Rab Cinder Waterproof Jackets Reviewed: 3 Models Compared and Contrasted

The Rab Cinder range brought its established reputation for outdoor activity fabric technologies and designs to the bike market, by adding cycle speci …

By stwhannah

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Rab Cinder Waterproof Jackets Reviewed: 3 Models Compared and Contrasted

Great detailed review, Cinder Phantom just the aort of thing I’m afrer, but I’d definitely prefer it with a pocket for a phone.

Posh, expensive jackets like this are something I just don’t dare buy. Just like those expensive riding glasses. Way too pricey and fragile. Fine for roadies but guaranteed to get wrecked or lost with the way I ride.

Alright I’ll say it How Much ???and they aren’t that waterproof 🙄🙄🙄😳

I’m sorry but seeing ‘Not as waterproof as other jackets’ for £240! I would buy one of the other jackets then! lol

Fwiw, the reason the Kinetic gets soggy faster is, as I understand it, that the face and liner fabrics are knitted rather than woven as per conventional waterproof fabrics. It’s the reason the fabric’s more comfortable and stretches more easily, but it’s also structurally more prone to absorbing moisture. This might also be part of the reason for the fabric’s high MVTR values, but that’s getting a little über techy. Anyway, I treat it like a sort of softshell on steroids rather than a full-on waterproof.

Also found you can, just about, wear the hood under a helmet if you have enough adjustment on the lid, which dodges any helmet size / neck length mobility issues, works fine like that with good peripheral vision and head movement.

They’re doing a  Vapour-Rise Cinder now, which could potentially be really good. My most used non-summer bike jacket is a venerable Vapour-Rise Alpine that’s absolutely brilliant for a balance of breathability, wicking and just enough weather protection.

https://rab.equipment/uk/mens-vapour-rise-cinder-jacket

Alright I’ll say it How Much ???

I think they are broadly comparable with Gore, Pearl Izumi, Shower Pass etc RRP prices. None are ‘cheap’

and they aren’t that waterproof

This is more the issue.
I also have had nothing but warranty returns on Pertex Shield jackets (3x) in our household.

They’re doing a Vapour-Rise Cinder now,

Mrs_oab snuggles into her Montane alpha with Pertex jacket on a bike in the winter.
I lament the loss of my Montane Krypton (old one) and keep meaning to buy a VR jacket.

VR are my most used jackets for hill walking, always wearing one, either as my outer later or as a mid layer / base layer in winter. Probably too warm for all but sub zero riding though….

Bit disappointed to find that the nice red/orange colour is only for the ladies, and the men’s bright colour is a mustardy yellow

Only last week…

Rab Cinder – anyone tested it? – Singletrack World Magazine

Most of the reviews were lost on me, partly because of “how much”, but also, all that I could think of was “who’s killed Kenny?”!

VR are my most used jackets for hill walking, always wearing one, either as my outer later or as a mid layer / base layer in winter. Probably too warm for all but sub zero riding though….

The Alpine uses Vapour-Rise Lite – or maybe Light – which is a bit less warm than full fat Vapour-Rise. Obviously depends how hot you run, but I find it pretty good on the bike from mid-Autumn or so through to early Spring. There was also something called the VR Flux, I think, that used a combination of VR Lite and insulation-free sides/inner arms, which is even less warm.

Saw this in Ambleside a few weeks ago. Made me think about how much bike jackets cost.

I’m pretty sure they (Arcteryx) make a down filled Gore-Tex coat for over a grand…

This One 

Pricing that’s not for the likes of us in the cheap seats

Probably too warm for all but sub zero riding though….

I found this.

My old Montane Krypton (the old Pertex’ish outer and mesh / thin suede inner) was superb on the hill. But, if riding up any hill or walking uphill hard it was too warm. Below about 5*c on a bike it was the business…

Above that I used a Montane Dyno (the old one with Schoeller fabric) and that was *just* a bit less than windtight and so helped not get as sweaty and helped cool.

@stwhannah – could you make all these review threads part of the “bike” forum? I don’t tend to browse the chat or overall forum because I’m short enough of time without getting sucked into non-bike related discussion, so I tend to miss these posts as they don’t show in the bike forum. (I struggle enough with the bike forum containing so much non-MTB bike stuff but that’s another topic entirely… 😉 )

Instead of stuff sacks that get lost half5h3 time, don’t most people just stuff the jacket into it’s own sleeve or pocket and ditch the stuff sack?

nickc

I’m pretty sure they (Arcteryx) make a down filled Gore-Tex coat for over a grand…

This One

Pricing that’s not for the likes of us in the cheap seats

That’s their Veilance sub-brand which is super expensive street wear stuff, not really in the same space as Rab

Their “normal” stuff is pricy, but not that far away from Rab/North fave etc… and quality is very good.

Oh sure, it wasn’t really a comment on Rab pricing, more like a “look at these mad price labels” comment really.

There’s a Arcteryx store in downtown Vancouver (becasue; of course there is) and I remember walking in, taking a look at some price stickers and walking straight back out again…

Thing with Arcteryx, you buy it once and it lasts forever. Their stuff also always seems to massively out-perform anything else for the same weight/thickness/whatever… but then it bloody well should, for the price!

I have a well over 20 year old Arcteryx jumper which still looks like it did the day I bought it despite being used very winter, and is still my warmest jumper too. I think I’ve nearly recovered from the cost of that now, so I may be able to buy something else from them soon 😉

At £1400 that Arc Teryx down coat looks, well, naff. In fact well naff. Sort of thing I’d expect some yoof to be wearing whilst smoking something illicit near a skate board park

On the Phantom, the stuff sac clips onto the hood retainer clip at the neck. It’s so small and light, you don’t notice it.