Head to head
Outdoor Research Helium vs Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 (2027)
Head-to-head: Outdoor Research Helium versus Rab Downpour Plus 2.0, the emergency-weight shell and the fully featured Pertex shell compared.
Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
A 6.2 oz Pertex Shield shell that disappears into any pack.
- Weight (men's M): 6.2 oz (176 g)
- Construction: 2.5-layer Pertex Shield Diamond Fuse
Rab Downpour Plus 2.0
A fully featured Pertex Shield 2.5-layer shell for hiking and climbing.
- Weight: 13.2 oz (375 g)
- Construction: Pertex Shield 2.5-layer
Our recommendation
Choose the Helium when the shell is insurance: 6.2 oz that is always in the pack. Choose the Downpour Plus 2.0 when rain is the plan: a fully featured Pertex Shield shell at 13.2 oz for hikers who wear their shell all day. Weight versus features decides; both keep real storms out.
Weight and role
The Helium weighs 6.2 oz and packs to sandwich size, an emergency shell by design. The Downpour Plus 2.0 weighs 13.2 oz and behaves like a primary shell: fuller features, tougher fabric, and a cut made for all-day wear. They answer different forecasts.
Fabric and durability
Both use Pertex Shield family fabrics. The Helium's Diamond Fuse weave is engineered for abrasion resistance at minimal denier; the Downpour Plus uses a heavier Pertex Shield 2.5-layer build that shrugs off seasons of pack straps and brush. All-day, every-trip use favors the Rab.
Features
The Helium strips to essentials: one chest pocket that doubles as its stuff sack, an adjustable hood, elastic cuffs. The Downpour Plus 2.0 adds the fuller feature set of a primary shell, including two pockets and more complete adjustments. Features are what the extra 7 oz buys.
Choose Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket if…
- Rain on your routes is episodic, not the main event
- Every ounce of carried insurance is resented
- You want the toughest fabric per ounce available
Choose Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 if…
- You hike in rain for full days, regularly
- You want one shell that does everything
- You prefer a fuller feature set over minimum weight
Questions, answered
Which is more waterproof?
Both are fully seam-taped Pertex Shield shells that keep trail storms out. The Downpour Plus sustains performance longer under all-day, every-trip use.
Which packs smaller?
The Helium, by a wide margin. It stuffs into its own chest pocket at about half the Downpour's packed bulk.
Which lasts longer?
The Downpour Plus 2.0, on fabric weight and build. The Helium's lifespan is excellent for careful ultralight users and shorter for abrasive ones.