would honestly wear this jacket to work because of its professional appearance. It looks very well made and put together.

Features

This jacket has one pocket on the front and it is big enough for a phone. I wish it had side pockets for hands to be able to rest. It has water-resistant technology that allows the water to wick off of the jacket quickly. The zipper in the front sometimes gets stuck, I imagine with heavy use it might give out. The hood hugs the face as well has a rigid brim that keeps water off of the face.

Weight/Packability

The jacket rolls to a very small size and only weighs .5lbs! I think this is the best feature of the jacket.

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Function/Performance

Rain wicks off the jacket quickly. The fabric is durable and strong. It’s able to withstand bushwhacking, as well as keep you very dry during heavy storms. It’s completely waterproof, which is hard to find.

Durability/Construction

The fabric is strong, even though it is light. It is completely waterproof and able to withstand heavy rainfall. Making sure you take it out to dry is key. Also, try not to wash it in the washing machine because it will wear faster.

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The product met my expectations. I was surprised when it arrived and it was only .5 lbs and it appears more like a shell than a jacket. If you are looking for warm layers in your jacket, this isn’t the product for you. This is more of a shell that goes over your warm layers. The blue color was more beautiful than I expected. I would recommend ordering one size bigger than you are so you have plenty of room to be able to fit layers underneath. Also great for a summer storm, because it is light to pack and it won’t make you uncomfortably hot. 

Eco-Friendly

Outdoor Research has many initiatives in place to continue to improve its environmental impact. You can learn more about them here.

The Final Word

Overall I loved this jacket! I love that it’s lightweight, packable, and waterproof. I love that it has a phone pocket, fits well, and has a rigid hood. I think the downsides to the jacket is that I can imagine it wearing away with time, especially if it’s not stored in a place where it can dry out completely. It also is very thin, so not great for winter applications. You could counteract this by buying a bigger size and using it more as a shell. The zipper in the front also gets stuck, and I worry it will go out fairly soon. I would recommend this product to people who want to get on the trail, maybe trail run, or have a long backpacking trip and want to keep their weight down. 

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