Hemispheres Team Gore-Tex^® Waterproof Jacket

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is my second Hemisphere shell, and I really like the upgrades Outdoor Research has added over the past. The shell remains a high quality & durable fabric- even while running alpine gates or darting through backcountry trees, I don't have any scrapes on these. The combo between breathability, waterproofness, and windproofness was good as well. Additionally, the hood is much better sized for ski helmets; my old Hemisphere didn't fit my helmet, but this 3rd generation is a larger size and more adjustment options. It's also a longer length coat (a slight negative too- below), and fit more appropriately than the first hemisphere line for me. The pockets are deep and reliable Why I didn't rate it a 10- Waterproofing- we'll all need to get used to the new Gor-tex PFAS Free products, and this is my first experience with it. The waterproofing wasn't as strong as previous shells, and requires more consistent applications through the season, but it's safer for the environment. Although I got wet on some seriously snow/rain days, I was usually dry, even if beaded water didn't fully wick off. - Length- positive from above, but a lot of length was added that it was almost too long Overall, although I'll need to get used to the waterproofing, This is a great shell from Outdoor Research that is a mainstay in my ski gear Note- I received this product for free from Outdoor Research.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This new OR Hemispheres shell stood up equally well to sunny touring in NM and heavy maritime snow at Whistler. The large pit zips did a great job shedding heat on the uphill and on sunny lift-served days, and I appreciated the inclusion of a forearm pass pocket (adding inbounds versatility) on a jacket meant primarily for touring. The hood readily accommodated my XL helmet, but there's enough cinches to allow it to fit tight around a hat, too. The fabric stood up to plenty of abuse crawling over downed trees, but it's also somehow lightweight and flexible - nice work, OR. The DWR stood up well to a season of use, although my home mountains didn't see as much snow as I'd hoped for this winter. I'm 6'3", 190 lbs, and I fit well in the medium. I was happy with the length of the sleeves, which can be hit-or-miss in other brands given my lanky build. It's rare for a shell to have enough hood volume for my oversized head & neck, but OR managed to hit the mark! Glad to have gotten a chance to try this out for free from Outdoor Research one season early, and looking forward to more snowfall next winter.