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The Rab Microlight Alpine feels like a case of JEEP – Just Enough Essential Parts – and with all the parts made well from high-quality materials. It’s (still) a winner, it would seem, and now has one more convert in David Lintern, who’s been testing the new iteration of this ubiquitous down jacket. He joins the ranks of devotees, some of who share their Rab Microlight memories below.
Callum Muskett(Climber and Rab athlete)
I’ve been wearing the Rab Microlight since I was a teenager, and it’s become one of my most dependable layers – a real workhorse jacket that has stayed useful across walking, alpine climbing, ski touring and big-wall climbing. It’s warm without being bulky and works just as well under a waterproof as it does thrown on at a belay. What has always stood out is the balance between low weight and durability: the outer fabric is tough enough that I don’t worry too much about brushing against granite, while the construction of the down-filled cells helps the jacket retain loft over time. It also packs neatly into its own pocket, which makes it easy to stow in a rucksack or clip to a harness. The hood works comfortably both with and without a helmet, something I really value when climbing. From Yosemite to the Alps, it’s durable and dependable.
Steph Wetherell(Everybody Outdoors Co-Founder and TGO reviewer)
My Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket was one of the first pieces of technical clothing that I ever found that fitted me well. I get cold easily in the evening or when I stop for a break but I’d struggled for years to find a down jacket in my size, especially something that was both lightweight and warm. Over the years, this jacket has been on so many adventures with me – wild camping on Welsh hillsides, multi-day hikes around the North York Moors, blustery adventures on Scottish islands, cycle touring in Europe – not to mention it’s usually stuffed in my daypack every time I go hiking to keep me warm on summits and breaks. A good down jacket is one of those essential pieces of kit that I wouldn’t be without and this jacket is something I reach for time and time again.
Libby Peter(Climber and Rab Athlete)
The Microlight was the first Rab down jacket I was given, about 15 years ago. I loved it from the get-go, and it became a constant companion from school run to summit, from cragging to post-run rewarming. It also became a much fought-after family item. It more or less fitted all three of us (I have two daughters) so when I got a new one, they got to choose the colour, thereby entitling them to part ownership in their young eyes. The girls are older now and have their own jackets, so I get first dibs again. It’s still the one I’ll scrunch into a pack as a spare layer, and yet it somehow also looks smart enough to wear with jeans if I need to be presentable. My current one is Microlight Alpine in a very unpractical pale, baby blue colour and I adore it, even with the inevitable splodges of grime, and little patches of tape. Long live the Microlight!
Chris Townsend(Author and TGO reviewer)
I’ve taken the Microlight on many cold weather trips in the Scottish Highlands and it has always been comfortable and warm. I think it’s the right balance of comfort and weight. Often, it’s been worn at rest stops and in camp. On some trips though it does much more than that. I remember especially a magnificent day and night on Ben Macdui. I’d climbed up through a freezing mist but as I neared the summit the low sun began to shine through the clouds. I donned the Microlight to keep warm and stood on the top watching other summits appear, floating above a sea of white. After pitching the tent, the Microlight kept me warm as I stood outside for hours gazing at a brilliant starry sky. Dawn came with a sharp frost and lovely light. I was soon outside wandering about drinking in the views, the Microlight stopping me from freezing.
