"Stash and forget." That's how Rab describe the Phantom Pull-On. Well its certainly easy to forget about when it only weight 90 grams. What's not so easy to forget is Rabs leap into the World of Trail running gear. Thank god. I make no secret of my admiration for Rab kit, I like it. It just works for me and it does what I need it to. I tend to yo-yo between Rab and Montane depending on my needs and their range. With their mountain heritage I was pretty excited to hear of the launch of their Skyline series, a new range focused on Mountain and Trail running. For the most part, Rab have brought out some great products for this new venture. There are a few items in the range that they have maybe been a bit conservative on, transcending between the running and hiking categories so as not to alienate their traditional fans. Not the Phantom though, oh no. This is two feet straight into the world of stripped back, lightweight technical gear for fast pursuits. Its certainly a great start!
Fabric
Made from Pertex Shield 2.5 with only a 7 dernier outer, this really is skimping on the weight. Pertex Shield is easily one of the most breathable waterproof fabrics out there and the 2.5 versions enhance that breathability by putting even less between you and the outside of your jackets. Whereas most waterproof jackets follow the classic 3 layer approach, the Pertex 2.5 saves weight and enhances breathability by having a minimal liner on the inside of the garments. The inside is quite literally sprayed/painted on to save having to attach any more fabric. On this particular model the material isn't paper thin, it thinner. Yet somehow it retains its ability to shrug off the water and keep you dry throughout your run. With only a 7 dernier, outer I have been exceptionally nervous of snagging it on anything, to the point I have been seen doing some interesting dance offs with gorse bushes and blackthorn as I manoeuvre my way around anything protruding onto the trail. Inevitably you can't avoid it all and I have luckily shrugged off some brambles attacks with no damage, but I wouldn't want to repeat it.
For my runs I vary between running with nothing, to running with a running vest or belt. With repeated use and longs days it has not shown any sign of wear. I wouldn't though risk a proper rucksack, I imagine the abrasion from the more significant straps would eventually start to effect the jacket.
I had to do a bit of digging around to find some stats for this jacket, eventually it came up with a waterproof rating of 20k HH and a breathability rating of 40k MVTR. Yes that's right. 40k. That's insanely breathable for a waterproof jacket and in practice I genuinely can feel the difference between it and a heavier duty Pertex Jacket. I've mostly been using this jacket at the cooler end of summer and well into Autumn when usually I'd still find it too warm to run in waterproofs, but not with the Phantom. Even on drier but really windy days I end up taking it with me for use as a wind shell, the breathability is really impressive.
Fit
Rab seemed to have refined their sizing out over the last few years. I used to struggle with what size to get in different items, they could be too small in Medium but baggy in Large, or in another either could be a perfect fit. Now all of my Rab kit is size Medium and a really good fit. This is no exception. Keeping in mind this is a fast and light piece of kit, its designed to be snug to stop any excess material billowing in the wind, or the hood acting as a parachute as you turn into a head wind. The material used does offer a bit of stretch which is really helpful for when you get going and the garment moves with you better. For reference, I am take a size Medium and I am 6 foot, 32 inch waist and 40ish inch chest. The medium was the best fit for me by far. I did try a large but it was too baggy and pretty long on the arms and dropped down too low over the waist.
Its obviously difficult to please everyone when the features of a jacket are pretty much fixed, there's no adjustable hood or waist in this jacket. I seem to be pretty lucky because I have no issues with the hood or waist. The hood is reasonably secure with elastic either side of your face to keep the hood secure when its up. In some pretty strong gusts I have had to hold it in place to stop it slipping back, but this has been few and far between with the minimal elastic fixings seemingly doing what its meant to.
Design
Light and fast is the aim and that's reflected in the design, but you still get some pretty decent features. A fully seam taped jacket that's lighter than a windproof but still completely waterproof. I've already touched upon the hood in the fit section above. The minimalist design does work and I was actually impressed despite initial reservations about how well it would stay in place. Add to that, you get an actual wired peak that does what its meant to do and keeps the rain out rain out of your face. A surprising feature for such a light jacket. For those dryer days Rab have even managed to squeeze in a retaining clip for the hood so that it can be rolled down and stashed.
The cuffs are half elastic with a slight extended bit on the back of the hand. They're pretty snug and a bit of a squeeze over a chunky sports watch, but they stay in place really well when you get going with no riding up or flapping around despite the lack of a cuff closure. The bottom of the jacket employs the same elastic but all the way around the waist. Again there's no adjustment but the for the most part in stays in place really well. I have had issues when wearing a running pack where it rides up to the waist line which is a bit annoying. The lack of adjustability means it cant be secured in place, but that's the trade off if you're choosing something as light as this.
The biggest issue for any waterproof jacket is the massive whole in the top that you plug with your head, and stopping any water ingress via the zip at the front. With a quarter length zip a lot of the issue is reduced, or rather it should be. Now I get the trade off, light and fast means reduced features, fine. Yet a major let down is the zip being a standard zip and not an aqua guard zip that you see on most waterproof jackets. The storm flap behind the zip actually does a really good job at keeping the wet stuff out, but an aqua guard zip would make it all so
much better. In sustained periods of running, around an hour plus in constant rain, the zip did eventually leak through and I ended up with a soggy front. Don't get me wrong, this isn't really the jacket for running in a torrential downpour for a long amount of time, but I think with this
feature being adjusted it would definitely open its use and versatility up to those longer wetter runs when you're planning on being out all day. For any days were the forecast was really
grim I'd plan to take a more substantial mountain running jacket anyway.
If the features weren't enough, you also get a stuff sack that the jacket packs neatly in to,
probably a little bigger than a grapefruit.
Overall
If you're looking for a ridiculously light jacket that you can throw in your bag without any hindrance, or a jacket to wear for those days of missle or short sharp bursts of rain, this is the ideal piece. It excels in windy conditions and is lighter and more breathable than most windshells I have used. On cooler windier days, this has started to replace the windshell I always carry with me. Yes in torrential rain it won't keep you dry all day long, but that's not what its made for. If it ever gets updated, an aqua guard zip would be brilliant to increase its resistance against ingress. In all, a top piece from Rab and I'm really excited to see and test out what else they come up with in their Skyline range.
What Rab Say;
With its lightweight features, all-day protection and peerless packability, the Phantom Pull-On is the ultimate stash-and-forget waterproof shell for stripped back mountain runners.
Our Phantom Pull-On shell uses waterproof two-layer construction, with taped seams and lightweight 7D Pertex Shield 2.5L fabric, for the ultimate in pocket-packable utility. The use of stretch fabric enables a slimmer cut, which helps reduce bulk; and in place of adjustable toggles, the Phantom Pull-on uses a low-volume elasticated hood, as well as half micro elasticated hem and cuffs, enabling it to pack down into a palm-sized storage sleeve. The absence of pockets and a hooded peak also helps keep the weight down; and a lightweight half-length zip helps deliver effective weather protection without excessive weight.
At just 90g, the Phantom Pull-On provides highly specialised mountain running protection in exceptionally packable form, whether you’re carrying a backpack or not.
Features
Deep venting lightweight YKK® chest zip.
Reduced volume hood with micro elasticated front section.
7D Pertex Shield 2.5L fabric with stretch
Half micro elasticated Hem & Cuffs.
Reflective branding
Stuff sack included
Packed Size: 12cm x 6cm (4.5 x 2 inch)
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