The Outdoor Research Foray 3L offers excellent updates on a classic jacket with excellent breathability and long pit zips.

The latest version of the Foray jacket, new last year, is made from AscentShell Dry, which is exclusive to Outdoor Research and made by a complex electrospinning process. The fabric is soft, quiet, slightly stretchy and made from 100% recycled nylon with a Nikwax Direct.Dry DWR that’s also exclusive to Outdoor Research.

Chris Townsend Highly Recommends

The Foray 3L is comfortable to wear and excellent for three-season use. It’s good in winter weather too, if lacking a stiffer hood.
Pros
  • side vents
  • breathability
  • soft fabric
  • recycled fabric
Cons
  • front hood drawcords inside jacket
  • hood peak could be stiffer
Quick specs
Price: £260
Weight: 475g (L)
Materials: bluesign® Approved PFAS-free AscentShell Dry 3L 100% Recycled Nylon 40D with Nikwax DWR
Hood: front and rear adjustment, stiffened peak
Front Closure: YKK AquaGuard Zip, inner flap
Underarm/Side Zips: full-length two-way side
Pockets: 2 hand pockets, 1 chest
Hem: Drawcord adjustment
Cuffs: Velcro
Sizes: XS – XXXL
Women’s version: Yes, the Aspire 3L Jacket
outdoorresearch.com

Outdoor Research says it offers ‘superior breathability’. I’ve certainly found the breathability as good as most. The Foray 3L has an excellent feature that really enhances the comfort – zipped vents that stretch from the biceps to the hem. This allows far more ventilation than standard under arm zips and for dumping excess heat and moist air, venting always beats fabric breathability, so this makes a big difference to comfort. You can even open both sides and wear the jacket as a poncho.

The side zips also allow access to inner garment pockets. I found the best way to use them (except in very heavy rain) was to just zip and unzip the section between the top of the hipbelt and the shoulder straps, leaving the more awkward to use sections under the hipbelt and under the arms undone all the time.

The design is good though there are a few aspects I’m less keen on. The hood fits well and allows side vision but the front drawcords are inside the jacket. This does give a neat look but I’d rather the cords were on the outside for ease of use.

The peak is stiffened a little but more would be good, as would a wire for adjustment and rigidity. The hand pockets are quite roomy but covered by a pack hipbelt. The chest pocket is big enough for a smartphone or GPS but not a full-size map.

The Foray 3L is comfortable to wear and excellent for three-season use. It’s good in winter weather too, although I’d prefer a stiffer hood peak then.

Testing conditions

Chris tested his jackets on day walks and multi day trips in the Scottish Highlands from spring 2024 through to early 2025. He is short and mostly wears a size large. Conditions included heavy rain, soaking drizzle, blizzards, and ferocious winds. Weights were measured on Chris’s home digital scales.

This review was first published in the April 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.