Outdoor Research Men's Helium Pants - Lightweight Waterproof Rain Gear

Let me start by saying that I am happy with my purchase and have had a chance to use them while section hiking the Appalachian Trail. They fit well however the size I chose was a little short in the leg. I wear hiking low cut shoes that come just below the ankles. While raining I had a slight problem with dripping into my shoe causing my socks around my ankles to become wet. I feel that had I had high top boots/shoes this would not have happened but I am not a higher topped hiking shoe person. I will need to find someway to keep this from happening in the future. Other than this minor thing the pants did a wonderful job and fulfilled all that I was looking for in a rain pant. Keep this in mind if you are tall when purchasing and wearing.

I have been backpacking for fifty years. For raingear, I want it to be tough, lightweight, and very loose fitting. I don't want pants to bind in the knee when it is wet and I am walking on uneven trail. And I don't want the pant cuff to ride up above my boots when I step up on steep trails. So they need them to be baggy and much longer than I would need in my regular pants. I have a 34" waist and 32" inseam. The sizing chart on the Outdoor Research website for pants suggests that I should be between a M and a Lg based on my measurements. That is true for pants, but for the reasons explained above I know I'll need a MUCH more relaxed fit and longer pant legs. So I tried both the XL and the XXL in these Helium pants. I definitely much preferred the XXL. I have now had a chance to test them on single track forest trails in the rain, and I made the right choice. They are baggy so when it is raining they never cling, and when I step way up on a rock or trail, the pant cuff stays below the level of my boots so water stays out of my boots. I am definitely not going to win and fashion contests because they look really really baggy. But I love these rain pants because of the functionality, toughness, and light weight.

Picked up a pair for when the weather turns. Own a Helium II jacket, so this was a logical choice. I am 5'11", 175 lbs., 32 waist, 33 length. Went with size L. Elastic at the waist and partial zippers by the ankles give me a little flexibility depending on the footwear. Just long enough. Grippy material on the inside of the waist and at the ankles help keep them from shifting around too much. Have proved great for everything from backpacking and camping trips to lunch hour walks in the rain and shoveling snow. If I'm outside in the rain or snow for any length of time, I'm wearing these. Lightweight, extremely packable, and waterproof.

The Outdoor Research Helium Pants is my go to for summerrain gear. It is for the minimalist weighing 5.1oz for medium,nylon-ripstop with Pertex rain shell that is so lightweight.It serves me double duty as a wind and/or waterproof pants.It has a waist draw cord to cinch. It is perfect for wearingin warmer weather when you need to carry a waterproof pantsand when I want to keep my gear as lightweight and compactas possible. The pants have ankle zips.It folds into back pocket measuring 5"x6" for a small storagewhich I love. . It is appealing to me for backpacking and hikingas a lightweight gear solution, but is pricey. It is made with30D nylon ripstop (2.5 layer Pertex Shield+).OR's Helium pants are waterproof and has fully taped seamsThis is a great warm weather rain pants shell and for an ouncecounter like me its lightweight for the value. It is so smalland light, it always stays in my pack. I also purchased thebrown Helium II Rain Jacket weighing 5.6oz. Love them bothand feel good on my skin.

I have a top and bottom from Montbell, which I like better. The weight seems to be about the same, but the Montbell parka has side pockets and vents under the arms, and velcro closures on the cuffs, all of which I prefer over the Outdoor Research Helium model. (I think the Montbell trousers have velcro closures on the ankles as well.) I'm too lazy right now to pull both sets out to refresh my memory on the features. Sorry about that. Anyway, at least at this point, I am easily more satisfied with the Montbell raingear in a comparison of features.

I like these rain pants, but I have to say I went over the size chart over and over and wasn’t sure what to get! I got large, but probably should have gotten extra large so they would fit over my pants better. All in all good pants, but since my one backpacking trip didn’t rain, I couldn’t test them out fully! I used them as camp pants, and no complaints with that. Good pants...just have to get them wet!

These are light and do not seem to generate lot of confidence regarding durability going through some rough terrain. I keep them handy for emergency use, including for warmth. They do not breathe, so sleeping in them may not be comfortable, But they keep heat inside.

I can't believe how breathable these pants are. Going through the 100 mile wilderness it poured all day but I kept going in my normal cloths. At the end of the day the sum came out while I set camp. I hung everything out to dry. It poured that night. The next morning the only dry thing I had was these pants so I wore them in 80 degree humid sun. They were incredibly comfortable and so cool I couldn't believe it and I vowed to leave this review when I came out of the woods so here it is.

Super light weight and top quality

Typically I use a M in most products from this manufacturer but found this fit incredibly tight through my waist and thighs. Not sure the original sizing chart is accurate as typically I am a 32 waist and had to squeeze into these. Need to return to get a new size I can actually use

Ich habe mir wohlweislich die Größe XL bestellt (statt L), und das war auch gut so. Immerhin zieht man eine Regenhose ja über eine normale Hose drüber. Die XL passt dann prima (Hosengröße 34-36) ohne die Bewegung einzuschränken.Bestellt euch also im Zweifel eine Nummer größer, dann passt sie auf jeden Fall luftig.Ich konnte sie auch ein einem Gewitterschauer mal testen, bei einem Spaziergang über 3,5km/45min blieb ich untenrum absolut trocken. Dennoch hat man hinterher schon gesehen, dass das Material angefangen hat durchzunässen. Aber für so einen dünnen Stoff (die Hose in XL wiegt nur 177g) ist das super.Einen Stern ziehe ich für die zu kurzen Hosenbein-Reissverschlüsse ab: über Wanderstiefel kann man die Hose kaum bis gar nicht an- und ausziehen, dafür müssten diese etwas länger sein.

Bought in April. Got their first use this week.Ripped 3x within a day. Crotch, L knee and R shin.The crotch and L knee should never have gone. No impact of note.The r shin was a big rip from a knick against a rock. Should never have gone.My old waterproof trousers lasted 7 years. No rips. Just had to re waterproof occasionally.