Feedback from Outdoor Research Helium II owners?

I just checked out Adventure Alan’s review (https://www.adventurealan.com/product/outdoor-research-helium-jacket/) – I don’t dispute the durability of the fabric itself. They don’t mention wetting out of the outer fabric at all – but if you look at the picture at the start of the review – the dark streaks in the front, and the darkness and the way the fabric is hanging on the sleeves – the jacket in the picture is starting to wet out. Again – I don’t think the membrane is compromised, so no rain water gets in, but of course no moisture gets out either. They do state that the jacket is less breathable than many alternatives – maybe in their view that includes the case where the outer fabric is wetting out.

Alans review seems fluffy.

I’ve had every conceivable piece of rain gear there is…breathable, non breathable, 3L, 2.5L, 2L, pitzips, no pitzips, jacket, cagoule, poncho, packa, gore-tex, silnylon, DCF, proprietary fabric/membrane/coating/magic spell, etc, etc, etc, and none of them made me happy.  They were all either too heavy, or wet out, or trapped condensation, or were hot, or flappy in the wind, or any/all combinations of above.  Honestly if there is no threat of hypothermia I just prefer to just get wet.

But when it’s cold you can’t get wet so for me there are only 2 choices:

1. If it’s going to rain most of the trip – full on Gore-tex 3L big ‘n burly w/pitzips and a great hood. If I’m living in it all day every day it’s the only choice that makes sense to me. Expensive and heavy but it does what it is supposed to do and will last a very long time.
2. Might rain some, might not, who knows, but you gotta have something if it does: The best I have found is Frogg Toggs/Dry Ducks and that’s what I’m sticking with for the near future.  Keeps me dry, doesn’t wet out and breathes well. The problem is, theoretically, low durability but I have yet to suffer a mechanical failure. At least when I do it’ll be cheap to replace. My next experiment – I’m going to buy the largest size they make and see it it’ll fit OVER my backpack :)

I’m done with expensive UL rain gear that doesn’t keep me dry. It’s a waste of time, money and effort.

I wrote my initial thoughts on the Helium II here a year ago. It’s still my primary rain jacket, all of my initial thoughts still hold.

Always interesting to see the diversity of experiences here.

Seems to me that our reviews might have to do more with personal expectations than gear performance. When it rains, I expect to be wet, no matter what I’m wearing. My own sweat will do it in 15 minutes if the jacket isn’t wet-out/leaking. I don’t believe breathability actually exists. Either that or nobody has created a fabric that breathes fast enough to keep up with my sweat at a decent pace.

I’m really only concerned about staying warm. I also never really approach a rain shell by itself. The Helium II, for example, is going to feel awful no matter what, like a wet plastic bag, against any bare skin (tshirt). But with a Patagonia Tropic Comfort II hoody or light fleece underneath, it feels fine. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a piece of raingear that didn’t feel clammy and wetted out inside at some point; some take 10 minutes, others take 30, but if I’m actually moving, it’s coming. I’d agree that the best is likely Frogg Toggs or Driducks in this regard, but in their lighter weight iterations they’re basically disposable if they go off trail, which I don’t care for.

So after a few years of use, I still rate it “good enough”. Good luck finding perfection!

I also never really approach a rain shell by itself

Yes!  Everything is one component of a system.

When it rains, I expect to be wet, no matter what I’m wearing

Well…perhaps…in warm conditions.  I have stayed perfectly dry and comfortable hiking in all-day rain when the temps were below 45-50 degrees and wearing a (high-end) Gore-tex 3L product (jacket and pants).  Granted that’s a pretty narrow operational window.

I have stayed perfectly dry and comfortable hiking in all-day rain when the temps were below 45-50 degrees and wearing a (high-end) Gore-tex 3L product (jacket and pants).

I wish! I’m a sweater; if I was keeping a 3mph+ pace I’d be damp at those temperatures with anything more than a baselayer on. The subjectivity of user experience/preference is so broad I wonder if it doesn’t render reviews of certain pieces of gear pretty moot.

The subjectivity of user experience/preference is so broad I wonder if it doesn’t render reviews of certain pieces of gear pretty moot.

I’ve always said the only opinion on the suitability of a piece of equipment for a task that matters is your own.  Example: LOTS of people love tarps…and hammocks.  Tried ’em both…not for me :)

Funny you mention the Tropic Comfort. We have the same wardrobe.

My experience and conclusion with the Helium remain different though. It didn’t feel fine. It wet through quickly and I wasn’t sweating. The rain was just above freezing, making it more unpleasant.

I reached out to OR and they told me to wash the Helium in case it was dirty, which it wasn’t, and then to apply a DWR treatment to it. Disappointing.

I’ve ordered the lightheart sil poly jacket to replace the OR Helium. I am giving up on breathable fabrics and will focus on ventilation.