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Arc'teryx Alpha SL Jacket vs Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket is the lighter option — 80 g lighter than the Arc'teryx Alpha SL Jacket (29% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Arc'teryx Alpha SL Jacket Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Weight 280 g · 0.280 kg · 0.62 lb 200 g · 0.200 kg · 0.44 lb
Brand Arc'teryx Outdoor Research
Category Clothing - Outer Layer Clothing - Outer Layer
Arc'teryx Alpha SL Jacket
280 g

Ultralight Gore-Tex hardshell for alpine climbing.

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Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
200 g

Ultralight packable waterproof jacket. Award-winning design.

Full details →

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Arc'teryx Alpha SL Jacket vs Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket wins — at 200 g it is 80 g (29%) lighter than the Arc'teryx Alpha SL Jacket (280 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest clothing - outer layer page, or browse the full gear weight database.

More clothing - outer layer comparisons