An introduction to Down Jackets
Down jackets are increasing in popularity and they get just about everywhere, you’re as likely to see one in the Mountains now as you are the high street! My choice of jacket is based upon my outdoor activities and expeditions, and yet again my preference has been Rab jackets due to their quality and all round great performance.
But where to start? With so many on the market, which ones right for you? What’s fill power? Stitch through, box wall? Don’t panic, let me explain.
Construction
Down jackets are constructed by connected baffles which are filled with down, keeping the down evenly spread throughout the jacket. Depending on the jacket though, depends on how these baffles are connected together. Rab use two methods, Stitch Through and Box Wall.
Stitch through.
Pretty much as it suggests, in stitch through jackets the baffles are made by stitching the outer fabric to the inner fabric. This is the simplest way of making the jackets which often means they’re lighter due to less material and stitching being used. What it does mean though is the jacket has less wind resistant due to the stitching going through the jacket, and the down in between the baffles is stitched in place meaning it can’t loft as it should, which can leave cold spots. They are however usually cheaper, and the performance is still fantastic for most mountain activities.
Box Wall
Again as it sounds, the baffles are constructed in the shape of boxes which are connected together around the jacket. This means the down has more room to loft, reducing cold spots in the jacket. It does mean that these jackets are heavier due to the extra material, but they come into their own for extreme conditions. You tend to find this construction in expedition jackets for more extreme conditions.
Fill Power
Ok so fill power (FP), what is it? Fill power is all about the quality of down used in the jacket. Without getting too technical, down is graded by fill power depending on the amount of air it is able to trap. A high fill power doesn’t necessarily mean its warmer, you also need to consider the fill weight of the jacket too. Put very simply; the higher the fill power of a down jacket, the warmer it will be for its weight. A jacket with 300g of 650 fill down will give you more warmth than one with 120g of 800 fill down, but it means it will weigh more and will be less compressible. You need a lot of low fill power down to do the same job as a small amount of high fill power down!
Hydrophobic Down.
Rab uses Hydrophobic Down in its jackets. This coats the down in a water repellent treatment which means the down is stopped from absorbing moisture, and keeps it doing the job its meant to do. (This includes rain and sweat!) In the event the down does get wet, it also helps to increase the drying time of the down, helping you keep dry out and get back outside faster too. No down is truly waterproof so its not designed for to be worn as a waterproof layer.
The Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket
Ok, now we’ve got through the technical stuff, lets look at the jacket. This year is the 10th anniversary of Rabs
Microlight Alpine Jacket, and it remains a bench mark in the light weight down jacket market.
Its possibly the most popular and recognisable down jacket on the market. I’ve pretty much seen this everywhere, from Mountain environments to local music festivals. Its an iconic jacket that is used by adventurers to commuters alike.
Fabric
The new version of the Microlight Alpine Jackets now use Pertex Quantum. Quantum is the latest advance in lightweight fabric which traps air and allows the down to loft, retaining its insulating properties. It’s also remarkably weather proof which aids in keeping the down dry before the hydrophobic coating even comes into play. I’ve found compared to the older incarnations of the Microlight range, the new material does help to shed rain and moisture far more effectively then the older Pertex material that was used. I have been caught in the occasional shower whilst wearing it and can certainly say it ran straight off in time for me to dig out my waterproof to chuck over the top.
So far, it does also seem to be pretty durable despite being lighter and softer to touch. My old Microlight took a battering after being stashed, snagged and grazed on various surfaces, but still stood up to just about everything I threw at it. The new fabric hasn’t been tried out as extensively but has been used in various environments, shrugging off most of what I’ve thrown at it so far with only a few bumps and scrapes to show for it. I should point out I am pretty hard on my equipment and with normal wear and good care, I would expect this to last quite a while.
Design
The aim of the microlight is in the name. A lightweight insulating and layering piece but it still comes with all the essential bits you would need and expect. The baffles on this jacket are stitch through and it comes with 143g of 750FP hydrophobic down. It definitely does the job, but obviously isn’t completely windproof and without cold spots due to the stitch through design. It could also be lighter if less of a higher fill power down was used, but then it does keep the cost of the jacket in line with its competition on the market.
It comes with a decent sized chest pocket, about the right size for stashing keys or a few energy bars, and two generously sized hand warmer pockets which have plenty of room to stash more stuff in, like googles, GPS, maps and of course your hands!
The hood on the Microlight Alpine is well sized and keeps out all the foul weather. It isn’t though big enough to go over a helmet, so if you’re looking at this to use for climbing in the cold, wear a hat! It is though very well adjustable with draw cords either side of the face to sinch the hood down and keep it attached to your head on windy days. Similarly there is a drawcord adjustment at the hem of the jacket to keep the jacket in place as your walking. I did find though that these can be a little fiddly with gloves on to adjust, and likewise to loosen them was a bit of a mission when trying to remove the hood.
One massive plus for me is the new models now have a stuff sack included. I know its something else to carry, but the original design, and with some down jackets still, the pocket was used to stuff the jacket into. Although pretty practical there were numerous times the jacket material got caught in the zip pocket when I was hastily stuffing it and doing it up. The stuff sack for me is much easier, far more practical and you can keep it in the chest pocket without hardly noticing it.
Another plus is the zips have zip pulls on, so its easy to grab them even with mittens on. This seems to be over looked on other manufacturers equivalent jackets, which seems odd seeming its designed for cold weather use.
Fit
For me the fit of this jacket is brilliant. Its described as a slim fit but you can still layer clothing underneath it, and then put a hard shell over the top for extra protection. I will offer use this as a layering system or for short breaks when trekking in cold places. During an Expedition in Svalbard I used it to chuck over the layers I had on when we stopped for a break (base layer, fleece and a Vapour Rise Alpine Jacket), and at night it was my main layer in the tent. Whilst on Polar Bear watch at night, I wore it underneath my Positron Down Jacket in temperatures down to -25. The combination was brilliant and allowed for a variety of layering options due to the design.
The cuffs are elasticated, so they don’t ride up as you walk, but there is enough stretch that the sleeves can be rolled up for when you’re working hard. As already mentioned the hood isn’t helmet compatible but this means it provides a good fit, and be adjusted with the draw chords on the side, as can the hem of the jacket to stop it riding up. Over the years the jacket has improved and now comes with a slightly longer fit at the back. This is a great improvement in the design and stops the wind from giving you a cold behind. It just goes to show how Rab have refined their design over the years.
Overall
This was the first down jacket I owned, I bought it about 5 years ago and have used and abused it on trips Mountaineering in Scotland to Expeditions in Iceland. After it eventually was worn beyond repair, I bought the Microlight Jacket (hoodless version) as a layering piece for an Expedition this year crossing Svalbard because I was that impressed with it. I massively regret not buying the Alpine version as the hood is a huge plus.
Over the years, between my first purchase and the new design, Rab have listened to feedback and altered the design to give an all round great jacket. Yes it is pricey, and thats the main draw back. However the price is a good reflection on the similar models on the market and in some ways you get a better jacket compared to competitors. Yes it could be lighter or warmer, but the compromise is you get an all round great jacket for a good price.
If you’re planning on a big multi day winter trip to Scotland, you may want to consider something a bit warmer like the Electron Jacket, but that being said, this jacket does exactly what its designed for. A warm, light weight piece to keep you warm when you really need it. Shove it in your bag as an emergency piece and you wont even notice its there, but as soon as the temperature drops it comes in to play and keeps you warm and protected. I’ve used it in foul weather on Dartmoor, to expeditions in Iceland and Svalbard, and can safely say it hasn’t let me down.
One to watch: Rab have now released the Microlight Summit Jacket, an improved, refined and bad ass version of the Alpine, taking down jacket technology to new levels. Check out their website for more info!
Rab Say:
The Microlight Alpine Jacket is the lightweight down jacket you can take anywhere, designed for use in situations where warmth, weight and packability are prime concerns.
Constructed with Pertex® Quantum outer fabric, the Microlight Alpine is windproof and breathable, using 750 fill power ethically-sourced hydrophobic down to provide exceptional warmth without compromising on weight. Features include an adjustable hood with laminated brim and flexible polymer peak, diverted hood baffle lines for an anatomical fit, and clean finish elasticated cuff construction. Two harness-compatible hand pockets and a chest pocket provide easy access to storage. Highly compressible, the Microlight Alpine Jacket comes with a stuff sack which can be clipped to a harness or backpack.
Inspired by decades of experience in the mountains, the Microlight Alpine is refined, resilient, and iconic: perfect
for any adventure.
Specifications
Weight: 470g/17oz
Pertex® Quantum outer fabric
Pertex® Quantum inner
750FP Ethically-Sourced European Goose Down (143g/5oz in Size L)
Rab® Fluorocarbon free Hydrophobic Down developed in conjunction with Nikwax®
Micro stitch-through baffle construction
Adjustable hood with laminated brim and flexible polymer peak
Diverted hood baffle lines for an anatomical fit
YKK® reverse coil front zip with insulated zip baffle and chin guard
2 YKK® reverse coil harness compatible hand pockets
YKK® reverse coil chest pocket
Clean finish elasticated cuff construction
Hem construction with dual drawcord adjustment
Stuff sack
Fit: Slim
Comments