I‘ve been wearing a Rab Microlight jacket for years so I was excited to try out the new Infinity Microlight that I’ve had in to review.
The name Infinity comes from the Infinium fabric it’s made from. A few other Rab products have this naming too, such as the Infinity Alpine jacket etc.
Infinity Microlight first impressions
I’ll cut to the chase and say this jacket is absolutely superb. I usually wear a size M and right from the first time I tried this on, it felt like donning a cosy sleeping bag.
Firecracker, Black, Chlorite Green, Deep Ink
I got the Chlorite Green colour (goes nicely with my Lowe Alpine Altus rucksack), but you can also get it in Firecracker, Black and Deep Ink. Sometimes the zip colours on jackets can really contrast, but on all four of the colour schemes, the zip colours don’t clash, so well done Rab. Something else you’ll notice, and gets talked about in owner reviews, is the matte finish of the outer fabric.
The fabric has a matt finish to it and the grey fabric around the neck is super-soft
On a first wear in strong Scottish winds, you really can notice how well that Infinium Windstopper fabric works. For me this is a reason to buy this over the standard Microlight jacket (which is already good). The Infinium fabric also gives a bit of moisture protection. Best of all it’s a quiet fabric, there’s no rustling noise when you’re active.
The outer fabric is made from INFINIUM. The down inside is recycled and treated with Nikwax
Another key feature of the Infinity Microlight is that it uses recycled down. It’s 700 fill power and placed in body-mapped zones to optimise where you do and don’t need the warmth/breathability. The down has also been given a Nikwax hydrophobic finish to repel water which is the kind of attention to detail that makes Rab products stand out.
A clever cuff design that stops the air getting in even when you move
When you zip the jacket fully up, the lower part of your face gets such great protection without you having to angle your neck down. And when the down-filled hood goes up, you really feel the warmth. The hood lets you wear a helmet underneath and there’s a stiffened peak that you can fold under too.
Packs down small in to a stuffsack (supplied)
You can barely see that there’s a chest pocket as the zip is nicely concealed, and this is useful for valuables or items you need quick access to. On each side is a zipped pocket that are cosy for your hands as well as being a very decent size for a beanie/gloves/Buff/snacks.
The chest pocket is concealed and gives some weather protection
To date, I’ve not had chance to test this in the mountains as I’m currently recovering from an operation on my ankle, but I’ve worn the jacket on a day-to-day basis, including local woodland walks for my rehabilitation. It’s been the weeks of Storm Corrie, Dudley, Eunice and Franklin, and I couldn’t have asked for a better amount of wind protection from the jacket. The Infinium fabric really is very windproof. It’s not waterproof, but it coped well with heavy rain on a trip to the Stafford Showground for 4×4 Expo. It dries fast too.
Fighting the wind & rain in a muddy car park at 4×4 Expo in February
I’ll update this review once I’ve had chance to get out hiking in it, but for now the first impressions are great and this is an ideal addition to the wardrobe, not just for this winter season, but for all-year-round use.
