HikingColumbiaDown Jacket

Columbia Oak Harbour II jacket review: reliable and waterproof deep winter warmth

A warm, waterproof jacket built for cold hikes and winter days out that offers impressive value for money — heavy by technical standards, but it more than compensates with warmth, weather protection and a £180 price tag.

✓  RecommendedColumbia Oak Harbour II Weight950 gWaterproofingOmni-TechPrice£180 The good✓  Reliably waterproof (Omni-Tech)
✓  Immediately warm (Omni-Heat Infinity liner)
✓  Fleece-lined handwarmer pockets
✓  Good looking on and off the hill
✓  Comparably affordable at £180
✓  Robust and durable build
The not-so-good✗  Omni-Heat liner feels sticky against bare skin
✗  Not very breathable
✗  Heavy at 950g
✗  Large pack size

At a glance

Overview

Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear has grown from a small hat company in Portland, Oregon, to one of the most recognisable outdoor brands worldwide. Known for blending innovative technology with affordability, Columbia’s products cater to everyone from seasoned hikers to weekend wanderers. Their proprietary technologies like Omni-Heat and Omni-Tech are a staple across many of their lines, promising to keep adventurers warm, dry and comfortable no matter what the elements throw at them.

The Columbia Oak Harbour II fits right into this ethos, offering substantial warmth and waterproof protection without the hefty price tag often seen with rival brands. Designed primarily for cold hikes and winter days out in the city, it is a synthetic option that aims to strike a balance between insulation and weather resistance. At 950 grams for a medium size, it is not what you would call lightweight, but it compensates for the extra heft with a solid list of features and a price tag of £180 that feels refreshingly reasonable.

On the market, the Oak Harbour II finds itself up against some stiff competition. The Rab Valiance, for example, offers similar warmth and waterproofing but costs nearly twice as much at £330. While the Rab jacket does shave off around 200 grams in weight, the price difference makes the Oak Harbour II look like a bargain. Meanwhile, the Jack Wolfskin Wisper Insulated Jacket is another contender, offering a lighter build at 718 grams but lacking the Omni-Heat Infinity wrapping that makes the Oak Harbour II so toasty. In this context, the Oak Harbour II’s mix of warmth, waterproofing and price makes it a compelling option if you are looking for a warm coat.

How we tested

To see what the Oak Harbour II was really made of, we tested this Columbia coat over 8 weeks, using it and abusing it on a litany of outdoor escapades. First up, we put it through its paces on two full-day hikes in the Brecon Beacons. On both treks, the weather was predictably awful, with heavy rain and howling winds providing the perfect test for its waterproofing capabilities. We also took it on several freezing cold walks around the Chiltern Hills and Surrey Hills, with temperatures dipping to below -3°C on more than one occasion. And you know what? Despite its comparatively high weight, we found it mostly out-performed our expectations each time.

Features and performance

Waterproofing and windproofing

Our first real test for the Oak Harbour II was a day out in the Brecon Beacons, where the forecast promised hours of rain, gusty winds and temperatures hovering just above freezing. From the off, the jacket’s Omni-Tech waterproofing proved itself worthy. Even after a solid four hours of relentless (albeit light) showers and a final half-hour of near-tropical downpour, the jacket’s outer shell remained impressively resistant to moisture. While some jackets can start to feel damp and heavy after prolonged exposure, the Oak Harbour II kept the rain out admirably.

Windproofing was another area where the jacket shone. British winds have a knack for cutting through all but the most tightly sealed layers, yet the Oak Harbour II’s cinch cords at the hips and adjustable cuffs did a stellar job of keeping draughts out. This was particularly noticeable on exposed ridges, where even a brief stop to admire the view can quickly turn chilly. The hood, though not helmet-compatible, played its part too. With the velcro toggle and pull cords cinched down, it stayed put even in gusts strong enough to make walking a challenge. The peak offered decent protection, keeping rain out of our eyes without restricting peripheral vision.

“Despite its comparatively high weight, we found it mostly out-performed our expectations each time. Here’s why.”

Warmth

Warmth was, unsurprisingly, one of the Columbia Oak Harbour II’s biggest strengths. The Omni-Heat Infinity liner is a bit like wearing a survival blanket that you do not have to wrestle your way into — it traps body heat almost immediately, making those first few minutes out of a warm car or tent significantly less miserable. We found it particularly effective on sub-zero mornings in the Surrey Hills, where temperatures dipped to -3°C. Paired with just a T-shirt and a thin midlayer, the jacket kept us comfortably warm without any of that awkward chilly wait while your body heat gets up to speed. The synthetic insulation, while not as immediately cosy as down, did a solid job of retaining warmth even when damp — a reassuring feature if you are out in sleet or wet snow.

The handwarmer pockets were another highlight, proving to be a small but much-appreciated luxury. Lined with fleece, they did a brilliant job of warming up numb fingers on frosty mornings. Due to gravity doing what it does, however, we did note that during the soggiest rounds of testing, the fleece liners took on some water, which then took a while to dry. It is not a dealbreaker — this is almost unavoidable if you are using pockets in heavy rain — but it is worth being aware of.

Breathability

One area where the Oak Harbour II does show its limitations is breathability. On less demanding trails or when moving at a steady pace, the jacket managed to vent well enough to prevent overheating. However, push the pace even a little — like when we were tackling some of the steeper inclines in the Chiltern Hills or when yomping over Pen y Fan in the Beacons — and things started to feel stuffy fairly quickly. The lack of pit zips does not help, meaning you are stuck with unzipping the front for a bit of airflow when things get too clammy. For winter walks and moderate hikes this is not a huge issue, but if you are planning anything more strenuous, it is something to bear in mind.

It is also worth noting that the Omni-Heat liner is not the most comfortable thing against naked skin. Much like standard GORE-TEX outer layers, it is prone to getting sticky quickly if worn just over a T-shirt — which is why we always paired it with a midlayer, even if one was not strictly necessary for warmth reasons.

Packability

Despite its weight, the jacket’s bulk was not as noticeable as we had expected. At 950 grams, it is no featherweight, but because it is designed to be worn rather than carried, we rarely found ourselves thinking about it. The slightly boxy cut gives you room to layer up without feeling constricted, which was handy when we threw on a fleece for a particularly chilly start in the Peak District. However, the pack size is substantial. It compresses down to about the size of a 2-season synthetic sleeping bag, which is not unreasonable given the waterproofing and insulation — but it is definitely not something you will want to stuff in a daypack unless you are certain you will need it.

Durability

Durability also deserves a nod. British hills are notorious for shredding jackets on everything from brambles to abrasive gritstone, but after multiple outings, the Oak Harbour II’s shell showed no signs of wear. The reinforced stitching and waterproof zippers felt reassuringly robust, handling everything from overgrown paths to snagging on dry-stone walls without a hitch. Given the price point, this kind of durability is impressive and suggests the jacket is built to last through more than a few winters.

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Our verdictVery good at what it is designed to do — and very much at home in UK conditions.The Columbia Oak Harbour II is not perfect, but it is very good at what it is designed to do. It might not have the breathability of some more expensive options, and the weight will not win over ultralight enthusiasts, but for the sort of cold, wet and windy weather we see more often than not, it is a solid performer.For winter hikes, weekend rambles and even city commutes in grim weather, it delivers on all the essentials without costing the earth. If you are after a winter jacket that can shrug off British weather without draining your bank account, the Oak Harbour II makes a convincing case for itself.

FAQs

How warm is the Columbia Oak Harbour II jacket?Very warm. The Omni-Heat Infinity liner retains body heat efficiently and kept us comfortable down to -3°C with just a T-shirt and thin midlayer underneath. The synthetic insulation also retains warmth when damp — a meaningful advantage over down in wet British conditions.

What activities is the Columbia Oak Harbour II suitable for?Cold hikes, winter walks and everyday use in wet, chilly conditions. Not suitable for running, fastpacking, backpacking or wild camping where packability and weight matter.

How waterproof is the Columbia Oak Harbour II jacket?Very. The Omni-Tech membrane handled four hours of relentless showers and a final half-hour downpour in the Brecon Beacons without issue.

Is the Columbia Oak Harbour II worth the money?Yes. At £180 it is a solid investment for the warmth and waterproofing on offer — significantly cheaper than the Rab Valiance (£330) for comparable performance.

How durable is the Columbia Oak Harbour II jacket?Built with robust materials and reinforced seams, it showed no signs of wear after multiple outings across varied terrain. As we have only had it a few months, we cannot comment on how the waterproofing changes over time.