Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Weather and tear resistant shoulders and hood, warm, easy to layer under, fleece lined hand pockets
Cons: Heavy, bulkier fit
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | | ||
| Price | $223.16 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $324.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $339.00 at Feathered Friends | $286.73 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $279.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Weather and tear resistant shoulders and hood, warm, easy to layer under, fleece lined hand pockets | Incredibly light, compact, warm for its size and weight, effective hydrophobic down | 900+ fill down, warm, lightweight, incredibly compressible, competitively priced | Lightweight, stylish, high warmth to weight ratio | Water resistant hydrophobic down, great DWR coating, well thought-out features |
| Cons | Heavy, bulkier fit | No hood cinch, no chest pocket | Hood a little tight to fit over a helmet, no hood adjustment | Expensive, not super durable | 750 fill-power down is good but not as light or lofty as others |
| Bottom Line | Designed for cold and potentially wet days in the mountains, this tear resistant option makes for an awesome belay coat | Offers high versatility, comfort, accommodation of movement, and light weight | This no-nonsense performance model has everything you need in a lightweight package | If you are looking for a warm, light layer for a trip where ounces count, this jacket is a great selection | Pertex Microlight face fabric, Nikwax treated down, and a quality DWR coating make this one water resistant hoody |
| Rating Categories | Helium Down Hoodie | Ghost Whisperer/2 | Feathered Friends Eos | Arc'teryx Cerium SL Hoody | Rab Microlight Alpine |
| Warmth (30%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Fit (15%) | |||||
| Compressibility (10%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Helium Down Hoodie | Ghost Whisperer/2 | Feathered Friends... | Arc'teryx Cerium... | Rab Microlight... |
| Down Fill | 800+ fill goose down | 800-fill RDS certified, down insulation | 900+ goose down | 850-fill goose down | 700 fill recycled hydrophobic down |
| Total Weight | 15.5 oz | 8.5 oz | 13 oz | 7.6 oz | 15.7 oz |
| Baffle Construction | Sewn-through baffles | Sewn-through baffles | Sewn-through baffles | Sewn-through | Sewn-through baffles |
| Main Fabric | Pertex Quantum | Recycled polyester ripstop, DWR finish | Pertex Quantum | Arato 7 nylon | Pertex Quantum |
| Compression Method | Stuffs into pocket | Zips into pocket | Stuff sack | Included stuff sack | Stuff sack |
| Pockets | 2 hand, 2 internal, 1 chest | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest |
| Hoodless Option? | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The OR Helium Down Hoodie is a beefy weather and tear-resistant option that can withstand some real abuse. The durable nature of the fabric adds a fairly significant amount of weight and in turn, at 15.5 ounces, this isn't the lightest jacket we tested. If weight is a huge concern for you, there are lighter and more compressible options. However, not having to constantly worry about tearing your jacket offers peace of mind not often had with insulating layers.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
Whether you're giving long cold belays or taking a rest after laying pre-dawn skin tracks, having a warm and wind-resistant layer is crucial for your success and happiness. The OR Helium Down Hoodie is on the warmer end of the spectrum for light to mid-weight insulation. A big part of this comes from the nylon outer shell being so wind resistant. It doesn't take a lot of wind to make the ambient air temperature feel a whole lot colder. The 800 fill down is certified to be responsibly sourced and acts as a terrific insulator.
Weight
This jacket's biggest weakness is its weight. Designed more as a sturdy belay coat than as a piece of ultralight backpacking gear, this purpose-built down is more specialized than your average ultralight insulation layer. The extra weight is a trade-off for more weather resistance and other features useful for cold days adventuring in the mountains. At 15.5 ounces, this isn't light by modern standards but the warmth to weight and weather resistance to weight ratios are actually quite good.
Water Resistance
Down insulation is historically horrible at dealing with wet conditions. Wet down loses considerable amounts of its insulating properties and is slow to dry. While hydrophobic down does exist your best bet is never letting it soak through in the first place. This piece accomplishes this by using two types of nylon for the outer shell. The hood and shoulders, being the most susceptible to rain, are made from a waterproof nylon that beads water right off. This won't protect you from long and continuous downpours but will certainly keep you dry in short, pass-over storms.
Fit
The fit on this puffy is on the large and bulky side of things. The waterproof panels on the shoulders and hood give the coat an extra puffy look. The torso is a little longer than your average jacket which is ideal for maximizing your coverage and the ability to layer over other layers and your climbing harness. The shoulders have an athletic fit and don't seriously impede overhead movement.
Compressibility
Given the weight and bulky nature of the jacket, it has surprisingly good compressibility. It stuffs into its own hand pocket and includes a built-in clip-in loop. It just straddles the line of feeling too big to actually want to clip to your harness. It does compress into a small enough package that making the choice to throw it in your daypack is a no brainer.
Features
This jacket comes complete with all the features you'd expect from a modern belay coat. It has a cinchable hood and waist. Both help with keeping the cold out and your body heat trapped inside. The down is also equipped with fiver separate pockets. Two zippered handwarming pockets, one zippered chest pocket, and two internal drop pockets. All three of the external pockets are fleece lined and easy to slide your hands in and out of.
Value
All in all, this is a fairly valued piece. For the warmth and weather protection it offers, it is priced comparably to other similar options. While it's not a screaming deal, investing in high quality down that is protected by a more durable outer shell is an investment for your continued success in mountains with ever-changing conditions.
The OR Helium Down is best suited for climbing and adventuring in cold and inclement weather. The extra weatherproofing adds some weight but affords you the ability to get caught in the rain or wet snow without immediately having to worry about your down soaking through.
Conclusion
The OR Helium Down Hood is ideal for mixed weather excursions into the mountains. The jacket is warm, feature-laden, and durable. It loses points for its weight and bulky fit but overall, is a worthy puffy that can stand up to the abuse of climbing or skiing in the backcountry.
— Buck Yedor