Vario Ultralight Jacket

I have owned the Vario UL jacket for a few months, and it has been my go-to jacket when I go out in the field. It is surprisingly warm and light. At first, I was skeptical that it was going to keep me warm. During my winter backpacking trip it was my go-to, it kept me warm, agile and not ventilated. Another great product from OV.

I ordered a Vario in the Stellar color and received it today. It's labeled Stellar, tags say Stellar, but the blue looks nothing like it does on the website. The website shows Stellar as a teal color. What I received looks just like the Sky Blue color (washed out blue). I think what happened is that in the 2026 Product Guide they show that they only sell the Vario in 3 colors now: black, rust, and blue. They must have renamed the 2026 blue to Stellar and changed it to the shade of the Sky Blue. Unfortunately, I'm returning the jacket since it looks nothing like the website. Great jacket otherwise, well constructed and clean. Really disappointed as I was looking forward to this jacket. Maybe they will get their color problems corrected on the website so you can see what you're really buying.

When i ordered this coat the weather was warm an I thought I might not get a chance to try it out till autumn. However, Oklahoma weather changes from mo.ent to moment. As chance would have it the very day the jacket was delivered the weather turned cold and it started to rain. I wore it while out in my daily walk. It was perfect. It was damp and the temps were just below 60'f. It was warm easy to wear and i liked the under armor vents which helped keep me from getting too sweaty while on my walk. I took the jacket to work and it is so compact able I was able to stuff it into my work BP with room to spare. Awesome coat I look forward to using it again.

Great active jacket that fits a very specific niche in my kit. For me, the Ventus is my go to for the mid 40s to mid 50s. The Vario is the perfect step down for the mid 30s to mid 40s. The extra insulation and full zip make the Vario much better suited for colder dynamic movement. Just be prepared to pair it with a wind or rain shell to trap the heat when you stop moving.

If you ask me what my favorite piece of gear is.. it’s this jacket!! Hands down!
It goes with me on day hikes, as well as thru-hikes!
I use it as a light jacket while hiking in cold weather, a mid-layer under my puffy for really cold temps, heck- I use it on the daily at home too whenever I get chilly.
It’s warm, lightweight, covers my butt, and looks good.
And to top it all off, it’s hiked the entire Appalachian Trail with no signs of wear and tear. Now that’s good gear!

Welcome to the Canadian Rockies, where the weather will turn on a dime, the chinook winds will threaten to blow you off a cliff.. but I am warm in my Vario jacket. This jacket performed well on a 12 km hike in -15C moving at a fast pace and just recently protected me from mind bending winds.. this is always in my Skyline pack!

Love this jacket. Carried and used it from start to finish of the PCT in 2024. Great for warmth at night alone of layered on colder nights. Even now it's my go to jacket here at home off trail. Just washed it again last night and looks just as good as when we first got ours. Highly recommended.

Great Jacket.

The only thing negative I have to say about this jacket is that I believe pit zips would have been a better choice than static holes. At times, the holes either do not provide enough venting or give too much. I find myself walking with my arms up and out to vent, or close to my body for insulation, trying to fix the issue. Pit zips would eliminate the problem.

That said, for cold weather hikes, cool evening light strolls, or warmth while sitting by the fire, the Vario is a real winner.

My wife and I each purchased one for our walk on the Portuguese Camino, and it was the perfect choice.

Packs small, provides good warmth, and looks good doing it.

I am 6', 195-200 lbs, depending, and the XL fits well with room for layering underneath without feeling bulky.

I needed something to keep me warm without taking up a bunch of room in my pack. This jacket does this and also fits great.

Thank OV team

I've owned this jacket for two weeks now and have to say I really enjoy it. It's incredibly warm for its weight and performs as advertised. So far I have worn it to and from work and once with a backpack on a hike. After the one hike I noticed some fabric damage on the inside of the jacket where the hip belts sit. I understand this is advertised as an ultralight jacket for backpacking but am concerned about how long this jacket will hold up over time using it for its intended purpose. Speaking with OV customer service they reassured me this wear and tear is normal and not to worry, and that the use of tenacious tape would be an appropriate fix. I guess we will see over time how this jacket holds up to the wear and tear of backpacking but am currently not inclined to purchase another with fears of it not lasting as long as I would like. I also recognize maybe I am looking for a jacket that weighs a few more ounces but is designed the withstand the use of backpacking over time.

I have owned the Vario Jacket for a year. This jacket is everything I need for reliability, comfort, and warmth in various conditions.
I bought the Vario last winter during my training season in preparation to thru hike the Colorado Trail. Last summer I used the Vario on the completion of the entire CT. The jacket does great maintaining heat. I have used the jacket as a layering piece in a variety of conditions ranging from 20 degree winter hikes in Montana, snowshoe hiking in Idaho to high altitude morning climbs on the CT in Colorado. Most impressive, I maintained a comfortable hiking temp while the jacket got absolutely soaked during a recent snowshoe hike (my wife forgot her hardshell so I gave her mine). There’s no question here. I have used this jacket year round and it has excelled in every condition. Close your kit. This jacket is the answer. For reference, I’m 5’8, 180lbs with a fairly athletic build. The large is perfect for me.

We'll I've only been able to do some day hikes since I received my jacket, but it has been great. With temps starting in the low 40's I was very comfortable. The hood offers a little more heat when I started a hike. When temps climbed to the 50's it was time to take it off. (I'm a warm hiker) Super comfortable while I was wearing my practice pack. The jacket works well as a wind breaker also. The jacket is now my everyday jacket for around town. The online size chart said I needed a Large, but I ordered an XL which fits great & allows me to do some light layering. Functions great & looks nice...

Ordered the MENS. I tried it on and it was WAY too small. I looked at the tag and they had sent the WOMEN’S. I was going to send it back but my wife tried it on and loved it. So I wisely let her have it. I don’t like to “Twinkie” so I won’t be ordering another one. Quality seems good. Value seems good. We will see how she likes it.

My husband and I went on a 4 mile hike in the pouring rain. I did not get a drop of water on me, no did I feel like the jacket was plastered to my skin like a regular rain jacket. This jacket is AWESOME! The rain would just bead up on the sleeves of my jacket.
Then the sun came out, and I did not feel hot or stuffy AT ALL, because this jacket is so breathable! I 100% recommend this as your new favorite hiking gear!

I ordered this jacket because I liked the look and it held up fairly well. However, the jacket got caught on an branch and immediately ripped. I emailed the company and the warranty only covered manufacturer mistakes, but they did offer to repair the rip. I had to pay $12 to ship it myself to them, then they charged me $19.55 to do the “more visually appealing” repair. During this process if I chose to not repair it and pay for them to ship it back to me, they said my jacket will be “donated, given away, or used for parts with no option for recourse.” I chose the repair. After the first wash, the thin fabric patch came off and now the cheap glue is stained over my rip, making it worse than the snag before. I would not recommend this company, save yourself the hassle and buy elsewhere.

I tried it on a few times after I received it, although I bought during the summer. So far the quality and warmth are up to Outdoor Vitals standard high quality. I'll be able to better review it in several months when fall and winter arrive. It does seem to run a little small.

I have used this jacket for two years now through rain, snow, chilly mountain temps, on the Camino de Santiago and I love it. The performance is amazing for the ultralight weight. It will eventually wet out but it took a steady rain for an hour on the Camino to do so. Only thing I'd prefer is some more colors for women!

My husbands favorite jacket. He had at the Baltic sea side. Now ordering Nebo jacket

I love this jacket. Bought another one for me and my husband.

Wore this jacket with a rain shell while spending May in Iceland. Loved it! Stayed cozy during wet and always windy days. Great fit, super compactible, light weight. Highly recommend. I'm 5'10 180 and ordered XL

Comfortable jacket that quickly provides warmth. Will be a good addition as an active layer for hiking or to keep warm on chilly days in town.

This is my most frequently used lightweight jacket. I'm 5'8'', 150lbs and Medium fits well. I wear small in Black Diamond (BD)and Arcteryx. While moderately breathable with the side vents, this jacket does not breath well enough for strong efforts like skinning. For that I prefer the BD first light wool jacket. But the BD jacket is bulkier and heavier. After 2 winter seasons with the Vario, this has become my usual go to for all but really cold and expected high energy output; ski touring. Highly recommend. I think it hit the sweet spot with enough wind protection but still pretty breathable. The warmth/weight ratio is most impressive. The hood fits better than any other hoody jacket that I have used. Not as comfortable as the arcteryx, but much warmer for weight. 5 stars.