REI XeroDry GTX Jacket Evaluation

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 arduous shell. Whereas it doesn’t have pit zips, it’s totally featured in each different manner, with a two-way adjustable hood, velcro wrist cuffs, and three exterior pockets. The XeroDry jacket has what REI calls “core vents” which is somewhat deceptive: the handwarmer and chest pocket are mesh-backed, to allow them to dump extra physique warmth in case you don’t retailer something in them and go away them unzipped. Regardless of this, the XeroDry is sort of a pleasant rain jacket/arduous shell with many options appropriate for extra technical use. In the event you’re available in the market for a colder climate/winter shell, the REI XeroDry GTX is an efficient selection.

Specs at a look

• Gender: Males’s (Girls’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 normal classes: light-weight minimalist jackets supposed to be used in rain and heat climate and heavier-weight jackets which can be thicker, hotter, and infrequently 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 situations 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 arduous shell within the chilly, snow, and better wind speeds.

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

• Totally adjustable hood
• Numerous 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 larger wind speeds or blowing rain and snow since you don’t need wind whistling round inside your hood whenever you’re attempting to remain heat. A stunning variety of rain jackets/arduous shells lack these options as a result of they’re supposed 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 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 include a shapable wire which you’ll generally discover on higher-end jackets, however has a plastic stiffener to protect its form which is completely enough for that goal.

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 further physique heat and moisture in case you maintain them empty and unzipped. I don’t assume 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 may be stuffed into one of many handwarmer pockets which zippers closed, however an exterior hold loop is NOT supplied for clipping it to a climbing harness.

There’s little question that XeroDry GTX could be a good 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 normally rated to have a Moisture Vapor Transmission Fee (MVTR) of 15,000 grams over a 24-hour interval which is enough however not distinctive. Once I discover myself overheating within the XeroDry, I simply crack open the middle zipper and shed extra physique warmth and water vapor that manner. Direct venting all the time trumps a breathable layer.

Wrist Cuffs

The XeroDry GTX Jacket has velcro (hook and loop) wrist cuffs which is one other very helpful chilly climate function to stop chilly air from chilling your wrists and arms. The cuffs are extensive 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 whenever 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

Advice

The REI XeroDry GTX Jacket makes a wonderful rain jacket or winter arduous shell in cooler climate situations. 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 predict it’s an distinctive jacket for the worth and one that gives wonderful flexibility as a part of an entire climbing and backpacking layering system.

Disclosure: REI donated a jacket for overview.

SectionHiker is reader-supported. We solely earn money if you are going to buy a product by way of our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free climbing guides.