Outdoor Research Foray Rain Jacket Review

Updated: March 28, 2023
Outdoor-Research-Foray-Jacket-Review

If you're looking for a great all-round rain jacket that won't break the bank and is good value for money, then the Outdoor Research Foray is just for you.

It combines many useful features to ensure your comfort and that you're protected from wind and rain as you brave the outdoors. The Foray can be used for any outdoor purposes or even just general everyday wear.

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Outdoor Research Foray Rain Jacket

Manufacturer: Outdoor Research

Pros

  • Comfortable and great breathability
  • 2 Large side vents
  • Fairly light and can be packed away into pocket
  • Durable, windproof and waterproof
  • Hood is adjustable and elastic wristbands with a Velcro tab 

Cons

  • The hem can only be adjusted at the back

Conclusion

The Outdoor Research Foray is a versatile and good all-around rain jacket. It has many useful features to make it a top rain jacket choice. Gore-Tex Paclite fabric technology ensures that the jacket is waterproof and wind-resistant so that it can keep you dry and protect you from any weather conditions.

The Foray is comfortable and has excellent breathability. Instead of having the typical pit zips, the Foray has two large side vents, which can be unzipped right from the bottom of the jacket to under the armpit.

This unique ventilation design allows for a lot of airflow so that you don't feel clammy inside your rain jacket. The side vents can be worn completely open in a poncho-like style as well. The Foray is a reasonably light weight at 454g (16oz), and can be packed away into one of its own pockets.

This is an appealing feature for convenience sake as it will stay neatly packed away in your bag when you're not wearing it. The Foray is also very comfortable and its build allows you to move freely.

A lot of effort has gone into making the Foray a highly functioning, comfortable rain jacket. Its zippers operate smoothly and are also waterproof. Many rain jackets feature material flaps over the main zipper to keep water out, so a waterproof zipper is a nice change.

The hood is adjustable and elastic wristbands with a Velcro tab make sure that no water can get through to the inside. Micro-fleece lines the chin so that the fabric doesn't irritate your skin and some extra fabric covers the zipper so that it doesn't snag you. 

Best Rain Jackets

Finding the correct rain jacket for hiking and adventures at altitude for your needs and budget can be a tricky task and sifting through the troves of reviews can be time consuming and confusing. To make things easier, check out our expert review on the five Best Rain Jackets for Hiking.

Key Features

Water Resistance

The Outdoor Research Foray, with its Gore-Tex Paclite fabric and DWR finish, is completely waterproof and will keep you completely dry in the worst of rain storms.

The hood's stiff brim helps to keep rain out of your face and your vision clear. 

The adjustable hood, wrists and hem help prevent water from sneaking inside the jacket at any point. The DWR finish holds up very well so you can get a lot of use out of the Foray, and it will always keep you dry and warm.

Durability and Fabric

The durability of the Foray is quite impressive, considering the Gore-Tex Paclite fabric focuses more on being light and breathable rather than tough and durable. The Foray can hold up very well during almost any activity and has a lifetime guarantee.

The fabric is good quality and nice to the touch so you can feel comfortable wearing the Foray for extended periods of time. Gore-Tex Paclite is the most breathable fabric in the Gore-Tex range so you won't feel clammy if you work up a bit of a sweat.

Breathability

In addition to being made with the breathable Gore-Tex Paclite fabric, the Foray features a unique ventilation design to improve its breathability. Large zips run up the side of the jacket, from hem to bicep, which can be undone to expel excess body heat and improve airflow. This is a great design and is very useful during rigorous, high energy activities.

The Foray is an ideal jacket for both warm and cold weather as it will protect you from the rain and you won't get too hot underneath when you exert yourself. The Foray can be worn as a poncho when the side vents are fully unzipped, which results in excellent ventilation and flow of air underneath the jacket.

Comfort and Weight

While the Foray doesn't have stretchy material or any design features to keep your range of movement unrestricted, its slightly bigger fit allows you to move freely while wearing it. A lot of thought has gone into adding some extra touches to add comfort and make wearing this rain jacket a pleasure.

Micro-fleece lines areas which may cause irritation to your skin and the zippers have plastic tags to ensure that they can easily be used - even while wearing gloves. The adjustable hood can be fitted over a helmet and can be adjusted to comfortable frame your face.


The Foray weighs about 454g (16oz), which is fairly light, and can be neatly compressed into one of its pockets.

About the author 

Mark Whitman

Mark has trekked extensively in Asia, Europe, South America and Africa. He founded Mountain IQ in 2014 with the sole aim to be the best online information portal to some of the most popular mountain destinations around the world. When not writing for Mountain IQ, Mark is out exploring the outdoors with his wife!

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