Reviews You Can Rely On

Rab Cirrus Alpine Insulated Review

This medium-weight jacket spares no attention to detail when it comes to keeping you comfortable
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Rab Cirrus Alpine Insulated Review
Credit: Rab
Price:  $215 List
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Manufacturer:   Rab Equipment
By Buck Yedor ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jun 28, 2022
62
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 25% 8.0
  • Weight and Compressibility - 20% 4.0
  • Comfort - 20% 8.0
  • Weather Resistance - 20% 6.0
  • Breathability - 15% 4.0

Our Verdict

The Rab Cirrus Alpine has all the creature comforts we hope for. From the lined, elastic wrist cuffs to the fleece chin guard, this jacket is a pleasure to wear. It sports a brimmed hood and an adjustable waist hem that protects you from the elements. Filled with 100% recycled synthetic insulation, it is capable of keeping you warm, even if you get a little wet. The only downside to this piece is its weight, which comes from a large amount of insulation used as well as its plush features. While it is a bit bulkier than others in our fleet, it is one of the warmest and most comfortable jackets we tested.
REASONS TO BUY
Very comfortable
Warm
Many features
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Uses an external stuff sack

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Rab Cirrus Alpine is a medium-weight synthetic jacket that is designed to be worn in cold winter weather. It's incredibly warm and comfortable but is one of the heavier in our fleet and offers less breathability.

Performance Comparison


rab cirrus alpine insulated - the brimmed hood keeps itself from falling down over your eyes and...
The brimmed hood keeps itself from falling down over your eyes and keeps snow and rain off your face.
Credit: Buck Yedor

Warmth


The Cirrus is one toasty puff. Stuffed with a serious amount of insulation, it's great for hanging out in the cold, layering up between activities, or for recreating in freezing temperatures. The elastic wrist cuffs and cinchable waist hem ensures that minimal body heat escapes out into the atmosphere.

rab cirrus alpine insulated - the cirrus alpine is warm enough for almost any winter weather.
The Cirrus Alpine is warm enough for almost any winter weather.
Credit: Buck Yedor

If you're looking for a layer to wear under a shell or while hiking, this jacket will likely be too warm on all but the coldest days. It's an excellent choice for hanging around camp after the sun drops but is more than most will need for their summer backpacking and camping trips.

Weight and Compressibility


Our size medium weighs in at 17.6 ounces; this is one of the heaviest models in our fleet. This heavy weigh-in is to be expected with a jacket that provides as much insulation as the Cirrus does. Features like the brimmed hood and fleece chin guard all add additional weight to this piece.

rab cirrus alpine insulated - the jacket extends down over the bum, which keeps your torso nice...
The jacket extends down over the bum, which keeps your torso nice and toasty.
Credit: Buck Yedor

For its weight and warmth, we are impressed by its compressibility, especially as a synthetic insulator. When stuffed into the included external stuff sack, the Cirrus packs down to about the size of a football.

Comfort


Tailored with an athletic cut, the Cirrus has room in the shoulders and tapers towards the waist. This makes it comfortable to move in and gives you enough room to layer underneath without totally hampering your shoulder mobility. The waist hem extends down to the upper bum and doesn't ride up much when you reach overhead.

rab cirrus alpine insulated - the elastic wrist cuffs make it easy to tuck gloves under or over.
The elastic wrist cuffs make it easy to tuck gloves under or over.
Credit: Buck Yedor

The wire brimmed hood keeps the hood from slouching over your eyes and impairing your vision — something that many jackets with large hoods do. The fit of the hood isn't adjustable but is designed to be slim enough to be worn underneath — not over — a helmet.

Weather Resistance


This jacket is ideal for cold temperatures; cold and dry is where the Cirrus flourishes. Between the brimmed hood, the DWR (durable water repellent) shell, and synthetic insulation, this jacket can stand up to light precipitation fairly well. The thick insulation and nylon shell make an excellent wind stopper that will take the bite out of blustery winter days.

As with most insulators, this isn't a true rain layer. If you are expecting to be out in prolonged or heavy rain, you'll want to pair this jacket with a waterproof shell. The brimmed hood does keep water and slush from dripping down onto your face, which is a welcome addition you won't find on all insulating layers.

Breathability


Very rarely can a piece of outerwear do everything well. While the Cirrus is warm and rather windproof, it lacks breathability. This layer is great for hanging out in cold weather but unless it's well below freezing, you may find yourself sweating pretty hard if you're staying active and keeping your heart rate up.

rab cirrus alpine insulated - the fleece-lined chin zip makes wearing this jacket supremely...
The fleece-lined chin zip makes wearing this jacket supremely comfortable.
Credit: Buck Yedor

Value


The Cirrus offers consumers an exceptional value. Priced towards the bottom of our testing group, it would be a tough endeavor to find a synthetic insulator that offers this much warmth for a better price. More expensive options might be lighter but unless shaving off ounces is a huge priority, this piece offers an excellent blend of features, warmth, and comfort — especially for the price.

Conclusion


The Rab Cirrus Alpine is a cold-weather synthetic insulator. As is the case with many pieces from Rab, it's offered at a great price. While it's on the heavier side of insulated jackets in our fleet, it's very comfortable, windproof, and very warm. Its weight and warmth may make it overkill for some spring and summer activities but is an excellent layer to have in your arsenal for cold winter weather.

rab cirrus alpine insulated - the rab cirrus alpine doesn't have any internal drop pockets but...
The Rab Cirrus Alpine doesn't have any internal drop pockets but does have one internal zipped chest pocket.
Credit: Buck Yedor

Buck Yedor