We gave outdoor enthusiast and local business owner Dan a Rab Capacitor Fleece to try out, check out his thoughts below.
The mid-layer I’ve been waiting for!
For too long now, I’ve just been getting by using fleeces which ride up too much or other sub-optimal, not so breathable garments for my mid-layer.
Those days I’m glad to say are over! Right away, the Capacitor hoody fitted like a dream and has been that perfect layer to wear all day.
I’m 6’2”, fairly athletic build and the size large is perfect. It’s a slim fitting fleece but with extra length and excellent flexibility, I don’t find it restricting in the slightest.
The Capacitor has served me well in several different scenarios already.
- When it’s dry and not too cold outside, the Capacitor worn over a base layer offers a decent level of protection from the breeze. Having worn it all day long on several occasions now, I find even when the weather warms up a bit, I’m not rushing to take it off again.
- If its a super cold day and my down jacket just isn’t giving enough insulation, the Capacitor as a mid-layer brings me to a much more comfortable temperature, whilst still being mega breathable to stop me sweating it out in minutes.
- If its blowing a hoolie or raining and I’m having to reach for my Gore-Tex jacket, again the Capacitor on the mid-layer offers a nice level of warmth for a mid-weight fleece and is still more breathable than any other fleece I’ve tried to date.
It’s great to know Rab are doing their bit for sustainability and that this fleece is no exception. 100% recycled outer fleece and other partly recycled elements on the Capacitor help ease the guilt for my ever-growing outdoor gear wardrobe!
Rab have an impressive amount of sustainability info on their website and are very transparent about their processes and journey to net-zero. Every new item of apparel now has a ‘Material Facts’ table, so you can see exactly how eco-friendly each material is which make up a garment.
Rab include a QR code which takes you to the product site where you can see the Material Facts 
Brushed Fleece of main body compared to side panels
Getting down to the nitty gritty. The super-thin and stretchy ‘Thermic’ side panels are probably my favourite feature. Running all the way up the sides and down the inside of the arms, they really help with the excellent manoeuvrability and breathability.
The helmet-compatible hood has a fleece section on the centre and those oh-so-awesome ‘Thermic’ panels on the sides. The hood fits snugly and moves well with your head and although I haven’t tried it with a helmet yet, I’m sure the stretchy construction would fit nicely underneath one, should you wear this out on the crag.
The all recycled main fleece section, being mid-weight, is insulating but not too much. Sitting below the belt line, its the perfect length on the main body as-well-as the arms – which is something I often find is an issue, being over 6 foot.
The 2 roomy hand pockets are fleece lined at the front with a mesh material to the rear for a perfect combo of warmth and ventilation. This is the same for the chest pocket and all 3 have strings attached to the YKK zips which are fairly easy to pull.
The main YKK front zip, being a slightly larger profile, I find is easier to zip up and down compared to those on the pockets… however neither have been a problem for me.
Overall, this is honestly my new favourite piece of clothing which I’ve found myself grabbing most days. I can see myself bagging another one in one of the other colour offerings and I can recommend you do the same!
