This hooded jacket is so versatile and practical with a minimal streamlined design and good looks. It works superbly as mid layer for active use in cold conditions and would provide enough warmth for you to feel comfortable when out and about on a brisk autumn day on the mountain or around town.
Filled with143gof 750 fill power Hydrophobic European Goose Down in narrow stitch through baffles to minimise down migration and give it great looks.Pertex Microlight fabric provides a lightweight shell that is wind resistant, breathable and durable. A light DWR (durable water repellent) is added to repel moisture and combined with the Hydrophobic down, provides reassuring performance in all but the worst conditions.Rabuses Hydrophobic down in all their down jackets, basically each and every cluster of down is treated with special Nikwax products to make them perform better in damp conditions. Although Hydrophobic down is not waterproof it dries much faster, absorbs less water and retains loft far better than untreated down.
Rab have fitted a fully insulated hood that is adjustable for fit and has a flexible polymer peak, whist not helmet compatible it fits neatly over a beanie without being too big and baggy. The main zip is from the ever reliable YKK brand and features an internal insulated baffle and soft chin guard to avoid rubbing when you're all tucked up inside the jacket. For storage options you get two YKK zipped hand pockets and a YKK zipped external chest pocket. The cuffs are elasticated to fit snugly around your wrists or over gloves and a hem drawcord helps to seal in the warmth and exclude drafts.
Rab have given the Microlight Alpine a "slim fit" to ensure the down stays as close to your body as possible to optimise the insulation but there is enough room for lightweight layers if you need extra warmth.
With a clean, uncluttered and minimalist design this hooded jacket is the perfect winter mid layer for all mountain activities and also performs superbly as an outer jacket for every day duties. This jacket is so versatile that it is suitable for all year round use, even for cooler summer evenings and chilly spring mornings.
- Pertex Quantum outer fabric
- Nylon lining
- 143g of 750 fill power Hydrophobic European Goose Down
- Mini stitch through baffle construction
- Adjustable down filled hood with flexible polymer wired peak
- YKK front zip with internal insulated baffle and chin guard
- 2 YKK zipped hand pockets
- 1 YKK zipped chest pocket
- Hem draw cord
- Lycra bound cuffs
- Slim fit
How to wash your down products
Having spent years talking to people about down products, whether that’s a jacket, sleeping bag or even a pair of slippers, very few have had the confidence to go ahead and wash the product on their own, especially when they have just spent an arm and a leg on it. This small guide is here to explain that it’s not as daunting and utterly terrifying as it first appears.
Step one: Before you even get near that washing machine, wipe off any excess mud or dirt that may be lingering on the surface of the jacket, as this will clog up the washing machine, eventually rendering it useless.
We recommend the use of Nikwax Down Wash Direct for down products as it’s one hundred percent environmentally friendly and will wash and re-proof the garment without the use of bleach or any other nasty chemicals. What household washing agents can (and often do) is remove the water repellent coating on the fabric of the jacket, whilst also damaging the delicate array of feathers inside.
Step two: We’ll assume in this instance that you’ve been washing other products prior to your down jacket and have used a bleach based detergent. Therefore it’s a good idea to run the washing machine for half an hour or so without anything inside to rinse it clean before adding the Nikwax or putting the jacket in. Also, don’t forget to remove the detergent drawer to give it a wash inside, outside and behind, as detergent can clog up and still enter the washing machine if not cleaned out thoroughly. This ensures that any remnants of detergent are removed and that the Nikwax products will work effectively.
Step three: Set the washing machine to a cold wash (check the garments care label, most tend to be around 30°C) and as delicate as possible. Most washing machines have a “wool” cycle which is ideal.
Step four: If using Nikwax Down Wash Direct, place 100ml in either the tray or directly into the washing machine inside a small pot/ball. If you choose to use another washing product, place the appropriate amount in the machine in the same way.
Step five: Set the washing machine to run on a slow cycle, allowing plenty of time for the jacket to soak up the cleaning/re-proofing product. Most washing machines will have a pre-set time for different washing cycles.
When the cycle has finished be prepared for a shock, your precious bit of kit will come out looking like a soggy ball of material. But don’t worry, you haven’t ruined it, it’s just that all that fluffy down insulation has become water logged and has clumped together. The trick is to now get all that down nice and dry to reinstate its superb insulating properties. Simply hanging it up in a warm place will not work that well. It will take days to properly dry and you will have to constantly break up the clumps to get it thoroughly dry. The best way is to use a tumble dryer; either a domestic one for smaller items or a commercial drier for sleeping bags.
Step six: Pop the garment into the dryer and make sure to select a low heat; a high heat runs the risk of melting seams and fabrics within the garment. It sounds weird, but shove a few tennis balls into the drier with the garment; the tennis balls will bounce around and help to break up the clumps of down. Every 20 minutes, pull the jacket out of the dryer and lie the jacket down on a table. Run your hands over the jacket until you find a 'clump' or ball of down; tease apart this down clump and spread it evenly into the baffle. Once you're confident you've pulled apart every clump to the best of your ability, stick it back in for another 20 minutes. Keep repeating this until there are no more clumps left.
Step seven: When the cycle has finished and you are sure that you have got the garment as dry as possible, hang it up in a warm dry place, an airing cupboard is ideal, for 24 hours. This drives out the last of any dampness and allows the down to loft fully. Take it out and give it a good shake and, hey presto, it’ll be as good as new.