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Rab Phantom Jacket
Tested
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Price:
£120.00
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Weight: 544 grammes
(medium)
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Features: Windpro
Stretch with Hardface Technology, PowerStretch panels on
inner arms and trunk, thumb loops, simple hood, twin chest
pockets, twin internal zipped-pockets.
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Nice fabric, neat features.
Cut too loose for technical use.
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The Concept The Phantom's intended as a technical climbing
fleece which, thanks to the higher than normal wind resistance of the
fabric can be used both as an outer layer in stiller conditions or,
if needed, as a mid-layer under a wind or water-proof shell.
Features Rab has used a new Polartec fabric catchily dubbed
'Windpro Stretch with Hardface Technology'. Standard Windpro is a
densely woven fleece which gives good wind resistance, a bit like
Ultrafleece, but has always been a bit of an expensive wallflower in
the great fabric tea dance.
The new version is, as you may have guessed, stretchy, but it also
features a snug internal fleece face combined with a harder feeling,
smooth outer face complete with a microgrid pattern.
On top of that you get a simple hood made from the same fabric,
thumb-loops and lots of pockets - two inside and two outside.
In Action When Trail magazine tested the Phantom - it won
'Best in Test' - they said it was 'close fitting' in the body.
Curiously that's pretty much the opposite of our experience and a bit
of surprise, since we'd expect an unashamedly technical fleece like
this to be a snug fit all round, particularly given that it uses a
stretch fabric.
Despite being a fairly typical, athletic medium, we found that
below the shoulder area, the jacket was simply loose with lots of
excess fabric plus the sleeves were excessively long. Other people
who tried the jacket found the same problem.
When we spoke to Rab, they told us that the jacket reviewed in
Trail was a sample and closer fitting, but unfortunately they've had
some 'quality control' issues at the factory which they're working to
resolve. The upshot is that the production jackets are looser fitting
and have sleeves which are overlong for the nominal size.
That's a real shame because we love the fabric. It's a bit like an
Ultrafleece for the 21st Century with enough wind resistance to take
the edge off chilly breezes, though you'll still need a shell when it
really starts to blow. When that does happen, the Phantom offers a
similar level of insulation to a microfleece, which makes it more
useable than a full-on mid-weight fleece. It wicked and breathed well
too.
We liked the hood too. Great for pulling on at rest stops or
simply when things get chilly. The thumb loops we could take or leave
and we weren't particularly overwhelmed by the surfeit of pockets,
though those with a map pocket fetish will be glad to know that you
can carry one OS sheet in each of the capacious external chest
pockets. We also like the neat little sandpapery-rough cord pulls on
the pockets and main zip.
As
tested, the Rab Phantom is a tad schizoid. The wind-resistant fleece
fabric and features are very technical, but unfortunately, the cut,
as tested, lets the jacket down. A closer fit would be neater, wick
better and insulate more effectively. That's a real shame as we like
the fabric a lot and the handy hood and practical long cut really
appeal.
Rab tell us that they are 'working hard to solve these problems
and we will be visiting their Asia factory in the near future to try
and ensure a repeat of this does not happen'. That's refreshingly
honest, but for now, we'd suggest that you try before you buy to make
sure the cut suits your body shape.
One last thing, at £120, the Phantom is expensive, mainly
because the excellent fabric doesn't come cheap. Once it's sorted
though. it should be an excellent all-round technical mountain
fleece.
Hopefully we'll be able to update this test once the jacket's been
revised.
Richard Drew
