I love this jacket!

RAB’s Neo Stretch Jacket

I’ll be honest, it was the colour that I loved first. You see I really do think that whilst function is the most important feature, look and feel come a close second & third. When I’m talking to people about getting into exercise, running for example, I always suggest that they get kit they love. If you like the way something looks, you’ll like the way you feel in it and you’ll want to wear it.

I couldn’t wait to put this jacket on!

The Rab Stretch Neo jacket is made from …..(drumroll)…. a new Polartec fabric called NeoShell – ‘designed to be waterproof and breathable like a hard shell, while maintaining the stretch and comfort of a soft shell’.

It’s like going to the hairdressers and asking for a ‘long-short’ hair cut… surely you can’t have both?!

Well, it does have stretch in it which allows good movement in the jacket. It definitely feels robust compared with lighter fabrics too. A small amount of air can permeate the shell which accelerates breathability but doesn’t compromise it’s waterproof and windproof ability.

As always you can rely on a RAB product to be excellent when it comes to the general design and practical side of the garment.

It’s a good fit, the length is ideal and you can shorten with draw cords if you wish.

The jacket has two really large chest pockets on the front and two on the inside. There’s room for gloves, hats, maps, snacks, tissues, phones, iPods… everything you might want close to hand!

The hood is a good size, you can comfortably fit a hat or helmet underneath and adjust accordingly front and back to get a snug and protected fit. The stiffened peak, cover’s goggles or glasses and is flexible to adjust.

The jacket weighs 480g. Not bad for a waterproof, windproof robust item. You really do feel very protected in it.

I’ve worn it skiing, snow shoeing and hiking (and out in the evenings!). I was surprised that I didn’t miss the underarm vents which a lot of RAB jackets offer, but it seems that the excellent breathability does the trick.

So the RAB Neo Stretch Jacket claims to do it all…

“A high performance mountain jacket. Whether you ski, climb, walk, run or ride the simple, clean design combined with the incredible performance of NeoShell will keep you warm, dry and comfortable whilst offering fantastic freedom of movement.”

… and I’ve got to say I think it does!