Every season, new hiking jackets are launched by the world's leading outdoor brands, sporting new materials and tech with unfathomable names. Rab's latest creation? The synthetic-insulated Cirrus Ultra Hoody.
Pitting down insulation against synthetic has become a bit of a cliché – one that we’re certainly guilty of making. Truth be told, they serve slightly different uses.
While both have the ultimate goal of helping the wearer stay warm by trapping body heat in the airspace between their fibres, where they vary is in the conditions and circumstances to which they’re best suited.
Pros
- Continues to insulates when wet
- Heat reflective lining
- Sustainable production
- Body mapped design
Cons
- Elasticated rather than Velcro cuffs
| RRP: | £230 / $265 |
| Weight: | 584g / 20.6oz (men's M) |
| Fabric and fill: | 20D Recycled Pertex Quantum outer (38gsm) with fluorocarbon-free DWR coating, 10D Recycled Pertex Quantum lining (28gsm) with fluorocarbon-free DWR coating |
| Men's sizes: | S - XXL |
| Women's sizes: | 8 - 16 |
Down doesn’t cope well with getting wet. Even hydrophobically treated down, which is more water-resistant than standard down, isn’t totally immune. Given enough exposure to moisture, the down will start to clump and lose its insulating properties.
Conversely, synthetic insulation is unaffected by the wet, keeping the wearer warm even when damp. As such, for the soggy conditions so often encountered in the UK’s mountains (even our snow is wet), synthetic is often the preferred choice.
There’s a trade-off, though. Down offers a better warmth-for-weight ratio, is more compressible, and tends to look and feel a little nicer when worn.
Developments in synthetic insulation are focused on reducing down’s superiority in these particular aspects, and that’s where the new PrimaLoft ThermoPlume+ used in Rab’s Cirrus Ultra Hoody comes in.
Of course, the success or failure of an insulated jacket is only in part due to its insulation. Other factors including materials and design are also vitally important. So, with that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the new Rab Cirrus Ultra Hoody, starting from the inside…
Design and features
The Cirrus Ultra has all the features we’d expect in a winter-ready insulated layer. It has a helmet-compatible hood with internal elastic cord adjustment (that won’t whip your face when the wind picks up) and a stiffened peak.
There are two zipped chest pockets, plus two zipped handwarmer pockets, one of which doubles up as a storage pouch.
Our only real niggle is the elasticated cuffs; we’d prefer a cinch adjustment for a tighter fit without gloves, but we’re being picky.
Fabrics and fill
PrimaLoft’s new insulation is made from 100% recycled materials. The soft, feather-like ThermoPlume plumes are combined with synthetic fibre balls to boost the insulation’s resilience and maintain its insulating properties even in damp conditions.
ThermoPlume+ has been developed to closely mimic the feel of down and it does a reasonable job. Rab’s Cirrus Ultra Hoody feels like a down jacket when worn, with only its slightly heavier weight and marginally less supple feel giving away the fact it’s not actually down.
In addition to the insulation, and like many of their other insulated jackets and sleeping bags (featuring both down and synthetic insulation), the Cirrus Ultra Hoody features Rab’s TILT (Thermo Ionic Lining Technology) to boost heat retention.
This breathable lining functions in the same way as an emergency foil blanket, reflecting radiated heat back towards your body and stopping it from escaping.
Performance and comfort
Overall, the Cirrus Hoody sits and fits well. It doesn't feel quite as 'puffy' as a good down jacket but not synthetic alternative has achieved that yet. We'd say the ThermoPlume+ inserted into a baffle design is about as close as it gets right now.
In aiding performance and comfort, the Cirrus Hoody features a body mapped design. Body mapping looks at which parts of the jacket require more or less insulation, breathability and stretch, and adjusts the use of materials and fabric accordingly.
Even in a dedicated insulated jacket, you don’t necessarily want the same level of insulation in every part of it. This is because different parts of our torso radiate heat in different quantities. So, it might sound a bit ridiculous, but the body mapped design is a very welcome addition to the Cirrus Hoody.
Sustainability
Rab’s ground-breaking ‘Material Facts’ policy means you can find out the nitty-gritty details of how and where their insulated jackets are made.
The Cirrus Ultra Insulated Hooded Jacket is made in Indonesia using 57% renewable energy. The total recycled content – including fabric, insulation, zips and trims – is 87%, and you can see the specific breakdown of the components on Rab’s website.
Price and competition
At £230, the Rab Cirrus Ultra Hoody is unquestionably a high-end buy, but it's far from alone at this price point. Rival models from other brands such as Berghaus, Black Diamond and Montane have demand a similar price.
However, the Rab Cirrus Ultra Hoody is well featured for a jacket at this price and edges ahead of others in terms of sustainability too, which increasing numbers of customers are willing to pay for.
Verdict
While not quite matching the lightness and softness of actual down, the Rab Cirrus Ultra Hoody with PrimaLoft ThermoPlume+ comes impressively close to true synthetic down.
Need a warmth boost? Check out our roundup of the best winter jackets.
About the author
Ben Weeks has been with Trail for over 10 years and is our main point of contact for all gear reviews. As well as being a hugely talented writer and photographer, Ben is also a qualified Mountain Leader and Climbing Instructor.
Along with walking, scrambling and wild camping, he loves gnarly Scottish winter routes so is a master at putting cold weather kit through its paces.