Rab Flashpoint: 6oz 3-layer rain jacket

And it has been really really rainy right now.

How's the length on it? I keep finding rab stuff too short in the back for me.

I just measured the back – from the shoulders to the bottom hem is 30" on a men's L.

I'm 6'4 and I found the men's L to be a quite short.

yes, at 6'4" i would expect the L to be very short….i expect LOTS of things are pretty short on you ;)

I'm 5'7" with a crazy long torso (thanks, dad…) and the length is just about perfect for me with a men's L.

so how does a true 3-layer, full-zip WPB jacket at only 6 oz go relatively un-noticed on this site? Isn't this a rather significant development?

Granted, not sure how well it truly breathes just yet…

Here are the specs from Rab:
Weight: 180g (large) / Very lightweight 3L FlashPoint fabric / Minimal seams and micro seam tape / Helmet compatible hood, light-weight flexible polymer peak / YKK water-resistant zipped Napoleon chest pocket / Narrow YKK VISLON® AquaGuard® front zip, overlapping internal storm flaps / Micro Velcro® cuffs, half hem drawcord / Light-weight stuff sack / Fit: Slim / HH: 20,000+mm / MVTR: 40,000g/m²/day

How do they make a 3 layer that light?

It's a bit short, like you said, and also they say it has a slim fit to reduce weight. I like jacket to be a bit big around for more air circulation.

Still, that's pretty lightweight…

You got my attention Jennifer. I hope you'll give us a report after using it a bit

As far as fit goes, I'll say it fits exactly like all the other Rab jackets I've owned, including the length. It is no shorter on me than my men's marmot essence L, but is a bit more slim in the shoulders and chest than the marmot. But that's one reason why I like wearing Rab pieces.

personally my feeling is that

– it costs 300+ smackaroos

– for sustained rain use i not only want something more breathable, but a bit burlier as ill be wearing it much of the time

– a 2.5L thats much cheaper does the job if its mainly sitting in the bottom of the pack for occasional and emergency use

but who knows, perhaps this RAB jacket will be quite durable?

;)

Rab claims MVTR of 40k….i wonder how true that is?

If that's the case, and you can get that much breathability AND the durability of a 3L shell….

And I got it for less than $200 from Campsaver, so for me it was a no-brainer. I'm really curious to see if it's worth it….

OK – I just finished my first ridiculously unfair test of its breathability – and it passed with flying colors!

Here are the conditions: Amazingly humid/rainy day here in Austin – about 85, thunderstorms all day. I snuck out for a quick 4-mile run after work between cells. Super sweaty and hot.

I got home and had to walk the dog – just in time for a huge downpour. It was so hot and humid outside when I got out of my car my glasses completely fogged up and I had to take them off…they wouldn't clear.

So – onto my still pretty toasty/sweaty body goes a dry shirt and the Rab Flashpoint and out I go. I feel pretty clammy and sweaty inside the jacket as I walk (holy crap it was hot and rainy out!).

By the time I finished the 45-minute wet walk with CharlieDog, full downpour the whole time – I was completely dry inside. Seriously…no more clammy feeling, my body and shirt were now dry. I initially thought the temp must have dropped, but I checked my phone and it was still in the mid-80s. I took the jacket off and lo and behold, my shirt was dry. I was dry.

I'm pretty psyched about this jacket!

Witchcraft, I say! Burn her!

Jennifer – I'm going to need you to stop posting about stuff I'm considering buying. First the Katabatic pack, now all sorts of Rab jackets. You're pushing me over the edge here!

Encouraging report. Maybe the Flashpoint is more than just another PU laminate.

Time to start saving my pennies :(

David – it doesn't at all appear to be a PU laminate. I've emailed Rab for some more information but from the feel of this it compares far more favorably to my 3L eVent shells than anything else I've owned. It really doesn't seem like it's a PU laminate…is there any way I can tell?

Wow, it really sounds like a winner. It's not $200 anywhere now though.

$227 from basegear.com

Never shopped with them though so cannot say anything more.

Free shipping too.

Just tried a medium and a large on here in Boston. This thing is thinner than most windshirts! Fully featured indeed – full helmet adjustable hood, great zipper, massive pocket and a even a huge beard guard around the hood. A medium fits me very well, unlike most european gear. As for breathability, it's very hard to tell. I would be a lot more concerned about durability with this one versus breathability. Should be called a Nanopoint! Pretty damn impressive.

Thanks for the find Jen.

One thing I forgot to add in my breathability experiment…

I kept my iPhone in the chest pocket during the hike – when i took it out of the chest pocket it was quite damp. So my guess is that this jacket really did move that much moisture away from me (since I started all hot n' sweaty).

Can't wait to try it on a hike……

Has anyone compared this jacket with the 2015 Marmot Essence? Very similar specs on all fronts, Marmot also has 4way stretch.

"since I started all hot n' sweaty"

okay, cut it out….

I emailed Rab to find out if it was, indeed, a PU laminate, or something else…and I got a rather detailed response. All you fabric geeks can figure this out….

Here is the response:
"A unique and exclusive development to Rab is the Flashpoint Jacket, using possibly the lightest 3 layer waterproof fabric available. The Flashpoint further emphasizes the pursuit for the ultimate balance of performance, weight and protection."

• 47 g/m² total fabric weight
• 7d Nylon Face
• 7 micron PU hydrophilic membrane
• 7d Knitted nylon tricot backer
• 20,000 mm Hydrostatic Head
• 40,000 MVTR

Because of the style of construction on the Flashpoint Jacket, the membrane is not considered a PU laminate, but is actually a PU membrane bonded between two nylon layers, somewhat similar to other 3 layer jackets. The benefit to bonding between two nylon layers, rather than laminating the membrane directly to the face fabric, is that the PU membrane is protected by an extra layer of nylon on the inside of the jacket, increasing durability. This nylon layer also helps to distribute moisture across a wider surface area, helping to move moisture through the membrane, and preventing the "clammy" feel that laminates can often create. These are characteristics of most 3 layer jackets.

Perhaps more importantly, and one of the biggest benefits to the Flashpoint Jacket, is that the 7d knitted nylon tricot backer allows us to utilize a very thin 7 micron PU membrane. Typically, a PU laminate uses a thicker membrane to provide some semblance of durability, and this thicker membrane dramatically effects the breathability of the piece, as the thickness of a PU membrane and the breathability of a fabric are inversely related.

Based on this, the 3 layer construction of the Flashpoint Jacket provides a slightly more durable and more breathable jacket than other jackets on the market at a similar weight. It is important to note, however, that the Flashpoint is still a 6 oz. jacket, and there's no such thing as ultralight and ultra-durable, as I'm sure you know! If durability were the main requirement for your shell, I might recommend the Muztag Jacket, which is very durable, comes in at 12 oz., and utilizes the new DVstorm membrane from eVent for increased breathability as well.

Hopefully this helps!

Regards,
Shane Johnson

"since I started all hot n' sweaty"

You had me at hot.