Outdoor Research

Helium AscentShell Jacket - Men's

Runs very large

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

Size Bought:

L

I bought an L for my husband, the size he wears for Patagonia and it was very big for him. The texture is unusual, very light.

Incredible jacket

I'm upgrading from the original foray jacket that I've had for several years. This jacket seems overbuilt which means it's gonna get pulled out for use way more often. The foray is durable but on some endeavors I would be hesitant to use it. This one seems like it's bulletproof. The only caveat I can see is no ventilation (I.e., pit zips, pocket vents, etc.) but it does claim to be very air permeable. Also a bit on the big side but I expect that because most hard shells leave room to layer underneath

Dreamy and techy, but thin for harsh conditions

This is a remarkable shell but it's not quite 5 stars for me. It's amazing when you feel how it's working as you generate heat. Somehow allocating what stays and what goes to create a nice bubble. Inside pockets are wonderful, love the headphones slip. It's somehow roomy without being baggy, really makes for ease of movement which is great. Zippers are terrific. Definitely light beyond belief, very motivating to put on and get moving. But the catch. In ~20F with about 30 mph gusts of wind, and pretty consistent went between gusts, this shell looses that impressive function. Heat gets lost pretty easily and I developed a bit of a cold sweat while xc skiing in these conditions. This definitely wouldn't be enough with a mid and a base under it in that wind in single digits. It's techy, it's innovative, but thin is still thin. You could plan for it and layer up more underneath, but if I'm investing in a shell I'd actually rather have a bit more bulk and barrier to buffer the harsh days. I'll probably explore putting heavier layers underneath this one, but if you're like me you've already got a heavy jacket for that function and are trying not to overlap garments (shell for active/sweat, jackets for moderate/low activity). Techy is great but I could do with more of a balance and take a little more thickness. I got an Ascent shell in 2019 from OR, loved it so much (still do!) that I went for this one to balance out the wear and tear. The 2019 version was more rugged so I'll still be keeping it on the regular. Last little nitpick on this one is the sinch cords, they seem a bit thin. If they were a nice bulky, thick cord I'd trust myself with pulling them more recklessly with gloves on. If I want to take good care of 'em I feel like I'll have to go through the trouble of taking off my gloves to adjust 'em. Don't regret buying, I'm just lucky I have something else to accompany it for my style. I'm 5' 11" 160lb, slim/athletic build.

Perfect lightweight shell

Use this for resort skiing and backcountry skiing. In the past, I've worn 3L goretex pro shells, and I liked them, but so far, I'm very happy with the wind protection on some cold days, especially considering that the shell is ultra thin. I run hot, so I really like the breathability, but it still offers the protection I need. Packs down very small. Criticisms would be: I wish it had a ski pass pocket on the sleeve like other more resort focused jackets I've used in the past and that I'm not sure how I'll feel about the side pockets when wearing a backpack, since they're right under the hip belt. With that being said, the pockets are massive, so they're incredibly convenient for resort skiing. Can literally fit a baseball cap in there, plus snacks and a small water bottle (or can of beer). Can't comment on the hood, as I've never used it. No clue whether or not it fits over a helmet or whether I like the adjustability. Overall, right now I just wanted a do-it-all shell and I prioritized something lightweight/packable and reasonably affordable instead of getting a super touring-focused shell and a 3L goretex shell with all the bells and whistles. Does not disappoint. Also, I already have an OR rain jacket, but I realistically could use this as a summer wind/rain layer too.

Love this jacket

This is my go to shell. Whether it's an early morning skin track for a quick run before work, all day inbounds or backcountry skiing this jacket is great. Most of the time is spent in upper teens-30 deg weather. I wear a wool blend base and midlayer under this and stay warm if I'm active at all. It's incredibly tough for as thin as it is. The only time I use my 3L goretex anymore is when we do snowmobile access ski laps - I like this jacket so I let the goretex one smell like exhaust. Only issue I've had is occasionaly I have trouble starting the main zipper - but that could be user error, it got better by end of season.

Ultralight up Aconcagua

I need a hardshell for cutting the high winds on Aconcagua. But I may not need it all that much. So I didn't want to lug up a heavy hard shell. I have enough insulation so this isn't a worry for me. This suits my needs. A 3L hardshell that is as lightweight as a regular Ole 2l rain jacket. Feels breathable and fits great.

So far a great buy!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Have not had it out on the trail yet but did test in a total Florida downpour for about 10 minutes. Held up very nicely. Planning to use as a shell and rain gear on Kilimanjaro

Waist level cinch tore from jacket upon first use

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Material is really lightweight and seems to be good and breathable. I wish pockets were bigger. I give 3 stars because it's a delicate jacket. If you don't be extra careful with it, you could have my experience. I pulled cinch at waist level and it tore from the jacket. I had to return that. Now that the return process is over, I think I'll get the same jacket again and just treat all the cinches super delicate. I'm pretty sure this is a great jacket, that's why I'm going to get it again, but just be careful with the cinches as mine tore from jacket on first try. Before this I had the Interstellar jacket and the Ferrosi hoodie and both of those have been great.

Wow, who stole the weight from my jacket?

I have owned a steady stream of wind and rain shells, starting with a scale-busting 60-40 cloth parka back in he 1970's, back when only heavy plastic and oil cloth were waterproof, and breathable and waterproof could not apply to the same jacket. I currently have a heavy, classic, Goretex 3 layer shell, two ultralight OR pertex windshells (love them), a softshell, and a couple of well-worn breathable/waterproof shells by other well-known manufacturers. This new shell awaits field use, but it is certainly the lightest weight shell I have ever owned. This is so light that it will always be in my day-hike bag, my backpack, and in my travel bag, even when skies are blue the air is calm, and no rain is expected. Breathable, Waterproof AND good-looking! This is one of the few lightweight items in my closet that has a two-way main zipper, thank you Outdoor Research, that gives me greater flexibility in how I wear the jacket. I find that most of the catalog models who wear shells in outdoor gear catalogs are slender - six-foot tall guys who wear a size Medium, and many reviews are by equally slender folks. Maybe I am the only chunky outdoorsman around, but at six-feet and 235 pounds, I wear an XXL. This XXL fits well (not overly baggy) over a couple of shirts or a down vest, and I could easily wear it over over my Helium down jacket without feeling constricted. I have a somewhat long torso, but this jacket is still long enough to cover most of my buns, so that when I vigorously hike, I don't have to worry about rain getting between the bottom of my jacket and the top of my rain pants. Like all ultralight clothing, I suspect that this will scuff or even tear if you regularly drag yourself over boulders or through thorny thickets, but my experience is that pertex diamond fuse fabrics hold up well to moderate use. I cannot imagine that shells this well made will get much lighter, and certainly, they won't beat the price I paid for this on sale.

Awesome versatility

I got this jacket last fall and have used it in a variety of scenarios, each time being very pleased with how it performed. I first used this jacket to climb a winter 14er, and the jacket was incredible. It did an amazing job blocking out just about all of the wind, but almost more importantly it kept me warm. I've worn this jacket about a dozen times skiing now and it's been awesome. The waterproofing on the jacket is great. I've skied in some wintery mixes/rain with this jacket and have never once gotten wet. My GORTEX gloves got wet before my torso ever did. One of my favorite features about the jacket is the material, and how lightweight it is. On some of the hotter spring ski days, I was able to stuff my entire jacket into the pocket of my bibs. The same applied to the hikes I've been on - super easy to store in a backpack without taking up much room. The length of the jacket feels a little long compared to others, which threw me off at first, but now I like it. The length of the sleeves could be considered a little long, but I like that because I can easily velcro them around my gloves. I'm 6'1 with an athletic build and a medium fit great. I think my only complaint about this jacket is the lack of armpit zippers. If those were added I think this would be a 10/10