Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Foray Jacket

I just picked this up and so far it seems to be doing well against the rainy days of spring. Other than this I have no complaints; it breathes, has plenty of ventilation options and keeps me dry. Thanks and enjoy.

I've had this jacket for about ten months now and it's been a great performer. I've used it as a spring ski-shell and as a rain jacket in the summer and fall. I love its packability, and it's definitely waterproof. I spent two hours stuck on a chairlift in a heavy late-april wet snowstorm and barely a drop made it through.

The Foray Jacket has proven to be an exceptional addition to my backpacking gear. Have used the jacket in heavy and light downpours all along the Cascade and Coastal range in Oregon and Washington. The jacket is not as light as the minimalist but still a great packable item, waterproof and breathable, has fitting adjustments in the waist, wrists and hood and sealed zipper seams. For winter I go with a heavier "pro-shell" gore tex and more layers. Only additions or changes I would like to see is flaps over zippers and raise the pockets up so they are more useful when wearing a backpack. Great jacket and well worth the price!!!

Test Conditions: a)40F with sustained 20-25mph winds gusting to 40mph and pouring rain (sideways rain of course with the wind); b)30F with sustained 25mph winds and driving light snow; c)15F with wind chill of 8F and no precipitation; and d)50F with light winds. I was lucky (?) to be able to test under all 4 of these conditions. The jacket performed well and as advertised, but I wouldn't call it exceptional performance. It is certainly waterproof but does seem to leak a tiny bit at the seams - it's not enough to get you wet but I did notice trace-moisture on the inside where the seams are taped. I loved being completely dry in the driving, cold downpour. It is wind-resistant but definitely not windproof. At the colder temperatures I was wishing I had worn my old rundown but still-wind-proof shell. I really loved the breathability of the jacket - I was never too hot, even after strenuous exercise. But again, in the colder temperatures, I wish it retained more body heat I felt like I was struggling to keep my body temp up and heat in. With temperatures that dip down to -20F around here, I really can't see wearing this jacket in the winter - I'd need waay too many layers underneath and it does let the wind in. I like this as a 2-season jacket (from mid-Spring to mid-Fall) with appropriate layering underneath. I usually don't wear a rain jacket in the summer and choose to just get wet, usually because prior shells were just too hot. I can't wait to test this jacket in the summer rain - with its breathability, features like underarm zippers, etc., my guess is it will keep me dry without overheating. Overall, I like this jacket and will change my expectations from a 4-season to a 2-season jacket. I was really looking for a 4-season shell but now I'm thinking I may have to keep my old shell around for the winter months (even though it's dilapidated and I look like a hobo when I wear it, it traps more body heat!). I also like OR's warranty and I can buy 4 of these or 1 Arc'teryx shell! I just can't see Arc'teryx being worth 4 times the price... Taking price AND performance into account, I give this jacket a 4 out of 5 rating. I am very happy with it

I have had the chance to test this jacket out in heavy rain and wind, as well as sleet and a big snow storm. It is solidly constructed, all of the hardware is excellent and functions flawlessly. My only complaint is that the torso flow zip to hem pit zips means the waist cannot be completely sinched down, as only the back has a drawcord. I am 6' 230lbs and wear a 48 long suit coat, and generally XL tshirts, 36" sleeve dress shirts and the XL fits me well.

I have owned the Foray Jacket for about a Month now and though it hasn't seen rain, I have tested it in the extreme cold and snow. It has been a great layer for taking out on hikes as there are three ways to vent this jacket, though I haven't needed to because it seems to be rather breathable. The Foray is great for around town, top of my pack when the weather is predicted to roll in, and might replace my BC ski shell due to its versatility and weight. I have been pairing the Foray with the Radiant hoody for hikes in the foothills and am very pleased, as I never seem to get too hot or too cold.

Bought in May 2019. I am of two minds about this jacket. I like the weight, fit, Gore Tex, and features. But...the DWR is a miss. Other reviews have complained about the DWR finish and it wetting out very early. (See SleepingBagBoy, Drue, JustVu, Chris (from Quebec), chrispy, B (from CA), etc.) I had the same experience. First use ever was for a 30 minute walk in the rain. It had wetted out substanially in several areas before I got back. Gore Tex is Gore Tex, so I was dry, but the DWR was minimal right out of the box. Perhaps there a problem in the manufacturing or something. I will likely keep it and re-treat it, run it in the dryer, and/or live with it. (I would return for a refund if I paid full price. See below.) The ventilation zips will likely remedy any condensation that happens from the wetout. But if a working DWR finish is important to you, keep looking. I bought mine at a 40% discount on the OR site, so maybe they have discounted the problem lot, but that's just my speculation. Or maybe they're discontinuing my color (naval blue/dusk). Sizing is normal. I'm 6' 1" and 160 pounds. I wear a medium in almost every outdoor brand, same is true here. It seems made to wear a layer underneath.

Bought the Jacket in Jan 2015. I am 182-183cm Tall and abt 74kg. Fit: The large fits surprisingly well w/ w/o use of down layer. Climate: Living in Finland means long cold winters, short wet spring, mild summers, wet autumns. Use: Everyday outdoor wear. Active non-active. Quality: Noticed that after a gentle wash and appropriate setting in the dryer, the jackets tends to wet out less. Wind proof indeed. Torso flow zippers when lower hem is fully cinched tend to ride up when in active use. Could be the zipper type. Suggest a velcro tab to secure the to secure the hemline when cinched to avoid this problem as it is annoying. All zippers are too small to operate with gloves. Zippers in general are too small toothed as they seem to have issues of splaying or riding-open when in active use. The stuff pack works great and really packs down and is very light. Hood works and fits perfectly well. All seams and seals are great. Enjoy all the venting options. Fabric drys very fast. Summary: Great everyday jacket to moderate activity. For heavy use/activity would recommend others specially when wet and cold involved. Great on the trails and running or walk through town. Climbing or skiing suggest other types or brands. However at the price point and features it is a very good value. Not only that, OR customer service has been outstanding. Makes it hard to look elsewhere.

First off I want to say that the Infinite Guarantee from Outdoor Research is why I'll stick with Outdoor Research for all my gear. I was looking for a jacket that I could use walking around Seattle as well as use while hiking out in the woods. Going to the retail store in Seattle the Foray was recommended. After reading some reviews I pulled the trigger and bought the jacket. The first thing that I read and will reiterate is that this jackets DWR is not very good and wets out quickly. I wasn't too worried about this since this is a Gortex jacket. Granted it's not a great feeling being a bit clammy, but at least you're not wet right? Well that is what I thought, but after some time in the rain walking my dogs for about thirty minutes I was wrong. I was very wet inside the jacket. I had the vents open to make sure it wasn't condensation. Overall I was pretty frustrated, but then went to customer service and it was a breeze getting the jacket exchanged. I'm chalking up my experience to a single defective product and not the entire jacket line. The only thing I would like more is if the Customer Service wait time wasn't 1-2 weeks before a representative gets in touch with you.

I don't know how one person writing these reviews haven't come across this yet, except for one person who was spot on. I own 2 of these jackets (Pewter & Taos) and one of the biggest problem this jacket has, is that the outer fabric wets out - Gore-Tex still good, still waterproof. I live here in Toronto, ON. and we get a good amount of rain here. I was itching to test the jacket out, because I heard of good things about OR. After receiving it, I waited for some rain and after testing it in 2 different occasions, where the weather had about 5-10mm rain, the DWR wore off and the outer fabric starts to wet out. Very disappointing. I think because of the constant use of the stuffing it in the stuff sack, it wore off the DWR - wore it 2 times, so stuffing it and pulling it out 4 times can definitely wear it out faster. Not sure if that was the issue though. I work at an outdoor store, so I get to try things out and test 'em. There is only one company that utilizes Gore-Tex very well and their usage in Gore-Tex is why it surpasses other companies, but there ridiculously expensive. One of the other disappointing thing about this jacket is the durability of the jacket. Because of the soft outer face fabric, it's prone to puncture. It actually has the look and feel of a softshell outer face fabric. After 3 months of use, there were 2 small size holes on the lower back of the jacket and it punctured right through the Gore-Tex. No idea how it got there. I sent it to OR for a warranty and received a new one in return. Warranty is awesome by the way! I mostly use this jacket for city-wear and hiking. I tried using this for skiing/snowboarding, but I find it a bit to restricting in the upper torso area. Helmet wouldn't fit underneath the hood properly, probably a bit to fitted. Because of the Paclite, I could toss this in my pack and I'm ready to tackle the day without worries, minus the wet out. I've been wearing this jacket in the winter this season and I like to layer up - if you layer up properly, you'll definitely stay warm and happy during the winter. I'm 180cm and weigh in at 170lbs with a 16-17" shoulder. I tend to heat more than the average person, and during -10C weather, I could wear a baselayer, t-shirt or longsleeve and a fleece underneath, I have decent mobility only if I don't reach my arms forward. If you add an inch or inch and a half, I'll be happy. Any colder, I'll swap the fleece for a down jacket. I wouldn't wear this jacket in summer, like rainforest type weather. I find Gore-Tex ability to breathe diminishes from there and you're basically SOL. Good for Fall, Winter and the early seasons of Spring or like very mild weather (anything below 10C). I really like the 2-way zipper; and the Torsoflo you have going on! I was skeptical at first about it, but it won me over. You got extra ventilation with the pockets because of the mesh, but who really needs that when you got the Torsoflo! I like the elasticized cuff with the velcro closure. - you can cuff it all the way down (or half way) and still have some stretch to move. I do notice that the outer face fabric has some stretch to it. That's a nice touch, but prone to wet out very easily. You got many good things going on, but a lot of the bad has kept me from buying more. Unless there was minor improvements, I'll definitely get more, but I think I'll stick to just 2 for now.

So, here's a brief history... I owned an older foray jacket that I really loved. It had waterproof zips under the arms and the outer fabric, while a little stiffer and noisier, performed well in the rain. I eventually got rid of it, purchased another brand of jacket, immediately missed the torsoflo zips, and went out and purchased the new Foray Jacket (current model summer 2014). It's waterproof, but... The thing that really kills me is the outer fabric. It's very soft, quiet, and has a nice matte finish. It looks great around town, but out hiking it wets out very quickly. Just walking from the car into the grocery store and you will start to see patches soaked through. Now, the jacket remains waterproof... but any breathability that existed is gone, and the jacket starts to weigh significantly more. It also take a bit to dry it out. Not ideal for actually using it for backpacking. Anyway... it's decent jacket for most people, most of the time. But if you're actually looking for something to use in the backcountry... you might consider something else.

I bought this in July 2018 but before I go on further I should describe what I do and where I've used this jacket. I am a collegiate Trip Leader and Instructor. I bring college students around the country climbing, whitewater boating, backpacking, canoeing/kayaking, and much more. I wear this jacket commuting to school and work on my bicycle as well. The jacket was doing great for the first month, but it soon began to lose its luster. In August, 1 month after purchasing this jacket, The DWR was gone on the shoulders, chest and forearms. The water would soak the outer layer losing breathability. I also noticed any area that the DWR was lost (such as the shoulders) this would act as a spot for water to infiltrate the rest of the outer fabric and eventually lead to the whole jacket being wet. While DWR inevitably wears off, I was surprised at how quickly it disappeared from this jacket. .A few months later in November I washed the jacket for the first time using Nik-Wax. The nikwax did its job for another month and the jacket was back to where it was. I broke the jacket out again this spring on a day on the lake with heavy wet snow. Within an hour the GORE-TEX failed and I was soaking wet after 4-hours on the lake. I rewashed the jacket with Nikwax and a few weeks later 4-hours in the rain and I was again soaking wet. For a jacket not even a year old I am extremely disappointed with this jacket. Whats worse is that I purchased this jacket because of the infinite guarantee that OR had knowing that if anything happened to the jacket they would have my back. At the end of 2018 summer they changed their warranty to any other outdoor brand. Now I am stuck with a windbreaker that I can no longer return under warranty because of "wear and tear" even though a shot jacket less than 1 year is unacceptable for any rain jacket at this price and GORE-TEX. OR's old warranty stood them out from the rest. Would say more about this product but OR limits the how long the reviews are :(

Had an older version of the Forey for years and loved it, was totally waterproofing and breathable but after 5+ years it started to wear out. Upgraded to the new model which lacks PFC in the DWR, which is great I'm always on board for environmentally friendly products. HOWEVER, this new DWR face fabric really only sheds light rain for a few minutes, and then completely wets out becoming 100% not breathable in those areas. You can actually see the fabric absorb water on the inside of the coat, and while it's not actually wet on the inside from the outer fabric abrobing water, any water vapor your body puts off is now trapped and those areas become damp. And even at zero activity level the human body is releasing some vapor with heat loss. I work at night on an ATV, so I'm sitting still, hardly exerting myself and after 20 mins the whole jacket was wetted out and damp inside in a light rain. The water resistant zippers are questionable as well, thick rain gets through after time. So the advantage of Gortex Paclite 2L fabric being lightweight and breathable are immediately lost and you're left with essentially a clamy rubber raincoat that doesn't breath at all. OR tells me this is an issue on all new Paclite products not just OR and Gortex's recommendation is to put it in the drier for 20 mins before each trip to reset the DWR. Great if you have access to a drier but I'm wondering why I paid for a jacket that needs constant TLC and can't be taken on long trips to parts of the the world that don't have driers in every house. Skip this and Paclite fabric and buy a 3L jacket without this new DWR face to really insure you get something that will keep you dry when you need it.

After a couple minutes of exposure to water, it starts to absorb the water. This is the first time this jacket is put to the test and it already doesn't look promising. I was considering using this jacket to replace my military rain jacket but now I have doubts. Only thing that I appreciate about it is it's lightness.

The hood is very, very deep. For reference I'm a 5'10"/170 male with what I consider an average size head. The hood is so large that it droops over my eyes and reaches my chin if I pull it all the way forward. I could wear a helmet and a ballcap and would probably still have too much room. The hood appears fully adjustable, but there's no way to adjust the actual deepness of it. Past rain jackets I've owned had a vertical velcro strip on the back of the hood which is effective at cleanly fitting the hood to your head, then using the draw cords to pick up any slack. The hood on the Foray has a mess of pull cords that only work to uncomfortably cinch the hood tightly to the head. The cords tighten horizontally right across the center of my ears -- way too uncomfortable to be useful. The neckline is a mess when the coat is zipped down. There's no collar, so you just get this big bag of an oversized cinched hood messily draped over the shoulders. Maybe in a downpour this would be useful, but for a daily commuter in rainy weather with the occasional hike, I feel like I couldn't just throw this thing on and go, without having to fuss with the hood. I can't speak to actual rain performance as I'll be returning because of the fit.

Not impressed at all with this jacket, bought it because it was on sale and I loved my other OR jacket (the realm which is far superior as far as water proofing goes evidently) that I lost unfortunately, water does not bead at all it seems, and in 3-4 minutes of moderate rainfall certain locations on the jacket (shoulders and wrist areas) are almost completely soaked through. Ive had it for about 6 months now and honestly it seems to get worse every time I use it. Would stay away from this jacket, spend a little extra and get a realm or an axiom because this one does not get the job done. The only upside is it's relatively windproof, but even as far as that goes the realm was superior.

This is a great looking jacket best suited for quick runs to the coffee shop. It simply doesn't breathe well enough to do any kind of activity, the interior gets visibly wet even if you don't break a sweat during casual hiking. If you try and use the venting zippers while wearing a backpack, water goes straight inside. Out of the box it doesn't bead water at all.

owned for 5 months. people commented on how nice it was. holes appeared after a couple hiking and climbing trips and is no longer waterproof. zipper threads are failing on main zip and pit zip. only used pit zip a couple times. main zip maybe 15-20.

Returned items

This product was given to me as a gift a little less than 10 months ago and I was estatic to receive it. I had heard nothing but great things and was ready to step up my outdoor gear game. What I received and what I read about we're not in anyway synonymous. This jacket is terrible and the worst part is, it's expensive and OR has ignored every email I've sent them asking for help. I wasnt angling for a new jacket, I was simply asking for advice on how to treat my jacket. When I received it, it was crisp and new in the package. But it could barely take 15 minutes of rain or snow without completely wetting out. Fast forward 10 months and this jacket is useless. So much as a light drizzle and I'm drenched. Unfortunately, as a student, the money isn't there to replace this with a product from a company that actual cares about what they sell to people.