Our Warehouse Manager, Ian, put the Rab Borealis jacket to the test. From hiking to cycling, to see if it’s as versatile as Rab claims
SMALL, COMPACT, ULTRALIGHT. Words which resonate like sweet music to the ears of the TL Warehouse Team, and the reasons why the RAB Borealis garments are a long-established favourite among its staff.
Although lovers of fresh air and open spaces, we in the warehouse are generally less exposed to the technical specs of the products we range. We are instead all about codes: Item codes, colour codes, barcodes, bin locations. As a result have for many years, mistakenly interpreted and categorised the Borealis garments as waterproof. So what exactly is it?
I’ve been getting to know the Rab Borealis Hooded Jacket over the past 4 months in order to better understand its place in the range. What it brings to the table that perhaps other products do not.
From an outdoor pursuits perspective, I would describe myself as more active than many but less active than some. I’m not a runner or a climber, which perhaps seems to be more the target clientele for this product; however, I am a regular year-round cyclist, a camper, a lover of long dog walks, and just generally being immersed in nature and the elements. Do the merits of this jacket lend themselves equally well to the slightly less athletic?
I don’t want to get too caught up in the technical ins and outs; but essentially the Borealis Hoody is a slim-fitting ultralight softshell jacket. Its construction is of a recycled stretch nylon fabric (MATRIX) which has a water repellent treatment applied. It offers a good balance of wind and weather resistance, together with high breathability.
FIT & FEATURES
Despite Rab’s best intention to offer a slim fit, unfortunately, my 6ft 3 tall, 38-inch chested body nearly always results in the need to up a size in order to achieve sufficient arm length. That being said, I still felt a size Large to be not too oversized in the body.
For a jacket so compact and lightweight, I felt the features are pretty generous and although designed with climbers in mind (low profile hem, low volume under helmet hood), all perform equally well regardless of activity.
Features include an adjustable hem cord, 2 generous hand pockets with inverted zip closure, elasticated cuffs and of course a hood, again with elasticated edge to keep wind out.
TO THE TEST
So performance aside, initial first impressions when you put one of these on are just how lightweight, soft and quiet it is to wear. For me, this is where softshell really comes into its own, and in this ultralight format, you barely feel you’re wearing it at all.
The other thing to celebrate with this product is packability. The best jacket is always going to be the jacket you have with you, and there really is never going to be a good excuse for why you haven’t carried this one. Never has a technical piece been so stowable, even compact enough to stuff in your pocket.
In the beginning, I made the decision to use the Borealis Hoody Jacket exclusively, regardless of whether conditions really meant it wasn’t the right choice. I think to an extent it was me having to unpick the ingrained preconception that this jacket was somehow waterproof.
Disproving this notion took less time than I thought. Week one, the morning cycle commute and the combination of light to moderate rain, with the added pressure caused by me cycling into it. The fabric held out for about 2 minutes, and that was that.
However, off of the back of this seemingly stupid experiment to disprove a thing that it was never claimed to be in the first place, came something of a discovery which actually perfectly highlighted the key property of the Borealis Hoody. Breathability!
As anyone who has to commute a reasonable distance by bike will know, there is always that dilemma about wearing waterproofs on rainy days in the summer when the air is warm. Waterproof technologies generally breathe best when there is a greater difference between the temperatures on the inside and the outside of the fabric, consequently, on warm days the efficiency is less. So your options are: don’t wear a coat, get soaking wet and start getting cold; wear a coat, keep the rain out, but sweat like a pig and turn up for work stinking.
The Borealis Hoody isn’t a waterproof jacket. It has no coated technology to interfere with the fabric’s ability to breathe, which results in it being an incredibly effective thermostat. Although I was wet from the rain I remained incredibly comfortable. It is this attribute which makes it such a great choice for runners and climbers.
As summer got going, the temperatures soared, and for a while the Borealis Hoody resided at home unused for weeks on end. However, the month of August, as it often does, has started to bring a distinctly fresher feel to the morning and evening dog walks, which has meant a first-team call-up for the Borealis once more. I think that for the casual users such as myself, it is the shoulder seasons at either end of summer that the Borealis Hoody will most suit. Paired with a tech tee or light baselayer, you’ll be set for your next adventure.
CONCLUSION
I remember when I first came home with the Borealis Hooded Jacket and having a conversation with my wife about “this product I have to test and review”. “So it’s not waterproof, it’s not insulated? When do you wear it exactly?” It became this running joke in the beginning. Every time we were heading out, she would ask, “are conditions specific enough for your special coat today?”
I definitely had some false preconceptions at the start, which were clouding my judgment, but as time has gone on, I’ve worn this jacket a lot, perhaps more than any jacket I’ve owned.
It has been great for walking. The combination of good pockets, lightweight comfort, packability, great wind and UV resistance has made it a real winner. I haven’t got out too much lately, but I’d imagine it would be great for evenings at the campsite too. However, the greatest results have without doubt been on the bike. The windproofing and breathability of the fabric lend itself perfectly to cycling and would be a great choice for any commuter or cycle tourist.
WOULD I BUY ONE?
For me, this jacket will likely be a seasonal piece. I can’t imagine using it much at all in the winter months, a point which is ultimately going to be a factor as to whether or not this jacket is going to be for you.
If you are a lover of kit and happy to purchase numerous jackets for different activities, climates and weather conditions, or perhaps you’re prepared to embrace and accept the consequences of wearing soft shell in the rain in order to reap the benefits of its superior breathability, then yes, this is a cracking addition which will serve you well. However, for the more budget-conscious looking for the one tool for all jobs, this probably isn’t it.
Under normal circumstances, I would probably place myself in the latter camp, always keen to stretch out the pennies! Nevertheless, I have certainly been won over by the merits of this jacket and, from a reviewing perspective, would certainly endorse it.
Want to pick up a Rab Borealis of your own? Click Below
