Inside Look: Rab Mens Microlight Alpine

New for 2018 Winter! The legendary Microlight Alpine down jacket, now with more features and a greatly improved fit. Warm, lightweight, packable, stylish, it's the perfect layering piece for mountainous environments.
Pauls measurements:
Height: 6ft 3"
Chest: 42"
Waist: 34"
Weight: 13.5st/85kg
Wearing: Large
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[@trekitt]

Shop the latest version of the Microlight Alpine: www.trekitt.co.uk/facetresults.aspx?Term=microlight%20alpine

[@StalionKick]

Brilliant review mate. I'm also glad you covered the size you are wearing, always impossuble to tell what size to get if you are used to buying online.

[@mixflip]

I like the hood on this model. The peak makes the difference.

[@Mugtree]

Thanks. Definitely getting one after this. Thank you

[@p.richter9592]

Another great video, with lot of usable information 👍🏻👍🏻🇳🇴

[@trevorpugh6475]

Top video, answered all my questions. I now own one of the new Alpine jackets!

[@1spitfirepilot]

Great jacket.

[@RetropUk]

@1:51 Not sure the geese are happy to be dead but better than live plucked for sure.

[@trekitt]

Thanks for watching and for your comments.

[@vaughanbranch8376]

Superb review.

[@elliotsmith8190]

Im thinking of getting either this or the Rab microlight alpine down jacket. I will be using it for general commuting, so would need the most waterproof, and would like it to be fairly warm although I can layer so not so important. What would people recommend?

[@trekitt]

You may have popped this comment on the wrong video, as the video you're commenting on is the Microlight Alpine. In regards to which jacket to choose, the Microlight Alpine is not waterproof, so if that's a primary concern we'd recommend looking at the Rab Valiance Jacket. You can find it here: www.trekitt.co.uk/33925/products/rab-mens-valiance-jacket-steel.aspx

[@elliotsmith8190]

Trekitt Mountain Sports oh yes I meant to say this or the Patagonia down sweater hoody! I don’t need it to be completely waterproof, just rain proof enough for 10-15 minutes in the rain

[@trekitt]

@@elliotsmith8190 I'm afraid we don't stock Patagonia, so we wouldn't be able to comment, however the Microlight is a great choice. In regards to water resistance, the fabric itself is water resistant, however the entire jacket is full of holes where the stitching is placed, so we wouldn't normally recommend wearing it in the rain. That being said, it will put up with 10-15 minutes of light rain without any issues.

[@elliotsmith8190]

Trekitt Mountain Sports great thanks

[@chrisjohnphillips6352]

Thank you Paul for another great review! Which do you prefer between this and the Cerium LT Hoody? How would they compare in warmth and fit? This uses 3 ounces more down than the Cerium but the Cerium is 850 FP and this is 750 FP. I'm guessing they are close in warmth? Outdoor Gear Lab rates the Rab as having an even better fit than the Cerium. Would you agree with that? I find that interesting, considering Rab isn't known for their fit but this is a new design and Arc'teryx's fit is one of the things they are known for. I am thinking of taking the plunge and trying Rab for the first time.

[@trekitt]

They both do their own thing quite well. The Cerium is a more packable, lighter and more mountain focused midlayer, but the Microlight is a little more substantial and will work better as an outer layer (unless it's raining). Warmth is very similar between the two, however fit wise they're quite different. Microlight is longer and tighter around the arms/shoulders, Cerium is shorter and roomier around the shoulders. One isn't necessarily a better fit than the other, it just depends on your body shape.

[@scharnley12]

Hi im just under 6ft , 12 stone 8 , 32in waist 40 chest , 17inch biceps and just ordered medium, will this be the correct size ?

[@trekitt]

Length, waist and arms you'll be fine, but you may find it a little snug around the chest/back.

[@highentropy2468]

Are you wearing the Microlight Long edition in this video or the standard size ?

[@trekitt]

Paul was wearing the standard length.

[@highentropy2468]

@@trekitt Thanks

[@highentropy2468]

I've been so impressed with your KZbin content I've just purchased a Montane XL featherlite jacket from your website 💪💪

[@trekitt]

@@highentropy2468 Thank you very much! Good choice, too.

[@stevepodraza6363]

Is the armpit area any bigger than the previous years? My arms, shoulders and chest are bigger. I always have issues sizing up then the waistline is to baggy

[@trekitt]

It is slightly bigger, but if you're big in the shoulders and chest I'd probably look at Arc'teryx's Cerium LT or Rab's Microlight Summit instead, both have more room around the armpits especially.

[@marcogiovanni8962]

What size would you recommend for me? I’m 5ft 10 with a 48 inch chest and 38 inch waist

[@trekitt]

According to our size chart, you'd be either an XL or XXL. We only stock up to an XL in this colour, but we do stock an XXL in Beluga - I'll pop a link to it below. Kind regards, Harry. www.trekitt.co.uk/35605/products/rab-mens-microlight-alpine-jacket-belugadijon.aspx

[@davekingdom1477]

Maybe next time just use the lapel mic audio instead of the camera mic :)

[@trekitt]

We did attempt to; for some reason the camera decided that the internal mic would be a better choice!

[@fussydave]

seems to have sorted itself out by the second shot anyway @@trekitt

[@samfletcher93]

Does the stitch through design not produce cold spots? How does this jacket compare to the Arcteryx Cerium Lt in terms of warmth and bulk? Thank you :)

[@trekitt]

A stitch through construction is used to balance pack size, weight and warmth. A box wall construction is by far the warmest method, but as a result is bulky and not highly compressible, making it ideal for static activities. A stitch through construction isn't as warm, but is far more packable and breathable, meaning it's better suited to active use rather than static. You'll find that the Cerium LT is warmer due to the higher quality insulation, but the outer fabric/zips aren't as durable. They both pack down to near enough the same size.

[@tomwaller2111]

What is the colour name code for this? Looks a lot brighter in the video to pics online :)

[@trekitt]

It's called Dark Sulphur. In direct sunlight it does look lighter, but in general it looks more like the pictures online. Kind regards, Harry.

[@marcosilva4219]

I weight 75kg and I am 1,7mts tall. Do you think an M would be ok? I'm buying it online

[@trekitt]

You're going to be somewhere between a small and a medium, however for a more accurate measurement, follow this link, scroll down to 'sizing information' and compare your sizes to the ones on the chart. www.trekitt.co.uk/35609/products/rab-mens-microlight-alpine-jacket-dijondijon.aspx

[@kingtaj]

Question for Paul - I'm a bit taller, around 6'5" and looking for a good down jacket. I know you've tried several and have longer arms yourself, so I wanted to ask - what brand would you recommend for very tall men? What brands had the longest sleeves and body? Thanks!

[@trekitt]

The longest down jacket we stock at the moment is most likely the Fjallraven Keb Touring. It has been designed to fit a Scandinavian height, so the arms, body and overall shape are long and slim. Unfortunately we can't recommend a brand as such, as every brand has a multitude of different shapes and sizes, but this particular jacket is a great for for the taller user. You can find the Keb Touring here: www.trekitt.co.uk/facetresults.aspx?Term=keb%20touring

[@tysonogloff]

There is also a 'long' version of this jacket. It's called the Rab Microlight Long. Hope that helps!

[@kingtaj]

@@tysonogloff Good to know - thanks Tyson

[@MrKelso85]

How warm is this for around 0 degrees of a mid layer with a shell?

[@trekitt]

It depends what you're doing I'm afraid. Walking, climbing, mountaineering, everyday use etc; they'll all affect your overall warmth. It also depends how warm you are as a person, how many layers you're wearing underneath, how much you've had to eat, there are simply too many factors to take into account.

[@MrKelso85]

Thank you for the Reply! I appreciate your analytical mind, basically just thinking Britain 6 foot male, belly full of food, light north easterly Breeze, Bird of prey yonder, Base-layer underneath and casual use street walking light hiking nothing too Thermogenic

[@trekitt]

@@MrKelso85 In that case you'll most likely be more than warm enough in those situations. To put it into perspective, we've worn the Microlight Alpine with a medium weight baselayer and thin fleece underneath in temperatures down to -1°C. This was while walking at a fairly slow pace with light wind; if you were to move a little quicker in the mountains for example, you'd most likely be able to get away with just the Microlight Alpine and a thin baselayer underneath.

[@MrKelso85]

Trekitt Mountain Sports that is a tremendously helpful answer thank you. I will try to make the purchase via Trekitt 🙏🏻

[@M3t4lstorm]

What gloves are those?

[@trekitt]

They're the old Rab Storm Gloves, here is a link to the latest version: www.trekitt.co.uk/36477/products/rab-mens-storm-glove-black.aspx

[@Matt-dr5et]

A bit pricey for non waterproof jacket a bit of dilemma

[@trekitt]

Hey Matt, the key reason to purchase a down jacket such as the Microlight is to get the maximum amount of warmth possible for the least amount of weight - having a waterproof membrane adds a fair bit of weight, but also increases the pack size and reduces breathability. This is typically why you don't see waterproof down jackets; at least for technical outdoor use. If you're after a fully waterproof insulated jacket for less technical use, have a look at the Valiance (link below) Regards, Harry. www.trekitt.co.uk/clothing/jackets/rab-mens-valiance-jacket-black__33918