The 2017-2018 Outdoor Research Floodlight Jacket is marketed as a waterproof and windproof down jacket made for a variety of outdoor uses. I tested this jacket out during the 2017-2018 winter both personally (casual and belay use) as well as professionally as an outdoor education teacher.
Outdoor Research Women's Floodlight Jacket
Price: $395 USD
Size: XS-XL
Colours: Black/Charcoal, Night/Ultraviolet, Pinot/Raspberry
Weight: 20.2oz or 572g for Size Medium
Features:
The Floodlight jacket features Pertex Shield+ 2L 30D ripstop nylon which provides a waterproof, windproof breathable shell protection. The durable water repellant (DWR) finish enables both snow and rain to shed easily from its threads.
The jacket is packed with 650 fill goose down with a wire-brimmed helmet compatible halo hood. It has 3 external pockets and 2 internal pockets, velcro cuff closures, 2 way zipper openings, and stretchy underarm panels.
Outdoor Research Women's Floodlight Jacket
Price: $395 USD
Size: XS-XL
Colours: Black/Charcoal, Night/Ultraviolet, Pinot/Raspberry
Weight: 20.2oz or 572g for Size Medium
Features:
The Floodlight jacket features Pertex Shield+ 2L 30D ripstop nylon which provides a waterproof, windproof breathable shell protection. The durable water repellant (DWR) finish enables both snow and rain to shed easily from its threads.
The jacket is packed with 650 fill goose down with a wire-brimmed helmet compatible halo hood. It has 3 external pockets and 2 internal pockets, velcro cuff closures, 2 way zipper openings, and stretchy underarm panels.
Pros:
After wearing the Floodlight jacket over the past few months the number one thing I love about it is that I can wear it in almost all conditions. Our winters in the northeast have become extremely volatile including weekly changes in precipitation: snow, rain, and freezing rain. I love how I can wear this jacket in any weather and not have to worry about the forecast.
As an outdoor education teacher, I spend a lot of time outdoors facilitating outdoor activity and do more standing than I do moving. This jacket was the perfect solution: warm, waterproof, windproof, and durable. I would totally recommend this jacket to anyone who is an outdoor professional who needs a bombproof warmer layer for sedentary phases of instruction.
The cut and style of the jacket is another reason to love this jacket. I really enjoyed it's longer bum-covering length especially when belaying, teaching, and wearing skinny jeans or leggings! I found myself grabbing this jacket over my shorter length ones in colder weather. It's very flattering and I get many compliments.
When belaying I really liked the two way zipper feature and halo hood. The zipper opens from the bottom of the jacket (while the top is still closed) allowing you to belay using a harness while keeping your bum warm at the same time! I also enjoyed the halo hood feature - it grabs your helmet and allow you to turn your head more naturally with a hood on.
As for sizing, the medium fit me perfectly. I am normally between sizes in OR gear (small and medium) but for this jacket I recommend to select the bigger size if you are in doubt.
After wearing the Floodlight jacket over the past few months the number one thing I love about it is that I can wear it in almost all conditions. Our winters in the northeast have become extremely volatile including weekly changes in precipitation: snow, rain, and freezing rain. I love how I can wear this jacket in any weather and not have to worry about the forecast.
As an outdoor education teacher, I spend a lot of time outdoors facilitating outdoor activity and do more standing than I do moving. This jacket was the perfect solution: warm, waterproof, windproof, and durable. I would totally recommend this jacket to anyone who is an outdoor professional who needs a bombproof warmer layer for sedentary phases of instruction.
The cut and style of the jacket is another reason to love this jacket. I really enjoyed it's longer bum-covering length especially when belaying, teaching, and wearing skinny jeans or leggings! I found myself grabbing this jacket over my shorter length ones in colder weather. It's very flattering and I get many compliments.
When belaying I really liked the two way zipper feature and halo hood. The zipper opens from the bottom of the jacket (while the top is still closed) allowing you to belay using a harness while keeping your bum warm at the same time! I also enjoyed the halo hood feature - it grabs your helmet and allow you to turn your head more naturally with a hood on.
As for sizing, the medium fit me perfectly. I am normally between sizes in OR gear (small and medium) but for this jacket I recommend to select the bigger size if you are in doubt.
Cons:
My biggest con with this jacket is its weight. At 20.2oz (572g), it is almost double the weight of my other down jackets. I couldn't bear to pack this jacket for my longer distance adventures as it simply weighs too much.
My second con with this jacket is that I could not wear it in very cold temperatures as it was too thin and not warm enough. The 650-fill goose down kept me warm until about -15C/5F but any colder I would have select a different jacket. I would suggest upping the level of insulation so it could be used in colder environments for sedentary use.
Best Uses: Casual, Guiding, Short-distance adventuring.
Full disclosure: The Floodlight jacket was given to me from OR for the purpose of the review. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My biggest con with this jacket is its weight. At 20.2oz (572g), it is almost double the weight of my other down jackets. I couldn't bear to pack this jacket for my longer distance adventures as it simply weighs too much.
My second con with this jacket is that I could not wear it in very cold temperatures as it was too thin and not warm enough. The 650-fill goose down kept me warm until about -15C/5F but any colder I would have select a different jacket. I would suggest upping the level of insulation so it could be used in colder environments for sedentary use.
Best Uses: Casual, Guiding, Short-distance adventuring.
Full disclosure: The Floodlight jacket was given to me from OR for the purpose of the review. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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