Rab Microlight Jacket
September 27, 2009
Rab gets it right with this piece – which is absolutely zero surprise to me since I’ve been lucky enough to be able to check out a few offerings from Rab. As I mentioned in my review of the Rab Latok Alpine Jacket, Rab is an established company in the UK and is making its way across the pond to the US. It’s still a bit of a rare sight in the US to see someone in Rab gear, and I get a lot of quizzical looks and questions when I wear the Microlight out, especially in Alaska where being ahead of anything involving clothing or fashion is pretty much a lifetime achievement. So yeah, I’ve finally done it – been ahead of the fashion curve. Whatever will I do with my life now…
No matter what I decide to do with all this new-found free time, I will definitely be warm and cozy with the Microlight jacket in my clothing arsenal. Like everything Rab, the Microlight is cut trim and slender with a flattering silhouette, yet still maintains good range of motion for climbing. The many baffles keep the down equally distributed and there’s no reason to fear cold spots just because of the baffles. I have tried a lot of insulated jackets with all different types of baffles, and have never experienced the “cold spot” phenomenon, so just relax about that. This jacket is warm, and the baffles provide uniform warmth AND a snazzy, eye-catching look.
The Microlight, like so many other super lightweight insulated jackets these days, stuffs into a pocket for compression. What makes this jacket stand out in the crowd, though, is that the jacket stuffs into an interior pocket, leaving the outside pockets unfettered by zippers. This might make gadget-carriers cringe in fear, but there’s no need to worry – the pockets are also designed differently than the standard, with a more, er, bucket-like (?) shape (why yes, I AM a professional writer) that keeps items secure and hands toasty warm. The pockets aren’t just diagonal slashes, they are curved at the top so that the opening is 100% above the actual body of the pocket. Got that image? No? Well, you’ll just have to write in with a better way to describe it then.
Okay, so if you’re big on the monkey bars, like to ride the Zipper at the county fair, or commonly engage in the kind of ice climbing that requires one to become inverted (like this guy) you might lose some stuff out of the pockets. Otherwise, you’re golden. And you always have the zippered interior pocket if you really really need to be sure something won’t fall out.
I’ve been consistently impressed with Rab – the fit and quality is top-notch. Sizing is also consistent, and is true to real sizing, and I do mean real – not inflated or deflated; so you better order your ACTUAL size, don’t fight it. Most Rab items are cut trim, so take that into account when choosing your size. Me, I like the body conscious fit, so I stay with my regular size and have had good luck with Rab sizing.
I like being the only one wearing Rab locally, but I’m a fan of the company so I look forward to seeing the logo out and about. Rab keeps setting a high bar with each new item, and I think it’s only going to keep getting better.
Comments
Got something to say?
