Rab Deep Cowl Down Parka Evaluate

Backside Line

The Rab Deep Cowl Parka combines heat and magnificence, making it excellent for city winter settings or informal winter walks. With 700 fill-power hydrophobic goose down handled with Nikwax, the jacket gives wonderful insulation and moisture resistance, preserving you heat in chilly and wet-snow circumstances. It additionally dried in a short time. We felt like this coat was at all times simply sufficient with out being overkill. 

Its tailor-made match gives a glossy, female silhouette with understated baffles on the physique and smaller baffles on the facet panels. It carried out nicely in chilly temperatures, lasting 94 minutes in our heat take a look at earlier than reaching ambient out of doors temperatures.

One problem we discovered is as a result of the baffle chambers are made by stitching the inside lining and the outer shell, it would enable water and wind to sneak by means of throughout actually moist or windy eventualities. This design can also let heat air transfer extra rapidly out of the coat. That is one thing we caught in testing however didn’t discover once we wore it. If something, we appreciated that it breathed as a result of down generally is a tortuous oven in case you’re doing something past an off-the-cuff stroll. We ended up carrying this one essentially the most out of all our favourite winter coats as a result of it isn’t too cumbersome, however we may belief it to maintain us heat.

How We Examined

We examined the Rab Deep Cowl winter parka in every kind of winter circumstances: windy passes, sub-zero canine strolls, operating errands, and strolling downtown. We additionally put it to the take a look at by sticking a thermometer on the within of the coat and timing how lengthy it took to drop 30 levels and attain out of doors ambient temperatures. Lastly, we did a soak-through take a look at to see how nicely the shell and down repels water.

Heat

The Rab Deep Cowl Parka excels in heat, which was surprising given its light-weight, tailor-made design. At 1 lb 13 ounces, 12 ounces of the load is 700-fill-power goose down that has been handled with Nikwax’s hydrophobic end. This remedy helps the down keep lofty and, subsequently, heat even when uncovered to snow or moisture. 

Throughout our heat take a look at, the jacket lasted a stable 94 minutes earlier than the interior temperature dropped by 30°F, which makes it appropriate for temperatures within the single digits or low teenagers. 

This jacket hits at mid-thigh, which is sufficient to hold you cozy if it’s a must to sit exterior. In the event you run chilly and just like the added full seat safety, we expect this coat is a house run. Whereas the down performs nicely in reasonably moist circumstances, we wouldn’t put on this coat understanding we have been going to be out in rain/heavy snow for prolonged intervals.

Climate Resistance

This parka shouldn’t be meant for heavy precipitation, nevertheless it does have a sturdy water-repellent (DWR) end that protects towards mild snow and temporary rain. In our assessments, it carried out nicely in flurries and lightweight rain, drying rapidly and retaining heat. 

The Nikwax hydrophobic down remedy did an important job of sustaining the loft of the feathers. Our soak take a look at confirmed that after 20 minutes, they weren’t fully globbed up. The Rab Deep Cowl did the perfect out of all of the DWR-treated coats, barely soaking by means of its baffle seams in about 20 minutes. Most weather-resistant DWR-treated coats didn’t make it previous 10 minutes earlier than water soaked to the within. Due to this, we might belief it for heat in chilly and dry circumstances and briefly bouts of moist snow or heavy rain.

Consolation & Performance

That is the class the place we felt this winter coat struck gold. We may throw this on and wouldn’t fear about how we seemed or if we have been chilly.

Outsized baffles generally is a little “further” for on a regular basis use, and the Rab does an excellent job of functioning like a giant baffle parka with out trying like one. The female silhouette is fitted, so it won’t be for each physique sort, however we felt no restriction of motion.  

The chevron baffles alongside the facet panels assist forestall chilly spots and make the jacket really feel much less cumbersome underneath the arms. The lengthy, stretchy cuffs are a pleasant contact, serving to to maintain snow and chilly air from getting in. The surface panel of the pockets is constructed from fleece so as to add further heat however the design may very well be improved by totally lining them.

Because of its slim match, this jacket doesn’t go away a lot room for thick layering beneath. In the event you plan to put on it in very chilly circumstances, you’ll must pair it with low-bulk, high-performance mid and base layers. Whereas the jacket might really feel a bit tight with layers beneath, its consolation is ideal for day by day winter put on in average chilly.

Options

The Rab Deep Cowl Parka gives a number of well-designed options that improve its efficiency. 

One of the crucial notable options is its glossy, tailor-made match. Not like most cumbersome winter jackets, this one contours to the physique, offering a slim and flattering silhouette. 

The brass-colored zipper is clean and high-quality, whereas the fleece-lined pockets supply added heat and luxury to your arms. 

The jacket additionally contains lengthy, stretchy cuffs with thumb holes that forestall drafts and snow from getting into.

One other standout characteristic is its packability; it compresses to the scale of a basketball (smaller with a compression sack), making it excellent for vacationers. 

The detachable hood and faux-fur ruff mean you can tailor the look and assist lengthen this coat’s wearability nicely into shoulder seasons.

Ought to You Purchase the Rab Deep Cowl Down Parka?

We predict you received’t remorse it. It’s not an excessive amount of or too little for what a down parka is supposed to do. The Rab Deep Cowl Parka is ideal for anybody in search of the standard of a technical efficiency Rab puffy with a little bit extra road type.

The 700-fill-power hydrophobic down gives an important warmth-to-weight ratio, making it comfy for temperatures right down to the one digits or low teenagers. Plus, it is among the extra packable parkas on our record.

The DWR end ensures it might probably deal with mild snow and temporary rain, nevertheless it’s not suited to heavy or extended precipitation. The slim match means it’s not the best choice for layering in excessive chilly or for individuals who choose bulkier jackets. 

Nonetheless, in case you’re looking for a trendy, purposeful jacket for many winter circumstances, the Deep Cowl parka is a superb purchase.

What Different Winter Jackets Ought to You Contemplate?

Under are another related choices from our information to the finest winter jackets for girls.

Patagonia Down with It Parka Evaluate: The Down with It Parka gives related DWR climate resilience however is a heavier-duty puffy with an analogous female lower.

The North Face Arctic Parka: In the event you want a jacket that may deal with excessive chilly and moist circumstances, the Arctic Parka is a greater choice, with extra insulation and full waterproofing.

Columbia Heavenly Jacket: In the event you choose the tailor-made match however don’t want down fill, the Columbia Heavenly gives wonderful heat and luxury in chilly climate at a fraction of the value.