Rab Cinder – anyone tested it?

I was just watching the GCN+ film about the Himalayas, in which they seem to be sponsored by Rab. I was wondering if anyone has tried out the Rab cycling kit. In particular, how do the sizes run – are they sized for cycling whippets, or do they follow normal oiutdoor gear sizes?

I believe they are at the more fitted end of normal outdoor gear rather than road cycling specific fitted if that makes sense?

I believe they are at the more fitted end of normal outdoor gear rather than road cycling specific fitted if that makes sense?

Yes sort of. I have a normal Rab jacket in size L that fits, and my road stuff is XXL, so maybe XL is a good place to start guessing.

Couple of reviews on Bikeperfect. Mixed reviews for one item while the other is 5 star. Same tester in both reviews I think. I’d check them out before ordering.

<p>I’ve got quite a bit of Rab stuff, their factory shop is not far from where I live. Their sizing can be a bit strange sometimes so I’d always advise you to try before you buy. I have two Rab fleece tops, same model, same size, one is red, the other is blue. The sleeves on the blue one are about an inch longer than the red one!</p>

I’ve got a Cinder Kinetic, which is the stretchy waterproof/softshell-ish thing they were using the Himalaya film. The cut on that one is pretty much the same as the standard Kinetic jacket, ie not roadie close at all, more of an all-round outdoor fit. I actually find it about right for mountain biking, but a bit loose for anything close to road riding, gravel or whatever. I also kind of wish they’d made the cuffs adjustable, so that wind doesn’t blow up your sleeves and, on me at least, the zipped rear pocket sits so low that it’s useless except for anything that’s not light and insubstantial. Other than that there’s just a single chest pocket.

The fabric’s really nice to wear in a softshell-like soft and stretchy sort of way. It’s very breathable for a waterproof – no vents – but once it wets out, it dries quite slowly compared to a lightweight conventional waterproof. Also they’ve used a Polyester face rather than tougher Polyamide (Nylon), and I’m not sure how it would cope with a hard crash on abrasive stuff. I do really like it as a mountain biking jacket on showery days. Helmet hood is good if you like wearing a hood over your helmet, which mostly I don’t.

I don’t know how the cut compares with other jackets in the Cinder range. The other stuff looks more fitted in the site/marketing images. I figure the Cinder Borealis might be a really good all-round gravel/mountain bikey top and I think where they do score over specialist bike brands is in using the technologies and fabrics they’ve developed for their outdoor range of stuff, which is generally/ arguably superior to what most bike brands are using.

I kind of wish they’d done a proper foul-weather Gore-Tex shell, but I suspect it’d be both expensive and bit niche for them atm. Not sure that helps overmuch. Your best bet on fit is to find a stockist and try some on, but the Kinetic is pretty much the same fit as the outdoor and climbing versions of the jacket.

but once it wets out, it dries quite slowly compared to a lightweight conventional waterproof

Yep, I have one. Good for light showers, but wets out in heavy rain and water starts seeping up inside the cuffs etc.

In really wet condition I take a GTX instead.

Yep, I have one. Good for light showers, but wets out in heavy rain and water starts seeping up inside the cuffs etc.

In really wet condition I take a GTX instead.

Yep, totally. It’s a really good option on showery days, but not something I’d choose for prolonged proper rain. It’s also not super packable, though it’s all relative.

Their sizing can be a bit strange sometimes so I’d always advise you to try before you buy

Very much, I’ve stood in a Cotswold shop with an assistant showing him that a Rab Borealis in Med was so short in the arms, and so tight around my chest he double checked the size on the label, and a large made me look like a child wearing their parent’s clothes. Apparently I must be “An odd shape”, given that I’m 75kg and 178cm was a weird take on “The customer is always right”

Yep, I have one. Good for light showers

I just checked, it’s £240.00. For that sort of money I’d expect better performance.

I have, it’s not fitted at all and real world sizing, not like castelli etc

The cargo shorts are a thicker material than STD road bibs so feel much more robust for hacking through over grown trails. I think they are too thick for wearing under baggies in the summer though as you’d get too hot.

On the kinetic jacket I got an XL as that’s my usual size but found it a bit baggy, could have got away with a L, that said it’ll be great in winter with extra layers underneath

Rab Equipment Cinder Cycle Clothing Range

Can’t be as bad as Howies sizing, their jackets would be stretched to breaking point round my shoulders and chest, but have a cavernous section mid drift, which could hold a small child.

Pretty sure I wasn’t trying their maternity range….

For that sort of money I’d expect better performance.

Define better though, you won’t find a full on winter hard shell which is as light, stretchy and breathable as Rab’s Cinder. It’s a put on and keep on all day type jacket where it breathes and moves very well.

It’s very good at what it does, just it doesn’t do everything.

I ended up buying a gore paclite plus jacket in a sale. I figured it would be better bet for waterproof/ breathable long term if a little bulkier pack wise.

I’m tempted by the Cinder Borealis windproof jacket if anyone has tried it?

Define better though

It’s not waterproof, it’s not packable, it wets through, it’s not made of the best material for crashing, and not tailored particularly for bikes  – for £240.

 It’s a put on and keep on all day type jacket

The other day I put on and kept on a 10 year Goretex on an 80km ride because it rained the entire time. I don’t think that’s a particularly impressive benchmark

Look, I don’t mind paying dollar for high performance gear, but this seems like they’ve just headed directly for Arcteryx prices without bothering themselves with the tedious business of actually making a piece of high performance kit. Rab have (and continue) to make impressive bits of kit, the Bike version of the Borealis looks pretty cool, this just feels like a miss.

I’m tempted by the Cinder Borealis windproof jacket if anyone has tried it?

I’ve got the borealis tour jacket and it is essentially the same jacket without the drop tail. One of my most used bits of kit. Packs pretty small and can fit it in my evoc hip pack. Great for changeable but not cold weather. Will keep a light shower off (if you regularly proof it), essentially just a lightweight stretchy soft shell

You can normally find the tour version online for c £40 as it doesn’t come with the bike / gravel tax on it