SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs Outdoor Research is not known for their jackets but I’ve had good luck with their Ion wind shirt which I bought for a song at the REI Outlet last year. This is a 2006 product but you can still find it in outlet stores on the web. It should not be confused with the Marmot Ion windshirt which is still widely available.
I wear the OR Ion whenever I feel the slightest chill over a jersey or jersey and insulation layer and stay nice and warm. Its DWR-coated nylon material is good in a drizzle or mist, but is not a good substitute for a proper rain shell. Breathability is just so so, but the zipper provides good venting.
The shirt has a handy front pocket for stowing a hat or gloves, or you can stuff the shirt into the pocket for storage. The hood can be cinched down using a lightweight elastic cord that runs through its perimeter. The ends of this cord terminate inside the coat collar and have little plastic tumblers on them making it impossible to pull the cord out – a nice feature, I think. The hood also has a smaller brim but it is not stiff enough to be self-supporting and I normally wear a billed mesh hat underneath it if it is drizzling. The shirt also has an elastic drawstring on the lower hem and elastics on the sleeves ends to keep out wind and cold.
At 3.5 oz. this is not the lightest wind shirt on the market, but if you can find it discounted, it is a very good value.
Disclosure: The author owns this product and purchased it using their own funds.
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