Outdoor Research Helium Pant - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

Title says it all. I wore these pants all of three times before the entire crotch blew out and they became completely useless. It was a 24 day rafting trip and I was stuck without rain pants for the rest of the trip. Not good

The OR Helium rain pants are light weight & pack down nicely. They are basic rain pants that keep the rain out. The elastic waist has a grippy material that is nice while using a backpack or fishing in my inflatable raft in high mountain lakes. I took the advice of another reviewer and picked up gators to protect the bottoms when in brushy areas. The only con for me is the thighs could use more room. Even with just a pair of thin long johns underneath (no pants) they are snug. For now I’m keeping them & using them but I’m pretty sure these will become an extra pair I keep stuffed in the bottom of my daypack for surprise rain & I’ll find something else for trips with known bad weather or extended trips.

I bought these for rain/wind, as well as light snow, up here in Minnesota. They kept my legs warm & dry during an early season snow hike. I didn't have a problem fitting the pant legs over my boots. They are super light and packable and will be coming with me on my November trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I don't really miss the option for side pockets; I understand you give up some things in the name of simplicity and weight savings. My only gripe is the sizing. I ordered a large at first, and had to return them for an XL. The length, waist and leg widths are fine, but the crotch area is snug. It was my main issue with the large pair, as I prefer a slimmer leg taper, so I hoped it would be remedied with the XL but it's still snug. It feels like stepping up high onto boulders or over logs during off-trail travel could be a bit restrictive with the range of motion at the hips. I'm 6'2" and 210, so I'm not a super big guy, but also don't have a slim racing body type. When wet and sticking to me, I worry about possibly ripping out the crotch when raising my knees too much when going uphill, or kneeling down in camp. This might be an ex-fat guy problem, but worth noting for anyone else looking for super light rain pants.

Stuffed this at the bottom of my pack just in case. Then we got stuck in T-storm hiking out of the desert. Lifesaver. I'll also add that I've packed these around fairly extensively. They've come in hand backpacking over snow pack, setting up camp in the snow, adding a bit of warmth at night, and keeping me dry while sailing in the ocean. The Helium line might be my favorite technical series of clothing period. UPDATE: Now that the weather has turned again, I've been taking these out on hikes through the snow pretty frequently. They work great--though you should 100% be wearing gaitors with them if you have crampons on. I wouldn't really glisade in them due to durability concerns, but as a lightweight option for snow protection, I've been quite happy. Disclaimer. I'm aware I'm wearing semi's when I should have strap ons in this pic. Sometimes you just have to use what's available on a last minute trip.

If you're an "every ounce counts" backpacking nut, look no further. Are they breathable? Nope, they're a greenhouse. Are they fully featured? Nope, they keep your legs dry. Will they keep you dry in a PNW downpour when you're hunting Chanterelles and other tasty mushrooms hiking through the wet woods? YES. And with hardly any weight/space taken up in your pack. And isn't that the most important factor?

Gets the job done. Had them on during a crazy 12-hour blizzard on Mt. Baker in January. Everything underneath was completely dry. BUT — no way to get those on with boots on (unless you have really narrow ones - maybe). The side zippers unfortunately don’t go high enough. So as ‘emergency shells’ (which is typically the way I use shells) when Ron or snow get too much — these won’t do it. You have to put them on in advance (which would also make taking them off if it was too much a hassle too). Also, no pockets, which is never fun.

The pants are everything the reviews say they are. However, be careful. Some of the reviews stated the size runs larger, do not believe them. I ordered a small because of their advice thinking the medium would be more like a large. When the pants arrived, they are almost skin tight. I pondered to send back, but I am currently living outside the country. Order based on your measurements.

Used these for a hunting rain pant in coyote brown. Kept me dry in a downpour and when heading out in the early am when the foliage was wet. I did tear them down by the boot area. If you’re off trail bushwhacking definitely recommend wearing gaiters with them. If you tend to stay on the trails only then you should be ok. Nice and light when every ounce matters hunting in the backcountry.

Brought these pants on a river trip and they worked very well on the boat and in the rain. very light weight. I cant wait to use them backpacking!

Gave these as part of a graduation present for my nephew in Oregon. So far they are great for hiking around in the constant mist and random rain deluges.

Wow, I don't know if I love the functionality or the spiffy "coyote" color more. These rain pants are my favorite for backpacking, mountain running, or to through in a pack for extra security while traveling in the outdoors. I love the short zippers on the bottom of the cuff. They open the pant up enough to fit mountaineering boots through and you can easily get sneakers or bare feet through. The fabric is super thin so I don't recommend these for any abrasive activities because they definitely wont last. The draw string is simple and effective. There are no pockets, which I prefer, but it's good to take that into consideration. I'm 5'9" and 143lbs and a size Medium fits me perfectly.

I chose these rain pants primarily for their lightweight and packability and they didn't disappoint. They pack easily into the self-contained back pocket pouch, which is a nice feature that some other pants don't have. I tested them in a fairly heavy rain and they kept me nice and dry. Other reviewers complained that they had to take their shoes/boots off to get these pants on but I didn't have this problem; the ankle zippers gave me enough room to pull them over my hiking shoes.

Super lightweight, love the easy zipper access. Perfect for hiking in the rain and keeping dry.

I don't spend a ton of time outside in the rain, but have worn these while walking through very wet, waist high grass and more recently in a light rain. If you brush up against wet vegetation or give it some time, the face fabric is going to wet out. The light rain I was in today is a good example. Just the pressure of the rain on my thighs for ~45 minutes was enough to see water passing to the inside of the pant. The hiking pants I was wearing underneath were not wetting out, but I would not trust these in heavier or wind driven rain. Once the factory DWR starts to fail, they will not be very useful. They do breathe well for a rain pant, hiking at a moderate pace in cool temps saw no condensation from the inside. If one needs these for an occasional quick shower, they are up to the task. For prolonged time outside in the rain, you will want something more substantial.

I've been putting off getting proper rain pants for years. Last year, a Wind River Range adventure ended in several days of 32 deg rain and snow... effectively moving the rain pant issue front and center! On a recent trip to Colorado's Weminuche and Rawah Wilderness areas, I used my Helium pants every day. On the first two days we dealt with rain, snow and SLOPPY trails. The waterproof Pertex Shield+ fabric was indeed waterproof. On clear nights, temps dipped into the 20's and the Heliums held back cold winds around camp. I usually wear 34" waist with 32 to 33" inseam. My size large Helium pants fit me perfectly. These pants have ankle zips. I wear size 11 La Spotiva Trango TRK boots and taking pants on/off over boots requires a little patience and persistence. No star deduction for the short zips because they help achieve a crazy low weight (5.9 oz on my scale). Highly recommended.

These are super light. Kept me dry during my wet hikes in New Zealand.

These pant are awesome. For a while I put off buying rain pants because it seemed kind of necessary, but really these pants are pretty great. In a downpour, they're so nice to have, and in cooler weather they can function as a windbreaker during low-aerobic moments. The fit is really nice for me (size medium with 30" waste). Although I normally wear a 32" length, this 30" length seems to work very well. The build quality is very sturdy and the fabric is amazingly lightweight for how weatherproof it is. I'm still amazed that it can stuff into its own pocket! The breathability is good, but I wouldn't want to be running in them by any means. Just take it a little slower while you have them on and you'll be fine. At least you'll be a hell of a lot drier than you would be if you didn't have them.

I purchased these for a rafting trip. Needed something that could pack down easily and also lightweight. These definitely did the trick and kept me dry.

Great rain pants! They perform just as they should, block the rain and breathe well. There are loops at the bottom on each leg for attaching to your boots or gaiters.The waist is made of grippy elastic and has a shock cord and cord lock for adujstability. I wear a 32x32 in 90% of pants and the Large fit perfectly. They have great mobility and are actually shaped to your legs. They may be an inch short, but I prefer that so my hiking boots don't damage them. I like how small they pack and how little they weigh. Perfect for backpacking!