Review: Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket

Rain Jacket
Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket
$299, 11 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

Anyone who’s spent enough hours in waterproof-breathable jackets while on the move in rain knows that the second half of that hyphenated adjective looms as critical to performance as the “waterproof” part. When OR introduced the Interstellar as an overhaul of a personal favorite, their Realm Jacket, for only $20 more—and unlike the Realm, also in women’s sizes—I was immediately eager to put it through the paces. After wearing it in weather ranging from rain and snow to strong winds, from a mid-September backpacking trip through Glacier National Park and a six-day hike in Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness to backcountry skiing at home in Idaho, I’m convinced the Interstellar has succeeded the Realm as a leading, top-value backcountry rain shell—but it does have one Achilles heel.

I wore it, often with the hood up, at wind-blasted passes and in strong, cold gusts on the alpine traverse from Pitamakan Pass to Dawson Pass while backpacking almost 100 miles on the Continental Divide Trail through Glacier National Park. I wore it carrying a backpack in mild temps and rain showers several times during a six-day July backpacking trip through the High Uintas. It never left my body on a December day of backcountry skiing in Idaho’s Boise Mountains: Moving both uphill and downhill through steadily falling snow for several hours, with temps in the low to mid-20s, the jacket kept me dry while the hood kept the wind and snow off my face. In fact, the fabric moved moisture quickly enough that my base layer, which got damp skinning uphill, would dry out while I skied down.


Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.


Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket
Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket

The Interstellar features OR’s proprietary, supple, 20-denier AscentShell three-layer waterproof-breathable fabric—the most breathable, fully waterproof fabric OR uses (found in other OR jackets, including the Realm and a personal favorite for backcountry skiing, the Skyward). Fully seam-taped, the Interstellar sheds heavy rain and rises to the challenge of the worst conditions most backpackers encounter. But it isn’t really intended for the severe, wind-driven precipitation of, say, mountaineering—it’s not the equal of high-end Gore-Tex shells in that regard.

Among the lightest fully featured rain shells at just 11 ounces, the focus on packability is evident in design elements like the lightweight pocket zippers (that have pull tabs for easily grabbing with gloves)—although a sturdier front zipper for better durability—and laminated construction. The Interstellar stuffs into its left hand pocket (which has a carabiner clip), packing down to the size of a cantaloupe.

OR’s dynamic reach underarm panels and the inherent mechanical stretch in the fabric deliver very good mobility—the jacket body barely rises up when raising my arms overhead. There are no pit zips, and while I didn’t miss them because of the jacket’s excellent breathability—and I sweat quite a bit—some prodigious perspiration producers may feel they need a shell with underarm zippers.

The two zippered hand pockets and one chest pocket have mesh linings, but they can never replicate the venting of pit zippers. All three are spacious enough for drying out winter gloves or keeping a map out of the rain.

Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter now.

Testing the Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket in the High Uintas Wilderness.
Testing the Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket in the High Uintas Wilderness.

The fully adjustable, helmet-compatible hood has a flexible brim that extends far enough to keep rain off your face, and the hood turns with your head; but as with many lightweight shells, the cordlock in back is tiny, so it’s easy to pull tight but hard to loosen, especially when wearing gloves.

Elasticized and adjustable, hook-and-loop cuffs are secure, but also hard to manipulate while wearing heavy winter gloves, and an adjustable hem helps seal out the elements.

The flip side of the low weight and supple feel is some compromise in fabric durability: It will tear more easily than heavier—and stiffer—fabrics like standard Gore-Tex (including some of OR’s higher-end shells).

The Interstellar sports ideal breathability and weather protection for three-season hiking and backpacking and winter outings with little risk of high-speed contact with sharp objects like rocks and branches, but I’d recommend a burlier shell to use primarily for ski touring or climbing.

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and other parks using my expert e-guides.

 

OUTDOOR RESEARCH INTERSTELLAR JACKET

Weather Protection
Breathability
Weight-to-Performance
Comfort
Packability
Durability

The Verdict

Breathability, solid waterproofing, and a fully technical design define the consummate backcountry shell, and the Interstellar is, well, stellar in those departments—as well as one of the lightest and most comfortable rain jackets with this level of performance.

4.2

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket at backcountry.com, Moosejaw.com, or outdoorresearch.com.

Was this story helpful? If so, would you like to support my work by clicking here to leave a tip for The Big Outside?

Thank you.

 

See “The 5 Best Rain Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking,” “5 Pro Tips For Buying the Right Rain Jacket For the Backcountry,” and all of my reviews of rain jackets and outdoor apparel and that I like.

Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of both stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip” and the lightweight backpacking guide without having a paid membership.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.

—Michael Lanza

You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there. Join now and a get free e-guide!

Previous

Here’s How I Can Help You Plan Your Next Trip

Full of Surprises: Backpacking Mount Hood’s Timberline Trail

Next

Leave a Reply to Michael Lanza Cancel reply

2 thoughts on “Review: Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket”

  1. Great review. What I’d like to know is: is it waterproof and sturdy enough for a thru-hike of hundreds of miles? Would a Gore-Tex product be a better choice?

    Reply
    • Hi Baron,

      Good questions. First of all, yes, it is waterproof-breathable and sturdy enough for most backpacking and thru-hiking. Standard trail hiking isn’t likely to harm this shell; extensive use off-trail, bushwhacking, or climbing could trash it, though. Whether or not to buy a Gore-Tex product instead depends on how you intend to use it. Standard Gore-Tex will probably be more durable for hard use, and its membrane won’t fail you even in extremely wet conditions; but it’s not as breathable as the Interstellar.

      You should check out my “5 Expert Tips for Buying a Rain Jacket for Hiking.”

      Reply