Tested: Rab Alpha Direct Jacket

I have used this jacket for a year now and it has become one of my favourite bits of kit. It’s warm comfy and regulates temperature better than anything else I have used. The face fabric is wind and water resistant, it’s light, packs down well, and drys off extremely fast.

Alpha

Polartec Alpha fabric came out a few years ago with a marketing campign showing pictures of sweaty people and the whole Alpha program trundled along without much interest. But the good people at Rab kept the faith with this fabric which actually works brilliantly and produced this and other great Alpha products. The idea behind Alpha is that it is what Americans call ‘puffy insulation’ like down which is warm but can pack down small and is light. Alpha is best described as a grid of fluffyness which traps lots of air without so much material; a little bit like down, you can almost think techie string vest. The fleecy fluff is attached to a grid of strands to keep it in place and keep lots of air close to you insulating you well. The secret of Alpha is that the fluff is very high wicking, drying off really quickly and when you move about air can move around the garment but when you stop it traps air. So sweat and water dry off extremely quickly keeping you drier than other ‘puffy insulation’ and when stationary the jacket is really warm but it sheds air and warmth when you start to move and create heat; keeping your temperature well regulated. It sounds amazing; and it is.

Spec

The face fabric is Pertex Microlight, which is wind resistant and water resistant so you can wear the jacket all day in light rain and rain beads off or evaporates off the jacket. If the rain gets heavier just put a shell over the top and it acts like a fleece. The Pertex fabric is not 100% windproof allowing air through to regulate temperature and stop the jacket feeling muggy inside, instead you feel warm and dry.

The jacket comes with a hood which is warm, micro fleece chin guard, two hand warmer pockets, chest pocket, adjustable hem cord, two way main zip, and stretch cuffs with thumb loops.

Verdict

I’ve used this jacket for walking the dog on a grim day through to ski touring at -20c at 3000m and it works amazingly well keeping you warm and comfortable, so it is very versatile. Where it is best is on the hill in Scottish conditions where conventional insulation feels muggy or wets out; this jacket can be soaking wet when you put it on but it dries out really quick, or if you are wet when you put it on it dries you off. It packs down reasonably small in your pack and is light so is a great alternative to down or Primaloft, in your bag, but this is a jacket that you will wear on the hill way more than the alternatives. I know a lot of people who use this jacket and it seems to get top marks from everyone.

Available for men and woman.