Rab Neutrino Pro - Women's Review

The Rab Neutrino Pro is a fluffy and warm down jacket. It's made with 800-fill hydrophobic European goose down surrounded by 20D recycled Pertex Quantum Pro ripstop nylon, which is also water and wind-resistant. It's cut longer than most, with an exaggerated drop hem, weighs 18.5 ounces, and — with some effort — packs into its lefthand pocket.

Warmth

The Neutrino Pro is incredibly warm, even in the harshest environments. At altitudes of up to 14,000 feet (and even above), northern latitudes, and temperatures dipping well below zero, the Neutrino would be the first down jacket we reached for, just short of an expedition parka. Rab uses high-quality 800-fill hydrophobic European goose down — and a lot of it. This is an exceedingly puffy down jacket, and as we know, more loft means more warmth, especially with high-quality down. It also has larger baffles, which reduces the number of seams where air can leak in and reduces the pinch points that compress the down, all adding up to more loft and more warmth.

To up the coziness factor, Rab gets clever with the features. They include an additional panel inside the baffles around your core, which helps to reduce the chill from any cold drafts getting through the sewn-through baffle construction. The hood is super puffy and protective, with a soft fleece backer for added insulation. The back of the jacket has a long drop hem, covering a portion of your backside (which, for our female reviewers, is a classically frigid body part). The bottom hem has an extra puffy baffle as well, which seals in the heat when you cinch it tight and keeps the jacket in place. As a bonus feature, the insides of the hand pockets are also half-lined with microfleece, helping to warm the backs of your hands. If this jacket isn't warm enough for you, you're likely in the market for a true high-altitude parka.

Comfort

In addition to being a dreamy and lofty cloud of down to wear, the Neutrino Pro has lots of features that add to its comfort and make it a great fit for most people. It features an aforementionedhuge felt chin guard inside to keep you nice and cozy even when you're truly bundled into the jacket. The sleeve baffles are also sewn in a twisted fashion that moves as you move, allowing great range of motion for activities like ice climbing and mountaineering. This is one of our favorite jackets to wear when we need mobility coupled with warmth.

The Neutrino Pro is highly adjustable. Dual bungees on each side of the hem are strong enough to stay put even as you climb or play with your dog in the snow. Dual hood bungees let you cinch tight against the wind, even if you forgot to bring a beanie. A wide velcro strap on the back adjusts the volume of the hood, which fits easily over a thick beanie with a bobble on top, without being so huge that it swallows your eyes worn over a bare head. A wire-stiffened brim juts off the front, adding further protection. Two large zippered hand pockets and an internal zippered chest pocket give you reasonable space to keep your hands warm and pack a few snacks.

Portability

The Neutrino Pro doesn't top the charts for its weight, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The heavier weight of this jacket comes with the direct benefit of extraordinary warmth, with a whole lot of loft keeping you cozy without weighing you down on your journey. And when you truly need warmth, we think the extra few ounces of the Neutrino Pro are well worth carrying when the conditions demand it.

The Neutrino Pro also gains some serious points when it comes to compressibility. Its 800-fill down is highly compressible for the impressive warmth it provides, and its Pertex Quantum Pro fabric is impressively light and supple, especially for the durability it brings. This was one of the most difficult to stow away due to the bulkier nature of the jacket and relatively small pocket opening. It took more time but was also more rewarding as the fleece-lined pockets turned it into a fleece-lined pillow.

Weather Resistance

When it comes to withstanding the elements, the Neutrino Pro has a lot to offer. We really notice the benefit of wider baffles for blocking out wind when compared to other down jackets. Additionally, inside the front baffles running up and down your torso, an extra layer of fabric exists to add another barrier against even the stiffest winds.

As for water resistance, the Neutrino Pro's Pertex Quantum Pro exterior has a very thin DWR waterproof coating on an otherwise light and breathable fabric. This will shed a little precipitation, and it will allow moisture to evaporate out more easily. Its down is also treated with Nikwax hydrophobic finish to add a little extra leeway before it gets wet. It does bead fairly well in wet conditions for a while, especially if the precipitation is snow and not rain. If you're headed out into truly wet conditions, it also layers easily under a rain jacket or shell, as long as that shell is large enough to accommodate the loft.

Breathability

Made to provide warmth in seriously cold conditions, the Neutrino Pro isn't the most breathable option we tested. It lacks any vented areas to more easily expel heat when you're very warm and isn't the jacket we'd recommend for milder climates or even high-exertion activities in moderate climates, as you'll likely find yourself too warm.

There is a 2-way zipper, allowing you to unzip it from the bottom for some venting, although this is designed more for situations where you're wearing a harness than to rid excess heat. However, this can be a very useful feature if you're wearing a backpack and need to cool off. We'll take the trade-off of added weather resistance for the lack of breathability in this jacket.

Should You Buy the Rab Neutrino Pro?

The Neutrino Pro is a pricey down jacket, depending on your intended uses, but it brings exceptional value. It may be overkill if you live in a mild, dry climate and just need something to wear around town or out on light missions. But if you're the type of person who's always cold or you're planning some rugged expeditions to seriously challenging places, it's well worth the investment.

What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?

The Rab Neutrino Pro is a remarkably warm down jacket that still brings the benefits of being relatively lightweight. To take the next step up in warmth, you'll likely want to look at box-baffled (instead of sewn-through) down parkas for high-altitude and polar expeditions. For something nearly as warm that offers more compressibility, a lower weight, and less technical features, check out the Feathered Friends Eos. We also solidly recommend the very warm Stio Hometown as another excellent jacket for seriously cold temps, that's slightly more affordable. For a midweight jacket that still performs well across the board but is better suited to moderate climates and more affordable, the Rab Microlight is an excellent choice. At the end of the day, the Neutrino Pro is well thought out, with features that match its intended use and a wise blend of warmth with a focus on low weight and durability. Year after year, it continues to be a favorite of our review team.