Gear Review: Rab Generator Alpine Jacket
A jacket revered by a search-and-rescue team.
VERDICT
My brother and I wailed on this midweight puffy jacket. On search-and-rescue weekends in New Hampshire, the Pertex Endurance shell (with reinforcing nylon shoulder patches) stood up to thick pine brush. On a traverse of the Presidential Range, it killed 50-mph winds. I could layer under the roomy cut and pull the hood over my helmet. Yet it’s not overly bulky, so I could also fit a shell on top. My brother wore it as his outer layer on Kilimanjaro, where it endured big rains: It wet out eventually (seams are not taped) but the PrimaLoft One insulation kept him warm on the descent and dried overnight in his bag. $235; 1 lb. 4 oz. (L); m’s S-XXL; rab.uk.com
Best For: Foul-weather layering or mild-weather insulation
Tester Data
» Gerben Scherpbier (other tester: Bart Scherpbier)
» Duration Jan. to July
» Locales/conditions Tanzania, NH, VT; 10°F to 50°F; rain, snow
» “The stretchy interior pocket is perfect for warming batteries, stove canisters, and energy bars.”