outdoor research helium 2

[wayno]

just bought an OR helium 2 jacket from sunnysports for under a hundred in the states, retails in nz for $250
180gm.... should be good for a "just in case" rain jacket packs down to a very small package, my main jacket is 450gm so needed something a fair bit lighter to be worthwhile getting another raincoat...

was also looking at a montbell versalite, similar weigh and has pit zips but can't get it at the mo and can be a problem using an overseas credit cared at monthbell according to the website....

[Mountain Rocket]

Without meaning to be rude, what is the point of this thread?
I assume you are seeking other members experience with the OR Helium 2?

[ninjapuppet]

Is the material Pertex shield like the helium I? I have a bivy made of Pertex quantum which is good for a short drizzle, but it wets out after 20 minutes.. I wouldn't trust a shell jacket made of P.quantum so I hope yours will fare better

[wayno]

Without meaning to be rude, what is the point of this thread?
I assume you are seeking other members experience with the OR Helium 2?

raising it as an option for people looking for lightweight shells, i can give feedback when i've used it, it's a new shell just released which people may not be aware of one of the lightest waterproof breathable shells on the market, OR increased the water repelency , breathability and reduced the weight over teh original helium jacket
it's pertex shield, its a waterproof version of pertex with a polyeurethane membrane and seam sealing, its supposed to be improved over helium 1
if you look at pertex's site quantum isnt a waterproof fabric, shield is [url]pertex.com[/url]

backpacking light gave it a reasonable review, it's not the most breathable fabric out, still has a breathability of 20,000 which is pretty reasonable. it was made to be light above all else. as i mentioned above I see it more of a "just in case" jacket if it's going to rain occasionally or theres a chance of rain rather than a jacket when its raining more often than not.
less bulk filling up the pack when it's sitting there and a bit less weight. also interested to see how well the fabric wears over time as to whether i'll stick with using this type of jacket.
kathmandu are plugging their active shell jacket for high aerobic day long activities, , not as an overmnight tramping jacket at all, makes me wonder how durable it will be with a heavy pack on, since theres less glue to hold hte membrane to the fabrc, will it be prone to delaminate with a heavy pack on???
http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/Mens/Jackets_&_Vests/Rainwear/12722/Patronus_Jacket_Men.html#

i've read bad reviews about marmot's proprietary membranes delaminating. they also make lightweight gear and expensive at that....

[ninjapuppet]

"packs down to the size of a granola bar"
Thats a nice find Wayno! do you have a photo of it all packed up by any chance?

[Dale]

Yeah 180g is pretty good and also keen to hear the performance.

At the moment I use an Integral Designs jacket which is about 280g and a windshirt with DWR treatment as a lightweight alternative for quick trips or summer weather.

[wayno]

hmm granola bar? maybe a big granola bar, heres a video review where it's gets packed up into its pocket.....

http://vimeo.com/39910020

[Bluegum Mic]

I think he stuffed that in the wrong pocket (unless they've changed that between models). There's a little pocket on the inside of the jacket on the helium 1 that has velcro to close it. Then it definitely goes down tiny. Id be interested to hear how much more breathable it is. I love mine (and its copped an absolute drenching and I've stayed bone dry sustained). But I don't feel its as breathable as my paclite goretex (also outdoor research).

Anyway here's mine I just stuffed away

[wayno]

cheers, i'll let you know how it performs when i get, it ive ordered it but getting it via mail from the sates could be two or three weeks away... then wait for a suitable downpour

[Bluegum Mic]

No worries. They're a great jacket. Mine not only gets thrown in my pack for day walks, but chucked in my handbag or pram for threatening weather. I got mine for $87 from mainpeak when on sale (with an additional promo code). Been a great purchase. You'll love yours

[wayno]

i probably would have looked at something else around the 300 gram mark if i didnt already have a heavier jacket.
the better breathing jackets like event were all a good hundred grams plus heavier, and getting too close in weight to my peak to peak jacket which i still want to use in heavier weather.
theres a lot of good lightweight options out there from rab, montane. mont bell. haglofs, mammut, mountain designs. the gore tex active shells are a new breed of lightweight highly breathables. but their prices tend to be a lot higher, again i dont want to pay a lot when its not going to be my main jacket,
also depends if you want to sacrifice features like pockets and pit zips to go lighter.

[slparker]

Is goretex active shell different to gore wind stopper active shell? I have 2 wind stopper AS garments for cycling, not tape sealed but reasonably water resistant, quite breathable and certainly wind proof. I wouldn't use them as a storm shell when walking but I'd take them x-country skiing. Same stuff?

[wayno]

active shell is waterproof seam sealed, its the most breathable waterproof membrane they have partly because it's used with the thinest fabrics, but they have reduced the amount of glue required to bond it to the fabric allowing more breathability, it can rate better than more breathable membranes in fiield tests...
kathmandu were doing on for a couple of hundred bucks, other companies you could be paying 500 for unless i'm confusing one of the windstoppers with active shell

[slparker]

Sooooo..... It's the same stuff with taped seams or a different fabric entirely?

[wayno]

windstopper isnt waterproof even with sealed seams, the pores in the membrane are larger and will allow water into the fabric from outside.

[slparker]

yeah I thought so... it's confusing that the nomenclature is the same for different products.

The windstopper active shell is water resistant to a point, I wear a windstopper Active shell vest cycling and it holds up in rain (sometimes quite heavy) for around an hour... not bad. The fabric wets out at around that time, from either sweat/rain or probably both. I'm happy with this from a cycling viewpoint as I'm still warm and invariably heading for a hot shower...

[wayno]

Ok it's turned up from teh states within the 8 working day timeframe.
rather shiny brightly coloured blue, fits me well. i got a large, i'm 5 11 75 kilos, i gan fit a bulky fleece underneath no problem. now have to wait for some rain to see how it goes

[mattmacman]

I'm not going to lie, I din't read all the comments but these are my thoughts.
I got the helium 1 jacket, I can't find too many differences and it is very similar.
The fabric is fully waterproof and surprisingly breathable, not event but good enough.
The cut is a large athletic if you will and is very comfy.
The hood is amazing and doesn't drop over your eyes even thought there is no wire.
I would have liked hand pockets but the whole point of this jacket is for a minimalist.
It packs tiny!
The fabric feels durable enough for lightweight packs, I wouldn't want to expose it to rubbing with a heavy pack.

My other jacket is a Montane air, it is about 120 grams heavier however is event, feels much more durable and has a more fortress like hood with its wire peak. I love it. I use both but carry the helium in autumn and spring for those just in case moments.

[wayno]

the helium 1 is 20 denier nylon, the 2 is 30 denier, the membrane on the 2 is different, its' clear as opposed to white on the one, there are dots on the two forming the 2.5 layer, the membrane has been made thinner on the two to save weight despite the fabric weight increasing.... they made adjustments to the hood design....
outdoor research , say the two is 6% lighter, 10% more breathable and 30% more waterproof than the one....
but if you want to sve money the ones are cheaper....

[mattmacman]

Lol, how can a jacket be 30% more waterproof than a waterproof jacket?!?!!?

[wayno]

yes when they use the hydrostatic head measurement to rate how much water pressure it will resist, garments can have the rating diminish over time,,
the rating for the helium 2 is 20,000mm which makes it storm proof. and gives it a reasonable margin to diminish and still be waterproof, 10,000 being the lower limit of storm proof garments.

[mattmacman]

Learn something new every day. I guess I haven't tested my jacket in really heavy winds. I imagine that water-proofness penalises the breathablilty to some extent?

[wayno]

gien you can wet out a normal shirt with sweat when you're exercising hard, waterproofness always penalises breathability, thats why some people have windshirts as well as raincoats, a raincoat is primarily designed to keep rain out, it tries to reduce buildup of sweat but it won't always be able to let it all out.
neoshell in theory is the most breathable waterproof membrane, debateable how long it stays waterproo as its rating drops with time
powershiedpro is below the threshold of standing up to rainstorms, but will stand up to showers better than windhsells if the garment is seam sealed
theres a big range in how breathable garments are
mountain hardwear were putting out a shell with no membrane at all for cold conditions and maximum breathability...

[wayno]

ok tried the helium out.
was supposed to rain but not a drop...
anyway it was blowing 30 to 40k's 19 degrees so i spend three quarters of an hour going up and down a hill , exposed to the wind a fair bit of the time
at that temp as you can imagine i was sweating, it got a bit clamy underneath, but not too bad, it was definitely breathing, the moisture only built up to a certain extent on my first of two hill climbs... on the downhill the moisture inside dropped off, when i finished i opened the chest pocket to find moisture had beaded inside the pocket on it's way through the layers.
after a five inute drive home a lot of the moisture inside had pretty much gone, the arms which were noticeably clammy had dried out quite well...
so i'd say it passes the breathability test so far, the farment would have had to shift a reasonable amount of sweat while i was walking and it didnt leave me with the drowned rat effect....
now to wait for rain and see how good the dwr is.

[wayno]

finally got into some decent rain with the jacket..
an hour walking up and down steep hills in the open in steady rain, wind gusting 35k's, 15 degrees C ,

worked really well. base layer of a polypro top remained dry the whole time. slight beading of water on the inside which was probably just the water wicking out from the base layer to teh shell on it's way to going through the shell. ,
water kept beading well and running off on the outside. very happy with the result