Outdoor Research Helium Pant Review

The Outdoor Research Heliums are the lightest rain pants in our review and the best super-light rain pants on the market. More and more ultra-minimal pieces of rain protection are released each year, though the Heliums remain at the top of our list. Most ultralight models aren't very waterproof or are too fragile to the point where it affects their functionality, but this isn't the case with the Heliums. Sure, they are not the absolute toughest and don't boast totally bombproof storm protection, but they offer enough to make them a very functional option.

Performance Comparison

The Heliums were a common companion on our testing trips. They are so lightweight that it never seemed like a problem to throw them in to compare them to another model. That's the highlight of these pants — they are just so light and tiny. No other pair can disappear in the bottom of your pack like these can.

Water Resistance

The Outdoor Research Heliums use Pertex Sheild fabric for its weather resistance. Pertex Sheild is a PU film coating laminated to a nylon shell in a 2.5-layer construction. With the Helium Rain's ridiculously low weight, we didn't have very high expectations for their weather resistance, as most ultralight pants tend to wet out pretty quickly. These performed better than expected, though there are important considerations to weigh when using lightweight pants like the Heliums. In testing, we found these pants to be water-resistant for about an hour in light rain before starting to feel some dampness near the crotch and calf areas. In our more intense hose testing, these pants made it about 60% of the way through before we noticed a small amount of water getting through in the same spots.

The exterior face fabric of these pants would wet out faster than higher-end models, but they actually performed quite similarly to heavier but more price-pointed 2.5-layer options. Ultimately, the Heliums are an incredible option when the weather forecast is favorable and modest rainfall is the worst precipitation expected. Many of our testers bring rain pants for that brief afternoon thunderstorm or for a bit of extra warmth- for those applications, the water resistance of the Heliums will easily meet one's needs.

Comfort and Mobility

With all this weight-focused talk, it's easy to assume that this model wouldn't be very comfortable, but other than a slightly clammy-feeling interior, that simply isn't the case. Our entire team loved the feel of the low-profile elastic waistband, particularly when worn with a backpack, as it didn't pinch or chafe. The shock cord inside the waistband was a breeze to tighten and kept our pants from slowly inching down, a common annoyance with rain pants. Lastly, since there are no full-length side zips and no front fly, there are no flaps to rub or become uncomfortable if you find yourself wearing these for hours on end.

These pants fit a wide range of users but run slightly on the smaller/slimmer end of the spectrum. For folks who are forced to size up, there are three built-in elastic loops to accommodate suspenders.

The Helium's range of motion was above average among models tested in our review. They feature decent articulation and moderately loose legs that help with mobility and minimize restriction. We used these pants for many different applications, including alpine rock climbing, nordic skiing, trail running, and backpacking. The slightly baggier cut near the ankles caught our boots a few times, but that was over the course of tens of thousands of steps during testing. After extensive use, we found that these pants performed well for activities requiring a fair amount of mobility.

Breathability

The Pertex Shield fabric performed about average in the breathability metric, and there are no ventilation features of any kind. The latest version of the Helium pants offer filaments that are diamond-shaped, which slightly improved the breathability from previous iterations of the Heliums. All water-resistant fabrics have their breathability limits, and as such, ventilation was a key feature that allowed other options to score higher in this category.

In addition to the filament shape, Outdoor Research improved the feel of the internal fabric and texture, which certainly helped with the clamminess feeling of older versions of these pants. However, several members of our testing team noted that they still felt similarly clammy to most more basic 2.5-layer models.

Weight

At 5.86 ounces, these pants are super light and offer the lowest weight of any model in our review, and these are easily one of the lightest options currently on the market. It achieves its incredibly low weight from a range of design features (or lack of features) and an ultra-lightweight fabric.

This contender is made of the lightest external fabric in our review and has minimal-width seam tape, low gauge 1/4-length zippers, and a narrow lower-profile elastic waistband. They might not be as durable and feature-rich as many other options (there are no pockets), but as far as excellent pants for backpacking and hiking—or as a just-in-case layer—the Helium is tough to beat.

Durability

This competitor features a 30D nylon shell, which is the thinnest in our review, though not by heaps. We found them durable enough for most backpacking and hiking trips, but if you do much bushwhacking or off-trail travel, these lightweight pants might get destroyed or torn up quicker than other models. In our weighted drag tests, we started to see some wear and tear, but it didn't make it past the first out of 2.5 layers and retained its water resistance.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Helium?

For its combination of exceptionally low weight and packed volume, and respectable storm protection, this model is simply the best super-lightweight rain pants we've seen. If you prioritize packed size and low weight, the Heliums are unbeatable. They certainly aren't as durable or feature-rich as many other options, but they offer an extremely functional design, and their comfort and low weight make them a winner.

What Other Rain Pants Should You Consider?