Rab Vital Jacket Review

Bottom Line

The Rab Vital Jacket is a lightweight and highly packable windbreaker, perfect for windy hikes, trail runs, or backpacking trips. Made with Atmos woven nylon fabric, this jacket excels at blocking the wind while maintaining decent breathability. Its minimalist design features an elastic hood and cuffs and a drawcord hem to keep gusts at bay. Weighing just a few ounces and packing into its own pocket, it’s an easy addition to your daypack for unpredictable weather. Its lower price point and great performance makes it one of our best windbreakers.

The Vital is one of the few windbreakers in our lineup with zip hand pockets. We love these for stowing gloves or a phone on the go. However, they are placed where a backpack waist strap runs. The hood comes with a unique structured brim set back from the elastic edge of the hood. We loved the snug fitting elastic around the hood and wrists, which kept the jacket snug and secure when we tested it on an extremely windy day in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains.

The Rab Vital is not the most breathable jacket we tested, but it comes with a unique feature to boost ventilation. A small snap closure on the chest allows the jacket to be fully unzipped to boost airflow while remaining secure. We loved this function for use on trail runs when we started to warm up. Affordably priced, the Vital provides excellent value and performance. It is sure to please entry-level enthusiasts and seasoned veterans alike and earns a spot as one of our top-rated windbreakers.

How We Tested

Over two months, we wore the Rab Vital on hikes and runs as well as backcountry and cross-country ski trips to field test its performance in multiple conditions. Our tests consisted of real-world exposure to the wind and elements. We also used a blow drier to test wind resistance and also completed a one-hour run while intentionally overdressed to test its breathability and moisture management.

Wind & Weather Resistance

The Rab Vital is constructed with 20-denier Atmos woven nylon with fluorocarbon-free DWR treatment. This is one of the thicker jackets we’ve tested, and its heft makes it slightly more weatherproof than others in our lineup. We took this jacket with us on a cold December day above treeline in Alaska’s Chugach Range and needed every ounce of protection it provided. As we were pummeled by high winds and pelted by snow and ice, it kept us warm and secure with only a mid-layer underneath. 

The jacket’s DWR treatment is enough to repel ice and snow effectively. Its rain resistance is on par with other windbreakers as it wets through quickly when exposed to wet weather.

Breathability

For a value-priced layer, the breathability offered by Rab Vital is about what we would expect. We put this jacket’s breathability to the test by intentionally overdressing with a heavy base and mid-layer underneath it on a winter trail run. After one hour, the jacket was soaked through with sweat and showed heavy beading of moisture on the interior. While not the most breathable jacket in our lineup, it does come with a unique feature to increase ventilation. At chest height on the inside of the jacket, a small snap allows the jacket to remain secure while fully unzipped if you need to air the jacket out. We loved this for trail running when we needed to dump a lot of heat and sweat quickly.

Weight & Packability

With a measured weight of 4.8 ounces (men’s medium), the Vital sits on the heavier side of our lineup. This small weight penalty is hardly notable in the field, but it weighs more than twice as much as the lightest jacket we reviewed. 

Even though the Vital does not come with a reversible pocket for stowing, it can be pushed into either of its zippered hand pockets. Without a double zipper pull, closing it can be challenging. It’s not as packable as others but can fit into a running vest or other small space with a little tinkering.

Comfort & Fit

The Rab Vital has a trim fit but without the short sleeves arms or tight-fitting torsos of other slim-cut jackets. It’s loose enough to layer underneath in the winter but still trim enough to be worn comfortably with only a base layer underneath. The elastic cuffs and hood keep the jacket securely in place and an elastic cinch at the waist lets you dial in the fit. 

The brim of the hood is slightly set back from the elastic face opening. This means it catches the wind like a sail when going face-first into strong breezes. The elastic hood opening keeps it secure, but we felt that the hood would be ripped off due to the brim’s sail-like structure. This is a minor drawback. The Vital is a well-crafted jacket that will fit a variety of bodies well.

Should You Buy the Rab Vital Jacket?

The Rab Vital provides excellent performance and value at its sub-hundred-dollar price. It’s slightly thicker and heavier than other jackets in our lineups, making it perfect for those who want a windbreaker that can solidly resist the weather. Even though it’s not as breathable as other jackets we tested, its unique chest snap allows you to dump heat quickly with the jacket fully unzipped. Two zippered pockets enhance functionality, and the jacket can be stuffed into either pocket for easy stowing. The Rab Vital is versatile enough to be used for multiple activities – and trim and stylish enough for you to look good doing it.

What Other Windbreaker Should You Consider?

Head to our gear guide to see the full lineup of best windbreakers.

Black Diamond Alpine Start Review: With a more flexible material and a roomier fit than the Vital, the Alpine Start is perfect for alpine adventures or those requiring a high degree of mobility.

Montbell Tachyon Review: If the Vital left you wanting a more breathable jacket, the Tachyon is one of the most airy and ventilated jackets we tested.

Patagonia Houdini Review: With a similar nylon construction, the Houdini is more packable zipping into its own chest pocket into a tiny bundle.