Rab Cirrus Alpine Insulated Review

The Rab Cirrus Alpine is a medium-weight synthetic jacket that is designed to be worn in cold winter weather. It's incredibly warm and comfortable but is one of the heavier in our fleet and offers less breathability.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Cirrus is one toasty puff. Stuffed with a serious amount of insulation, it's great for hanging out in the cold, layering up between activities, or for recreating in freezing temperatures. The elastic wrist cuffs and cinchable waist hem ensures that minimal body heat escapes out into the atmosphere.

If you're looking for a layer to wear under a shell or while hiking, this jacket will likely be too warm on all but the coldest days. It's an excellent choice for hanging around camp after the sun drops but is more than most will need for their summer backpacking and camping trips.

Weight and Compressibility

Our size medium weighs in at 17.6 ounces; this is one of the heaviest models in our fleet. This heavy weigh-in is to be expected with a jacket that provides as much insulation as the Cirrus does. Features like the brimmed hood and fleece chin guard all add additional weight to this piece.

For its weight and warmth, we are impressed by its compressibility, especially as a synthetic insulator. When stuffed into the included external stuff sack, the Cirrus packs down to about the size of a football.

Comfort

Tailored with an athletic cut, the Cirrus has room in the shoulders and tapers towards the waist. This makes it comfortable to move in and gives you enough room to layer underneath without totally hampering your shoulder mobility. The waist hem extends down to the upper bum and doesn't ride up much when you reach overhead.

The wire brimmed hood keeps the hood from slouching over your eyes and impairing your vision — something that many jackets with large hoods do. The fit of the hood isn't adjustable but is designed to be slim enough to be worn underneath — not over — a helmet.

Weather Resistance

This jacket is ideal for cold temperatures; cold and dry is where the Cirrus flourishes. Between the brimmed hood, the DWR (durable water repellent) shell, and synthetic insulation, this jacket can stand up to light precipitation fairly well. The thick insulation and nylon shell make an excellent wind stopper that will take the bite out of blustery winter days.

As with most insulators, this isn't a true rain layer. If you are expecting to be out in prolonged or heavy rain, you'll want to pair this jacket with a waterproof shell. The brimmed hood does keep water and slush from dripping down onto your face, which is a welcome addition you won't find on all insulating layers.

Breathability

Very rarely can a piece of outerwear do everything well. While the Cirrus is warm and rather windproof, it lacks breathability. This layer is great for hanging out in cold weather but unless it's well below freezing, you may find yourself sweating pretty hard if you're staying active and keeping your heart rate up.

Value

The Cirrus offers consumers an exceptional value. Priced towards the bottom of our testing group, it would be a tough endeavor to find a synthetic insulator that offers this much warmth for a better price. More expensive options might be lighter but unless shaving off ounces is a huge priority, this piece offers an excellent blend of features, warmth, and comfort — especially for the price.

Conclusion

The Rab Cirrus Alpine is a cold-weather synthetic insulator. As is the case with many pieces from Rab, it's offered at a great price. While it's on the heavier side of insulated jackets in our fleet, it's very comfortable, windproof, and very warm. Its weight and warmth may make it overkill for some spring and summer activities but is an excellent layer to have in your arsenal for cold winter weather.