The Men’s Foray 3L Rain Jacket is a very effective and practical garment from Seattle-based Outdoor Research, writes Mike Gormley.
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There is a bit of a tale behind this evaluation. I was sent it a few months ago and from then on it never rained heavily for ages. Perhaps that is the trick of it? I even took the Foray on trips overseas where rain should have been on the cards… and the sun shone.
I am not unhappy that the weather was dry, but it did not help me to truly evaluate the performance of this Rain Jacket from Outdoor Research and I always do my best to properly evaluate any products I write about. Eventually though my patience paid off and then boy did it rain. When the weather broke I went out for a walk from home with the forecast being for heavy rain and I was not disappointed; nor was our garden. So I can happily confirm that the OR Foray Rain Jacket definitely keeps the wet stuff on the outside as required.
Having carried the Foray around with me a lot on a ‘just in case’ basis I have also proved the point of its concept. Light and easy to ‘take with’ for those times when the rain might show up, it also works very well at keeping chilly winds off the wearer. It is a comfortable to wear jacket with an amount of stretch in its AscentShell Dry 3L fabric, which is usefully breathable on those warmer days when active. The Foray does not set out to be a warm jacket, so is much less bulky, but in realty on those average sort of days it offers a very good level of comfort. The AscentShell is a three-layer material made from 100% recycled nylon with an added DWR treatment from Nikwax.
This jacket has three good pockets and full-length vent zips on either side, known by OR as their TorsoFlo Venting system. These double-ended zips go from the hem right up to the arm so way further than the more normal ‘pit zips’. The Foray is quite a loose fit ,so comfortable when active, and well provided for adjustment. It also has a very effective and adjustable hood with useful peak. A really good and practical jacket.
The colour of this one is Spice and Ranger Green, but several different colours or combinations are available including a more tactical Coyote Tan version. Seven sizes are produced, from XS to XXXL.
[Images © Jean or Mike Gormley]
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