REASONS TO BUY
Strategically water-resistant
Great mid-layer
Felt-lined pockets add warmth
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the warmest
Relatively loose cuffs
Hem cord isn't very strong
Outdoor Research Helium Down - Women's Review
A light, technical down jacket that's easy to layer and that features key areas of water resistance
Credit: Outdoor Research
By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ February 21, 2024
RELATED: The Best Down Jacket for Women
Our Verdict
Though we're huge fans of many impressive products from Outdoor Research's Helium line, the Helium Down didn't quite make it into the realm of top picks. It has several thoughtful features-- like abrasion-resistant and water-repelling shoulders and hood fabric (that work quite well), and microfleece-lined pockets — but it falls a bit short compared to the competition. Its 800-fill power down is only 90% down and not as warm as many other jackets we tested. This loss of warmth doesn't come with comparatively low weight, as one might expect. But the kicker for some of our testers is the relatively narrow shoulders that can restrict our mobility and ability to layer. It may still be a good option for those with narrow shoulders, and we appreciate the overall durability and weather resistance, but other down jackets performed better.
Editor's Note: On February 21, 2024, we updated our review with improved test metrics and new findings.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Outdoor Research Helium Down is a semi-technical down jacket with RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified 800-fill power goose down in a 90/10 down/feather ratio. Its main exterior fabric is 15D x 30D (the upper sleeves are 20D) Pertex Quantum ripstop nylon (41% recycled) with Diamond Fuse Technology, while the shoulders and hood are constructed from the more waterproof 30D Pertex Shield 2.5L ripstop nylon with Diamond Fuse Technology. It's a standard fit jacket with a slight drop hem, weighs 12.7 ounces, and packs into its own pocket.
The OR Helium is a lightweight, layerable jacket that has some great features - if it fits your shoulders.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Warmth
The Helium Down is on the thin side of mid-weight down jackets in our review line up. It's still acceptably warm, but nothing exceptional. 90% of its filling is comprised of quality 800-fill power down, while the remaining 10% is feathers, which do not have the same loft and warmth as down. This jacket is a decent mild to moderate weather option, and can work well for higher output activities. The hood fits best over a beanie, and decently over a climbing helmet, but we couldn't quite get a warm “seal” over our bare heads. The cuffs are fairly loose and not adjustable, proving to be an all-too-common weak point in keeping cold at bay. The hand pockets and chest pocket are lined with microfleece, which feels warmer and softer on your hands, an extra detail we appreciate.
The microfleece lining inside all three pockets adds warmth to this lightweight jacket.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Comfort
The standard cut of the Helium Down isn't as long as many of the others we tested, lacking in coverage for our cold backsides. It has an average amount of space inside, allowing you to layer fleece underneath to add warmth. While the Helium Down is sewn with raglan sleeves — which facilitate arm movement without letting it ride up your wrists and torso so much — it also has some of the narrowest shoulders of any jacket we tested. We found this to be fairly restrictive in normal wear, let alone when trying to wear it over a bulky base layer or do big movements while wearing it. Its less-lofty construction should make it easy to layer over, but this oversight in the width of the shoulders makes it hard for most of our testing team to find the Helium Down comfortable. However, we appreciate the extra internal pockets and the key clip in the hand pocket to keep you from losing your car keys while you're out having an adventure.
We noticed the Helium Down has rather narrow, unforgiving shoulders that most of our testers found too restrictive for their liking.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Portability
Despite cutting down on the amount of insulation it contains, the thicker materials used in the Helium's construction keep it an average-weight jacket — the size Small weighs 12.7 ounces. It packs into its hand pocket, where the key clip becomes a carabiner loop for easy transport. However, when packed this way, the microfleece lining of the pocket is now flipped outward and easily collects debris if it brushes the ground or other objects in nature.
Packed up, the microfleece pocket lining of the Helium Down likes to cling to random debris in the world - including snow!
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Weather Resistance
This is one of the high-performance points of the Helium Down. It features a Pertex Quantum with Diamond Fuse Technology exterior that's thicker than most others we tested — 30D. Outdoor Research claims this jacket is windproof, and in our testing, it certainly performed above average against gusting winds. Its weak point here is not the fabric, but the fit. Loose cuffs and a hood that can't fully cinch around a bare head both let in cold winds. Up against light precipitation, the fabric again shows its worth, easily repelling water. Thicker sections on the shoulders and hood are even more resistant to the elements — and more durable as well. If you live in a particularly wet, humid, maritime climate, this extra protection could make this jacket a superior choice.
The material on the shoulders, upper sleeves, and hood of the Helium are extra water resistant.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Breathability
As a mid-weight jacket, the Helium Down is fairly breathable. It doesn't have any specific features to aid in breathability beyond its cooler overall construction. It feels a tad plasticky, which isn't our favorite for sweating. However, despite the extra wind and water resistance, we found this jacket to breathe quite well for activities.
The thinness of the OR Helium help it to be more breathable than average.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Helium Down?
The Helium Down may be a good mid-weight down jacket for you if your shoulders are on the narrow side. It has great weather-repelling technology and layers well over and under other garments to build a complete system. But the fit is key here, and it's not wide enough through the shoulders for us to wholeheartedly recommend it.
We had no problems layering a shell over the lightweight Helium.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?
If you're after a layering jacket that can keep up with you in the elements and in everyday life, the Arc'teryx Cerium is a mid-weight jacket with a better fit and very adaptable performance across the board. Another great casual jacket we love is the more affordable Rab Microlight Alpine, which also has great water-repellency. However, if you've had a chance to try on the OR Helium Down and find it's comfortable for your body, it's a solid light to mid-weight jacket with extra durability and elemental protection.
We like the layerability and the weather protection of the OR Helium, but its narrow shoulders make it more challenging for many of our testers to wear comfortably.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Outdoor Research Helium Down - Women's versus top competing products:
—Maggie Nichols
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