Rab Neutrino Endurance Down Jacket
4th Aug 2014
Introduction
For years I've sat around camp fires wearing various thermals, fleeces and jackets, but I've never had a properly warm down jacket. I managed for a few years with a light weight version, convincing myself that it was worth the sacrifice in comfort for the practivcality of not having to lug a bg heavy jacket around. Guess what? I've now got myself a Rab Neutrino Endrance jacket which is bothwarm and light!
Weight
Interestingly the jacket weighs 640g and is very warm, but it only contains 225g of down (800 fill power Hydrophobic European Goose Down to be specific). Just goes to show how light the feathrs are to coin a phrase. Despite the seemingly small amount of down it feels plump and 'heavy'.
Comfort
It goes without saying that sitting around at night as the dew settles and the stars come out has become a much more pleasant experience with this jacket. It has Velcr cuffs, and the sleeves are long enough to pull my hands all the way inside to keep them extra warm. The hood is an added luxury.
Features
The outer shell is water resistant meaning light showers are not a disaster, spindrift bounces off harmlessly, and wind doesn't get a look-in. The zips work nicely wthout forever getting caught on the internal baffles. There are two zipped outer pockets, thankfully low enough to be practical for sitting around (and not up above harness level and therefore useless for the majority of the time). There's also a zipepd inner pocket for a phone or keys. A draw cord waist means no unpleasant cold air coming in that way.
Summary
All in all a solid, well designed and light weight piece of kit that works as well on a winter route in Scotland, as it does sitting around a camp fire in the Verdon.
More Info:
Rab's Blurb:
The Neutrino Endurance is a lightweight, fully featured and very warm down jacket designed primarily for climbing and mountain use.
The Neutrino Endurance has become the benchmark down jacket for modern mountaineering and lightweight ascents. The Pertex® Endurance outer provides durable protection against storm and spindrift while retaining minimal weight and packsize. High lofting is provided by the 225g (Large) of 800 fill pure Hydrophobic European goose down.
The Neutrino Endurance is one of those jackets that just does everything you need it to - a firm favourite amongst all our sponsored athletes and an ideal piece for UK and alpine winter conditions. Just as much at home on a hill walk in the Peak District as it is on a Himalayan peak. Often found at winter fell race finish lines or on your 'spotter' when going for the crux on a new boulder problem.