Outdoor Research Foray Jacket Review

Outdoor Research is a brand dedicated to building gear for adventurers, by adventures. They spend countless hours designing, building, and testing their equipment to ensure that their customers experience only the best and most reliable outdoor equipment.

The Outdoor Research Foray Jacket is a soft-shell of note. They have designed it with versatility in mind making it the perfect companion for trekking through the backcountry, climbing, skiing, and pretty much anything else you might want to use it for in the outdoors. It’s ideal for those who love to be active thanks to its excellent breathability combined with great weather protection.

But what is it that makes the Foray so special? Stick with us in this review as we take you on a deep dive into the Outdoor Research Foray Jacket. We’ll be comparing and discussing everything you might want to know so that you can make a decision as to whether it’s the right rain jacket for you.

Weather Resistance

The main purpose of any soft shell is being able to handle some weather and the Outdoor Research Foray doesn’t disappoint.

The jacket is made from 50D 2-layer Gore-Tex Paclite, which is one of the best materials as far as weather protection goes. It’ll withstand consistent drizzle, heavy rainfall, and keep you protected from strong winds.

It’s not just the great material that’ll keep you safe from the weather though. The jacket comes with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating that ensures water beads off the surface and falls off the jacket. The coating PFC(EC)-free and is eco-friendly, ticking that eco box for us nature lovers.

The zippers are YKK AquaGuard, to stop any leakage coming through the zips, and all the seams are sealed to do the same.

The hood is fully adjustable too, to give a nice tight fit with a large enough brim to protect your face. When adjusted correctly it gives you great protection from any surges of weather that might push through.

Overall, the Foray is great in adverse weather for a soft shell but it’s not a hardshell jacket, and be sure not to forget your hardshell if you’re expecting serious weather.

Breathability

For anyone being active in a soft shell, breathability is key. Two layers of Gore-Tex Paclite isn’t the most breathable material on the market, it’s pretty good but it’s not Paclite Plus which is a bit better.

You may find you’ll start to overheat quite quickly while exerting yourself in the Outdoor Research Foray and you’ll probably notice the inner lining being quite clammy on your skin. But, this is only the case while the jacket’s pit zips are zipped up.

The Outdoor Research Foray features two huge pit zips that run from the bicep all the way to the hem. Once opened, you’ll be able to remove a lot of heat very quickly, which is the saving grace of this jacket. When the zips are fully opened you’ll be quite amazed at how fast you cool down.

So while it’s not made of the best Gore-Tex in terms of breathability, the design more than makes up for it, and you’ll find yourself staying cool, no matter how hard you push yourself.

Packability

On an ideal adventure into the outdoors, you won’t have to put on your soft-shell at all. The sun will be shining, there will be a brisk, cooling breeze and your jacket will be safely tucked in your backpack for the trip. So how does the Outdoor Research Foray do in terms of packability?

The jacket weighs 15.2 oz, which compared to other 2-layer rain jackets with similar features is a tad heavier but by only 0.5 oz or so, which is negligible in our eyes. The extra weight is most likely due to the extra-large pit zips, which are well worth an ounce in our opinion.

The jacket packs down into its own left pocket. There is a two-sided zipper on the pocket for easy access and a clip to hang it on the outside or inside of your backpack. Once packed its dimensions are 10 x 7 inches, making it easy and neat to throw into your backpack.

Durability

Durability is a key component to any soft-shell, especially one like the Outdoor Research Foray that is a premium option. It’s an investment as far as a rain jacket goes and it needs to last.

The outer shell is made from 50D (Deneir) polyester. The high D count means the outer shell is made with a thick weave making it strong and resistant to any wear and tear.

You can happily clamber through thick brush without any worry of the jacket ripping or scuffing. This is not only thanks to the 50D polyester but also the build quality of the seams.

The zipper is quite often a point of failure in rain jackets but not this one. The YKK AuquGard zippers are some of the best around and provide long-lasting performance,.

Fit & Features

The fit of the Outdoor Research Foray is a bit larger than other brands but is still true to size, so if you’re a medium, then a medium is what you need. The jacket comes with a long drop hem on the back for added protection and the large size means you can comfortably wear a mid-layer underneath it. Both are great features that add to the versatility of this jacket.

It comes with three pockets all with YKK AquaGuard zippers. There are one chest pocket and two hand pockets, both are protected from any moisture getting in thanks to the outer materials and zippers, so you can store valuables safely if you need to.

The large pit zips that we have already mentioned create a kind of poncho when fully unzipped. They are noticeable while carrying a pack with a hip belt but don’t affect comfort in any way. When open they give great ventilation but do also create a strange look.

The hood is large and provides ample protection. It’s fully adjustable with two toggles in the front and one on the back. The back toggle is a little tricky to adjust but once you’ve set it, you’ll be good to go.

The jacket also comes with hook/loop cuff closures, elastic cuffs, and an elastic drawcord hem. This allows you to tighten any possible openings that might let the weather in to give yourself full protection during a rough storm.

Value for Money

So, is the Outdoor Research Foray worth it in terms of value for money? We think so.

The combination of great design, excellent materials, zippers, breathability, and great weather protection makes for a jacket you can rely on.

It’s also a bit more robust than your average soft-shell too and will stand up well to a rough life on the trail. It’s this versatility that really sets it apart in our eyes, making it a truly can-do-it-all rain jacket.

Rating

With an overall rating of 90, the Outdoor Research Foray has done extremely well against our rating system.

The only points lost were due to its slight extra weight and the fact that the breathability is dependent on the great pit zips. Overall, it’s an excellent jacket.

Verdict

Overall, the Outdoor Research Foray jacket is an awesome soft-shell that is truly ready for anything.

It’s exceptionally well made from durable and robust materials with a design that provides great weather protection and long-lasting durability. It’s light enough for summer hikes and tough enough for late autumn and early spring too.

If you’re looking for a soft shell that really does do it all, then look no further.