Ultralight Wind Shell
Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie
$129, 5.8 oz./164.4g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XXL
outdoorresearch.com
We ask a lot of ultralight wind shells, these wispy jackets that often weigh no more (and sometimes less) than your hiking shorts. We want them to breathe well when we’re hiking or running uphill while, of course, blocking the wind effectively—and not feel like a kitchen trash bag with sleeves and a hood. On trail runs, dayhikes, and a backpacking trip from the desert Southwest in spring to the mountains of Southwest Idaho, in a wide range of fall and spring weather that challenges any outer layer to keep you comfortable, I found that OR’s Shadow Wind Hoodie did just that, quite well.
It kept me warm and dry in cool, strong wind in early May dayhiking for hours in Capitol Reef National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, where I encountered brief snow flurries, and in Zion National Park, where a thunderstorm produced a brief, light rain. It blocked wind quite effectively while breathing well enough to prevent sweat from accumulating inside on very windy mornings with the ambient air temperature around 40° F on a three-day hike on southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons loop in early May.
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I pulled it on for the downhill end of a hike in my local foothills on a very windy April afternoon, after sweating hard on a steep trail that rises 2,000 feet in just over two miles, and it kept the wind from making me cold while breathing well enough that my wet base layers dried in minutes. It performed similarly on an hour-long trail run in mid-November, in late-afternoon shade with a chilly breeze and temps in the mid-40s; and on a hilly mountain bike ride on an unusually warm January day, with temps in the low 60s but a strong wind cooling things down and virtually no warmth from the sun.
The Shadow’s distinguishing component is its lightweight, bluesign-approved, 20-denier, 90 percent nylon stretch-woven fabric: Impressively breathable while repelling light rain, it feels softer against bare arms than most ultralight shells—especially the lightest out there, which can feel a bit like a plastic petroleum product. This fabric offers better durability than the very lightest ultralight shells, good enough for most rock climbing, short of dragging yourself up a tight chimney. OR applies a DWR (durable, water-repellent) treatment that’s free of fluorinated chemicals.
The trim fit provides space for a couple of base layers plus a light vest or insulated jacket underneath and very good stretch lets this jacket move however you’re moving—great for hiking, running, climbing, and other active uses. The elasticized cuffs seal out drafts.
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The close-fitting, under-the-helmet hood is adjustable—uncommon in an ultralight shell—and it stayed in place on my head in strong gusts numerous times, while the low-profile brim provides decent face protection for a UL shell. The hood also stows inside the collar using a snap, keeping it from flapping around annoyingly in wind—a smart feature that might seem superfluous until the first time you use it—and it easily stuffs inside the zippered chest pocket, which is more than spacious enough for a smartphone. Each of the two zippered hand pockets is large enough to fit a pair of warm gloves.
At just 5.8 ounces/164.4 grams for the men’s medium, it comes in just above the median weight of hooded ultralight shells, and packs down to about the size of a softball—not quite as light and compact as the lightest hooded shells, but only a couple ounces/55 grams heavier.
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Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie
The Verdict
Just an ounce or two heavier than the lightest hooded wind shells, the Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie stands out for its exceptional comfort, breathability, and wind protection, ideal for dayhikers, trail runners, climbers, backpackers who rarely encounter much rain, and other users.
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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie at backcountry.com, outdoorresearch.com, or publiclands.com.
For a rain jacket that’s barely heavier than the Shadow Wind Hoodie, although less breathable, see my review of the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket.
See my picks for “The Best Ultralight Hiking and Running Jackets” and “The 7 Best Rain Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking,” and all reviews of ultralight wind shells, ultralight rain jackets, trail-running gear, hiking apparel, and outdoor apparel at The Big Outside.
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 my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.
—Michael Lanza