Waterproof Jackets

Scott Explorair Light Dryo 3 Layer Waterproof Jacket | Review

The Scott Explorair Light Dryo 3L provides all-weather protection at a reasonably low weight

Why We Chose The Scott Explorair Light Dryo 3 Layer Waterproof Jacket: Lightweight, protective, eco-conscious

Who Is The Scott Explorair Light Dryo For?

The Scott Explorair Light Dryo 3L is labelled by Scott as their “most essential waterproof jacket” and, after taking it for a blast around the Scottish Highlands, we can certainly get behind that quote. The jacket sports impressive levels of both waterproofing, breathability and durability, all while coming in at a reasonably low weight of 350 grams which makes it an extremely versatile waterproof jacket that’s comfortable in a range of sports, through a range of conditions.

“For me, the fit was spot on.”

Before we dive into all the technical features, we thought it’s worth chatting about its impressive eco-credentials, as there’s a lot to talk about here.

Materials and Construction

Firstly, it’s worth mentioning that it’s great to see a company the size of Scott take responsibility by mitigating their impact on the planet. Scott’s aim is to have a sustainable outlook on everything they do and – most importantly – everything they produce.

But what does this all mean in real terms? Well, Scott is committed to using recycled fabrics in their Re-Source range. In this case, the shell of the Explorair Light jacket is made from 100% recycled polyester, while not using any of those nasty PFC’s that cause damage to local ecosystems. This goes far and beyond many other brands’ commitments, so props to Scott for achieving this.

Speaking of fabrics, the Explorair Light Dryo 3L jacket and hiking pants are made from Scott’s in-house DRYOsphere fabric to provide a waterproof and breathable barrier from the elements. Scott claims that the waterproof rating of this fabric is 30,000mm with an equal breathability rating of 30,000 g/m2/24hrs. This, combined with the fully taped seams and YKK Aquaguard zippers, works to create a solid barrier from the elements – certainly more than enough protection for fast-paced missions in the mountains.

Features

Taking a glance at the features, you’ve got all the essential add-ons that you’d expect to find on a heavier waterproof jacket, which makes the 350g tag even more impressive. These features include large hand pockets that have been raised to stay out of the way of backpack straps or a climbing harness, an adjustable hood, adjustable hem and cuffs and also reflective details on the back of the jacket to help you stay visible in the dark.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“The shots here show me running in this jacket and while it’s certainly well-suited to such an activity, I’ve also been really impressed by this as an option for hiking and even scrambling and climbing, mainly due to its durability. It’s reasonably light but it has a real ruggedness to it, giving the impression that it’s going to last a long, long time.

“For me, the fit was spot on – I really like the way it’s cut actually. I’m 5 foot 10, I’ve got an average build and I had this in a size medium, my usual size, and it was spot on. It feels trim and athletic but I’ve found I can still fit a relatively thick insulated layer underneath it – I’ve had no problems wearing it with a fleece or 100 gsm jacket.

“I love the large hand pockets too. They’re both nice and big, each easily capable of swallowing an OS map and without the need to fold it in half either. It’s handy that they’re placed so that you can access them while wearing a backpack with a hipbelt too.”