Outdoor Research Zealot Jacket - Men's

This is a truly minimalist jacket and performs extremely well in even a torrential rain except that it doesn't have a way to secure the sleeves down. I was on a boat in the Amazon during the hardest rainstorm I have ever encountered, and while my upper body was dry the water was able to get my lower arms soaked because the sleeves just have a little elastic instead of a velcro closure. I don't care about pit-zips because why would I want that ventilation when it is raining? If it isn't raining and I need extra breathability I take the jacket off! Maybe I shouldn't have cared about the few additional ounces and gotten the Foray model instead...tough call.

This jacket does what a gore-tex jacket is supposed to do - it's waterproof, windproof, and surprisingly breathable considering that there are no pit zips. I also think it fits well, and that "Mojo Blue," OR's flagship color, is a good one. Drawbacks: First - the fabric is very thin. This hit home when I caught it on some scrub oak - a common hazard skiing the Wasatch at 6200 ft. It tore a hole in the sleeve, but the ripstop fabric did it's job, keeping the hole very tiny and easily patched with a tiny bit of ripstop tape. Second - because there is no way to secure the sleeves to overlap a short-wristed glove, the wrists can become exposed. Cold wrists while skiing can become annoying, numbing the hands and contributing to a lower core temperature. I'd recommend using gloves that can be secured over the sleeves on a cold day. I'd say this jacket is ideal for touring/hiking in moderate weather, and as a backup in your backpack all year round. It weighs nothing.

OR Gear's Zealot jacket is an essential piece of kit. In these days of soft shells keeping out most duff weather except the very worst, the Zealot IS that featherweight minimalist bombproof shell that will keep you dry. There are not many features but it sports a adequate hood and a breast pocket for a few choice bits and bobs. An utterly brilliant Paclite shell. Get one.

This Jacket is so light. There is never a reason to leave it behind. It packs small enough to fit in the smallest corner of my pack. I often carry a windshell instead of a waterproof breathable jacket, now I won't get soaked when it dumps because I will have the zealot.

I will use this jacket for anything except running through a patch of sticker bushes. It is very lightweight and durable...to a point. It will rip easier then other jackets but I think this jacket is worth that risk. My only complaint is that zipper...it takes a few to finally get it up. I am 6'1" 175 and use a medium and it is perfect.

I wore this jacket to summit Mount Whitney. It worked well as an outer layer. While I have not used it in a severe rain shower, I recommend it to everyone.

These bottoms provide just the right amount of insulation for me when I work hard in the cold.

Sweet jacket. I got one in March, and wore it in a variety of conditions in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. It's the only Gore-Tex piece I've ever had that breathes properly, although I still wouldn't wear it while running or biking in warm weather. It fits my thin frame quite well, with room for as much layering as I'll ever need. I thought they got the single cinch hood just right, and I appreciate the total lack of features: it's what makes this the lightest, most packable waterproof jacket around. Five stars for sheeze.

Ridiculously light and keeps you dry. I would have preferred pit zips at the cost of a little more weight. Very thin material, durable but less warm than some 3 layer shells.

I didn’t think there was anything in the box when it arrived. A 7.7oz jacket is definitely nice! Very sleek fit, breathes great, feels great, looks great. Has a pretty stiff zipper with the semi-waterproof system. Very thin material has me a little nervous for bushwhacking in the backcountry. I'll trust that OR and Gore-Tex will live up to their names though. The hood stays out of the way in the back most of the time. I like that the hood uses a cinch system similar my OR Nimbus Sombrero, but it doesn’t tighten around the face very well. My medium size was about right. Don’t think I could put more than a thin shirt or two under it though. Pitzips would have been nice, but then it wouldn’t have been the minimalist jacket that it is.