Outdoor Research Tantrum Hooded Jacket Review

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The Outdoor Research Tantrum Hooded Jacket arrived to my house about 30 days ago and I’d say I’ve used it for 30 days straight. The Tantrum Hooded Jacket has been my favorite piece of new gear and one I don’t leave the house without. The jacket itself is super lightweight, weighing 4.4 oz. Despite its’ weight, the jacket keeps you protected from questionable weather, including wind and water. I’ve been using the jacket on morning trail runs and stashing the jacket in my pack when the temperatures rise and as my “just in case” layer on longer adventures.

Fabric and Fit

The Tantrum Hooded Jacket features a stretchy performance fabric that is extremely breathable, while offering wind and water resistance. It’s the first running jacket I have used that doesn’t stick to my skin and cause me to feel cold and clammy. I can run for 2 hours with a pack and take off the jacket without having complete back sweat, that’s a victory to me. Another bonus, it doesn’t hold onto stink like many performance fabrics.

The Tantrum Hooded Jackets’ fabric is stretchy and moves with you. The fit of the jacket is “trim” and runs true to size. I tested a size medium and felt that it was roomy enough to allow for a short and long sleeve base-layers. In a pinch, I am sure I could use it over a thicker mid-layer too.

The integrated hood is great when you need it, and not bothersome or bouncy when not in use. The hood goes best under my bike helmet, not over. There are elastic pulls along the hem and hood for easy, one handed adjustment when on the move.

OR Tantrum Hooded Jacket Features

OR has included durable, yet soft, elastic cuffs to keep the jacket from moving around at the wrist. The sleeve length is plenty adequate for my long arms, but the integrated thumb loops pull on the sleeves and make them feel a bit short. For most people, those with average arms, this shouldn’t be a problem.

The OR Tantrum Hooded Jacket features a small zippered chest pocket on the left side. The pocket size is perfect and can accommodate essential snacks, car key, and even an iPhone or GPS. In the rear, there is a velcro pocket that houses an integrated waist strap. When you don’t need the jacket, simply stuff it into this small pocket, velcro it close, and loop the jacket around your waist. If that’s not your style, you can also clip the jacket to your pack or harness using the loop on the packaged jacket. In the photo below, the loop is dangling and kind of looks like my tail.

OR has also included reflective accents in two key places: the OR logo on the left chest and the spelled out Outdoor Research over the rear pocket. I often run in the early hours and appreciate this feature. I wouldn’t mind seeing an addition along the front hem or on a shoulder/sleeve, as these areas are rarely covered by a running vest or pack.

OR Tantrum Hooded Jacket Specs

Available for both men and women. Here are the specs broken down.

Women’s Tantrum Hooded Jacket:

• size XS to XL
• 3 colors: Flame (bright red), Typhoon (turquoise), and Wisteria (purple)
• Center Back Length 25” / 64 cm
• Avg. Weight (oz./g): 4.4oz / 125g (M)

Men’s Tantrum Hooded Jacket:

• size S to XXL
• 3 colors: Baltic (dark blue), Jolt (bright yellow), and Typhoon with Hot Sauce Trim (turquoise with red trim)
• Center back length 28 ¾” / 73 cm
• Avg. Weight (oz./g): 4.9oz / 139g (L)

Final Thoughts