REI Co-op Stormbolt GTX - Women's Review
Cons: Not pocket stowable, main zip may leak in prolonged heavy precipitation
Manufacturer: REI Co-op
Our Verdict
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 This Product
REI Co-op Stormbolt GTX - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | | | |
| Price | $280 List | $214.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $299.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $199.95 at Backcountry | $110.93 at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Comfortable, high pockets accommodate waist belt, fairly protective, helmet compatible hood, good adjustability | Water resistant, wind resistant and breathable, dual direction whole side/pit vents, dual direction main zipper | Exceedingly water resistant, great fit, comfortable fabric, good zipper design, very durable | Incredibly stretchy, comfortable, breathable, long arms, not crinkly | Exceptionally packable, lightweight, impressively waterproof, easy to move in |
| Cons | Not pocket stowable, main zip may leak in prolonged heavy precipitation | Very difficult to pack into its pocket, sleeves a bit short, main zipper difficult to match up | No pit zips for dumping excess heat in a pinch, doesn't pack into a pocket, expensive | Thin, hood not great coverage, not windproof | No vents or hand pockets, lack of everyday features |
| Bottom Line | Pleasant and comfortable, this jacket is a solid option for getting out there no matter the weather | In spite of its relatively large packed size and weight, this jacket will meet every other expectation you have for a rain shell | Offering impressive protection from the elements in a very comfortable and well-fitting jacket | You'll pay more for the stretchy fabric of this model, but it just might be worth it if you partake in a lot of aerobic activities | A solid packable rain layer that will keep you dry but doesn't have a lot of everyday comfort features |
| Rating Categories | Stormbolt GTX | Aspire | Arc'teryx Zeta SL - Women's | Stretch Ozonic | Helium Rain Jacket |
| Water Resistance (30%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Weight And Packability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Stormbolt GTX | Aspire | Arc'teryx Zeta SL... | Stretch Ozonic | Helium Rain Jacket |
| Measured Weight | 12.3 oz | 11.4 oz | 9.4 oz | 9.4 oz | 5.6 oz |
| Number of Fabric Layers | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Material | Gore-Tex 30D ripstop nylon | Gore-Tex with Paclite technology 2L, 100% polyester 50D plain weave | 40D ripstop (N40r) Gore-Tex New Paclite Plus, DWR treatment | Dry.Q Active Stretch 40D 2.5L (100% nylon) | Pertex Shield, Diamond Fuse 30D ripstop nylon |
| Pockets | 2 hand, 1 chest | 2 hand, 1 chest | 2 hand | 2 hand, 1 chest | 1 chest |
| Pit Zips | Yes - dual direction | Yes - dual direction | No | Yes - dual direction | No |
| Pit Zip Length (in) | 12" | 21" | N/a | 13" | n/a |
| Helmet Compatible Hood | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Stows into Pocket | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Carabiner Loop in Stow Pocket | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Stormbolt GTX is a 3 layer rain jacket made of Gore-Tex 30D ripstop nylon with fully taped seams. It has two hand pockets and an internal chest pocket and features a helmet-compatible hood, velcro-adjustable wrist cuffs, dual-direction pit zips, and waterproof pocket zippers.
Performance Comparison
Water Resistance
In all our outdoor rainy day trials, the Stormbolt never once let us down. Waterproof zippers keep the pockets dry, and the large helmet-compatible hood with a wide brim shields your face effectively. Unlike some other jackets we tested, the fabric itself also never appeared to soak up any water. The 3 layer design of this Gore-Tex rain jacket delivers what it promises. Velcro adjustable wrist cuffs also let you define how you want to keep your arms dry.
The only issue we had with the waterproof ability of this coat came up during our lab testing. We left water sitting on the zippers, and after a time, the pooled water did eventually soak through the main zipper. With a storm flap behind the main zip and the unlikelihood of finding yourself in a situation with that much water hitting the main zipper, we don't think this is a huge issue. If you're planning on standing on the bow of a speedboat in a rainstorm, maybe, but we never had any issues with leakiness while wearing it in the rainy Pacific North West.
Comfort
The Stormbolt is solidly comfortable to wear. It's a little stiff and makes a muted crinkly noise but is less annoying than many others we tested. The sleeves and torso are long enough to be protective without being restrictive and do a decent job moving with you. We appreciate the two hand pockets that add everyday usability comfort while still being high enough to use with your backpack on.
An internal chest pocket adds additional storage. Microfleece lines the inside of the chin to maintain comfort even when you're fully enclosed in this coat. It also has a collar inside the hood with a long section of microfleece lining that rests comfortably against your neck, adding warmth and security in stronger storms.
And while we love the protectiveness of the hood and brim, because it's helmet-compatible, it's massive and can easily swallow your face if not properly adjusted. It's easy to make those adjustments both on either side of your face and on the back of the hood - though it does turn the hood into a funky shape that looks a little goofy but still works. And while we appreciate the protection offered by the stiff internal storm flap, it easily gets in the way of zipping up and requires a little extra attention.
Breathability
This coat is more protective than it is breathable, but it's not without some key features that make it a well-rounded rain jacket. The 30D nylon Gore-Tex fabric is solidly protective against the wind, while 12" dual-direction pit zips help vent your warmer areas.
The slightly textured interior adds a small level of wicking ability while still being comfortable on your bare skin. An adjustable hem securely locks down the bottom of the jacket in windy storms and easily loosen again for warmer weather. While we wouldn't choose this shell for something as intense as running, it works pretty well for moderately intense activities like hiking.
Durability
Constructed of 30D ripstop nylon Gore-Tex with fully taped seams, the Stormbolt is heartily constructed and carefully designed. It offers just the tiniest hint of stretchiness and withstood everything we threw at it during several months of testing. The only durability struggle we have with it is that its bright red color picked up a few small stains along the way. Aside from that, we're quite pleased with how solid this coat is.
Weight and Packability
At 12.3 ounces, the Stormbolt is one of the heaviest jackets we tested, though this can hardly be considered heavyweight. It's also one of just a few that doesn't stow into its pocket. It can, of course, be rolled up into its own hood, but that package is a bit sloppy and not ideal. This is a jacket that's meant to be worn, not carried.
Value
The Stormbolt is one of the more expensive rain jackets we tested. We certainly think there's a lot to love about this jacket, though. It has excellent features that crossover well between casual dog walks and weekend backpacking trips. If its unique set of features is exactly what you've been searching for, we think the initial investment is a fair price for what you get.
Conclusion
The REI Stormbolt GTX is a rain shell that's easy to love. It combines some of our favorite features for both everyday and more technical uses. Though it's not the most packable option, it's solidly protective, built to last, and well-liked among our testers.
— Maggie Brandenburg