What is it?
Based on the incredibly popular Nebula jacket, the Nebula Pro features some subtle and some not-so subtle upgrades to ensure it remains at the top of the pile. If you hadn't seen the original Nebula jacket, it is essentially a completely featherless, synethetically insulated jacket which performs exceptionally well in damp, cold conditions.
What is it made of?
Insulation: Starting with what gives the Nebula its warmth, Rab use their completely synthetic Cirrus insulation to ensure warmth in almost all conditions. Down is still the lightest and warmest insulation available, however it can't deal with wet conditions, rendering it useless if the heavens open and you're stuck without a shell. The Nebula Pro on the other hand will retain around 90% of its warmth, even when soaking wet, making it a far more versatile option for those who are after a do-it-all jacket for cold, damp conditions. We'd also like to add that this year the insulation has been tweaked slightly to offer a more compressible design (also it feels far better when you're wearing it).
Fabric: Surrounding the insulation is an updated Pertex Quantum Pro ripstop outer fabric which slides under additional layers easily and feels far softer than the previous Nebula; yet somehow doesn't compromise on durability. Not only does this feel far better, but exudes a quality feel that reassures you that you're wearing a meticulously engineered piece of UK-designed kit. If you choose to use the Nebula as an outer layer, the Pertex Quantum Pro outer fabric is water and wind resistant, providing an adequate amount of protection for general mountainous conditions.
What are the features?
As always, the feature list is long with the Nebula and includes some essential additions to make life in the hills or town that much more enjoyable. A helmet compatible hood allows you to slip a climbing helmet underneath comfortably, yet includes all the various adjustment points to cinch the hood down when you're not wearing a helmet. Part elasticated cuffs with velcro adjustment points easily fit gloves or mitts underneath, while an internal security pocket stores essential items such as a phone, keys or change; two zipped hand pockets offer additional storage. Lastly, a two-way YKK main zip can be unzipped from the lower or upper of the Nebula, meaning it will fit over a climbing harness when belaying.
How does it fit?
As an insulating layer, it is designed to be a close, snug fit, yet features enough room to layer up underneath on the particularly chilly days. The Nebula Pro uses Rab's 'Regular Fit' so this means you'll have a bit of wiggle room, so it'll easily fit an extra layer or two on underneith.
Where does it fit in the layering system?
The Nebula Pro is a midweight, breathable and packable synthetic jacket. Use it as an appropriate insulating layer depending on your activity level and the weather conditions. It works perfectly well as a standalone jacket on those crisp, dry, freezing days or as a cosy casual jacket. Layering is not a precise science and there is no one perfect system that will suit every person, situation or the weather conditions. Some of us feel the cold, others, like me, get hot very quickly, but for more advice on using layers please check out this video.
The Nebula Pro is a brilliant all-rounder for UK winter conditions. It's compressible, easy to take care of, brilliant in damp conditions, can be used as a midlayer or an outer layer and offers a host of upgrades from the original Nebula to ensure it retains its place at the top of the insulation pile.
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Wind resistant
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Water resistant (not waterproof)
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Midi-baffled design
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Helmet compatible hood
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Two hand pockets
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Internal security pocket
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Two way main zip