Description of Outdoor Research Zealot Jacket - Men's:
Outdoor Research got rid every extraneous feature that would add weight to the Men's Zealot Jacket, making it one of the lightest waterproof-breathable jackets in the world. It weights in at only 7.7oz. Don't let the incredibly low weight fool you. This Outdoor Research jacket is made with waterproof breathable Gore-Tex PacLite fabric and has fully taped seams to assure no moisture makes its way inside. So what does the Zealot have for features? Just a chest pocket, because that's all ounce-counting freaks want. More gizmos just add more weight, so Outdoor Research stripped the Zealot to the bare necessities for hikers and climbers that demand the best.
Bottom Line: Take a fancy Gore-Tex PacLite jacket and get rid of everything that adds weight. Now you have the 7.7oz Outdoor Research Zealot Jacket.
Reviews (18):
Average Rating:
Weight weenies rejoice, but there are drawbacks... 05-26-08
This is a truly minimalist jacket and performs extremely well in even a torrential rain except that it doesn't have a way to secure the sleeves down. I was on a boat in the Amazon during the hardest rainstorm I have ever encountered, and while my upper body was dry the water was able to get my lower arms soaked because the sleeves just have a little elastic instead of a velcro closure. I don't care about pit-zips because why would I want that ventilation when it is raining? If it isn't raining and I need extra breathability I take the jacket off! Maybe I shouldn't have cared about the few additional ounces and gotten the Foray model instead...tough call.
This jacket does what a gore-tex jacket is supposed to do - it's waterproof, windproof, and surprisingly breathable considering that there are no pit zips. I also think it fits well, and that "Mojo Blue," OR's flagship color, is a good one. Drawbacks: First - the fabric is very thin. This hit home when I caught it on some scrub oak - a common hazard skiing the Wasatch at 6200 ft. It tore a hole in the sleeve, but the ripstop fabric did it's job, keeping the hole very tiny and easily patched with a tiny bit of ripstop tape. Second - because there is no way to secure the sleeves to overlap a short-wristed glove, the wrists can become exposed. Cold wrists while skiing can become annoying, numbing the hands and contributing to a lower core temperature. I'd recommend using gloves that can be secured over the sleeves on a cold day. I'd say this jacket is ideal for touring/hiking in moderate weather, and as a backup in your backpack all year round. It weighs nothing.
Ok, so this is just based on first impressions--haven't taken it out for a test drive yet since it blazing hot outside without even a hint of rain BUT I will give you my first impressions and some more data not found in other reviews.
First impression quality is superb. For a jacket that feels like it weighs nothing, I really are impressed with the paclite/nylon materials used in this jacket. I don't own any OR gear (mostly gravitate towards MH, Marmot and Arteryx) but OR seems to be top notch quality. I also looked at the OR Foray jacket which was also paclite but full featured and ended up with the Zealot because I liked the fit and lightness better than the Foray. Can't speak to windproofness or waterproofness but others have in their reviews.
Speaking of fit, I am 6'1" and weigh 175 and bought a medium. It is about 31" in the rear (it is longer in the back) and about 28" in the front. I have tried it over my Marmot Superhero softshell and it feels perfect.
All in all, so far I am very impressed. I have done a lot of research via user and trade reviews and the jacket has about 90% positive feedback. The biggest complaints I have seen is lack of features (not the jacket's fault--it is a minimalist product) and waterproofness is sometimes mentioned as an issue. I will use it for a season and comment on that once I have experience with it.
Later!
