Outdoor Research Aspire 3L - Women's Review

The Outdoor Research Aspire 3L sits at the intersection between adequate water resistance and superb breathability, with an emphasis on comfort and mobility thanks to its more flexible design. If you need the freedom to move and sweat in the outdoors once conditions get soggy, this is a great choice.

Water Resistance

The 3-layer AscentShell Dry 3L fabric of the Aspire 3L beads water off the exterior, offering a moderate level of water resistance. The jacket uses Nikwax Direct.Dry, a proprietary and factory-applied DWR treatment exclusive to the Aspire collection. The jacket is fully seam-sealed, which reduces breathability yet increases the level of water resistance. Though the Aspire performed well in light drizzles and moderate rain, it wouldn't be our first choice for extended periods of significant rainfall. That being said, it excelled in our controlled shower and at-home pour tests, outlasting most in the field.

The sealed zippers on the Aspire 3L kept water from penetrating the main zipper and the pocket zippers, but we found that the AscentShell Dry fabric takes up water a little sooner than Gore-Tex fabrics. Yet even though the fabric appeared damp at the surface, the moisture didn't seem to penetrate through the sealed seams to affect our base layers underneath. The hood provides great coverage for the head, face, and neck, preventing water from entering the jacket below the face.

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Breathability

Outdoor Research has cleverly implemented TorsoFlo vents in the Aspire 3L, extending from the bicep through the underarms and all the way down to the hem to achieve maximum airflow. This is a step further than most other pit vents we've seen incorporated into technical rain jackets. The unique design vents not just the underarms but the entire core of the jacket. Dual zippers allow the wearer to partially open the vent from either direction to get airflow exactly where you want it, based on the current conditions. Our testers found the creative design worked great as they built up heat on the uphill walk with vents closed — as quickly as they opened the vents fully, the jacket immediately dumped all excess heat, and the breeze through the massive openings helped to quickly return their bodies to a comfortable temperature. Such venting is perfect for clear conditions with occasional showers, but not ideal during a heavy downpour.

With the vents closed while hiking, we found that the Aspire 3L's 3-layer fabric does not breathe or vent internal excess water vapor as quickly as some of the most breathable options we tested. This is perhaps due to the sealed seams, the DWR treatment, and the windproof performance provided by the jacket; however, we felt the solution presented by the full-length vents worked well, so long as it wasn't raining too heavily. In stronger storms with extended periods of rainfall and blowing wind, you wouldn't want to keep them all the way open, since this allows moisture in to dampen the layers underneath. But the beauty of the design is that you can dial in more or less ventilation by choosing how far to open them. We love this jacket's solid combination of water resistance and breathability options.

Comfort and Mobility

The fabric of the Aspire 3L is light and flexible, moving well with the body without feeling stiff or restrictive. The cut is true to size while offering enough room through the shoulders for a full range of motion and enough length for ample coverage even when bending or reaching. The fabric strikes a perfect balance between a stiff rain jacket and a flexible wind layer, allowing you enough flexibility to easily layer underneath without losing any mobility. We appreciate the useful chest pocket and loved the key clip in the hand pocket for securing car keys while out and about.

The neck of this rain jacket is on the taller side, and some testers found it a bit scratchy unless the chin guard was moved into place. Besides this, the collar's lining feels quite nice against the neck. The hood adjusts from the back and cinches from inside the neck, so you can really dial in the fit for personalized comfort. Our testers found it difficult to zip the main zipper periodically, as the fabric behind the zipper required extra effort to feed it through to pull the zipper over the top. Caveats aside, the Aspire 3L is a comfortable design that is more flexible than others of more rigid constructions, and offers a substantial range of motion during a variety of activities.

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Weight

The Aspire 3L weighs 10.4 ounces for a US women's size small, which is on the lighter side of the testing group. Although those counting every ounce may seek something more ultralight, our team agrees that this is a respectable weight and well worth it for those planning longer backcountry missions in rainy climates.

The Aspire 3L does not have a designated stow pocket, but it easily fits into its large hood if you just need to stash it into a quick bundle. Also, its zipper lacks a double-sided pull, making the jacket quite difficult to get zipped or unzipped, especially with cold hands or when wearing gloves.

Construction Quality

The AscentShell Dry 3-layer fabric combines with a factory-applied Nikwax Direct.Dry treatment that is fully seam-taped. It's more malleable than standard rain jacket material, finding a happy medium between a stiff raincoat and a flexible wind layer. Throughout the testing, it held up well, our team only noting cosmetic stains on the lighter fabric.

The seams use small stitches, are seam-sealed for water resistance, and performed well in our seam stretch tests. All drawcords and toggles used quality components and were functional and durable. The sealed zipper moved a little slowly from the resistance of the small teeth creating the seal, but it consistently opened and closed smoothly without any issues. Overall, the jacket held up well with frequent use throughout our testing.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Aspire 3L?

The Aspire 3L is among the top performers when it comes to breathability, comfort, weight, and construction quality. On top of a solid technical performance, this rain jacket is comfortable to wear and boasts a full range of motion, whether running errands around town or getting deep into the backcountry. While the test group certainly includes designs that proved more waterproof, the Aspire 3L remains a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts on the go in mixed conditions.

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?

If you're interested in saving a few bucks and you don't mind a more rigid, stiff construction that maximizes water resistance, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is our overall favorite. The Rab Downpour is another affordable option that still features decent performance for wet-weather exploration at a fraction of the price of the top premium rain jackets. For those who live in the Pacific Northwest or plan to adventure in the gnarliest conditions, the only jacket we feel comfortable recommending for sustained wet weather is the Arc'teryx Beta SL. The Beta SL offers exceptional waterproof performance with a high-quality design without sacrificing comfort and mobility.