Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible Jacket Review

May 27, 2017
Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible Jacket
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GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
86
Weathershedding
8
Breathability
8
Function
7
Durability
6
Packability
7

The Good

  • Stretchy material
  • Soft lining feels good next to skin
  • Reversible
  • Excellent breathability
  • Great price

The Bad

  • No wrist adjustment
THE VERDICT

The Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible is the most versatile jacket in the test and the best value. The Reversible is two jackets in one: a bomber shell on one side and a waterproof soft shell that will blend in urban locales on the other. Techy or not, few jackets perform as well and have your back in so many different situations. 

FULL REVIEW

Weathershedding
Introduced in 2016, the OutDry membrane eliminates the protective outer layer of the typical 3-layer construction. Instead the more durable membrane sits exposed, where breathability is less restricted. That’s why the seam tape is on the outside. A lack of exterior fabric also means less water absorbed by the Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible Jacket—a face fabric can soak up moisture, a membrane can’t. Long story short, the jacket is as waterproof as any other jacket in this test. However, the hood is not helmet compatible. The chunky front zip is waterproof, as are the almost invisible hand pocket zips.

Breathability
This is where the OutDry construction excels. One less layer of fabric in the sandwich translates to easier air vapor flow from inside to outside. The Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible Jacket’s soft liner also helps wick moisture off the skin, keeping the interior feeling dry. There are no vents on this jacket.

Function
The cuffs on the Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible Jacket are a fixed elastic, not a Velcro adjustment. We didn’t miss the ability to adjust the sizing very often, but it might be a bigger factor if the wrists didn’t fit us well. The hood has two adjustment points, but there’s not enough room for a helmet underneath. We liked that we could flip this jacket and end up with a different, more casual look. And there are hand pockets on both sides. And the hand pockets use an almost invisible zipper, which keeps the jacket looking clean and minimalistic.

Durability
After several weeks of use we didn’t notice any signs of wear on the Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible Jacket. Lots of four way stretch will likely help prevent rips and scuffs.

Packability
At 13 ounces the Columbia OutDry EX Gold Reversible Jacket is average for a summer weight shell, but considering it’s two jackets in one, it could be argued it’s extremely lightweight. The super slim hand pockets help this jacket pack a little smaller than we’d expect.

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