Outdoor Research Mentor Jacket - Men's

Great overall
December 10, 2009

When I i first received my Mentor i was a little worried about how it would perform since it is a rather thin coat, but after further review is actually a really nice shell. Water beads up and rolls right off this coat and should make an excellent addition to any outdoors collection.

Great jacket
February 25, 2010

Jacket has performed as well as I could hope. Have worn it in snowstorms as well as hiking with the dogs in steady rain and been bone dry. Nothing breathes like Gore-Tex, and I have tried many other products. Zippers are stiff at first due to the weatherproof seal, but you get used to them quickly. Love this jacket.

very nicce, light shell
November 16, 2009

The first impression is very positive. The XXL has enough room to wear two layers of fleece or a down jacket under the shell. The sealed zippers are new to me and I hope they hold tight as a old-style rain flap. No metal where it could touch the skin - very nice. The jacket is pretty soft to the touch (not like my 10 year old North Face). The hood adjusts very well. Two thumbs up.

Well Thought Out
August 10, 2009

OR did a great job making the Mentor a technical superior jacket. Features like the hem to bicep zippers that makes the jacket poncho like with the ventilation needed for summer humid rain. None of the comparable Arcteryx rain jackets have it. The jacket fits true to size.

December 27, 2010

The Mentor jacket was just what I was looking for; a light-weight, storm-proof jacket to replace an old XCR jacket. It has a good slim fit with enough room for a mid-layer. My other Gore-Tex jackets are to long to use with a harness. The Mentor comes to just below the hips. The full length pit zips allow for great ventilation. Perfect for climbing and mountaineering.

Outdoor Research Mentor Jacket
January 31, 2011

This is a great jacket, really keeps out the water and the full length pit zips help to regulate your body temperature nicely. I haven't gotten to test this thoroughly yet, but I have worn it on a few rainy and windy days and it kept me dry and blocked the wind. It is also very easy to move in. I played 18 holes of golf in it with no problems, so it should do very well in the outdoors. I would say the only downside, which has nothing to do with the jacket is that it is an outer shell, so it provides very little warmth. You must wear a fleece or another layer underneath when using this in the cold. I was aware of this when I bought it, but it is still a downside, especially when you spend so much on a jacket.

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Awesome jacket!!
November 25, 2010

This jacket is amazing. Super waterproof and very comfortable. The Gore-tex pro shell is very durable and rugged but still looks great! The pit zips on this jacket are very nice for back packing since they zip all the way to the waist. The hood on this jacket is very large since it is helmet compatible so if you plan on using it without a helmet be prepared to pull the hood adjustments in pretty far. Rather expensive but totally worth it, especially if you can catch it on clearance and on sale like i did!

Mentor
October 27, 2010

I love the jacket and the way it looks but the arm pits fit tight and it would not be comfortable riding a snowmobile when you have to have room to move.

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Expensive but Impressive Jacket
December 31, 2007

I will get my chance to REALLY test this jacked fairly soon, but for now I only used it a heavy downpour in New York city. Unlike my legs, my entire body stayed try and the heavy winds did not penetrate through.

Excellent Product
December 19, 2009

Having just received the coat - I took it for a 5 mile snowshoe hike in the middle of the pre-Xmas East Coast Snow storm! It worked great keeping me dry and breathing/venting nicely. Very well designed and manufactured product. Lots of pockets. On sale it is a steal! This is the 4th OR product I have owned and I really like the company.

High Quality 4 Season Jacket
February 11, 2011

Excellent jacket, made from 3 layer Goretex pro-shell, lightweight and looks good. I have owned much higher priced Arcteryx pro-shell jackets, and the Mentor is comparable in quality and features, in my opinion. The face fabric is soft and not as noisy and crinkly as some other gore-tex jackets, but is still tough and amazingly weather-proof. The 3-way hood adjustment allows the helmet compatible hood to be cinched down tight over the head without compromising visibility. The cut is not too baggy, just about right for a 4 season shell, to allow good layering in cold weather. There are many great features on this jacket, 2 way front zipper, for wearing over a climbing harness, and the pit zips, unzip all the way to the waist, for unrivaled ventilation. There are 3 outer pockets and two inner zip pockets. Overall I'm very pleased with this jacket.

OR Mentor Jacket
August 24, 2011

I have been going through jackets the past few seasons to try to find ONE jacket that would allow me to balance fit, warmth and looks in all conditions. I was tired of traveling with different gear for different conditions (which would undoubtedly change throughout the day anyways). We have all mountain skis...why not a jacket. It's Gortex, it is well featured w/ an athletic fit and helmet hood. Good to go!!!

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bomber jacket
April 07, 2010

This shell is awesome, worth full price. The torso flow venting is unmatched and very helpful down here in the sweaty south. I wore this shell on the top of mount Washington in -20 degree temps with 70 mph wind and nothing got through. I can adjust the hood so I can actually see when wearing it and turn my head, unlike some of my other shells. This shell is perfect for extreme weather and the quality is top notch

Pricy but Bombproof
April 14, 2010

It drains the wallet, but it also drains rain and snow. This coat has shielded me from blizzards while ski touring in Norway, from downpours in the Cascades, and most recently from the wettest day of downhill skiing I can remember at Fernie (Canada). Whether the moisture was falling vertically or flying horizontally, the coat has proved to be remarkably impervious to moisture. Like all shells it's easy to overload this one's breathability, but the poncho zips are the best solution I've seen for matching ventilation to effort. Other details of the coat are well thought out. The hood is especially impressive. Whether you're wearing a hat or a helmet, you can completely seal out wind and rain while maintaining good forward and peripheral vision. Finally, the coat is actually quite stylish. Not that I flaunt it around town, the thing was so expensive I'm rationing its use. It goes in the pack on longer trips or when the forecast is gnarly. Otherwise a cheaper shell, gets used for day-to-day basis.

OR Mentor Jacket
May 29, 2009

I rarely know what any week is going to bring. As a landlord, construction fraud investigator and hobby watercolor artist (that travels for subjects) we are in diffing climates and conditions on nearly a daily basis. The OR Mentor jacket is really well built and has already proved itself in driving rain and sleet. The pockets are easily accessible and well positioned. The the jacket's overall length is well calculated to prevent being soaked from wind driven moisture and the hood is helmet sized with easy reach of all draw cords. One particularly nice feature is the full length pit zips that allow you to open the sides of the coat like a poncho. Quite unexpected is being able to e mail or call OR to get their advice or to ask questions. Oddly enough in this market it is guaranteed forever and I am the kind of consumer that looks forward to holding companies to promises. I looked at several brands wanting a superior performing product to protect from moisture, with great pockets and breathability, that was light in weight (17.5 oz), easy to pack for traveling, and did not have a billboard of the company name that makes you stick out in a crowd while in another country. After all, what does Vanity Fair know about surviving in a NW winter or keeping dry on the coastal mountains of Italy during the rainy season?

Awesome jacket!!
November 25, 2010

This jacket is amazing. Super waterproof and very comfortable. The Gore-tex pro shell is very durable and rugged but still looks great! The pit zips on this jacket are very nice for back packing since they zip all the way to the waist. The hood on this jacket is very large since it is helmet compatible so if you plan on using it without a helmet be prepared to pull the hood adjustments in pretty far. Rather expensive but totally worth it, especially if you can catch it on clearance and on sale like i did!

Water proof and breathes well!!!
October 27, 2009

Love this jacket. I just received my Mentor, however it has been raining for a week here in Arkansas and I've yet to get wet from the rain. It really breathes well also, no clammy feeling. Once again I love this jacket.

OR Mentor Jacket
May 29, 2009

I rarely know what any week is going to bring. As a landlord, construction fraud investigator and hobby watercolor artist (that travels for subjects) we are in diffing climates and conditions on nearly a daily basis. The OR Mentor jacket is really well built and has already proved itself in driving rain and sleet. The pockets are easily accessible and well positioned. The the jacket's overall length is well calculated to prevent being soaked from wind driven moisture and the hood is helmet sized with easy reach of all draw cords. One particularly nice feature is the full length pit zips that allow you to open the sides of the coat like a poncho. Quite unexpected is being able to e mail or call OR to get their advice or to ask questions. Oddly enough in this market it is guaranteed forever and I am the kind of consumer that looks forward to holding companies to promises. I looked at several brands wanting a superior performing product to protect from moisture, with great pockets and breathability, that was light in weight (17.5 oz), easy to pack for traveling, and did not have a billboard of the company name that makes you stick out in a crowd while in another country. After all, what does Vanity Fair know about surviving in a NW winter or keeping dry on the coastal mountains of Italy during the rainy season?

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Deal of the Century
January 20, 2010

I bought this jacket for my husband. Had some problems with shipping, but Altrec customer service was great. The jacket is true to size, however the sleeves seemed a little long or my husbands arms are just a little short. Either way the jacket looks great. Its light weight, water tight, has fully taped seams, and he says the full length pit zips really allow him to regulate the heat. The hood has a loop snap near the tag which allows you to fold the hood into the collar. All together, this was a great deal from a great company.

Bomber shell
September 27, 2011

I was a big fan of OR's paladin shell before spotting this article on sale. It carries many of the features with Goretex Pro with little weight penalty. The hood adjustments are handy when outings call for a helmet. Abrasion resistance--so far so good. This is a nice piece to add to a layering system and worth saving for (as opposed to skimping and upgrading later).

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Great jacket, but...
January 08, 2013

I have had good experience with OR products and was hoping for the same with the Mentor. Unfortunately, the fit was off for me: just right everywhere except for super tight armholes in Large; too baggy overall in XL. I am 6', 205#, with a fairly athletic build and for example, always fit well in Large in Patagonia. As usual, Altrec has been great, so I will try the OR Maximus.

Great Jacket, but doesn't fit me
January 21, 2010

I unfortunately, will have to return this item. The jacket itself is outstanding, but the arms are too long for me. I am 5'6 with an athletic build, and I ordered a small. I was very pleased with the athletic cut in the torso section of the jacket, and the small amount of extra room in the arms. Also, the jacket is very light weight. I liked the sealed zippers and the full body side vents. Hopefully OR will one day shorten the arms on the small enough for me to be able to buy one, as I prefer it otherwise to my Marmot Exum.

Very strong quality OR Mentor Jacket
July 21, 2010

The quality is amazing. Feels like it would last for years. The waterproof is next to none. Haven't tried it on snow yet, but will definitely do later on. As the other review mention, the chest is a little tight, but the torso and sleeve lenght is perfect. I'm 5'10 170 with 40/41in chest and 32 waist. So I got a medium. I also tried wearing a TNF TKA200 and it fit well under the Mentor, just a little tight on the chest, but managable. I have one question, which I'm still looking for answer. All the zipper has a head cap on the top end of the zipper to prevent water from going in the jacket, but the cap for the pitzip zipper is INSIDE the jacket and not outside. I have no idea why it is inside??? Anyway, other than pitzip zipper???, this jacket is AMAZING. At $400.00, it is pretty expensive, but again it's a goretex proshell. But I got it at a bargain 60% off here at Altrec.com. You just have to keep checking back.

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