The rainy season — or as we call it in Seattle, Washington, “The Big Dark” — is nearly upon us. As a decade+ resident of the U.S.A.’s most notoriously drizzly city and an avid outdoor adventurer, I have an immense appreciation for performance outerwear.
So, when I recently got my hands on the Outdoor Research Foray 3L rain jacket, a high-tech, triple-layer shell promising serious protection from the wet stuff, I wanted to know whether or not it would perform as well as my $500+ Arc’teryx Beta SL shell.
While Outdoor Research may not be as well-known as Arc’teryx, Patagonia, or The North Face, the Seattle-based brand has been churning out cult-favorite jackets and other outdoor gear for more than three decades.
The question is, can the Outdoor Research Foray 3L rain jacket survive our official Tom’s Guide shower test? I decided to find out.
Outdoor Research Foray 3L: Quick facts
- Price: $260
- Styles: Men’s sizes XS – XXXL; 14+ colors to choose from
- Materials: Triple-layer recycled nylon
- Waterproofing: Fully-taped seams; exterior treated with Nikwax Direct.Dry waterproof coating; AquaGuard zippers
- Adjustment points: Elastic drawcord hem, Velcro cuff straps, cinchable hood
- Pockets: Zippered hand pockets (x2) + zippered chest pocket
- Breathability: Zippered armpit vents
- Weight: ~14 oz
Outdoor Research Foray 3L: Price, sizes, and styles
The Outdoor Research Foray 3L rain jacket is available in men’s sizes XS-XXXL, with 14 styles to choose from, for $260, available at REI or directly from Outdoor Research.
Outdoor Research Foray 3L: Features and tech
For $260, you’d expect the Outdoor Research Foray 3L to be packed with features and tech, and you’d be correct. The Foray has three zippered pockets: two on either side for your hands and one on the right chest. Unfortunately, there are no internal pockets on this jacket.
The hem has a built-in elastic drawstring to help keep moisture out. Meanwhile, the hood has three cinchable elastic adjustment points: two on either side of the collar and one at the rear.
I wore the Outdoor Research Foray 3L both in my shower and during a steamy, drizzly walk around the city, and found it to be remarkably breathable and plenty stretchy, making the Foray 3L a great option for hiking and other mobility-centric outdoor activities.
Zippered pit vents add to the jacket’s versatility; however, when fully opened, you essentially have two giant holes in the jacket leading directly to whatever you’re wearing underneath. This isn’t exactly ideal. Ultimately, I would’ve preferred some mesh in the zippered vents to help keep the rain out.
Outdoor Research Foray 3L: Water resistance
On Outdoor Research’s own waterproof scale, the Foray 3L scores a 4/5. This is to say, it’s one of the brand’s most water-resistant shells.
To keep the rain at bay, the jacket is built from three layers of water-resistant, stretchy, recycled nylon. Taped seams and waterproof zipper tracks add to the jacket’s H2O-crushing performance, as does a hearty coating of Nikwax water repellent (another beloved Seattle-based brand).
But can the Outdoor Research Foray 3L rain jacket actually keep me dry for three straight minutes under a rain shower head? I just had to know.
So, I suited up in an admittedly slightly oversized XL Outdoor Research Foray 3L, switched on the water, set a three-minute timer on my Apple Watch Series 12, and took the plunge. Similar to prior TG rain jacket shower tests, I made sure to move around periodically under the shower head to ensure a total and complete soaking of the entire garment.
After the three minutes were up, I switched off the shower, unzipped the Foray 3L and checked my white T-shirt for any signs of moisture. Much to my delight, almost no water made it through the Foray 3L, with the exception of a single wet spot on my chest where a tiny bit of moisture snuck in through the gap between the hood and my chin.
This is an impressive result, and exactly the performance I was hoping for from such a high-tech rain shell.
Outdoor Research Foray 3L: Verdict
The Outdoor Research Foray 3L passed the TG rain jacket shower test with flying colors. Then again, so did the $100 REI Rainer Rain jacket. So, why spend more than twice that on the OR model?
It all comes down to the build. The Foray 3L is thicker than the Rainer jacket, with fewer seams for water to get into, and hearty seam taping. You also get more rugged, water-resistant zippers on the Foray, along with a stretchier, more breathable overall design.
Ultimately, while the Rainier jacket will likely last a couple of seasons, with proper care, the Foray 3L should keep you dry for many more years to come.
So, who should buy the Outdoor Research Foray 3L? Anyone who loves the outdoors, hates getting wet, and doesn’t want to shell out $500+ for a rain jacket from a big-name brand like Arc’teryx or Patagonia. If that sounds like you, then the $260 OR Foray 3L just might be the perfect jacket for you.