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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 laborious shell. Whereas it doesn’t have pit zips, it’s absolutely featured in each different approach, with a two-way adjustable hood, velcro wrist cuffs, and three exterior pockets. The XeroDry jacket has what REI calls “core vents” which is a little bit 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 depart them unzipped. Regardless of this, the XeroDry is kind of a pleasant rain jacket/laborious shell with many options appropriate for extra technical use. For those who’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 out there)
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 out there.

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 can be 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 at the side of extra technical base and mid-layer clothes. Whereas it’s completely appropriate for climbing within the rain, its function set and heat make it a wonderful laborious shell within the chilly, snow, and better wind speeds.

When evaluating rain jackets/laborious shells for colder climate, I search for the next options:

Totally adjustable hood
A number 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 scale of the entrance face opening. These options are must-haves for climbing in increased wind speeds or blowing rain and snow since you don’t need wind whistling round inside your hood if you’re making an attempt to remain heat. A stunning variety of rain jackets/laborious 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 had buried neck controls to regulate the scale of the face opening.

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 goal. The invoice doesn’t comprise 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 goal.

Philip climbing Mt Madison (NH) in Winter in an REI XeroDry Jacket. Be aware the entrance invoice which stored the wind off my brow at the side of a face masks in 40+ mph wind.

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 goal and my desire 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 could be stuffed into one of many handwarmer pockets which zippers closed, however an exterior cling loop is NOT offered for clipping it to a climbing harness.

There’s little doubt that XeroDry GTX can be an excellent 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 often rated to have a Moisture Vapor Transmission Price (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 approach. Direct venting all the time trumps a breathable layer.

Velcro wrists cuffs space one other efficient temperature regulation function.

Wrist Cuffs

The XeroDry GTX Jacket has velcro (hook and loop) wrist cuffs which is one other very helpful chilly climate function to forestall chilly air from chilling your wrists and palms. The cuffs are vast 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 technique to vet warmth in winter if 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 wonderful rain jacket or winter laborious 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 worth and one that gives glorious flexibility as a part of a whole climbing and backpacking layering system.

Disclosure: REI donated a jacket for assessment.

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