Outdoor Research Helium UL Review: 15 Denier Has a Cost

A fully taped 15D shell that packs into its own chest pocket, and a fabric that will not survive a bushwhack.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Outdoor Research's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• A brim-wired hood is a genuine feature. A hood that holds its shape keeps rain off your face and lets you see, which soft-brimmed ultralight hoods do not.
• Fully taped seams is the specification separating a real waterproof shell from a water-resistant windbreaker. Untaped seams leak at exactly the places water runs.
• Packing into its own chest pocket means it goes in a hipbelt pocket and comes out when it starts raining rather than staying at the bottom of the pack.
• Bonded elastic cuffs seal better than a plain hem and add no bulk, and a drawcord hem stops the jacket lifting in wind.
• It weighs little enough that carrying it is not a decision, which is worth more than a heavier jacket that stays at home.

Where it falls short

• Fifteen denier is very thin fabric. Pack straps, granite and brush all abrade it, and a hole in an ultralight shell is a repair rather than a warranty claim. This is the trade for the weight and it is not negotiable.
• All waterproof breathable shells wet out eventually. Once the outer face fabric saturates, breathability collapses and you get wet from the inside. That is physics rather than a failing of this jacket, and it is why sustained rain is uncomfortable in any shell.
• The DWR treatment wears off and needs reapplying. A jacket that used to bead and now soaks is usually a DWR problem, not a membrane failure.
• Two hundred and twenty five dollars for a jacket you will eventually tear is a real consideration. There is a well known budget alternative that works, is heavier and lasts about as long.
• Minimalist means no pit zips on most jackets in this class, so venting is done by opening the front, which is not always practical in rain.

What owners report

Owner reports on the Helium family are consistent: light, packable, good hood, and the fabric is the limit. Hikers who treat it carefully report years of use; hikers who bushwhack in it report holes. Both are describing the same jacket used differently.

The comparison that decides most purchases is our Frogg Toggs versus Helium comparison, and it is genuinely close. Frogg Toggs cost a tenth as much, breathe well, weigh a little more and tear even more easily. Plenty of experienced thru-hikers use them and replace them.

The other option is our rain jacket versus poncho comparison. A poncho covers you and your pack, ventilates completely and is useless in wind. Our layering guide and the layering temperature reference put the shell in context, because a shell is a wind and rain layer rather than a warm one.

Who it suits

• Hikers who want a hood that works and a shell light enough to carry always.
• Anyone who has been caught out by a jacket left in the pack because it was a hassle to get to.
• Trips where wind is as much the problem as rain, since a shell handles both and a poncho does not.

Who should skip it

• Bushwhacking and scrambling, where 15D fabric will not last.
• Hikers who would rather spend a tenth as much and replace it, which is a defensible strategy.
• Sustained heavy rain at high exertion, where no shell keeps you dry from the inside.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• Frogg Toggs vs Outdoor Research Helium
• Rain jacket vs poncho
• Layering system guide
• Layering temperature reference
• Fabric denier and weight
• Sea to Summit Nano Tarp Poncho review
• Best ultralight rain jackets

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.