Pants Get Helium

Outdoor Research’s Helium jacket, which started as a modest ultralight emergency shell, has already proffered great results for the brand, from a hybrid design that merges panels of waterproof and breathable, wind-repellent fabric to a 850-fill down jacket wrapped in tissue-light Pertex fabric that won our hearts at last year’s Winter Outdoor Retailer. And this spring the ultralight jacket will become a pair of pants. The rain trousers—naturally dubbed the Helium Pants ($119)—weight in at a measly 5.9 ounces, light enough to forget about until you need ‘em. The Pertex Shield+ provides full waterproof-breathable protection, and an array of little features like ankle zips and an elastic waist with a draw cord should making putting them on mid-monsoon a breeze. These pants won’t likely replace your more burly pair with full-length heat vents, and the lack of ventilation may make them pretty steamy in highly aerobic activities or when conditions are warm, but for an emergency pair, they should hit the spot.
—Nathan Borchelt