Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket: 2.5L Pertex Shield Pro Alpine Shell for SS26
- May 1
- 9 min read
Outdoor Research quietly shipped the SkyChaser Jacket for spring 2026, and it is the most alpinism-first piece OR has made in years. The headline is the membrane: Pertex Shield Pro in a 2.5-layer construction with real mechanical stretch, wrapped around a 40D ripstop nylon face. $340. GearJunkie pulled it for the April 17 Emerging Gear column, which is what put it on the radar this week.
What it is
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is a 2.5-layer waterproof alpine shell. The face fabric is 40D ripstop nylon, roughly 52 percent recycled, sewn down to an 87 GM² shell weight. The membrane is Pertex Shield Pro. Seams are fully taped. The hood is helmet compatible with a wire brim. Pit zips run down each side for fast venting on the climb. Hand pockets sit high enough to clear a climbing harness and a pack hipbelt. The interior carries one zip chest pocket. Cuffs are molded with tabs, the hem is elastic-drawcord.
Outdoor Research positions the SkyChaser Jacket for fast-and-light alpine missions where weight, packability, and real weather protection all have to cohabitate. Men's SKU 322682, women's SKU 322688. $340 USD, shipping now in Amber, Malachite, and Black for the men's lineup, with additional colorways for the women's.
Specs that matter
Construction: 2.5 layer waterproof
Face fabric: 40D ripstop nylon, ~52% recycled
Shell weight: 87 GM²
Membrane: Pertex Shield Pro
Seams: Fully taped
Hood: Helmet compatible, wire brim
Pockets: 2 high hand, 1 internal zip chest
Venting: Pit zips
Cuffs: Molded with tabs
Hem: Elastic drawcord
Certification: Bluesign approved
Price: $340 USD
Colorways (men's): Amber, Malachite, Black
A few of these earn a closer look.
The 40D face fabric weight sits at the durable end of the fast-and-light spectrum. Ultralight 2.5L shells often come in at 20D to 30D face fabrics that scuff easily on rock contact. 40D is OR's hedge: light enough to keep the shell weight class honest, heavy enough that a granite face or a brushy traverse does not chew it apart by the second season.
The mechanical stretch in the face fabric is the spec most worth flagging. Most 2.5-layer waterproof shells are stiff because the membrane laminate restricts the fabric's drape. Pertex Shield Pro is engineered to retain stretch through the lamination process, which is why OR can build a fast-moving alpine cut on it. On the body, that translates to a shell that does not fight an arm reach over your head on a route or a long pole plant on a skin track.
The helmet-compatible hood with a wire brim is the alpine credibility detail. Wire brims hold shape in wind so the hood does not collapse over your eyes when you are looking up at a route. Helmet-compatible means it fits over a typical climbing helmet without strangling at the throat. Both features are the difference between a shell that clearly belongs on a mountain and one that is dressed up to look like it does.
Materials & construction
The story here is Pertex Shield Pro. It is the membrane the rest of the industry has been watching. Pertex's parent company, Mitsui, developed it as an alternative to GORE-TEX ePE, which has been the dominant new-generation waterproof membrane for the past three seasons. Shield Pro pushes harder on stretch and on weight: it claims 3-layer membrane durability in a 2.5-layer build, with mechanical stretch that GORE has not engineered into ePE.
Outdoor Research building a flagship alpine shell on Shield Pro is the move worth flagging for the gear-watching crowd. OR is one of the few American brands with the alpine credibility to anchor a new membrane in the category, and the SkyChaser is going to function as the proof point for Pertex Shield Pro in the way that early Beta SV builds anchored GORE-TEX Pro a decade ago.
The 40D face fabric is 52 percent recycled nylon. The recycled-content angle is real but not the headline. The headline is what the fabric does on the body: it drapes, it stretches, it sheds water, and it has tear strength to match a hard alpine season.
Who it's for
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is built for the fast-moving alpine crowd. Ski mountaineers logging spring corn descents, alpine rock climbers running long ridge traverses, shoulder-season hikers and trail runners hitting pass-bagging objectives where weather can flip in twenty minutes. The shell is light enough to throw in a summit pack and forget, durable enough to take a fall on rock or a slide on snow without abrading through.
It is the right pick for the climber who wants Pertex Shield Pro performance without the price premium of the GORE-TEX Pro 3L tier, and for the skier who wants a 2.5L that does not feel like a trash bag on long uphill efforts. The mechanical stretch is the feature that converts a fast-and-light shell from "good for emergencies" to "good for moving."
It is the wrong pick if you are a casual day-hiker who only needs a rain jacket twice a year. The price-to-feature ratio is overkill for that use case. Get the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket instead.
A specific scenario this jacket was made for: a 4 a.m. start on a Cascades ridge traverse, sustained 30-mile-per-hour gusts, intermittent graupel, helmet on, climbing pace.
How it compares
Against the Arc'teryx Beta SV (about $700, 410 g, GORE-TEX Pro 3L): Beta SV is the durability anchor. The SkyChaser trades sustained-abuse durability for half the price and a lighter weight class. For someone who wants one shell to live in for ten seasons in the worst conditions, Beta SV. For someone who wants a working alpine shell at a defensible price, SkyChaser.
Against the Patagonia Storm10 (around $329, 232 g, H2No 3L): Storm10 is lighter and runs a different membrane. It does not have mechanical stretch and the cut is less alpine-specific. SkyChaser's helmet-compatible hood and high pockets read as more committed to climbing.
Against the Black Diamond Strataline Stretch Shell (around $375, 352 g, BD.dry): Strataline is the closer like-for-like in stretch. Strataline runs a softer hand and a tighter alpine cut. SkyChaser pulls ahead on durability through the 40D face fabric.
Against the previous-generation Outdoor Research Foray Jacket (around $250, more general-purpose 2.5L): Foray is the entry-level OR shell. SkyChaser is the alpine-credible OR shell. Different products, different customers.
Where it shines (and where it doesn't)
It shines on alpine missions where weight matters but durability cannot be compromised: ski mountaineering, alpine rock, ridge traverses, technical scrambling. It shines on the wet-and-cold shoulder seasons where most casual rain jackets give up. It shines for Pertex Shield Pro early adopters who want the new membrane in a real-use shell.
Where it does not shine: hot summer rain. The 40D face fabric is on the warm side for a 70 degree downpour. It also does not shine for big-volume insulation layering; the cut is athletic, not roomy.
Where to get it
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is available now at outdoorresearch.com in men's and women's cuts. Men's SKU 322682, women's SKU 322688. Men's colorways at launch: Amber, Malachite, Black. Women's adds additional colorways. $340 USD. Also moves through select alpine specialty retailers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is a 2.5-layer waterproof alpine shell built around Pertex Shield Pro fabric, a 40D ripstop nylon with mechanical stretch and an 87 GM² shell weight. Outdoor Research positions it as a fast-and-light alpinism piece for ski mountaineering, alpine rock, and shoulder-season ridgelines. It retails for $340 USD and ships now.
Is the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket waterproof?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is waterproof through Pertex Shield Pro, a 2.5-layer membrane construction with fully taped seams. Pertex Shield Pro is positioned as a direct counter to GORE-TEX ePE and claims durability in line with 3-layer membranes at lighter weight. Fully taped seams mean rain and snow do not penetrate the stitching.
Does the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket fit a climbing helmet?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket has a helmet-compatible hood with a wire brim. The hood is engineered to fit over a standard climbing helmet without the cuff pulling tight at the back of the neck. The wire brim holds shape in wind and shifts with head movement so peripheral vision stays clear when looking up at a route.
How does the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket compare to the Arc'teryx Beta SV?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket sits in a different positioning than the Arc'teryx Beta SV. Beta SV uses a heavier 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro construction and is built for sustained durability in the worst conditions. The SkyChaser is lighter, uses Pertex Shield Pro in 2.5 layers, and adds mechanical stretch. Both are alpinism shells. SkyChaser is the fast-and-light pick at $340, Beta SV is the bombproof pick at roughly $700.
What is Pertex Shield Pro?
Pertex Shield Pro is the high-performance branch of the Pertex Shield membrane family, used in the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket. It is a microporous waterproof breathable membrane that Pertex positions against GORE-TEX ePE. It works in 2.5-layer or 3-layer constructions and adds mechanical stretch that most waterproof membranes lack. Bluesign approved on the OR build.
Where can I buy the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket sells direct from outdoorresearch.com in men's and women's cuts. Men's SKU is 322682 and women's SKU is 322688. The men's lineup includes Amber, Malachite, and Black colorways. It also moves through select alpine specialty retailers. Shipping started in spring 2026 at $340 USD.
Is the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket good for ski touring?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is well suited to ski touring through its weight class, the helmet-compatible hood, the high hand pockets that clear a pack hipbelt, and the pit zips that dump heat on the climb. The mechanical-stretch face fabric reduces the boxy feel that catches a lot of ski-mo skinners on long climbs. The 2.5-layer construction packs down small enough to throw in a vest or summit pack.
The bottom line
Buy the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket if you want Pertex Shield Pro in an alpinism cut without the GORE-TEX Pro 3L price tier, and if you trust the OR alpine pedigree. Skip it if your needs sit in casual rainwear or all-day commute. The reason this matters: SkyChaser is OR returning to where they have always been strongest, and it is the working proof of Pertex Shield Pro in a flagship alpine shell.
Specs and pricing accurate as of 2026-04-29 when this post was published. Check the brand page for current availability and colorways.
FAQ
What is the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is a 2.5-layer waterproof alpine shell built around Pertex Shield Pro fabric, a 40D ripstop nylon with mechanical stretch and an 87 GM² shell weight. Outdoor Research positions it as a fast-and-light alpinism piece for ski mountaineering, alpine rock, and shoulder-season ridgelines. It retails for $340 USD and ships now.
Is the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket waterproof?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is waterproof through Pertex Shield Pro, a 2.5-layer membrane construction with fully taped seams. Pertex Shield Pro is positioned as a direct counter to GORE-TEX ePE and claims durability in line with 3-layer membranes at lighter weight. Fully taped seams mean rain and snow do not penetrate the stitching.
Does the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket fit a climbing helmet?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket has a helmet-compatible hood with a wire brim. The hood is engineered to fit over a standard climbing helmet without the cuff pulling tight at the back of the neck. The wire brim holds shape in wind and shifts with head movement so peripheral vision stays clear when looking up at a route.
How does the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket compare to the Arc'teryx Beta SV?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket sits in a different positioning than the Arc'teryx Beta SV. Beta SV uses a heavier 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro construction and is built for sustained durability in the worst conditions. The SkyChaser is lighter, uses Pertex Shield Pro in 2.5 layers, and adds mechanical stretch. Both are alpinism shells. SkyChaser is the fast-and-light pick at $340, Beta SV is the bombproof pick at roughly $700.
What is Pertex Shield Pro?
Pertex Shield Pro is the high-performance branch of the Pertex Shield membrane family, used in the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket. It is a microporous waterproof breathable membrane that Pertex positions against GORE-TEX ePE. It works in 2.5-layer or 3-layer constructions and adds mechanical stretch that most waterproof membranes lack. Bluesign approved on the OR build.
Where can I buy the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket sells direct from outdoorresearch.com in men's and women's cuts. Men's SKU is 322682 and women's SKU is 322688. The men's lineup includes Amber, Malachite, and Black colorways. It also moves through select alpine specialty retailers. Shipping started in spring 2026 at $340 USD.
Is the Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket good for ski touring?
The Outdoor Research SkyChaser Jacket is well suited to ski touring through its weight class, the helmet-compatible hood, the high hand pockets that clear a pack hipbelt, and the pit zips that dump heat on the climb. The mechanical-stretch face fabric reduces the boxy feel that catches a lot of ski-mo skinners on long climbs. The 2.5-layer construction packs down small enough to throw in a vest or summit pack.
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