REVIEW

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket

The Helium jacket from Outdoor Research is a popular ultralight rain jacket for backpacking and outdoor adventures. I've been using one since 2014(!) and recently also tested the updated model.

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It's hard to find a rain jacket smaller and lighter than the Helium. It weighs 6.3 oz and packs down to the size of my hand.

Weight and Size

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Weather Protection

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Will it keep you dry? The Helium does a good job in intermittent rain and light drizzle. It eventually wets out in heavy prolonged rain, as most 2.5 layer rain jackets do, so it's not the best choice for especially wet, cold, or stormy conditions.

Price

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For such a lightweight piece of gear, the Helium is surprisingly competitive on price. You can often find it on sale for less than its $180 MSRP. 

For more, read the full review at Exploring Wild:

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This interactive trip planning guide is packed with checklists, key questions, and recommendations to take the worry out of planning your first or biggest backpacking trip.