Advnture Verdict
Warm, breathable, water resistant, light, packable, stylish and eco-friendly? we can’t find anything not to like about this down jacket
Pros
- +
Warm with 700FP down
- +
Windproof and water resistant
- +
Adjustable hood with stiffened peak stays up in high winds
- +
Three zipped pockets
- +
Lightweight and packable with stuff sack
- +
Recycled down
- +
Comfortable with stretch panels and stylish
Cons
- -
Leaks a little down
You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.
Meet the reviewer
Julia is a seasoned backcountry enthusiast. Growing up, the Munros of the Southern Highlands were her stomping ground, before she headed across the Pond to the US for university. Here, she developed a love for the great American outdoors. She revelled in testing her mountain craft against Colorado's famous 14ers. Now in Scotland, she's got the perfect testing ground for hiking clothing and equipment, especially when it comes to keeping warm.
Rab Infinity Microlight Down Jacket: first impressions
Typically, the main argument against down for outdoor adventures is that it doesn’t insulate when wet, but Rab has eliminated that issue by using a water resistant and windproof Gore-Tex Infinium outer so you can still wear this on damp days and stay cozy. This down jacket is filled with 700FP down making it great for adventures as cold as 32F/0C and if you are hiking in it and getting sweaty, it’s breathable too. I found it was also ideal for those moments where I'd stop moving and otherwise cool down, or for hanging out at camp, on belay or even around town when the sun dips down.
• List price: $280 (US) / £240 (UK)
• Fill: 700FP recycled down
• Unisex: Men’s and women’s specific fit available
• Sizes: Women’s XS - XL US / 8 - 16 UK, Men’s S - XXL
• Materials: Gore-Tex Infinium outer with recycled down
• Weight: 452g/15.9oz (Size M)
• Colors: Ultramarine, bering sea, deep heather, black, chlorite green, deep ink, firecracker
• Best use: Camping, rock climbing, hiking
The draw cord hood stays up on gusty days with a soft chin guard to protect your skin when it’s fully zipped, while elasticated cuffs and a draw cord drop hem seal out cold drafts. Its stylish, non-bulky cut will please anyone who wants to wear it around town, but there’s plenty of room to move in it too. Rab’s commitment to sustainability shines through with the use of recycled down and if you want to hop on a plane with it, it packs down fairly small into the stuff sack provided. Competitively priced compared to other down jackets we’ve tested, we can’t find anything not to like about this jacket and think you’ll find use for it in every season.
Rab Infinity Microlight Down Jacket: in the field
I’ve been wearing my Infinity Microlight jacket from Rab for a few months now and I think I might be in love. I won’t lie – it had me at hello because it is such a good-looking jacket, but I can honestly say I’ve not put it through its paces and it performs as well as postures.
The biggest plus of this jacket is that it’s water repellent, which is unusual for a down jacket to say the least. It’s not waterproof, but I’ve worn it in plenty of light rain and snow in Vail, Yosemite and Scotland and it’s kept me warm and dry every time. It’s windproof and therefore great for the colder months – I actually wore it skiing on a surprisingly frigid spring day in Vail with a fleece underneath and managed to stay on the hill from first chair to mid-afternoon. That said, I’ve been wearing it on chilly nights into summer now and can honestly say I’ll be getting use out of it in all seasons.
I wouldn’t typically wear a down jacket for hiking but when I went to Yosemite National Park for a week of hiking this spring, we had the coldest temperatures I’ve ever experienced there (in the 20s in April!) and I wore it on the trails every day and was really pleased with its breathability. I love the peaked hood which keeps rain off my face and stays up in the wind, and with two deep zipped hand warmer pockets plus an extra chest pocket for my ski pass or credit card, it has plenty of storage. Compared to other down jackets, it’s priced surprisingly competitively for the quality, and as always, I tip my hat to Rab for doing their part for the planet and using recycled down.
The only hair I can find to split is that it does leak a little down from time to time, but that’s par for the course with down products and with Rab’s expert cleaning and repair service, I’ve no doubt they’ll figure out a way to refresh down soon enough and I’ll be able to wear this for decades.
Here’s how it performed:
Fit
Slim fit and true to size, this leaves enough room to wear a bulky fleece under it and move.
Comfort
Cozy, soft fabric feels great.
Temperature regulation
Lots of warmth for adventures just below freezing.
Breathability
In very cold weather, I’ve been comfortable hiking in this jacket.
Durability
The outer is a little more robust than your typical down jacket, great construction, but leaks the odd feather.
