Outdoor Research Helium II Jacket Review

Overview

For years, the Outdoor Research Helium II was the default answer when a thru-hiker or fastpacker wanted a real waterproof jacket that weighed about as much as a large apple. It is a fully seam-taped 2.5-layer shell in 30D Pertex Shield DS ripstop that stuffs into its own chest pocket, and it leaves out nearly everything else. Outdoor Research has discontinued it in favor of newer Helium jackets, so it now turns up mostly secondhand or on closeout racks. The trade-off was always the same: very little weight, very little jacket.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	181 g (6.4 oz)
Fabric	2.5-layer 30D Pertex Shield DS ripstop, 100% nylon with clear laminate
Waterproofing	Fully seam-taped
Fit	Standard
Center back length	79 cm
Pockets	Packable chest pocket with carabiner loop; no hand pockets
Hood and cuffs	Adjustable hood, elastic cuffs
Status	Discontinued

Performance

Weather protection. The Pertex Shield DS laminate handles what a shell this thin is built for. A long-term owner describes dependable protection in moderate rain for up to a few hours before the fabric begins to wet out. That is about the ceiling for a 2.5-layer fabric at 30D. Showers, squalls and the last few miles into camp are fine. A full day of sustained downpour is where a heavier three-layer shell holds up longer before the face fabric saturates and breathability falls off.

Breathability and feel. Pack Hacker’s testers found the jacket quite breathable, even in a hot, humid climate, which is a decent result for a shell in this weight class. Against the skin, a Trailspace reviewer found the fabric a little clammy. They also said it was less so than the plastic-feeling rain jackets they had owned before. Anyone moving hard in warm rain will still feel it. The jacket has no pit zips, so venting comes down to the hood and the front zipper.

Fit. Sizing runs true. A backpacking reviewer in a men’s medium called the fit a good one. He described the standard cut as close but not slim, with room for a light fleece or a thin puffy underneath and little to spare beyond that. The 79 cm center back length gives hip-level coverage, enough for a hipbelt to sit under the hem without much fuss.

What was cut. At 6.4 oz, the omissions are the point. There are no hand pockets, and wrist adjustment tabs were dropped in favor of simple elastic cuffs. A Trailspace reviewer thought this was one place where a few extra ounces would not hurt. That reviewer also found the cuffs a touch wider than their wrists, which let water run down the forearm when the arms were raised, as when gripping trekking poles on a climb. A Backpackers.com reviewer missed the pockets for warming his hands, though he allowed that a deliberately simple jacket should not be faulted for personal preference and said it does the job it was built for.

Packability. This is where the Helium II built its reputation. The chest pocket doubles as the stuff sack, and the jacket compresses to roughly the size of a fist. Pack Hacker’s testers listed it among the lightest rain jackets available. The carabiner loop lets it hang off a pack strap, though most owners will want it inside the pack, out of the brush. It takes up so little room that it rides along on days when the forecast looks fine.

Durability. The thin 30D face fabric is where the weight savings are paid for. One reviewer called the fabric very thin and judged the jacket better suited to trail running than to rough backpacking use. Pack straps, hipbelt buckles, brush and granite scrambles are all hazards. Owners who treat it as an emergency layer and not a daily driver tend to get the best life from it.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 181 g (6.4 oz), light enough that it is easy to forget in the pack
• Fully seam-taped Pertex Shield DS protects reliably in showers and moderate rain
• Stows in its own chest pocket to about the size of a fist, with no separate stuff sack
• True-to-size standard fit with room for a light mid-layer
• Adjustable hood and a 79 cm back length give reasonable coverage for the weight

Cons

• Discontinued, so buyers are limited to secondhand listings and leftover retailer stock
• No hand pockets and no pit zips
• Elastic cuffs can let water in when the arms are raised
• The thin 30D fabric needs careful handling around pack straps and brush
• Wets out in multi-hour, all-day rain

Who Should Buy This

The Helium II suits ultralight backpackers, thru-hikers and trail runners who want storm insurance at the lowest possible weight. Those buyers will not miss pockets or cuff adjustment. It fits someone who carries a rain jacket for a few hours a week and not a few hours a day. Hikers in sustained wet climates, bushwhackers, and anyone who wants hand pockets or ventilation should look at a three-layer shell or a more fully featured jacket from the current Helium line.

Verdict

The Helium II delivered real waterproof protection at 181 g and wasted almost nothing on extras. It is a good find at a fair secondhand price for someone who wants a pack-it-and-forget-it emergency shell. It is a poor fit for all-day foul weather, rough terrain, or hikers who want pockets. The 7.5 rating reflects the sparse feature set and the fact that it can no longer be bought new.