User Review: Outdoor Research Mentor Jacket

Outdoor Research Mentor Jacket
Above: The current Mentor Jacket, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed April 14, 2008 by Gear-Guru

Rating:
Fabric: Gore-Tex Proshell
Price Paid: $389

I gave this jacket 5 stars only because there was no 6 star option.

I’ve owned several mountaineering jackets a couple of which were made out of Gore-Tex and a couple made out of Gore-Tex like material. I’m not Sir Edmond Hillary, but I’ve done my share of climbs and I can say this jacket is the best I’ve ever used.

Gore-Tex Proshell seems to perform much like the old Gore-Tex, but it is lighter and less bulky overall. It is still more waterproof than breathable, but in harsh conditions it is better to error on that side. I really looked at A LOT of coats in this category before I bought one.

OR really came up with something great with these pit-zips that run from the pit all the way down to the bottom of the coat. I can’t see why more people don’t buy these coats. You can make the pit zip as big or as small as you want it. You can wear the coat like a poncho when you are really sweating. You can also close the zipper at the pit and open it from the bottom so when you access your pocket or sit down the coat has more room to give. This simple zipper feature alone makes any coat in OR’s new line something to be seriously considered.

After buying this Mentor Jacket I even got rid of my old lightweight coat in favor of OR’s Revel Jacket (the Foray would be another good one) just because of these side zippers. OR has a jacket in most categories and they all have these great zippers, people should consider them.

The hood on the Mentor is big, made for a helmet, so it is a little bulky when you are not sporting head protection, but that is not unusual for a jacket in this class. The arms are a little long (but not so long that it’s a deal-breaker) and this also seems to becoming a trend in outdoor jackets. The pockets are well thought through and their construction does not make bulky spots in the coat.

All-in-all this is a superb mountaineering jacket and I hope OR will continue to make in for years to come.

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