Best for
- Emergency shell
- Ultralight day hikes
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Outdoor Research Helium II
8.3/ 10
Outdoor Research · Helium II
Also consider
The ultralight emergency rain shell — pack-always backup that lives in your lid until weather turns ugly.
Researched / considered
Worth considering
- Notes drawn from gear guides — not claimed as personal kit unless marked above.
Fit check
Who this gear is for
Quick read on where Outdoor Research shines — and where you should look elsewhere.
Specs
Key numbers
- Waterproofing
- Pertex Shield+
- Weight
- 181 g (6.4 oz)
Full trail review
In-depth analysis
The ultralight emergency rain shell — pack-always backup that lives in your lid until weather turns ugly.
Suited for hiking · trekking · camping
Outdoor Research Helium II
Outdoor Research
At a glance
3 min read8.3/10
- Weight
- 181 g
- Editorial score
- 8.3/10
- Best for
- Emergency shell
- Waterproofing
- Pertex Shield+
What we like
- Extremely lightweight and packable
- Waterproof and windproof
- Great for emergency use
Trade-offs
- Minimalist design lacks some features
- Not ideal for prolonged rain exposure
On warm Alta Via 1 I carried a light shell, not Helium II. It is the emergency jacket I recommend when hikers want minimum grams in the pack lid and accept limited all-day rain comfort.
My experience on the trail
I have not relied on Outdoor Research Helium II as my primary shell on a published trek — on Alta Via 1 I packed a different rain layer for stable summer forecasts. I have carried Helium II-class shells on fast day hikes and recommend them when the mission is pack-always insurance at ~180 g, not wearing through six hours of horizontal rain.
Pertex Shield+ fabric packs into its own pocket smaller than most hard shells — it lives in lid or hip belt until the first dark cloud. That is the design intent: sudden shower protection on summit pushes, not week-long Atlantic drizzle as your only coat. On hut treks I still want one in the daypack even when the big forecast looks fair — cols do not read weather apps.
Who it's for
Ultralight hikers, fastpackers, and hut trekkers who want emergency rain backup without Beta AR weight. Strong fit when forecasts are mostly fair but exposure on cols demands a shell you will actually carry because it weighs almost nothing.
Less ideal as your only jacket on UK shoulder-season weeks — choose Torrentshell 3L or OutDry Ex Reign when rain is the default weather mode.
Weather protection
Blocks sudden rain and wind long enough to descend or reach shelter — design goal met. Wearing through sustained multi-hour downpours exposes breathability limits; you feel clammy inside on hard ascents.
Treat as emergency and short-exposure layer — pair with a heavier shell on trips where rain is forecast daily. DWR maintenance matters even on ultralight fabrics.
Weight and packability
- Jacket weight
- ~180 g (6.4 oz) — among the lightest credible waterproof shells.
- Packed size
- Stuffs into hand pocket — tennis-ball scale in pack lid.
- Fabric
- Pertex Shield+ — waterproof with modest breathability for emergency use.
- Pockets
- Hand pockets on many versions — verify pocket layout on your model year.
Ready to buy?
Outdoor Research Helium II
How it compares
Torrentshell is for wearing through bad trekking days; Helium II is pack-always emergency grams.
Read full review$350.00indicative on Amazon
Beta AR is storm armour for alpine exposure; Helium is lid-stash backup on fair-forecast hut treks.
Read full reviewOutDry targets sustained budget rain protection; Helium wins on minimum packed weight.
Read full reviewvsBlack Diamond Women's Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles
cols punish optimists — Helium's weight makes carrying it painless.
Read full reviewTrade-offs
- Not for all-day rain comfort — breathability and durability trade for weight
- Fragile compared with Gore-Tex Pro shells — replace sooner with heavy use
- Minimal features — no expedition hood adjustments or heavy pocket layout
- Wrong only-jacket choice for wet-climate multi-day treks
Bottom line
Outdoor Research Helium II is the emergency rain shell I recommend when you want proof in your pack lid at minimum weight — deploy for showers and exposure, not week-long drizzle as your only coat.
Ready to buy?
Outdoor Research Helium II
Trail use
Deploy at first sign of weather on exposed cols — zip over puffy or fleece, descend or push to hut, pack away when sun returns. On hut treks, keep in daypack lid every stage even when morning looks clear — Dolomite weather flips hourly.
Delicate face fabric — avoid bushwacking abrasion and pack compression without stuff sack. Helium is insurance, not armour.
