• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • m243The M24: America’s Headhunter
        • skorpFull-Auto Fun — Shooting the full-Auto vz. 61 Škorpion
        • p320-full-leftSIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can’t Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
        • TISAS_10100520_1__98179Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Hunting in TexasThese 5 ATV Dealers Will Get You Ready For Hunting Season in Texas
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Tom and Blake Sell TeaHow Sasquatch Tea Is Revitalizing a Stagnant Tea Market With Veterans and Outdoorsmen in Mind
        • redcat-blackwidow-articleheaderWar of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
        • craft holstersCraft Holsters Makarov Tuckable IWB Holster Report
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Gear

Review: Rab Strata Hoodie

November 28, 2014 by Isaiah Burkhart 1 Comment

http://vimeo.com/72851117

The Rab Strata Hoodie is a highly compressible, lightweight, breathable, synthetic-insulated jacket made for active performance.

Colors: Rust (red), Apple (green), Ink (reviewed jacket), and Ebony (black)

Sizes: S-XXL

Weight: 430 grams, 15.2 ounces (Large)

Materials:

Outer shell: 20d Pertex Microlight. The fabric is very smooth, snag and abrasion resistant, yet breathes very well. I have brushed against rocks and gotten hung up on tree branches while bushwhacking through the woods without causing a single snag or tear in the fabric. I don’t recommend crawling through a rock garden with the jacket on, but it does seem very durable in the limited amount of time that I have been able to test it.

Insulation: Polartec Alpha (80g/square meter) with zoned fabric placement for better breathability and comfort.

Fit and sizing: 

Layering: Rab, which is based out of the UK, tends to design their clothing in a European slim/athletic fit. I am 5′ 9″, 170 pounds, and the medium size fits me perfectly with room for a couple of thin layers underneath. In below-freezing conditions, I find this jacket works best with one to two thin, long-sleeve merino wool or synthetic layers. In temperatures above freezing or in high-humidity conditions, I find that the breathability works best with a short-sleeve technical t-shirt. Personally, I tend to overheat easily and develop a very sweaty back when active and carrying a pack. I find the jacket’s breathability improves when wearing thin layers instead of one thick synthetic or wool layer.

*Note: With any layering system, it is important to experiment with different layers and fabrics in a variety of conditions to see what is optimal. The system that works best for me will not necessarily work for everyone.

DCIM100GOPRO

Sleeves: The sleeve length is one of the better features of this jacket. They are long enough with arms fully extended to not expose my wrists, but not so long as to bunch up around my wrists with arms relaxed. With my +1 ape index, the sleeve length is perfect with room for even longer arms. If someone has extremely short arms, this could pose an issue with fabric bunching around the wrists.

DCIM100GOPRO

Hood: The hood is close fitting and turns with the wearer. I have had zero issues with visibility while wearing the hood. The edge of the hood has an elastic seam that will stretch over and conform to a variety of head sizes. The hood will tightly fit over my Grivel climbing helmet, but works much better worn under a helmet, and really increases warmth in freezing conditions. There is no hood adjustment due to how closely the hood fits. The stow strap/clip built into the jacket works very well and allows the user to stow the hood when not needed.

Length: The jacket has a shorter cut than a belay jacket, but does not expose my back when bending over. The jacket can be tucked under a climbing harness and remain in place during vigorous movement. Unfortunately, tucking the jacket under a climbing harness covers most of the two zip-able hand-warmer pockets. I would prefer the pockets positioned slightly higher up the torso, so that, if the jacket were tucked, the pockets would still be accessible.

Rab Pocket Stuff

MSRP: $235, although I have seen this jacket on sale for as low as $150.

Unique features: The chest pocket on the Strata is large enough to stow a map or set of goggles. The chest pocket also doubles as a stuff sack and works great as a pillow. Unlike some built-in stuff sacks, you don’t have to be the Hulk to stuff this one and still get the zipper shut. Once stuffed, the sack has a small loop that can be clipped to a carabiner and attached to a harness.

When designing the jacket, Rab did a great job adjusting insulation thickness according to heat transfer of the body. In places that tend to overheat and create more perspiration, the insulation in thinner and breathability is greater.

Application: The Strata Hoodie is made for active performance in a variety of conditions. Whether it’s rock climbing, backpacking, alpine climbing, or running errands around town, this jacket works well to keep the user comfortable and dry. The insulation is not as warm as similar weight Primaloft One insulation, but is much more breathable. In cold conditions, this jacket works very well while on the move, but stand still for any length of time and you feel the cold soak through. This jacket is not a belay jacket, but can easily be layered with a hardshell or another synthetic jacket to increase warmth in extreme conditions or static environments.

Pros:

1. Breathable

2. Compressible

3. Micro-fleece lined handwarmer pockets

4. Large chest pocket that doubles as a stuff sack

5. Hood stows away very easily with built-in clip

6. Sleeve length

Cons:

1. May be too breathable in very cold or windy conditions

2. Handwarmer pocket placement is too low on the torso

3. Jacket is heavier than comparable jackets in Primaloft

Bottom line/overall performance: I have had this jacket for about nine months and have been very happy with the overall performance. In some respects, I would like the jacket to be a little bit warmer, but not if it would sacrifice the amazing breathability. I have used this jacket in a variety of conditions: snow, light rain, wind, and freezing temperatures. The jacket performed well in all listed conditions, but really held its own while climbing in cold conditions. During a recent climb in the Cascades, not once did I feel like I was overheating or getting that clammy sweaty feeling that the Cascades are so good at producing. I would highly recommend this jacket to any outdoor enthusiast that tends to overheat while moving fast in the mountains.

*Note: As always, if you have any questions about this jacket feel free to ask in the comments below.


Share This

About the Author

Isaiah Burkhart served in 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. Almost four years of my time in 3/75 was spent in the sniper section. In all, I spent over 11 years in military service. I am a firefighter/paramedic and hold a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Oregon State University. When not working, I spend most of my time rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, trail running, and occasionally picking up heavy objects.

See All Isaiah Burkhart Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
    The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
  • Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
    Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • Mossberg Shockwave Versus Remington Tac 14
    Mossberg Shockwave Versus Remington Tac 14
  • Breek Arms Sledgehammer: The AR-15 Charging Handle That Gas Can’t Touch
    Breek Arms Sledgehammer: The AR-15 Charging Handle That Gas Can’t Touch
  • You Can Get These Flashbang Grenades (100% Legally!)
    You Can Get These Flashbang Grenades (100% Legally!)

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Ajita Sherer on Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
  • Leland on Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
  • Winston Smiths on Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader

Latest From SOFREP

Featured

How Taiwan’s $30K Drones Could Wreck a Billion-Dollar Chinese Invasion Plan

Preparing for Selection

So You Wanna Be a Frog Man? 3 Steps to Prepare for Navy SEAL Training

Op-Ed

The Bolduc Brief: Bases Are for Troops, Not Detention

News

Morning Brief: Another Hegseth Aide Leaves Pentagon, Gabbard Threatens Criminal Referrals Against Obama Staffers

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...