200+ Miles w/ Outdoor Research Helium ii rain jacket

200+ Miles w/ Outdoor Research Helium ii rain jacket | Full review

Рет қаралды 30,072

Күн бұрын

Check out this tiny jacket! The Outdoor Research Helium ii weighs in at just 182g, so for an ultralight backpacker who's looking for protection from the elements while still shaving off grams, the Helium 2 is a good contender in the market place.
I took the Helium 2 over 200 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike this year and there was some degradation of the seam taping and waterproof coating,. For this waterproof shell, it's the weight savings which can seem attractive, however, in this review and through testing I've discovered that there are more durable options on the market for jackets at this price point.
Here's where you can get yer mitts on one: amzn.to/2ZBC3FD
BTW, I MADE THIS INCREDIBLE BIT OF GEAR
Check it out! thrunotes.co.uk
Kit list as of June 2020:
Backpacks
Atom+: bit.ly/31oHlFF
ULA Circuit: bit.ly/37XbigX
SHELTERS
Stratospire 2: bit.ly/317A9gS
Zpacks Solplex: bit.ly/2CtyJmr
SLEEP SYSTEMS
Katabatic Sawatch: bit.ly/3fWSxNM
Katabatic Palisade: bit.ly/3ewt5OL
Neoair Xlite: bit.ly/2YrKSB4
FOOTWEAR
Altra Lone Peak 4.0: bit.ly/2B5fHm8
Gaiters - Altra gaiters: bit.ly/37ViBFY
CLOTHING
Waterproof shells
Rohan Helix: bit.ly/37ZKbSo
OR Helium 2: bit.ly/3fVmzBq
Frogg Toggs: bit.ly/2Nqlrth
Insulated jackets
Patagonia Micropuff Hoodie: bit.ly/2YwQZ7f
Trespass Rustler: bit.ly/3i0HODx
Base layers
Ice Breaker base layer: bit.ly/3eGSdlG
Shirts
Rohan Expedition: bit.ly/388teWl
Shorts
Patagonia Striders: bit.ly/2Npw2EX
Hats
REI desert cap: bit.ly/3hWUKdJ
Berghaus beanie: bit.ly/31dGvvi
Sunglasses
Sungods: bit.ly/2zZ0wKG
Gloves
Salomon gloves: bit.ly/2ByVMMf
Ski gloves: bit.ly/383TCQX
Socks
Injinjis: bit.ly/3dwpmPG
Darn Toughs: bit.ly/3hX28G2
Sealskinz: bit.ly/3hXAnNG
NB Flat Knit: bit.ly/31e0Dx1
Mosquito net
Smidge: bit.ly/2B8d9DH
Buff
Camino Buff: bit.ly/31awGho
FILM AND SOUND
Phone
iPhone 11 Pro Max: bit.ly/2NosT83
Drones
DJI Mavic Air 2: bit.ly/31oIn4v
DJI Mavic Air 1: bit.ly/2VbNn8E
Cameras
Canon M50: bit.ly/3eyCPrQ
Sony RX100V: bit.ly/2NqQOUy
Mics
Röde Micro: bit.ly/2Npt1nX
Tripods
Gorilla Pod 1K: bit.ly/31c74Rf
Gorilla Pod 500: bit.ly/3ewApts
Manfrotto Action: bit.ly/2Ys689O
NAVIGATION
GPS units
Garmin InReach Mini: bit.ly/384Keg4
Garmin GPS Map 66i: bit.ly/3dxY4bI
Compass
Silva Field: bit.ly/31aS3iD
WATER TREATMENT
Filter
Sawyer Squeeze: bit.ly/2YwRJt3
Purifying drops
Aquamira drops: bit.ly/3euuQM9
Water storage
Cnoc Vecto 2L: bit.ly/31e1AFB
ELECTRONICS
Power banks
20,000mah: bit.ly/2NnBQyA
13,000mah: bit.ly/3hZhvOg
GPS tracking watch
Garmin Forerunner 35: bit.ly/3drJUc9
Wall chargers
UK : bit.ly/2BxbgQW
US : bit.ly/3dpUIrb
Data
Apple SD reader: bit.ly/2VfnnsW
EQUIPMENT
Lights
NU25: bit.ly/2Z5S70p
H2R Nova: bit.ly/2BB5fCV
Tiki: bit.ly/3hXBKfi
Ice axe
Grivel Helix: bit.ly/2Z6e0Nm
Trekking poles
Alpine Carbon Cork: bit.ly/3hXWiUL
Traction
Microspikes: bit.ly/3fQC5hV
Stove
MSR Pocket Rocket 2: bit.ly/2Vfl4WL
Spoons and knives
TITO titanium spoon: bit.ly/3ey0oAT
Victorinox mini classic: bit.ly/2Yr7dP8
Poop trowel
Deuce of Spades trowel: bit.ly/3i7H3c6
Sit pad
Kumfie pad: bit.ly/3euvJnX
Tent stakes
Tarptent stakes: bit.ly/3hZik9O
MSR Mini Ground Hogs: bit.ly/3ew7VAe
OEX Y-shaped stakes: bit.ly/31bAnnd
Tent poles
Zpacks carbon fibre tent poles: bit.ly/3du14pM
Ground sheet
Polycryo ground sheet: bit.ly/37XLmBW
STORAGE
Pack liners and pods
Atom Packs DCF pack liner: bit.ly/2YrMPxo
Heacy-duty rubble sacks: bit.ly/31dqPba
Dry bags and stuff sacks
Sea to Summit 4L Nano: bit.ly/3hVi8Z3
OEX 2L dry bag: bit.ly/3dx6qjX
Katabatic Gear silynylon stuff sack: bit.ly/3expU9n
Pouches and wallets
Zpacks DCF Wallet: bit.ly/2VgbQcL
Zpacks DCF utility pouch: bit.ly/2CuHAEq
Food storage
Loksak OPSak: bit.ly/2Nq2VkD
Ziploc freezer bags: bit.ly/2Z8GOVz
MISC ITEMS
Bodyglide: bit.ly/2Nt5Wka
Carmex lip balm: bit.ly/31bqBRW
Lifesystems Nano first aid kit: bit.ly/37XVv1v
Croakies eyewear retainer: bit.ly/2B8fmit
#altrarunning #altralonepeak #trailrunningshoes
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Website: www.thetrailhunter.com/
Insta: / the_trailhu. .
Twitter: / the_trailhunter

Пікірлер: 38

@simonweeks9063 4 жыл бұрын

I’ve the same jacket. But mine was an older model, not a zipped chest pocket and not £127. £55 (as I said older model on clearance). At that price point. Perfect.

@SimonOutdoors 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent review, loved the editing, thanks mate 👍🏻

@truewoodwerks 7 ай бұрын

I too have leaned into the OR line of gear. I’ve been extremely impressed with/ the OR items I’ve picked up. Look forward to even more exciting products.

@niklash.1742 4 жыл бұрын

Hey man, ty for ur newest content. I am really enjoying it ;) Maybe look into the Montbell Versalite for ur replacement. Got mine last year and hiked the WHW und the TMB as well as some smaler trails with it. It is as light as the Helium but has real pockets and even pit zips (absolute must for me). It also did hold me absolutely dry even during a typical Scottish day of rain :D

@Kit-lu6ox 4 жыл бұрын

Looks good, I use a berghaus mainland goretex jacket for climbing mountaineering and when I know I don’t need to be really lightweight, then for us I use a Quechua kids rain cut jacket which is really light, very waterproof and even has a fleece lining that keeps you a little bit warmer when you need it and only for £7

@domo3552 4 жыл бұрын

Thats not too bad a price. Looks similar to my Rab Flashpoint. I've only worn it once, in the desert sand dunes - when it rained (!) & even though it was cloudy, I still got badly sun burnt before I wore it. Anyway, can't complain as I've only had to wear it once so far! I use a beefier eVent jacket in the colder climes. I''ve stopped using my Paramo gear for winter, but will start using them again & overdose on the Nikwax reproofing for them. You'll appreciate the PTC 10x more when you get back on it!

@craigsmith6446 3 жыл бұрын

Very good, fair and honest review, thanks.

@thetrailhunter4469 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much, Craig. Glad you enjoyed the review.

@justindunlap1235 2 жыл бұрын

I bought this to combine with my Patagonia down sweater. When wearing both its almost too warm. The clerk who sold this to me recommended that I get some of the dwr coating to reapply to areas like the shoulder and cuffs to extend the jackets life.

@tomnorris1233 4 жыл бұрын

Interested to know what other shells you’d consider as a replacement Russ 🙂 Did you look at some of the Colombia OutDry jackets?

@johneason6540 3 жыл бұрын

I have this jacket. I love it for two years. But I agree the pack straps are wearing off the coating, on hard rains it wets through some now. Im going to try a zpack next.

@paulsmart5199 3 жыл бұрын

Wash with the nikwax, softshell. It should improve and help the DWR

@GetUpTheMountains 3 жыл бұрын

Would you want to size this up one size to accommodate a fleece or thin puffer layer underneath? Anyone that has one feel free to answer.

@manuelgalanjimenez6497 3 жыл бұрын

Hello, Are there many differences between this model and the prevail jacket? Thank you

@muawiyah1993 4 жыл бұрын

Wicked review. Thats not the helium II though, its the newest iteration which uses some newer diamond tech fabric. I've got the helium II and it suffered some mild leakage around the wrists and neck after a torrential hammering on Mam Tor with 50 mph winds. Use the Helium II as a lightweight emergency waterproof that sits in my pack and Outdoor Research Foray for when I know its gonna be pissing it down all day. Have the Keela Munro but its overkill for normal UK weather.

@thetrailhunter4469 4 жыл бұрын

Blimey. It said Helium II on the label in REI when I got it. Haha thanks for the input! I’ll check those out!

@LBTFanatic 2 жыл бұрын

Good review but some little quibbles: 1. This is the newer Helium, not the older Helium II. I own both and the Helium is more durable and has better reflective elements (worse chest pocket IMHO though). 2. I don't think this is the intended usage of this jacket honestly. I use mine as a peace of mind piece of emergency kit that sits in the pack or waist bag, where the size & weight makes it phenomenal. I have used my new Helium jacket exactly... twice... in this role. In this role I'd expect it to not do well when exposed to backpacking (straps, brush, etc...) as I view it as something you either always carry (for wind even) but rarely use. If I lived somewhere where it rained more often I'd bite the bullet and carry a heavier 3L rain shell. If there's more than 20% chance of rain I'm leaving this at home and going for a OR Foray or Arc Beta instead. I will say that using this with a waist bag as part of a fast & light day hiking setup works really well in my experience. 3. OR has the best clearout sales of any decent outdoor brand I've ever seen. If you buy this for more than 50% of the MSRP you're being impatient. My old one was $70 CAN, my new one was $90. At that price point this is very hard to match.

@Hftimes2 4 жыл бұрын

I use the frogg toggs extreme lite rain jacket

@AntwonDaBusiness 3 жыл бұрын

You have to reapply dwr coatings. Reapply some dwr and you’ll get another 200 miles. Dwr coatings are not meant to be permanent. You want permanent? Wear a plastic bag haha.

@UndineAlmani 3 жыл бұрын

Pertex® Shield 2.5L as used in The Helium II Jacket is waterproof up to 20000 mm, and breathable till 20000 g/m²/24h. So pretty waterproof (if there is such a thing) and pretty breathable too.. ;-)

@justindunlap1235 2 жыл бұрын

Waterproofing and breathability are hard to balance. That's why even with good gear like this I still keep a large trash bag rolled up in my pack for those torrential Pacific Northwest rainstorms.

@MrDavidh37 4 жыл бұрын

What do you think of the Montbell looks a bit more breathable and waterproof ?

@Impalaontrail 4 жыл бұрын

the versalite by montbell, is the best waterproof around. great fabric and the pit zips keep you supper vented but stay dry.. i highly rate it!

@MrDavidh37 4 жыл бұрын

Impala on trail Thanks I thought as much looking to get one. I have a montane and when it was raining I got wetter inside than out 😂

@robbrigham5926 4 жыл бұрын

Apparently: "Pertex Shield+ Fully Waterproof Breathable Fabric - with high 15,000mm Hydrostatic Head and high 20,000g MVTR breathability rating Pertex Shield+ delivers very high performance at very low weight."

@matthewmchenry2889 15 күн бұрын

You mentioned it is woter-proof, but everyone is wondering: is it waterproof?

@christophermagera8643 4 жыл бұрын

Pertex Shield is 20K/20K

@kevinjohn9244 4 жыл бұрын

how does the frogg toggs stack up to this

@thetrailhunter4469 4 жыл бұрын

Frog Toggs are awesome and for the price I’d say are better value for money than this. But they won’t last as long. This didn’t last very long either to be fair. 🤙 happy trails!!

@ascii2795 4 жыл бұрын

Curiously enough a frogg togg jacket is lighter than that OR jacket, but it's super delicate. On the other hand, you could buy 8 sets of frogg toggs (jacket and pants) for the price of 1 helium.