Outdoor Research Helium Down Hooded Jacket review

Steph Wetherell takes the Outdoor Research Helium Down hooded jacket out in the rain – repeatedly – and finds it a revelation.

One of the main difficulties with down jackets is how they hold up in the often rather damp British climate. Whilst they are undeniably the best choice in the eternal weight/warmth/size balancing act, if the weather is looking wet I often reach for a synthetic option rather than risk the down clumping, leaving me cold and potentially ruining the jacket. This Outdoor Research Helium Down hooded jacket has been designed to address this specific issue, and while intentionally repeatedly taking a down jacket out in the rain seems like a somewhat daft thing to do, given one of the main selling points of this jacket is its weatherproofing, it seemed like a necessary exercise.

Quick Specs

Price: $299 / £300 (available from Outdoor Research and extended sizing from vampireoutdoorgear.com) Weight: 479g (2X) Fill: 110g 800+ fill power responsible sourced down Shell: Main body: 100% Nylon (41% recycled) Pertex Quantum Shoulders and hood: 100% Nylon 2.5L Pertex Shield Hood: Adjustable Cuffs: Elasticated Hem: Drawcord adjustable Pockets: Chest zipped, two zip hand pockets, two internal stash pockets Sizes: XS – 4X Women/Mens version: Mens (S – XXXL) www.outdoorresearch.com

The main body is made of Pertex Quantum fabric with Diamond Fuse technology, where diamond shaped filaments supposedly interlock and increase durability and watershedding. I stuck to taking it out in prolonged drizzle and moderate showers as it’s not designed for heavy downpours, and I found it continued to bead well and prevented the rain from soaking in.

The shoulders and hood receive further reinforcements courtesy of a 2.5 layer 30D Pertex Shield fabric made with the same diamond filaments. The hood kept my head dry but would benefit from a drawstring adjustment at the front. The shoulders were the real revelation though as this is where I’d expect a normal down jacket to suffer in the rain, especially in combination with wearing a rucksack. I didn’t notice any ingress from the rain at all at all with no impact on the performance of the down during or after the rain tests, and the fabric on the shoulders also provided welcome additional durability when wearing it under a heavier pack.

The extended sizing range (up to a 4X in women’s, which is approx. a UK 28-30) is really pioneering, offering a great technical option for people in bigger bodies. The fit is fairly boxy, as I generally find the Outdoor Research cut to be. As I’m fairly pear shaped, this means it was a little baggy around my chest but not enough to be a major issue when wearing it under a waterproof jacket and gave space for a good thickness fleece underneath.

It comes with some other nice features; an easy to adjust hood, an elasticated and adjustable hem, and a plethora of well-placed pockets – though I found the brushed tricot fabric inside the zip pockets soft but unpleasant to the touch. It packs into one of its internal pockets, making it easy to stuff into a bag for when you stop for lunch.

One downside is that it has less down filling than some other comparable weight jackets, meaning it’s not quite as warm. However I found it pretty breathable, and I didn’t overheat or have to de-layer when wearing it whilst walking uphill on a cold day.

It might not be the first choice for the gram/warmth counters among us, but for people who are looking for a multifunctional down jacket that can weather the British weather, pack down small and lightly enough to be easy to carry around, and that is durable enough to put up with heavy use, it’s a solid choice.

Testing conditions

Steph wore this across South Wales and the Yorkshire Dales in the autumn and winter. She is a size 20, and fairly pear shaped, and runs warm on ascents but cold when still.