The REI XeroDry GTX Jacket is a 2-layer waterproof/breathable jacket that’s good to be used in cooler climate or as a winter exhausting shell. Whereas it doesn’t have pit zips, it’s absolutely featured in each different manner, with a two-way adjustable hood, velcro wrist cuffs, and three exterior pockets. The XeroDry jacket has what REI calls “core vents” which is somewhat deceptive: the handwarmer and chest pocket are mesh-backed, to allow them to dump extra physique warmth when you don’t retailer something in them and go away them unzipped. Regardless of this, the XeroDry is sort of a pleasant rain jacket/exhausting shell with many options appropriate for extra technical use. In case you’re available in the market for a colder climate/winter shell, the REI XeroDry GTX is an effective alternative.
Specs at a look
- Gender: Males’s (Ladies’s additionally obtainable)
- Waterproof/Breathable: Sure, Gore-tex Paclite
- Weight: 14 oz in a males’s XL
- Two-way Adjustable Hood: Sure
- Pit zips: No
- Velcro Wrist Cuffs: Sure
- Hem Cinch: Sure
- Chest Pocket: Sure, zippered and mesh-backed
- Handwarmer Pockets: Sure, zippered and mesh-backed
- Packable in a pocket: Sure
- Sizing: Runs massive for layering, Tall sizes are additionally obtainable.
Rain jackets fall into two basic classes: light-weight minimalist jackets meant to be used in rain and heat climate and heavier-weight jackets which are thicker, hotter, and sometimes have a richer set of options to be used in colder climate or winter. The XeroDry GTX falls into this second camp making it good for early spring, later autumn, and winter circumstances together with extra technical base and mid-layer clothes. Whereas it’s completely appropriate for mountain climbing within the rain, its function set and heat make it a superb exhausting shell within the chilly, snow, and better wind speeds.
When evaluating rain jackets/exhausting shells for colder climate, I search for the next options:
- Totally adjustable hood
- Plenty of massive zippered pockets
- Temperature administration options
- Pit zips or torso zips
- Two-way entrance zipper
- Adjustable hook and loop (velcro) wrist closures
- Drawcord hem closure
Two-way Adjustable Hood
The XeroDry GTX jacket has an outstanding two-way adjustable hood with a rear quantity management to regulate the inside quantity and buried neck controls to regulate the dimensions of the entrance face opening. These options are must-haves for mountain climbing in greater wind speeds or blowing rain and snow since you don’t need wind whistling round inside your hood whenever you’re attempting to remain heat. A stunning variety of rain jackets/exhausting shells lack these options as a result of they’re meant for skiers or climbers who put on helmets. So the truth that the XeroDry GTX has them signifies that it was designed with hikers in thoughts.
The XeroDry additionally has an enlarged entrance invoice to maintain the wind and precipitation off your face and glasses so that you don’t have to hold a billed baseball cap for that function. The invoice doesn’t include a shapable wire which you’ll generally discover on higher-end jackets, however has a plastic stiffener to protect its form which is completely satisfactory for that function.
Pockets/Core Vents
The XeroDry GTX Jacket has three exterior pockets: a chest pocket and two handwarmer pockets. All of those are mesh-backed, to allow them to be used to vent additional physique heat and moisture when you maintain them empty and unzipped. I don’t suppose they’re terribly efficient for that function and my choice is to make use of them for storage as an alternative. All three pockets have water resistant zippers and flaps to maintain rain off them. The jacket will be stuffed into one of many handwarmer pockets which zippers closed, however an exterior dangle loop is NOT offered for clipping it to a climbing harness.
There’s little doubt that XeroDry GTX can be a good higher jacket with pit zips or torso zips like these discovered on the OR Foray II Jacket. REI doesn’t publish breathability specs, however Gore-tex Paclite is normally rated to have a Moisture Vapor Transmission Fee (MVTR) of 15,000 grams over a 24-hour interval which is satisfactory however not distinctive. After I discover myself overheating within the XeroDry, I simply crack open the middle zipper and shed extra physique warmth and water vapor that manner. Direct venting all the time trumps a breathable layer.
Wrist Cuffs
The XeroDry GTX Jacket has velcro (hook and loop) wrist cuffs which is one other very helpful chilly climate function to stop chilly air from chilling your wrists and fingers. The cuffs are broad sufficient that they are often layered over glove or mitten gauntlets or pushed up your arms and cinched above your wrists. The latter is an efficient option to vet warmth in winter whenever you really feel your self beginning to perspire as a result of your blood flows near your pores and skin in your wrists.
Jacket Comparability Desk
Suggestion
The REI XeroDry GTX Jacket makes a superb rain jacket or winter exhausting shell in cooler climate circumstances. It sports activities a formidable set of technical and temperature regulation options from a two-way adjustable hood to velcro wrist cuffs and ventable exterior pockets. We expect it’s an distinctive jacket for the value and one that gives glorious flexibility as a part of a whole mountain climbing and backpacking layering system.
Disclosure: REI donated a jacket for evaluate.
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Final up to date: 2024-01-03 14:53:43
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