Outdoor Research Microgravity Review

The Outdoor Research Microgravity strikes an excellent balance of storm protection and durability, especially for the weight. At 14.5 ounces, it is a few ounces heavier than many of the products we tested. However, for the tiny bit of added weight, you'll receive better, longer-lasting weather protection, toughness, and overall versatility — all trade-offs we think most users will appreciate.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

The Microgravity uses AscentShell fabric for its weather protection, Outdoor Research's proprietary air-permeable waterproof membrane. Unlike many other air-permeable shells out there, the Microgravity is a 3-layer construction, which means it boasts increased durability. It features a thicker face fabric, which takes longer to wet out in an extended rainstorm, and it feels less cold in windy conditions.

In our side-by-side hose and shower tests, the Microgravity was one of the more stormworthy contenders, boasting incredible weather protection, especially for an air-permeable model. We like the low-profile watertight zipper with minimal internal storm flap; it's a super-effective combination and allows for greater comfort and less bulk.

The hood is deep and fits over most bike or climbing helmets; it offers plenty of adjustment to cinch down, even without something on your head. The hood moved with us as we looked side-to-side, and we could maintain excellent peripheral vision. The hood also felt less claustrophobic the most other models in our fleet.

Breathability

This model uses AscentShell, which is Outdoor Research's proprietary air-permeable waterproof membrane. The fact that it's air-permeable means that it maintains a relatively consistent level of breathability, regardless of the user's activity level or outside weather factors. This is due to allowing a small amount of air to always pass through the fabric.

In our tests, the Microgravity was one of the more breathable options in our lineup. It isn't quite as breathable as thinner, similarly priced air-permeable models, likely due to its slightly thicker materials and 3-layer construction. However, these are also likely the reasons why it is one of the most storm-worthy air-permeable models we tested; this was most noticeable when we'd stop for breaks after long, hard pushes in the rain, where this jacket would feel less cold.

Comfort and Mobility

The Microgravity offers average mobility and range of motion. Like other air-permeable models with polyester membranes, it features some stretch but less than other jackets with similar construction. It will perform adequately for most outdoor pursuits; however, if mobility is a priority, we would look towards something with more built-in articulation.

One major plus is that the interior material is quite cozy feeling, and feels notably less clammy than many models in our fleet. It is also a lot less crinkly than 3-layer Gore-Tex models.

For being such a great jacket for general outdoor pursuits, it is a little bit of a shame that the lower-hand pockets aren't a bit higher — we found them ill-placed for wearing a backpack waist strap or harness, though they didn't pinch. On the other hand, our testing team loved the two Napoleon-style chest pockets.

Weight and Packability

Weighing in at 14.5 ounces, this jacket is slightly heavier than average. However, you get a ton of performance benefits for only 2-4 ounces of additional weight. Compared to those that are a few ounces lighter, the Microgravity is far more storm worthy and durable — all while offering above-average breathability and a nice feel. These are all trade-offs we think most people will find worthy if they're shopping for an all-around jacket.

The Microgravity compresses nicely into its left lower-hand pocket, which doubles as a stuff sack with a clippable carabiner loop. The pocket is a pretty tight fit, which all of our testers loved; this is because we don't actually use the stuff pocket that frequently, and when we do, it's nice to have it actually compress the jacket, even if it takes a little extra effort to stuff it in. This jacket will pack down enough to keep most backpackers and hikers more than satisfied.

Durability

The Microgravity features a 3-layer construction that uses a 100% nylon 45D stretch ripstop face fabric, a 30D knit backer/internal fabric, and a polyester-based (AscentShell) membrane. The 45D face fabric is thicker, more abrasion-resistant, and just plain tougher than average. This makes it suitable for off-trail travel, extended trips, or for folks who are simply hard on their gear. The 3-layer construction also helps it maintain its breathability and weather resistance longer than most 2.5-layer options. We found the DWR and its ability to resist wetting out longer-lasting than many other models in our review.

Value

The Microgravity is similar to other jackets that offer a comparable construction and feature set. It is slightly more expensive than other air-permeable models but aligns with the performance of jackets that use name-brand materials, like Gore-Tex. This jacket easily justifies the price by offering some of the best feel, durability, and weather resistance of any air-permeable model; it's also easily compressable.

Conclusion