Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket

Review by Erin Trail

The Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket is a rain jacket that fits and feels very different from most rain jackets on the market, thanks to and updated silhouette and materials.

Specs

• bluesign® approved Ventia™ 2.5L 100% Recycled Polyester 50D Mechanical Stretch Plain Weave 96 G/M2 Shell.
• Fully Seam Taped
• Waterproof and Windproof
• Movement Mirroring Stretch
• Adjustable Stow-In-Collar Hood
• Adjustable Hook and Loop Wrist Cuffs
• Center Front Storm Flap
• Elastic Drawcord Hem
• YKK® Aquaguard® Zip Chest and Drop-In Pockets
• Zip Hand Pockets
• Interior drop in stash pocket

Fit and Features

When I first put on the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket, it was immediately obvious that this wasn’t a typical rain jacket. The design is stylish and the jacket has a modern vibe to it.  The jacket is slightly cropped, hitting me just above the widest part of my hips.  The fit is boxy and relaxed.  I am a women’s size medium on the Outdoor Research Style Guide.  I found that I could size down to a small for a more fitted look, but in the end I opted for the medium because the hem was a touch longer and the relaxed fit allowed for layering underneath the jacket.

The fabric of the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket also doesn’t scream rain jacket.  The bluesign® approved Ventia™ 2.5L 100% Recycled Polyester 50D Mechanical Stretch Plain Weave has a soft, almost brushed feel to it.  It doesn’t feel like canvas or another stiff fabric.  The fabric stretches as you move and doesn’t make any noises as you move.

The hood of the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket tucks cleanly into the collar, almost giving a cowl neck shape to the jacket.  This gives the wearer the option to style it like a jacket or like a hooded jacket, based on preference.  When you want to wear the hood, it easily deploys from the collar.  The hood also fit me well, without needing fussing or adjustments.

The pockets on the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket are fantastic and give the wearer plenty of options for storing things.  There’s a left chest vertical zippered pocket and one zippered drop in pocket (right side).  Each of these pockets use YKK® Aquaguard® Zip Chest for additional protection from weather.  These zippers open and close easily and I found that I had plenty of storage in all of these pockets for my phone, sunglasses, and a wallet.

There are also two side zippered handwarmer pockets, again with plenty of room.  There’s also an interior drop in stash pocket, for those that really want to ensure your items stay secure and dry.

The front opening of the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket has a storm flap that both zips and snaps closed, for windproofing and water protection. To finish things off, the arm cuffs can cinch down via hook and loop closures and the bottom hem has an elastic drawcord, both offering the wearer options for keeping the weather out and customizing the fit.

Function

I’ve been wearing the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket for the past 2 months, seeking out every bit of bad weather to test this jacket out.  We haven’t had a ton of rain, but I did manage to get in a few solid – and extended – opportunities for testing.

I brought the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket with me on a trip to a race in Austin, Texas in April.  It was mainly so I had a warmer layer during transit to and from my car in Denver, but it came in super handy during my trip.  A cold front came through during my triathlon, dropping temperatures into the mid 50s with drizzle and a lot of wind.  I packed the jacket into my race bag as a “just in case” post-race item, and I was SO glad that I did.  We stood around, sweaty and a bit soggy, in this frankly not Texas-like weather for at least an hour as they ran through race podiums and awards. It was COLD and many people were hiding behind anything they could find to block the wind as we waited.

The Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket was excellent at helping to keep me warm, as the only layer over my sweaty triathlon kit. The windbreaking capability of the jacket was great and the fabric was just enough to help keep in enough body heat so I didn’t freeze while standing around.

My other testing opportunity was during a fairly rare extended rainy and cold day in Denver.  I needed to run some errands and I used this as an opportunity to really test out the weatherproofing of the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket.

It was in the mid-30s and raining pretty heavily, so I wore a heavy fleece hoody as an insulating layer, to help keep me warm.  Thanks to the generous cut of the jacket, I had no issues accommodating the thick midlayer.

I ended up walking a little over 2 miles and was outside in the weather for over 30 minutes. The exterior layer of the Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket stopped beading and started absorbing rain after approximately 20 minutes, as the pores of the fabric became saturated and overwhelmed.  Thankfully, the 2.5 layers of the jacket did their job and I experienced no water breakthrough on the interior of the jacket.

All of the seams and contact points kept the rain out.  The handwarmer pockets are well positioned for a natural hand placement and felt comfortable as I walked.  The drop in pockets in the front are also well designed, with easy in and out for a phone, and kept everything dry when zipped up.

The hood also fit really well, not blowing around or feeling overwhelming.  The brim of the hood also added a little protection from bigger raindrops and accumulation from the hood.

Closing Thoughts

The Outdoor Research Stratoburst Stretch SE Jacket is a stylish, thoughtful rain jacket that looks great and performs well.  It’s available for women in two colorways (Black and Oyster Creekside Print/Oyster) and in sizes ranging from XS to XL.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke

Erin Trail on her mountain bike at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race

Erin Trail on her running at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race