ABOUT THE RAB CINDER PHANTOM JACKET
Weighing just 113.5g, the Rab Cinder Phantom Jacket is an impressively light and breathable jacket with a slim fit tailored for mountain biking. Using the 7D Pertex® Shield 2.5-layer fabric with a fluorocarbon-free DWR, the jacket offers a 20,000mm hydrostatic head and 20,000g/m²/24 hrs breathability (MVTR) rating. This means it offers good rain protection while remaining comfortable to wear during hard efforts in the saddle, and that proved to be true on the trails.
With the 2.5-layer material weighing just 51gsm, it’s incredibly packable when stowed away in its own hood pocket. Ideally designed to be carried on any ride as an emergency waterproof, we found it to be equally worthy of being worn for the entirety of rides during Scottish and Canadian summer rain.
Rab Cinder Phantom Features
Key features of the Cinder Phantom include a calendered YKK® zip with ergonomic curving, and a roll-away under-helmet hood. Articulated arms help prevent bunching and allows the jacket to move without requiring stretch in the material. An extended back with silicone grip keeps the jacket in place, including a partly elasticated hem. The extended cuffs with stretch binding help to keep the rain from going up the sleeves.
Rab Cinder Phantom Specs and Pricing
Rab offers the Cinder Phantom jacket in a men’s or women’s fit, with five sizes in each. Men get a choice of three colors, while women get a choice of two. Regardless of the option selected, retail price is $235 / £180 / €240, available direct from Rab or through a network of retailers worldwide.
THE DIRT
A trip to the Austrian Alps was fast approaching, and the weather forecast looked questionable. Temperatures would reach up to 26C/79F, but storms were forecast, which had potential to throw a wet and wild spanner in the works. Looking at the waterproof offerings in my closet, none of the options felt like they would make for a comfortable riding experience. I run hot, and would be struggling in these temperatures in a riding jersey alone, never mind adding a jacket on top.
I had been recommended the Rab Cinder Phantom following a friend’s enjoyment of its performance, so was interested to see if it could be the solution to my challenge. Thankfully, Ed at Rab was keen to provide, and I’ve been relying on it to keep me dry in the unpredictable Scottish summer since.
When the Rab Cinder Phantom arrived, I was immediately struck by how light it was. The material feels extremely thin, and it can be packed down into its hood smaller than I’ve ever seen. Going on, the cut was solid with the large fitting my 220lbs and 6’2” (100kg and 220lbs) frame well with a jersey underneath. I’d size up if I was likely to be using Rab’s lightweight as a shell on top of an insulating layer frequently, but since it would be reserved for warm and wet rides, I was happy with the fit.
One thing to note is the Cinder Phantom is not long in the torso. I’ve got a long leg and short torso for my height, and the cut was a little shorter than I’d like at the front. The slightly dropped hem helped with coverage on my butt a little, but I wouldn’t have been mad about an extra inch all round.
On the trail, the Rab Cinder Phantom is remarkably light and breathable. I’d go as far to say that it’s the first waterproof item I’ve worn that doesn’t actually feel like a waterproof. There’s little to no impediment of breathability and ventilation, and very little in the way of added heat. In this Ebony color there was the extra heat from the sun that you might expect, but little more than a dark jersey alone. This limited extra heat made packing the tiny Cinder Phantom a no-brainer, and I found myself pulling it out even for light showers where I typically wouldn’t bother due to the discomfort caused by many other heavier and less breathable jackets.
On a relatively warm and damp four hour Scottish trail mission, Rab’s Cinder Phantom performed magnificently. I found myself unzipping the jacket for the steeper climb pitches, but it never left my body and I was never desperate to take it off. Of course, I got hot and sweaty underneath, but to a degree where I don’t think the jacket contributed all that much at all. The heavens really opened to the extent that I could barely see as I pedaled hard along the cycle path back to my town. It was the kind of rain where my eyes were getting wet behind my glasses. Yet underneath the jacket, I remained dry and comfortable. It delivered all of the smug feeling that a serious waterproof does in adverse conditions, without screaming about it.
When there’s water on trails outside the desert, so too comes mud. And this is the one challenge that no waterproof has proven to handle well in my past. When a jacket is caked in mud, not only does the DWR stop being able to do the “WR” part, but the pores in the jacket are also blocked and the breathability suffers as a result. The PFC-Free DWR-coated 7D Pertex Shield material on the Rab Cinder Phantom is no exception.
So, what can you do? It’s essential to rinse mud off as soon as you can – I found myself hanging the jacket up and spraying it with the hose while I was cleaning the bike after the ride. But still, you’ll see a buildup of dirt getting stuck in the fabric, and eventually it’ll need a proper wash and reproof. Home treatments are available to do this, just be careful to clean laundry detergents out of your washing machine and pay attention to washing instructions from Rab to prevent any damage. Rab can even do this for you with their laundry service cleaning and reproofing your jacket professionally. Regardless, it’s time and expense that’s a touch frustrating, but it’s just the penalty for riding in all conditions at the end of the day.
Much to my surprise, a couple of unplanned off-bike excursions on muddy days dispelled my concerns about the durability of Rab’s lightweight jacket. I had assumed that the light weight and slight stretch to the material would lead to a garment that would rip the first time it met the ground or brushed a tree. Yet somehow it’s holding up amicably so far, only showing one tiny tear for a few slides on the ground.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Rab’s Cinder Phantom jacket surprised me. I didn’t think it could possibly offer the waterproofing abilities it promised without being stifling or vulnerable. Yet here I am, proven wrong and praying I can keep it performing tip-top and absent of damage for the rest of my year’s riding and beyond.
I’m not saying the Rab Cinder Phantom is the only jacket on the market that can strike such a fine blend of barely-there weight and breathability with downpour-resistant waterproofing, whilst remaining suitably durable and so incredibly packable. But it certainly does just that, and is a pleasure to wear as a result. And compared with some, the price isn’t so bad either. 
Price: $235 / £180 / €240
Website: Rab.equipment
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.
Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston
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