Brand · 12 products · Outdoors & Fitness and Ski & Snowboard
Outdoor Research
Is Outdoor Research worth buying?
Outdoor Research earned a buy verdict on 6 of the 12 Outdoor Research products we compared (50%), in line with the 50% average across every brand on the site. 4 won their comparisons outright: Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter, Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pant, Outdoor Research Snowcrew Jacket and Outdoor Research Snowcrew Pant. 4 are an "it depends": right for a specific buyer, not for everyone. We would skip 2: Outdoor Research Prevail Heated GORE-TEX Glove and Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiter II.
Verdicts synthesize independent testing and long-term owner reports; we do not run a lab and never take review units. Each product below links to the comparison it was judged in. How we review.
Buy it 6 products
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The Best Hiking Gaiters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Crocodile GaiterWon the comparison
The reference full-height alpine gaiter, rebuilt in 2025 with a camlock top and a strap the maker says is replaceable.
Best for: Mountaineering, snowshoeing and shoulder-season off-trail travel, where you want one gaiter that will outlast several pairs of boots.
$$$ · premium
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The Best Hiking Pants: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Ferrosi PantWon the comparison
The easy default: a stretchy nylon pant with a UPF 50+ claim and a zippered security pocket.
Best for: Most hikers who want a single three-season trail pant with sun protection at a fair tier.
$$ · mid-range
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The Best Ski Jackets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Ski & Snowboard
Outdoor Research Snowcrew JacketWon the comparison
A fully seam-taped, insulated resort jacket with the snow features that matter and a lifetime guarantee.
Best for: Resort skiers and riders who want one warm, waterproof jacket for most winter days.
$$ · mid-range
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The Best Ski Pants: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Ski & Snowboard
Outdoor Research Snowcrew PantWon the comparison
An insulated, fully taped resort pant with the snow features that matter and a lifetime guarantee.
Best for: Resort skiers and riders who want one warm, waterproof pant for most winter days.
$$ · mid-range
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The Best Ski Gloves: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Ski & Snowboard
Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX GloveRunner-up
A GORE-TEX insulated resort glove with a gauntlet cuff and a lifetime guarantee, at a mid-range price.
Best for: Resort skiers who want GORE-TEX waterproofing and a full feature set without paying for leather.
$$ · mid-range
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The Best UV Protective Shirts: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Long Sleeve TeeRunner-up
A stretchy polyester tee with a stated UPF 50+ rating and thumb holes, at the low end of the field.
Best for: Hikers and runners who want a light, cheap long sleeve with a rating they can read.
$ · budget
It depends 4 products
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The Best Bivy Sacks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Helium UL Bivy
A single-pole bivy with a 2.5-layer Pertex shell and bug mesh, light but short on published ratings.
Best for: Ultralight backpackers and climbers who want a pole and bug mesh at close to the weight of a flat bivy, and can live without published ratings.
$$$ · premium
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The Best Packable Puffer Jackets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Men's Transcendent Down Jacket
The highest rated fill here with a lifetime guarantee, but it publishes less than the Black Diamond and weighs more.
Best for: Buyers who value Outdoor Research's Infinite Guarantee and the 800+ fill rating over a published fill weight.
$$$ · premium
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The Best Sun Hats for Hiking, Fishing and Travel: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Helios Sun Hat
A very light UPF 50+ nylon hat with a detachable chin cord and a narrower 2.75 inch brim.
Best for: Runners and hikers who prioritize light weight and a secure chin cord over maximum shade.
$$ · mid-range
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The Best Women's Winter Parkas: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Women's Coze Down Parka
A light, well-built 43-inch down parka for dry cold, with an outdoor brand's lifetime guarantee.
Best for: Commuters and travellers in dry, cold places who value low weight and a lifetime guarantee over a waterproof shell.
$$$ · premium
Skip it 2 products
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The Best Heated Gloves: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Prevail Heated GORE-TEX Glove
A well-built GORE-TEX glove whose product page leaves out the heating specs that matter.
Why we skip it: No battery capacity, runtime or heat temperatures on the product page; it refers you to the user manual.
$$$ · premium
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The Best Hiking Gaiters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) · Outdoors & Fitness
Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiter II
Looks like the sensible full-height hiking gaiter, but it is coated packcloth that weighs more than the brand's own GORE-TEX model.
Why we skip it: Outdoor Research rates the fabric water resistant, not waterproof, and there is no named waterproof-breathable laminate in it anywhere.
$$ · mid-range
Outdoor Research in our categories: Outdoors & Fitness (9) · Ski & Snowboard (3)