Hi all,
I just picked up a cheap new Rab Neutrino Endurance and, as this is my first "high-end" down jacket, I'd like to make sure its a good fit moving forward. The jacket below is a Medium.

I am 5'7" 155lb (athletic build) and not sure if this should be snug or baggy; I usually wear jackets a bit snugger ("slim fit") and am inclined to think this is too big, but maybe I'm wrong. So, should I go smaller to an S or do people think this one is good? (PS apologies for the craptacular photos but hey, $ on jackets = no $ for cameras!)

Thanks!

Edited by biggyshorty on 11/12/2012 18:46:10 MST.

I just bought a RAB Infinity down jacket myself. Can you try it on with the various layers underneath it that you will use for various activities? I put on the three thin layers that I will use for winter backpacking and added the RAB over that. If you can move your arms easily with three thin layers underneath, it's probably a good fit.

Also, I've learned on these forums that as long as your down isn't compressed in any way, you should be fine.

What Raquel says is good adice, I personally go a step further and make sure I have enough room for 5 layers in winter.

Base layer,
Mid layer fleece (r1 or similar)
Windshirt
Primaloft vest
Rain shell.

So nobody so far thinks its too *big*, huh?

It looks fine, it depends what you want to use it for.

Fit's pretty subjective, but it looks good. Nice coat. You should pick up your dirty socks tho.

Why would you want room for a windshirt and rain shell too?

Because I don't want to take the windshirt and shell off if I am just putting on the puffy for a break, it is a fairly common practice in winter.

It does not need be a perfect fit, it's fine if it's a bit tight.

Edited by stephenm on 11/13/2012 06:38:37 MST.

Sorry, I don't get layering an uber down puffy like the Neutrino over the rain shell either. If it is raining, it is waaay too warm to even bring/use the Neutrino. Consider typically layering the Neutrino over just an synth softshell like the Vapour Rise or an R3 High Loft/Monkey Man fleece in colder temps.

Edited by rmjapan on 11/13/2012 07:20:54 MST.

Most of my winter trips have been in Scotland where folks wear hard shells all year round.

I know a lot of folk on Bpl don't use hard shells in winter and a lot do.

All I can say is if I tried to hike in my lightweight GTX Pro rainshell in the temps appropriate for layering the Neutrino over it at stops I would quickly find myself encased in a layer of ice!

Hahah I did; I'm embarrassed they made it in there. Anyhoo, still unsure at whether to hold on to get a size small. I'm just used to my jackets being pretty snug and this one is so poofy that maybe its supposed to be like that, maybe not. Unsure.

Simple enough to figure out. To bring/wear the Neutrino it should be cold, like way below freezing ~0F cold. Figure hiking in light merino wool baselayer plus a midlayer fleece and/or windproof softshell. So to layer the Neutrino over this you will need ~1-2" or so of space under the Neutrino for your mid layers and to keep mobility. With a little measuring of your chest and the jacket laying flat at the chest under the arms you should be able to figure this out.

I've wondered about some of the layering stuff as well seeing as I just bought a puffy coat. Well, a puffy shirt since I don't believe any of my travels will, in the near future, take me through any serious winter hiking. I bought a First Ascent MicroTherm Shirt. Here's a question for those who might offer some insight....

Is that practice of using a softshell under a down jacket common, or do most people get such a warm down coat that they go base -> down -> wpb shell? I ask because some cold weather finally has blown through the area (relatively cold, mid 40's at night) here and my new skinny down jacket definitely needed a second layer besides my 200gm merino baselayer last night. I did try it with a 2.5 style fleece I've had since the time of Moses and the Egyptians and it certainly was warm at that point (too warm). It made me think maybe I should have scored a puffier puffy though.

Edited by aeriksson on 11/13/2012 20:14:29 MST.

yes, i think it's pretty easy to get away with a very versatile, cheap, light, 3 layer system that will keep you warm down to the low 30's. all you would need is a 7oz 160-200 wt wool baselayer (zip neck preferred), a 15 oz jacket with 3 to 4 oz of 850+ down, and a 10oz hardshell. case closed. you can pick all of this up for under 200 on gearswap. i saw someone selling a first ascent hooded downlight jacket and a montbell alpine light, both awesome jackets that fit the bill. I have both actually and both keep me warm with a baselayer down around freezing. the best thing about down is that you dont really overheat that much unless you are exerting. and in that case, you can vent or take it off. so at 45-50 i am super cozy and can even unzip if i want. i love the looks of that microtherm shirt, but i have too many awesome poly pieces that were way cheaper that i can wear around the fire too. just my thoughts on your statements.

Edited by rbeard on 11/13/2012 20:34:47 MST.

Alex, a "softshell" describes an active clothing layer that is any combination of being hooded, waterproof, windproof, breathable and insulated, pick any 3!

An ideal softshell is something that replaces 2 or 3 active layers, e.g. like a baselayer/fleece and Houdini, and worn continuously thru a broad range of conditions saving pack space and hopefully some weight too. They work best at cool/cold/below freezing temps. When you think of a softshell as a replacement layer(s), then it gets easier to imagine how you would layer over it.

Many here have adopted the windshirt in combination with a wicking baselayer and/or light fleece as a flexible DIY "softshell" for 3-season and summer alpine use. But if temps are consistently on the cooler/cold side, you can replace these layers with a single softshell like a Rab Vapour Rise Lite to something as warm as a Patagonia Northwall in Winter.

BTW, I cannot imagine any scenario save for an emergency bivouac where it is a good idea to wear a down layer under a light GTX or eVent membrane-type rain shell.

Edited by rmjapan on 11/14/2012 00:46:58 MST.

JIMMY,

I'm about the same size as you, 5'9'', 160lbs. I bought the same jacket in a Med and I think it's spot on. If you are wearing it with only a t-shirt and long sleeved shirt, yeah, it might feel a little baggy. If you are wearing it with a couple baselayers and a light insulating layer on, it fits perfectly as it should. If you never plan on layering it, and use it only as an around town jacket to thow on over a long sleeved shirt (nothing wrong with this either) might want to go to a small.

I thought the fit was a little big only at the bottom hem, but you can tighten that up pretty well.

Hi All,

Just the thread I was looking for. I'm considering the same jacket and trying to figure out sizing. I'm 5'6"ish, ~140lbs, about 38 or so in the chest (a little barrel chested). The small is spec'd for 37" chest, but they don't give a size range, just a single number. Medium for 40" chest.

I am thinking the small would be best for my purposes. I would probably layer over a midweight base layer, R1 fleece or soft shell. I am usually a small in Patagonia, smartwool, etc. for a technical fit, but have sized up to medium occasionally if the fit is slim.

Any thoughts?

Shady, Yeah I would go small. I'm 5'10'', about 155lbs and my Medium fits well. Just big enough to have a baselayer and a midlayer, and MAYBE a light shell.. but that would be pushing it. Anyway, what I'm saying is that at my size, the Medium is great but I would not want it any smaller. So, I think you'll want a Small unless you want a baggy fit or want to get several (like 4!) other layers under it.

Thanks, Tim. I just put in an order for a small.