Rab Downpour - Women's Review
Cons: Will collect condensation, zipper catches storm flap, fabric soaked up water, difficult to fit into its pocket
Manufacturer: Rab Equipment
Our Verdict
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Rab Downpour - Women's | |||||
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Price | $99.95 at Amazon | $214.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $299.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $199.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $110.93 at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Excellent hood protection, good zippers all over, thin layer | Water resistant, wind resistant and breathable, dual direction whole side/pit vents, dual direction main zipper | Exceedingly water resistant, great fit, comfortable fabric, good zipper design, very durable | Incredibly stretchy, comfortable, breathable, long arms, not crinkly | Exceptionally packable, lightweight, impressively waterproof, easy to move in |
Cons | Will collect condensation, zipper catches storm flap, fabric soaked up water, difficult to fit into its pocket | Very difficult to pack into its pocket, sleeves a bit short, main zipper difficult to match up | No pit zips for dumping excess heat in a pinch, doesn't pack into a pocket, expensive | Thin, hood not great coverage, not windproof | No vents or hand pockets, lack of everyday features |
Bottom Line | A simple, thin layer with a great hood, but not the most user friendly | In spite of its relatively large packed size and weight, this jacket will meet every other expectation you have for a rain shell | Offering impressive protection from the elements in a very comfortable and well-fitting jacket | You'll pay more for the stretchy fabric of this model, but it just might be worth it if you partake in a lot of aerobic activities | A solid packable rain layer that will keep you dry but doesn't have a lot of everyday comfort features |
Rating Categories | Rab Downpour - Women's | Aspire | Arc'teryx Zeta SL - Women's | Stretch Ozonic | Helium Rain Jacket |
Water Resistance (30%) | |||||
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Breathability (20%) | |||||
Durability (15%) | |||||
Weight And Packability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Rab Downpour -... | Aspire | Arc'teryx Zeta SL... | Stretch Ozonic | Helium Rain Jacket |
Measured Weight | 10.4 oz | 11.4 oz | 9.4 oz | 9.4 oz | 5.6 oz |
Number of Fabric Layers | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Material | Pertex Shield+, nylon face fabric, polyamide with polyurethane laminate | Gore-Tex with Paclite technology 2L, 100% polyester 50D plain weave | 40D ripstop (N40r) Gore-Tex New Paclite Plus, DWR treatment | Dry.Q Active Stretch 40D 2.5L (100% nylon) | Pertex Shield, Diamond Fuse 30D ripstop nylon |
Pockets | 2 hand | 2 hand, 1 chest | 2 hand | 2 hand, 1 chest | 1 chest |
Pit Zips | Yes | Yes - dual direction | No | Yes - dual direction | No |
Pit Zip Length (in) | 11" | 21" | N/a | 13" | n/a |
Helmet Compatible Hood | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Stows into Pocket | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Carabiner Loop in Stow Pocket | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Rab Downpour is a thin raincoat made of 100% polyamide with polyurethane laminate on ripstop fabric with fully taped seams. It has two hand pockets that are located a little higher up for a backpack waist belt, and packs into its own left pocket, though it's a pretty tight squeeze.
Performance Comparison
Water Resistance
We were rather concerned when we saw the texture of the Downpour's fabric change after letting water sit on it for 40 minutes, but it didn't seem to soak through to the inside. All of our rain and pressure testing proved this thin jacket has what it takes to keep you dry inside. However, it won't keep you very warm but fortunately fits over other layers just fine. This jacket has one of our favorite hoods among all the models we've tested over the years.
A flexible polymer in the brim acts like a flattened wire and can be easily shaped to stop rain from going into your eyes. With dual adjustments to the hood, this coat has no problem keeping glasses-wearers from taking on much precipitation. The Downpour also has dual storm flaps to help keep you dry. We were at first worried that they wouldn't be very effective, with just a top and bottom snap and no velcro in between, but it stays in place remarkably well against the wind and weather.
Comfort
Because it's so thin and plasticky, the Rab isn't the best-feeling against your skin. The hood tightening toggles also aren't attached to the hood, so you need two hands to tighten or loosen each side. This is pretty inconvenient if it's already raining, as drops can roll right up your sleeve while you're busy messing with the hood toggles. The dual adjustment spots on the hem are attached to the jacket, though, which makes them much easier to use. This jacket also has one of the most impressive drop hems we tested, dropping a full 6.5 inches from front to back (on the size small). It also has some of the longest arms we tested. While this could be annoying if you aren't a fan of sleeves covering your hands, the cuffs can easily be velcroed smaller to prevent them from falling down too far. And when you need to reach your hands up in the air, you'll appreciate the extra length that helps keep your wrists from being exposed.
Breathability
The Downpour is a great wind-blocking jacket, though it loses out a little bit when it comes to breathability. It does have pit zips that are a decent 11 inches long, but if you're out working up a sweat, expect some condensation build-up inside this crisp jacket. If you're after a raincoat that you can wear during high output activities and still stay dry inside, this is not one we would recommend.
Durability
It features ripstop material and decent construction and seams. While we think it's adequate for everyday use and some light adventuring, it doesn't appear to be up for rough and tumble use. It's quite thin and doesn't exude durability like some other models we tested. Typically, we see Rab selling burlier raincoats and hardshells that are more likely to withstand that kind of abuse than this simple, light jacket.
Weight and Packability
At 10.4 ounces, the Downpour is above average weight among contenders, though not by much. It does pack into its left pocket, but it's a pretty darn tight squeeze, and that stiff brim we like so much for its protection becomes a hindrance here. If you want a jacket to stuff in the bottom of your pack for emergencies, this one isn't our first choice by far.
Value
The Downpour is among the cheaper jackets we tested, which we appreciate. It's a pretty decent performing jacket for its price. However, we feel that some of its usability features are a bit lacking. Other raincoats we tested cost about the same that we think they provided better performance. The Rab isn't an overrated item, and with a few upgrades, it could be an impressive contender in this category.
Conclusion
As much as we love the hood on this jacket and its bold color options, it leaves a little to be desired when it comes to actual usability. From challenging toggles and annoying zippers to its crinkly, sweat-condensing propensity, the Downpour has a ways to go before it becomes a favorite option for our team.
— Maggie Brandenburg