Men’s Columbia Outdry Jacket – Review

By Alex Corlett -

Brand: Columbia

Type: Men’s Outdry Ex Reign Jacket

Price: £155

Star rating:

From first touch, the Outdry feels ready for nasty weather. The stiff material feels a wee bit like an oilskin tablecloth. It’s tough enough to shrug off not only rain but also scratchy gorse and the odd rocky scrape. Columbia are a company from Oregon where the rainfall in some areas exceeds even Scotland’s. Therefore, it’s no wonder that they’re as serious about staying dry as we are.

Velcro cuffs allow for a watertight fit.

The material is restrictive in movement, so it’s important to get the right fit. I found the cut pretty much spot on, even for my long arms. It was on the edge lengthwise, though – which means it would probably be just right for most people.

When the rain starts coming at you sideways, Velcro adjusters on the cuffs and back of the head let you batton down the hatches. The cuffs can be tightened effectively. It was harder to get a comfortable, sealed fit on the hood. That was with the help of the two elasticated drawstrings.

Just fine, but without a wired peak to hold it in place, it did need manually adjusting occasionally – even moreso in wind.

When the rain starts coming at you sideways, Velcro adjusters on the cuffs and back of the head let you batton down the hatches.

The hood is also fitted with Velcro.

Everything’s taped for waterproofing, including the edges of the two hand pockets, which were a good size, and the underarm venting. You might well find yourself using the vents more often than any other jacket, as it doesn’t take much movement for it to start getting clammy on the inside.

However, whilst there is a bit of a compromise on breathability, it is totally effective at what it sets out to do. Plus for something that keeps you this dry and is also sturdy enough for years of use, it’s really a very good price.

Favourite Feature

Water rolls off it like the proverbial duck’s back – for days out with a good chance of heavy weather, it’s absolutely up to the task of keeping you dry.

Least Favourite Feature

It’s almost as effective at keeping moisture in as it is at keeping it out. The inside quickly gets sweaty, so it’s more of a specific tool than an all-weather all-rounder.

Columbia Outdry Jacket