Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket

Review by Erin Trail

The Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket is incredibly light and packable, making is a fantastic option for anyone wanting a packable rain jacket for their backcountry adventures.

Technical Details

• 7D 2.5-layer Pertex® Shield fabric.
• Designed to move with you as you run.
• Full length zipper.
• Part-elasticated hem.
• Ventilated, roll-away hood doubles as an integrated storage pocket.
• Reflective branding for safety.
• Hood features rear venting and a reinforced brim that holds it’s shape.
• Secure elasticated cuffs offer enough stretch to vent your forearms and access your sports watch.
• Weight of 3.4 oz (size 10).

Detailed Review

I do a lot of mountain biking and running in Denver and in the Rocky Mountains.  Weather here is unpredictable and I’ve been caught out in a rainstorm without a jacket more than once.

I was at the Rab Denver store opening in August and the Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket immediately captured my attention, hoping it could be a lightweight, packable rain jacket quiver killer.

So how did it do?

Colorado late summer and fall, unfortunately, did not get the memo regarding my gear testing of this jacket.  I dutifully carried it with me on so many MTB rides and it was at the ready for a late summer thunderstorm run. Unfortunately, I only managed to get in a single rainstorm test, due to an unseasonably warm and dry late summer and fall.

Packability

The most impressive feature about the Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket is how easy it is to pack down the jacket and how small of a footprint it takes up.

The jacket is under 4 ounces – which is incredibly light. For reference, 4 ounces is a half cup of water or 4 small energy gels.

Packing the jacket into “pack mode” is also really easy.  There’s a built in pocket in the hood and the jacket easily packs down inside that pocket.  The whole thing is cinched closed with an elastic cord to ensure the jacket doesn’t come loose.

Once packed, the jacket is incredibly small, easily fitting in the palm of my hand.  I carried the jacket easily in a hip pack on several MTB rides.

Because it is so light, and packs down so small, it really is a no-brainer to bring along with you on nearly any backcountry adventure.

Wearability

The Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket fits true to size.  I got a size medium and I’d say it fits perfectly. The jacket hits me just below the widest part of my hips and doesn’t feel constricting.  The sleeves have cuffs with elastic on the inside of the wrist and a elongated flat panel for the top side of your hand. The elastic isn’t so tight that you can’t move it up to see your watch.

I really like the hood of the Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket.  It fits my head well and doesn’t move around or block my peripheral vision. I also really like that there’s a stiffer part to the brim that acts almost like a visor for the hood, keeping the rain out of your face.

I’ve worn the Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket on several cool weather runs (50 degrees) and one rainy walk.  I thought the jacket breathed nicely and didn’t hold heat in.  I was slightly clammy after running but not nearly as clammy as I’ve been with heavier rain jackets.

The windproofing is excellent; even on some really windy cool days, I didn’t feel any wind come through the jacket fabric.

The waterproofing, unfortunately, not as great as I had hoped (and I had really high hopes). My only rainy testing was during a 1 hour walk with drizzle to steady rain.  For the majority of the jacket, rain beaded up quite nicely.  But at the 45 minute mark, I did get some breakthrough seepage at the top of my shoulder, which was enough to create a damp spot on the shirt beneath the jacket.

Closing Thoughts

The Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket is a super lightweight, packable option for those wanting an emergency option for shorter rain events. I think it’s great as something that you want to have with you for ‘just in case” weather or to have if you’re caught out in a sudden storm while out on a shorter excursion. Due to the water breakthrough that I experienced, I wouldn’t recommend this for someone heading out on journeys with extended amounts of rain.

The Rab Phantom Waterproof Jacket is available for both men and women, with 2 colorway options for each gender.  The women’s sizes range from XS to XL and the men’s sizes range from S to XXL.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke