I was lucky enough to get a Rab Momentum Jacket in late summer and have been putting it through it’s paces since then. It is the first eVent jacket I have used and the difference from Gore-Tex was very noticeable. The Momentum is the lightest 3 layer full zip jacket in the Rab range at 340g, only being bested by the Demand Pull On which is 60g lighter but only 1 pocket and not a full zip.
When Rab conceived the Momentum they were thinking of ultra light alpine climbers, adventure racers and light hikers. It’s about as stripped own as you can get but still retaining 2 small chest pockets and a helmet compatible wired hood. Too often in my opinion lightweight jackets have poorly adjusting hoods which really let them down, but not the Momentum. I think most lightweight climbers would also consider the Latok Alpine which retains the 2 large chest pockets and a slightly tougher fabric but if really light is your thing then it’s the Momentum.
The cuffs have velcro adjusters which allows for venting and if really hot you can pull the sleeves up to your elbows which is a nice touch. The cut is minimalist but there is plenty of room underneath for a decent midlayer and a base layer. Pockets are not map sized but fine for bits and pieces and food. Elasticated hem drawcord adjusts on one hip with a single handed pull. Hood is good as mentioned above and drawcords are nicely tethered. The best detail is the zip pullers which are the easiest to use zip pullers that we have used so far. Pullers, cuffs and toggles are where the user ‘interacts’ with the jacket so these small touches do make a difference.
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However where this jacket really stands out is the breathability. Lightweight 3 layer eVent is the most breathable waterproof fabric I have used. The direct venting of eVent is noticeable and you have to sweat like a yorkshireman in a maths test to get any moisture to collect inside the jacket. Great news if you are forced to work hard with the jacket all zipped up. One thing to bear in mind is that along with the vapour, lots of heat also escapes straight through the jacket. This is preferable most of the time but using eVent in winter does not keep you as warm as Gore Tex so you may need to adjust your layering underneath. You will also notice more rapid cooling in an eVent shell during stop/start activities.
The Momentum Jacket has now been passed to James to use this winter for it’s long term performance and durability. More news next year.