Those of us of a certain age remember the days when your choice of waterproof pretty much began and ended in a few garments, all of which had a stiff, rustly feel and the breathability of a sheet of plastic. Those days are now gone of course, and this offering from Rab epitomises what is now available.
Rab's own taped ProFlex fabric is used throughout, a wonderfully light, soft and stretchy fabric that is nothing short of pleasure to wear. We even found ourself reaching for it on moderately windy or chilly days - not necessarily waterproof weather, but it was just so nice to wear we would pull it out anyway. Not something we would do with many waterproofs.
The reason it worked so well came down to a close, athletic cut, and that luxurious stretch in the fabric. It just hugged our bodies, cutting out any flapping potential and trapping air, while never restricting movement in any form. There are no compromises on waterproofing either, with 10000mm head keeping the heaviest of rain at bay, or breathability where it totally excels with a stated 35,000cc/sqm/24hrs rating - which, take it from us, was excellent throughout the test.
The hood was superb, thin enough to fit under a helmet with no problem, and the velcro tabbed cuffs allowed enough adjustment to be effective in sealing out (or letting in for ventilation) the draughts. Our only small complaint came from the waterproof YKK zip that remained stubbornly sticky and stiff throughout the test. It always worked of course, but just could have been smoother.
Being a multi-sport jacket it didn't have the precise fit of a dedicated cycling jacket, but it did work fine, and would be far more useful on a mountain bike trip or tour where we would be as likely to need it out the saddle as in.
