June 21, 2010Outdoor Research Tested by Judy – Helium Jacket : the deluxe K-way

My name is Judy Murphy. I sing, cook, write, translate, read, ride my bike, and play tennis. I’ve also been known to do crazy things like plant trees for summers on end. I’m from Victoria, B.C, and have lived in Montreal for just over a year.

This is how I roll...with my Helium

Due to lack of rain, I couldn’t test my Helium jacket outside, so instead I took it in the shower – it’s definitely waterproof. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go bush-wacking in it and could not test the durability of the material, but I have faith (as long as you don’t go head-diving into a blackberry bush). My favourite part about my jacket is how red it is! Just kidding. Despite my obsession with the colour red, my real favourite part is the little tiny pocket the jacket fits into. It’s the size of my fist! This means I can take it anywhere with me either stored in my backpack, stuffed haphazardly into my purse, or clipped to my fanny pack by the loop on the stow pocket.

The Helium stowed in its pocket

Made of ultralight, waterproof/breathable 2.5-layer 20D Pertex® Shield DS ripstop fabric, the coat is so light you barely feel it. It has an adjustable hood, a drawstring at the waist, a zippered chest pocket, and taped seams. It weighs less than 200g. Before I had this jacket, I never realized how bulky a regular raincoat is to bring along in a backpack. The compressibility of the Helium really surprised me; I can’t wait to have it on hand at all times. This is definitely the fastest, lightest way to protect yourself from a sudden weather change. And even on a humid day like today, the jacket breathes well.

Outdoor Research Women's Helium Jacket

I have no complaints about this jacket. Someone said to me they wished there were side pockets and that it breathed better. The concept is light, simple, and fast. Pockets and pit-zips add weight. The napoleon pocket is big enough for credit cards and keys, and the stow pocket for the coat acts as an inside pocket when you’re wearing it. Also, rain jackets are not going to breathe like soft shells. I was told it was a lightweight, breathable rain jacket. That’s exactly what I got and I love it.

Judy

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