The Rab Borealis Jacket is a light-weight windproof softshell jacket that’s nice for winter climbing however light-weight sufficient that it may be used year-round. It has an below the helmet hood, a full size zipper, and two zippered Napoleon chest pockets which can be nice for holding your Smatphone, a map and compass, or snacks. The chest pockets are mesh backed to allow them to be used as chest vents to bleed off additional physique warmth once you begin to perspire. Made with 85% nylon and 15% elastane, the Borealis has loads of stretch to be used in extremely dynamic sports activities from climbing and snowboarding to mountaineering. It’s undoubtedly a keeper!
Specs at a Look
- Gender: males’s (ladies’s mannequin obtainable)
- Hood: Below-the-helmet
- Supplies: Nylon 85% and Elastane 15%
- Wind resistance: 10 cfm (extremely wind resistant)
- DWR: C6
- Weight: 300g / 10.5oz (dimension medium)
- Sizing: True to dimension
The Rab Borealis Hooded Jacket has develop into my goto breathable windproof layer this winter when layered over a heat baselayer just like the Patagonia Capilene Air Hoody Baselayer with or with out a fleece midlayer. It has little or no insulation for a softshell jacket and I exploit it extra like a skinny, extremely breathable, and light-weight wind shirt for climbing within the alpine.
The issues that units the Borealis other than different softshell jackets and windshirts are its Napolean pockets. There are two pockets located on the chest that are mesh backed, so you possibly can unzip them to shed additional physique warmth. The Borealis Jacket replaces the Black Diamond Alpine Begin Hoody I’ve used for a few years for winter climbing which can also be a softshell jacket however lacks useful air flow options like these chest pockets.
These chest pockets additionally present a handy location to retailer snacks or navigation gear since, in contrast to facet pockets, you don’t must undo your hipbelt to entry their contents. This can be a huge plus in winter when it is advisable maintain your gloves on all day and may’t take them off to fuss with a hipbelt buckle or adjustment straps.
The Borealis has a low quantity under-the-helmet hood with Lyrca edging to maintain it comfortable round your face and head. That is necessary when it’s used as a wind jacket to assist stop the material from flapping loudly subsequent to your ears. Stretch cuffs on the wrist maintain the wind from blowing up your sleeves and the adjustable hem maintain winds from chilling you from under.
The Borealis Jacket has a wind resistance score of 10 cfm, which suggests it’s extremely wind resistant, however not utterly wind proof. That is fascinating since you need some air to get by way of to maintain you cool throughout extremely dynamic actions once you’ll be producing a number of physique warmth. Whereas the jacket does ship with a manufacturing facility DWR coating, it’s supposed to repel snowdrift or mild flurries and never liquid precipitation like a hardshell jacket.
Advice
The Rab Borealis Hoody is a softshell jacket supposed for climbing, climbing, or mountaineering in alpine situations. The factor that units it other than different softshell jackets and wind shirts are its mesh0backed Napoleon chest pockets, which may also help shed additional physique warmth or be used for meals and equipment storage. Finest used as a part of a layering system, it enhances heat baselayer or midlayer insulation by offering a extremely wind resistant outer barrier to maintain the wind from stripping away your physique warmth. Made with a mix of nylon and elastane, its stretchy exterior is snug to put on for extremely dynamic winter actions though it’s light-weight sufficient to put on in hotter climate, notably shoulder season climate, as nicely. Extremely really useful!
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