Outdoor Research Havoc Insulated Jacket - Men's

Nice piece for layering
January 31, 2013

The Havoc is more sized as a mid layer piece and thus has the a trimmer cut then the OR Chaos jacket. I found the arms way too short for my positive ape index, which was a bummer because this is a nice jacket otherwise. The Gore Windstopper shell block wind and light precip and the primaloft insulation keeps you warm. It's a pretty nice compact package if the it fits you well.

Great jacket, bad zipper
December 30, 2011

This jacket is very lightweight, blocks the wind, and breath well. It's warm enough in 35F windy condition with just a midweight baselayer underneath it. I loved the design of the jacket, but I think my jacket has a defective zipper. The bottom of the two way zipper is very hard to insert, and I had to fiddle with it for more than 1 minute to get it going. I am not sure if it's just one jacket, or it's the same for all of them. Anyway, I had to return the jacket.

Soft and warm jacket
January 29, 2013

This jacket is a lightweight and warm jacket. I weared it for hiking or walking in this season, and also as a casual jacket. What I like: 1. It has WINDSTOPPER for wind shield, This material is really thin, compared to other wind shield material. It's really soft. 2. There is only 60g primaLoft in it, so it's thinner than many other insulated jackets. It's just right for me to wear it in winter at MA. 3. There is a hook in the left handwamer pocket. I really like this design. My keys could be hooked here and found easily by me. What I don't like: 1. I like to put cell phone and wallet in the internal chest pocket. But there is only one small internal chest pocket. It's not big enough for either cell phone or wallet. It's better if it had two internal pockets like OR Chaos jacket. 2. Read from other customer's review, there is trouble in zipper. I also can't zip up the zipper occasionally, but try one more time to solve it. 3. The hood can't cover all my head for blocking wind. If the hood is bigger, I will feel better. I wear this jacket with a fleece under it, it's warm enough around 40 degree. I bought a large size, it's large for me, but I like to wear a thick fleece under this jacket, so it's only a little large for me. I'm 5'7'' and 140lb, I think M is the right size for me.

Great Jacket!
March 19, 2012

I have compared both this jacket and the Neoplume by Outdoor Research, due to seasonal sales I was able to have my choice of either of the two jackets for roughly the same price. The Havoc is, on paper, an upgraded Neoplume, featuring a hood and a Windstopper exterior. The other difference I noticed is the Neoplume features velco adjustable cuffs, where as the Havoc features elastic cuffs. The zipper on the Havoc is sort of finicky, there is a method to getting it to zip hassle free, where as the Neoplume has a more easily engaged zipper. The exterior material on the Havoc is more durable feeling than on the Neoplume, not to say that the Neoplume seems fragile, just not as burly. The Neoplume in XL weighs 15.9 pounds, and the Havoc weighs 19.4 pounds in XL. Either way you go you are sure to be pleased,but for my money the Havoc is a better value.

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