REI XeroCloud 3L Rain Jacket Assessment

Backside Line

In REI’s line of branded rain jackets, the REI XeroCloud 3L (males’s / girls’s) deserves a star subsequent to its title. It strikes a stable steadiness between efficiency and affordability, making it an incredible decide for hikers and backpackers who need reliable waterproofing with out breaking the financial institution. Its attainable worth belies its efficiency, giving it glorious worth and making it certainly one of our favourite rain jackets.

Constructed with a 3-layer development, the XeroCloud gives critical climate safety and higher breathability than many jackets in its worth vary. The match is roomy sufficient for layering, and particulars like pit zips and an adjustable hood add useful worth. We examined this shell in Alaska’s driving rain and gale-force winds and had been impressed with its sturdiness and climate resistance. The HydroWall materials is hard but versatile and protects us effectively in sustained rain and wind.

Even so, the XeroCloud does retain some components of a extra budget-priced jacket. Its barely bigger match can really feel saggy with out layers beneath, making it much less packable than different jackets we examined. Nevertheless, for somebody trying to steadiness efficiency with price range, the XeroCloud is a superb alternative for delivering stable efficiency throughout many circumstances.

Consolation & Mobility

The XeroCloud eschews the everyday crinkle and cookie-cutter feeling of conventional rain jackets with its smooth and supple materials. The nylon/polyester mix material is smooth to the contact, making it comfy to put on only a T-shirt beneath. The jersey backer is a pleasant added contact to extend next-to-skin consolation. The smooth materials can also be quiet; we may hear a lot better whereas carrying the hood than in different stiffer jackets available on the market.

The three-layer HydroWall materials is stretchy and elastic, permitting for an incredible vary of movement whereas mountain climbing or scrambling up a steep climb. Like REI’s different rain jackets, the match is roomy and barely saggy. This enables for layers to be simply worn beneath, however can really feel saggy with only a base layer below it. Whereas not a efficiency reduce, the XeroCloud continues to be a really comfy jacket that permits for a variety of mobility.

Climate Resistance

So far as non-GORE-TEX supplies go, we’ve been impressed with the XeroCloud’s climate resistance. REI’s HydroWall delivers stable moist climate efficiency, and the XeroCloud resists wetting by for for much longer than we anticipated. Due to its three-layer development, this jacket saved us dry and guarded even on a day with rain and sixty-mile-an-hour winds. We notably recognize the sealed zipper, a characteristic not usually discovered on cheaper jackets.

The XeroCloud is constructed with a nylon and polyester mix that, whereas stable sufficient for many climate circumstances, doesn’t fairly present the climate resistance of a 100% nylon jacket. REI’s PFAS-free DWR does a wonderful job of beading moisture, however it will definitely succumbs to heavy rain.

When the coat begins to soak up water, we discover it first within the shoulders and arms. For a value-priced jacket, we had been pleasantly stunned by the climate resistance of the XeroCloud, and it’s one we gained’t hesitate to convey out within the backcountry on our subsequent journey.

Air flow

Climbing up a steep part of path on a wet day, we had been impressed with the XeroCloud’s breathability. The three-layer development boosts each climate resistance and breathability, and we by no means observed any clamminess. The truth is, it has higher breathability than even some windbreakers we’ve examined. Two pit zips additional improve the fabric’s breathability, an important for any rain jacket.

After completely soaking the jacket in heavy rain, we discovered that it dries extraordinarily rapidly, even at room temperature with out direct daylight. That is nice for drying out on the path or in between rainstorms. The surplus materials of the XeroCloud’s relaxed match provides to its general weight and, in flip, heat of the jacket. Nevertheless, it is extremely straightforward to dump that heat by unzipping the pit zips and even opening the mesh-lined pockets.

Sturdiness

In comparison with thinner jackets made with 2 or 2.5 layers, the XeroCloud’s three-layer development enhances its sturdiness. By really feel, the fabric doesn’t really feel as thick as others in our lineup. Nevertheless, we skilled no points with tearing or scrapes after taking this jacket by thick brush and thorns.

The smooth, thinner materials will not be your first alternative for those who plan on encountering brush and scraping rocks usually. The fabric’s stretch helps it move by snags unscathed, and to this point, we now have been happy with the extent of sturdiness provided by the XeroCloud.

Weight

At 13.4 ounces, the XeroCloud is heavier than different jackets in our lineup. That is possible because of its extra relaxed match. The jacket packs into the left pocket however continues to be fairly cumbersome, virtually twice the scale of a one-liter bottle. 

Whereas not ultralight, the XeroCloud by no means felt like a moist blanket and simply slot in our packs. For those who’re in search of a featherweight shell, there are different choices, however the XeroCloud’s steadiness of reasonably priced worth and good climate resistance is effectively definitely worth the minor weight penalty.

Ought to You Purchase the REI XeroCloud 3L Rain Jacket?

The REI XeroCloud is certainly one of REI’s highest-performance branded rain jackets. Nevertheless, they nonetheless keep true to their mission of creating outside gear accessible by pricing it effectively beneath comparable shells from different manufacturers. This makes it nice for entry-level fanatics wanting a barely dearer choice, or seasoned veterans after a value-priced jacket. 

With high-performance components like robust climate resistance and a extremely cellular materials, the XeroCloud is a superb efficiency choice at a price range worth. It retains some components of a extra informal jacket with flaps over zippers and a barely heavier weight, however nonetheless packs sufficient efficiency for rugged backcountry adventures.

What Different Rain Jackets Ought to You Think about?

Take a look at our full gear information to see all our favourite rain jackets.

REI Rainier Assessment: Essentially the most reasonably priced choice from REI, the Rainier balances efficiency with an attainable worth level.

Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Assessment: For those who cherished the elastic and soft-to-the-touch feeling of the XeroCloud, the Stretch Ozonic is made from the same materials however is even lighter.

Montbell Versalite Assessment: If the packability of the XeroCloud left you wanting extra, the Versalite is our lightest and most packable jacket for these devoted ultralight fanatics.