Light jacket a heavyweight in cold
Rab’s Alpha Flash traps body heat in a garment stripped to its functional essence
Strip the lining from an insulated jacket. Now, pull the guts — the sleeves and the body — on like a ragged fleece.
That’s a crude picture. But with a new jacket, a British brand called Rab did essentially that. A knit polyester, the body of the jacket, forms an airy structure that traps body heat.
The fabric is made in the United States by Polartec. It’s knit in New Hampshire and called Alpha Direct. The term “naked” refers to its lack of face fabric — this is insulation in the raw.
It comes to market later this year from Rab for $125. I tested a prototype over the winter and was impressed with its warmth and breathability while I was on the move.
Called the Alpha Flash Jacket, it’s a basic jacket with a single chest pocket, a waist hem and no hood.
Like many Rab products, the Flash is pure function— there are zero bells and whistles. In my test, the jacket performed as promised, and I came to depend on it for cold days when I was active.
For its weight and thinness, this top is incredibly warm. You feel body heat trapped near skin the second you pull it on.
It’s a comfortable coat. But the cartoon-red material got some looks. Its vibrancy, combined with the furry aesthetic, prompted more than one comparison to a Muppet named Elmo.
The material is made of post-consumer recycled polyester. In its naked form, it is essentially a synthetic fleece on steroids — warmer and more breathable.
A main upgrade from other options is its heat-trapping ability combined with an open-knit construction. Air can easily pass through, granting amazing breathability.
But wind also passes right through this jacket. Thus, it’s best for highaerobic, sweaty activities.
Or use it underneath a shell jacket. The thin material serves as a substantial midlayer for the coldest days.