The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is a fully featured coat with exceptional breathability, making it ideal for active outdoor activities.
Please note: This waterproof rain jacket is suitable for all genders.
See our full review: 10 Best Waterproof Rain Jackets for Hiking
- Excellent breathability
- Multi-features not usually seen at this price point
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- The DWR isn’t as good as some others in our reviews
The breathability of the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is very impressive, making it ideal for running, biking, and other high-energy outdoor activities. Although only 2.5-layers, it is waterproof enough to keep you dry in all but the heaviest showers. For the mid-range price, you get many features usually only seen on expensive high-performance rain jackets.
See all products side by side in our comparison table:
Arc'teryx Beta LT | Black Diamond StormLine | Outdoor Research Helium Rain | Marmot PreCip Eco | Arc’teryx Beta | Marmot Minimalist | Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 | The North Face Venture 2 | Columbia Watertight II | The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight | |
Buying Options | ||||||||||
Our Awards | Best Women's Performance | Best Stretchy | Best Ultralight | Best Men's Performance | Best Womens | Best Mens | Best Budget | |||
Weight | 13.9 oz. | 11.3 oz. | 6.3 oz. | 10.6 oz. | 10.6 oz. | 13 oz. | 13.2 oz. | 11.6 oz. | 13 oz. | 12 oz. |
Waterproof | 3L Gore-Tex | 2.5L BD.dry | 2.4L Pertex | 2.5L NanoPro | 3L Gore-Tex | 2.5L Gore-Tex | 2.5L Pertex | 2.5L Dryvent | 2L Omni-Tech | 3L Futurelight |
Pockets | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 Zippered Hand | 2 Zippered Hand | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest | 2 zippered chest | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand pockets; 2 internal drop-in pockets | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest |
Analysis and Test Results
The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket manages to combine good waterproofing, high breathability, and a wide range of movement in one rain shell. Pit zips aid the breathability, while waterproofness is increased by high-quality YKK Aquaguard zips, Velcro tabs to adjust the cuffs, and a well-designed hood. This jacket is comfortable to wear thanks to its lightweight materials, soft lining, and fleece-lined chin guard. This jacket is a great all-rounder and will perform well whether you are working hard on the hills or wanting to stay dry while shopping, which is why we chose this as our Best Men’s Rain Jacket.
See the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket in detail:
Performance Comparison
Type and Style
The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is a great multi-purpose rain jacket. Rab recommends it for hill-walking, trekking, and general use, but with its above-average breathability, it would also be ideal for more energetic sports like running, skiing, and cycling. It is a regular cut and slightly fitted, but it has plenty of room for layers.
Water Resistance
The 2.5-layer Pertex Shield material used to make the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket has a waterproof rating of 20,000mm. This will keep you dry all day in normal rain, but it can only cope with heavy rain for an hour or so. It has a fluorocarbon-free DWR (durable water repellent) coating, which is fantastic for the environment, but it doesn’t perform that well. Intelligent features like an adjustable hood, Velcro wrist closures, and YKK Aquaguard zips help improve this raincoat’s waterproofness.
Breathability
The outstanding breathability of the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is its most impressive feature. The 2.5-layer Pertex Shield fabric has a breathability rating of 20,000g/m2/24hrs. Generously sized pit zips can be opened to increase ventilation if needed.
Comfort and Mobility
The 2.5-layer Pertex Shield is lightweight and flexible, making the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket comfortable to wear. It has articulated sleeves so you can move your arms freely without the jacket riding up or pulling across your shoulders. Design features to increase the wearer’s comfort include a brushed tricot back neck patch, chin guard, and pockets placed to be easily accessible when wearing a harness. Unlike some 2.5-layered materials, the lining is comfortable against your skin and doesn’t get cold or clammy.
Materials
The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is composed of 2.5-layer Pertex Shield. This has recycled 40D polyamide 2.5 L combined with a PU membrane. Rab uses fluorocarbon-free fabric and DWR coatings as part of its commitment to sustainability. The zips are all high-quality YKK Aquaguard, which you usually only get on high-performance rain shells.
Appearance
The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is a good-looking jacket stylish enough to wear around town as well as in the backcountry. It is hip length and slightly longer at the back. The central and pocket zippers are the same color as the coat except for on the men’s Sunset colorway, where they are a contrasting black. There are two logos in either a contrasting or coordinating color. The company name is on the chest, and the words ‘Pertex Shield’ appear vertically near the hem on the right-hand side. A nice feature is a Velcro tab on the back of the collar, allowing you to roll the hood up and secure it neatly.
Colors available for men to choose from include Black, Bracken (green), Deep Ink (navy), Graphene (grey), and Sunset (orange). Women can pick between Black, Orion Blue (grey/blue), Patriot Blue (purple/blue), Red Grapefruit, and Ultramarine.
Durability
Although it is only 2.5-layers and can feel thin, the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is surprisingly tough. Having high-quality YKK Aquaguard zippers improves the durability of the rain shell. The design of the articulated sleeves reduces strain on the fabric when you are moving. The chin guard not only protects your face but also protects your jacket from delamination caused by sweat. Rab provides detailed instructions on caring for and repairing your raincoat on their website as they design their products to last.
Rab has a Repair and Replacement Policy. If you have a problem with your Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket due to a manufacturing defect during its usable lifetime, Rab will “make it right with a factory-approved planet-friendly repair”. If they can’t repair it, then they will give you a replacement.
Weight and Packability
One of the advantages of using 2.5-layer Pertex Shield to construct the Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket is that it easily packs down into a small bundle. It isn’t designed to fold away into a pocket, but it can be wrapped up in the hood. The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket weighs:
Men
375g/ 13.2oz
Women
330g / 11.6oz
Features
The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket boasts a number of intelligent features that you would typically have to spend a lot more to get. Having the brushed tricot back neck patch and chin guard makes it more comfortable to wear. The sleeves are long enough to come down over your wrists, and they have Velcro tabs to adjust them to keep out the wind and rain. The drawcord in the hem can be easily adjusted to pull in the bottom of the coat.
YKK Aquaguard zips have been used not only for the central zip but also for the pit zips and the pockets. These top-of-the-range zippers are reverse-coil zips with lamination to keep out the wind and rain. The two hand pockets are designed to be useable even when wearing a harness. The pit zips are a good size and easily opened and closed, even with gloves.
The hood is big enough to fit over a helmet. It has three adjustment points – one at the back and one on each side of your face – so you can ensure it fits snugly. The brim has a flexible polymer peak that does an excellent job of keeping rain out of your eyes. The collar zips up high enough to cover your mouth completely and has soft material to prevent any friction. A handy design feature is the tab on the back that allows you to roll up the hood and secure it when not in use.
Sustainability
Rab is “passionate about reducing our impact and preserving our mountain playground”. They provide Material Facts tables so it is clear what their products are composed of. They use recycled materials whenever possible, and the majority of their materials are fluorocarbon-free, including the DWR coating. They are a Climate Neutral Company and a Fair Wear Foundation Leader.
Conclusion
The Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 rain jacket gives you good waterproofing, incredible breathability, and many practical features to keep you dry and comfortable at a fraction of the price you would usually pay.
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