Rab Stretch Neo Jacket

Fantastisk myk, lydløs og værbeskyttende jakke i polartecs neoshell- overlegen komfort sammenliknet med vanlig Gore tex

God stand, mye for pengene!

Test av jakka:

«First impressions

I love the bright colours Rab go for, and this turquoise has led to many compliments, and jacket disappearances - I've had to remember who's borrowed and walked off with it this time. As for design and specification, I was interested to read Toby's review of the Marmot Zion (also made from NeoShell); while Marmot have created a soft shell style jacket from the fabric, Rab have crafted very much a typical hard shell. The fabric feels a bit softer than Gore-Tex Pro Shell, but a similar weight. This jacket is 480g; for comparison the Arc'teryx Alpha SV Gore-Tex Pro jacket is 486g. The fabric feels and looks somewhere between soft shell and hard shell.

FIT

Big up to Rab's women designers: I found the fit artfully shaped to my body without restricting it. I'm usually a size 8, and I bought a size Small, which allows me to fit a synthetic or lightweight down puff under it. The generous length covers my bum, and the drawcord hem cinches in typical hard shell style. Both features helped keep me warmer on the jacket's first outing: climbing at Godnor South on Portland while wind whipped the cliff. I found plenty of movement in the arms, and the jacket has some stretch, so it didn't lift out of my harness much. The sleeves are nice and long - I can tuck my hands in for belaying - and I like the cuffs, which adjust with dainty rubberised Velcro tabs. These proved easy to grab, even with big gloves and numb fingers in Scottish winter, and slip easily under gloves.

Hood

The hood (see below) has a wired peak. I prefer these to laminate; you can adjust the shape to keep out weather without restricting your view. The hood easily swallows a helmet and feels a bit spacious without one (see top picture). A rear toggle pulls it off your face, working well in the usual way to enhance peripheral vision. In a white out you can undo this toggle and cinch to balaclava-style using two front drawcords. The toggles for these run through two fabric channels either side of your face. I'd prefer their ends were inside the jacket, rather than outside and ended in plastic grippy bits, which can twang into your cold face! The high neck on this jacket effectively and comfortably adds to the cosy balaclava effect. On other Rab shells I've found the high neck annoying, as the hard fabric rubs my face, but NeoShell is softer.

Zip

The front YKK Aquaguard zip is further protected by an internal storm flap. This combination has proved watertight - so far I've never found any drips or wet patches on my midlayer. The zip's water resistant outer coating looks and feels like silicon. Its tiny teeth can occasionally prove 'sticky' on this rubbery surface, especially in cold weather (or maybe it's my cold hands!) On other jackets Rab have been using the Vislon Watertight Zip (which Arc'teryx also use); I prefer its better durability and smoother sliding.

Pockets

The two front chest pockets easily swallow maps and guidebooks. They are the size of the dark colour fabric on the front of the jacket (see photo of jacket range above) - as far as the side seam - so pretty big. I've noticed the wind doesn't get through the front as much as through the back, as the extra layer of fabric improves wind protection. However, as people have commented in the forums, they are Napoleon pockets rather than handwarmers, so you'll have to snuggle your paws elsewhere. Since I usually have mine out in gloves or pulled up into my sleeves, I've not found this an issue.

Summary

Genuinely can't think of much negative to say about this jacket. Lack of handwarmer pockets (but I don't mind that really), twangy hood drawstrings and occasionally slightly sticky zip (minor issues), hood feels capacious without a helmet (but I'm very happy it fits one). That's it.

Features

Rab Stretch Neo

Helmet compatible hood with wired peak

YKK Aquaguard front zip with internal storm flap and chin guard

2 external Napoleon YKK Aquaguard zip pockets

2 internal mesh zipped pockets

Double exit hem draw cord

Velcro adjustable cuff tabs

Reflective trim

Medium cut

Weight: 480g (women's)

Polartec NeoShell

Weight: 136g/m

Composition: 100% nylon face and 100% Polyester back

Warp: 50 Denier

Weft: 50 Denier

DWR/Spray: 80/20

HH in mm: 10,000

MVTR: N/A

Air Perm: 0.5CFM»