Rab Slipstream Jacket Review

As climber’s, we live in an interesting time. Technology is constantly giving us lighter, stronger and tougher gear. Personally, I love it. I climb because it’s fun, and anything that helps contribute to that is welcome in my book. On that note, waterproof shells are something that have gone from reasonably light to downright ridiculous in the span of only a few short years. And at the forefront of this new wave of outerwear is the Rab Slipstream Jacket, a super lightweight shell that excels at everything from long hikes in the rain to multipitch climbs.

Often with these super lightweight shells, you sacrifice breathability for performance, but I didn’t find that to be the case with this jacket. Sure, it’s no softshell, but during a long hike in the rain/snow at 12,000′, it kept me dry both inside and out. The folks at Rab would tell you it’s because of the Pertex Shield fabric that some overworked, underpaid genius in a lab dreamed up. And while I’m not scientist so I can’t say for sure, I do know that it works well, and that’s what matters.

Now, let’s talk about going light for a second. How many times have you left something at home because it was heavy? Maybe the first aid kit, an extra sandwich, perhaps even a headlamp? You have no more excuses with this jacket, as it weighs in at a scant 10.4 ounces! Yeah, that’s not a typo. With that much weight savings, you can afford to throw a few more extras into the pack, like the headlamp, and not have an epic on the descent this time. Other features I like include a hood that fits over a climbing helmet, and two pockets that are high enough they can be accessed when wearing a harness.

Simply put, the Rab Slipstream has become my go-to jacket for a long day in the mountains or long rock climbs, and everything in between. Once again Rab offers up a highly functional piece of gear that does what it says, and does it well.