Outdoor Research gear reviews

Outdoor Research Skyward Jacket.

Review: Outdoor Research Skyward II Jacket and Pants

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Winter Shell Jacket
Outdoor Research Skyward II Jacket
$350, 1 lb. 7 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

Winter Shell Pants
Outdoor Research Skyward II Pants
$299, 1 lb. 5.5 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

OR’s Skyward II Jacket and Skyward II Pants have demonstrated unique versatility as winter shells over numerous days of backcountry skiing in a full range of conditions. I’ve skinned uphill and skied downhill through hours of dumping snow in temperatures in the teens and 20s Fahrenheit without ever taking the jacket off (and obviously not removing the pants) and remained comfortable skiing in single-digit temps (with an insulation layer under the jacket) and weather shifting from falling snow to sunshine.

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The Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket.

Review: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket

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Ultralight Rain Jacket Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket $170, 6 oz. (men’s medium), $180, 6 oz. (women’s medium) Sizes: men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL backcountry.com Whether hiking through heavy, cool mist while backpacking the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park, pulling this shell on frequently to fend off cold wind and rain showers during a five-day backpacking trip in The …

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Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket

Review: Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket

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Rain JacketOutdoor Research Interstellar Jacket$299, 11 oz. (men’s medium)Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XLbackcountry.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, …

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Outdoor Research Refuge Air Hooded Jacket

Review: Outdoor Research Refuge Air Hooded Jacket

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Breathable Insulated Jacket Outdoor Research Refuge Air Hooded Jacket $229, 15 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL backcountry.com On a ski tour in blowing snow in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, I wore this breathable, insulated jacket climbing uphill for the first hour without overheating. Then, while ski touring along a windy ridge with up-and-down terrain, I stayed warm without …

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Outdoor Research Refuge Hooded Jacket.

Review: Outdoor Research Refuge Hooded Jacket

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Breathable Insulated Jacket Outdoor Research Refuge Hooded Jacket $220, 1 lb. 2 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-XL backcountry.com Puffy jackets stuffed with breathable synthetic insulation comprise one of the unsung-hero categories of outdoor gear: If you’re seeking nothing more than maximum warmth per ounce in a puffy jacket, sure, high-quality down is still the way to go. …

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