Outdoor Research Ascentshell Jacket

I’ve read too many of Dan Slater’s columns. I’ve become a UL convert. Well, almost; there are some things I refuse to compromise on. Like a decent shell jacket, one that’ll reliably shelter me regardless of the conditions. Normally, this means carrying a heavier, bulkier product. But now I don’t need to, thanks to the Outdoor Research (OR) Helium AscentShell, which at 326g (men’s medium) offers a tantalisingly lightweight build without sacrificing quality.

Over the last five months, the Helium AscentShell has become a mainstay in my bushwalking kit. Between walking in the notoriously cold and rainy mountains of Tasmania, Kosciuszko and the Victorian Alps, it’s copped a battering. It’s held its own, however, thanks to three main technologies. The first is OR’s proprietary AscentShell fabric and the second is Pertex’s Shield Air membrane, which are both made using an electrospinning process, and yield improved waterproof/windproof/breathable qualities. (Being a sweaty human, I’ve appreciated this breathability when clambering over Tassie’s awkward boulder fields, and up exposed knolls in Kossie’s Main Range.) Thirdly, there’s the Pertex Diamond Fuse, which achieves greater abrasion resistance by using interlocking diamond-shaped yarns. (No tears or holes yet, despite busting through fields of scoparia and scraping against rough dolerite.)

And it’s got loads of other clever features: Spacious external pockets (designed to be accessible when wearing packs and harnesses), as well as internal stash pockets; waterproof YKK zips; a helmet-compatible hood; and adjustable drawcords to ensure a snug fit. It’s super compact and packable too.

Two things to note, though: the sizing (I’m usually a medium, but a small for this jacket); and recently, I’ve noticed fine microfibres extending from the hem and cuffs. Because it’s right from the very edges, though, this in no way affects waterproofness.

It’s not quite as light as helium, but it’s close. And it’s robust enough that I’m one step nearer to being completely converted to Dan’s UL ethos.