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Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket — Specs & Analysis
Manufacturer specifications, compared against every other clothing & apparel in our database. We do not test gear in the field — we measure, verify, and compare.
The Helium uses Pertex Shield 2.5-layer waterproof-breathable fabric in a minimalist design. Fully seam-taped and equipped with an adjustable hood, it provides genuine storm protection while packing down small enough for a jersey pocket on unpredictable days.
Who Is the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket Best For?
Riders who want genuine waterproof protection at a reasonable weight and price. If that describes your riding style, the Helium Rain Jacket should be at the top of your shortlist. It sits in the Clothing & Apparel category alongside 16 other products we track.
How It Compares
At 180g and $160, the Helium Rain Jacket is 130g heavier than the lightest option in this category (the Giro DND Gloves at 50g). The most budget-friendly option is the Darn Tough Micro Crew Bike Sock at $24.
The price-to-weight ratio comes in at $89 per 100g — a premium price point, but you're paying for quality, materials, and design that justify the investment for serious bikepackers.
What We Like
- +Fully seam-taped waterproof construction
- +Adjustable hood fits over helmets
- +Packs into its own pocket
- +Good balance of protection and weight
Watch Out For
- −Breathability lags behind Gore-Tex options
- −No pit zips for venting
- −Hood can flap at speed without helmet
The Bottom Line
We haven't scored the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket, and neither has anyone else we can cite. It's here for its verified specifications and dimensions, which is what the fit tools run on — a score is an editorial judgement, and we don't hand one out until someone has a basis for it. What this page can tell you is measured: 180g, $160, and how both sit against every other clothing & apparel product we track.
The price and weight above have not yet been checked against the manufacturer's own page. We are working through the catalogue and saying so as we go, rather than letting silence imply otherwise.
Specifications and dimensions come from the sources listed above. Where a page draws on first-hand riding, it says so.
How it compares
Against the 17 clothing & apparel products we hold published specs for.
At 180g the Helium Rain Jacket is lighter than 7 of 16 alternatives we track. The category median is 170g.
At $160 it undercuts 5 of 16 of them, against a median of $130. That works out at $89 per 100g — above the $72 median for clothing & apparel products.
Weight and price come from published specifications. Cost per 100g is a blunt measure — it rewards light gear and says nothing about durability or whether the thing works — so treat it as one input, not a verdict.
More in Clothing & Apparel
Cycling jerseys, shorts, rain shells, and gloves built for long days in the saddle.