Outdoor Research MicroGravity - Women's Review

The MicroGravity hardshell jacket from Outdoor Research is a durable and weatherproof shell for cooler climates. One of the lightest in our lineup, it weighs in at just 11.7 ounces. It has a total of four pockets and stuffs into the left side. Though it doesn't have pit zips, it has a helmet-compatible hood, adjustable cuffs, and a tough exterior.

Weather Protection

The MicroGravity is made of three-layer AscentShell material, which is highly weatherproof, breathable, and very tough. This fabric is not as well known to us as the well-vetted Gore-Tex products, but we were pleased with its field performance and appreciated the soft feel of the internal face fabric. The jacket seals well against the storm, with an adjustable hood, cuffs, and hem, and has a waterproof zipper on the front and storm flaps on the pockets to help keep moisture out.

Mobility and Fit

The MicroGravity may not reduce your perception of gravity, but it allows for good movement in a variety of dimensions. The shoulders and chest felt a bit more snug than others, but the arm mobility remained decent. The fit was tight when wearing a helmet, but it still worked. The lack of pit zips also makes this jacket feel much smoother and more supple through a range of arm movements.

Venting and Breathability

The MicroGravity is better suited to colder environments and medium-level activities that aren't overly vigorous. The material is reasonably breathable for the level of weather protection it offers. However, it lacks pit zips for ventilation, so if you tend to heat up quickly or run warmer during activities, you might want to look for a jacket with better breathability and venting options.

Weight

The MicroGravity is ahead of the curve for weight in this review. It is quite lightweight for the level of protection it offers. We appreciate the relative simplicity of the jacket, which is in part how it achieves its relatively low weight–it doesn't have many extras, not even pit zips.

Features and Design

Although many of the features on this jacket are very well thought-out, some missed the mark. We appreciated the hand pockets with storm flaps and the waterproof main zipper, also with a storm flap, which ensure this jacket is well suited to rainy environments, exactly as advertised. However, the hood, which is adjustable, feels a bit snug when worn with a helmet, limiting its range of uses to less technical endeavors that don't require much helmet-wearing. The chest pockets are very high, and we found them difficult to use–even more so when we tried wearing a helmet and then accessing them with the jacket zipped up.

The jacket has a key clip loop in the left-hand pocket and can be stuffed into that pocket. This can be nice for clipping to the back of a harness, but given the pocket and tight hood issues, that feature doesn't line up as well for the utility of the jacket. For those who like to tuck jackets into pockets for ease of packing or to protect the fabric, this is personal preference, and many others prefer to stuff their jackets loose to facilitate better packing.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Microgravity?

The MicroGravity is a tough yet lightweight three-layer shell. This gives it a lean toward milder climates and rain over high mountain use, but it will do well enough in most mountain conditions. However, it has some limiting features, like its snug hood when wearing a helmet and its chest pockets, which are placed awkwardly high toward the neck. This is one you may want to try on before you buy to see if these features are a deterrent for your personal needs.

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